The Jackal's Mistress, Bohjalian - B+

                   This novel is set in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. Libby, whose husband was wounded at Gettysburg and is believed to be in a Yankee prison camp, and her Black freedman, Joseph, are running the family's gristmill. At a neighbor's house, they realize someone is inside and discover Jonathan, a badly wounded Union officer left behind because he was so close to death's door. They take him to Libby's home. Libby decides to treat Jonathan the way she hopes someone in the North would have helped her husband. She and Joseph travel to Harper's Ferry to obtain medicine for Jonathan and, on the way, encounter two Rebel deserters who threatened them. Libby shoots both dead. As Jonathan recovers, he has to deal with the local doctor, who has lost two sons to the war and Jubilee, Libby's 12-year old niece, who taunts the Yankee and calls him 'Captain Jackal.' The real problem is that there's a rumor around that the Yankee's left an officer behind, and the local soldiers suspect Libby is harboring a northerner. A few inspections don't turn up Jonathan, but sooner or later they will. When half-a-dozen locals come one night, they are ready for action and kill the attackers - but they lose Joseph's wife, Sally. At dawn, Josep, Jubilee, Jonathan and Libby head north and easily reach Harper's Ferry. All ends well for the four of them.  This is a great read, and highly recommended.