Indra Zuno’s book, Freedom Dues, is the perfect marriage of historical fiction and suspense. At every turn I’d become more engrossed in the challenges facing the main characters, Blair Eakins of Ireland and Mallie Ambrose of England. Their story’s told over nearly a decade of time in an alternating pattern.

It is evident in the rich details and complicated stories that Zuno took great care in researching what life was like for indentured servants in America during the early 1720s and 1730s. Though this story is a work of fiction, I felt like I learned more about how life used to be in the early development of the USA.

What I look for in stories I enjoy is the feeling of investment I have with the characters. The joy I feel when they triumph and the heartache when they hit hard times. Zuno delivered that and more through carefully crafted character development. With each chapter and as time passed her characters came to life in realistic, though heartbreaking at times, ways. Nothing every felt forced or stagnant.

I recommend Freedom Dues to anyone who loves historical fiction and suspense stories. This one surely packs the punch of suspense with the historical accuracy of a nonfiction story.

I was provided an ARC copy of Freedom Dues by Net Galley. My sincere gratitude to author, Indra Zuno, Spinning A Yarn Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book. My review was not influenced by that fact and are my own words, thoughts & feelings.