This feels like a Georgian-era episode of Law and Order. Meaning it was interesting and good yet not at the same time. I can't say exactly what I was expecting but somehow this wasn't it, I guess I thought there would be more action or more to the capture. What I got was a courtroom drama and several rushed escape attempts. Also under the assumption that a bit more of an alternative history, dealing more with what will happen to the colonies without Washington's leadership, which was not the case.
So all in all this book gives us an interesting courtroom drama nothing more nothing less.

This is another book from NetGalley I was supposed to have years a few years ago, but for some reason or another started it then put it down.

these types of historical fiction works often rub me the wrong way, but I think this one struck a good balance of irreverent and speculative

Here's the thing...if they didn't hang together, they'd hang separately. Would Washington give up his life in the pursuit of liberty for the ownership class in the colonies? Probably, but who knows? All-in-all a pretty good what-if.

Interesting premise. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the revolutionary war and founding of our country.

I’m playing major catch up on reviews since returning! I read three or so Netgalleys months back before starting the new job, but never got around to reviewing them. I apologize that the review will likely be short, but I read this months ago! Anyway, here goes nothing!

The Trial and Execution of the Traitor George Washington is a historical alternate history book, in which George Washington is captured during the Revolutionary War and smuggled to England under cover of night to withstand a trial for treason. It opens by following Jeremiah Black, the special agent tasked with the capture. As he goes along, we also meet a cast of characters on both sides of the fence. Once Washington is captured, we mainly follow him as he is imprisoned in the Tower and his lawyer, Abraham Hobhouse, who is married to a British woman but was born in America.

I really liked this book. It was very thought-provoking and I honestly had no idea how it was going to end. There was so much political intrigue, which I adore, and also just a lot of twists and turns. It was definitely a slow burn, but was fascinating and made me think about how little I know/remember about the Revolutionary War. The characters were well developed and I found myself rooting for Washington and everyone on his side.

I was fascinated by the focus of staying in England for the majority of the book. It made it a wee bit difficult to know how Washington’s absence was affecting the war itself, but news came every once in awhile (as it came slowly in those days). The scenes where the American delegation bargains for Washington were particularly interesting, because it showed what maybe the rebels would be willing to give up for one man, but the one man didn’t want those things given up for him. It calls to question how integral Washington was and makes you think about whether he was a great general, a charismatic figurehead, or both. Overall, if you like historical fiction and like exploring history’s what-ifs, then you’ll likely enjoy this book. It seems like a great fall read to me, too!

Note: I received this book from Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review!

While the cover of this book was rather bland, the eye-catching title made up for it. The trial and execution of the traitor of George Washington. That sentence in of itself was enough for me to request this book. The other thing was the description of being an alternative ending to the American Revolution. I found that fascinating.

Full disclosure: I did not finish this book. I tried three different times to get into it and it was a huge struggle. I didn’t make it past 20%. However, I will review what I read. Jeremiah Black is getting a super secret mission to sail to the Colonies and kidnap George Washington and bring him back to England to stand trial for treason. Jeremiah is given a fake name and cover to hide under. He is deposited on the shore in the middle of a storm and picked up by the people on the beach. He is taken to a barn where he meets up with the rest of the extraction team. From there he gets the low down of how they are going to break into the house and kidnap and whisk George Washington away without getting caught.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I truly did. I thought that the whole idea was awesome. An American Revolution twist of “if the British had won”. I found the book dry and hard to get into. At 20% in they had JUST kidnapped George Washington. It moved slow and gave a lot more detail than was necessary. I have read a fair share of fiction and nonfiction historical books, so this was nothing new for me to read. I don’t want to dissuade you from reading this book. Please read it and form your own opinion.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting take on a big what if in American history. What if the British managed to kidnap George Washington? How would that change not only American, but British history? It had great potential but I found it to be really drawn out. Parts were exciting but I expected more action, intrigue, deeper relationships, etc.
This was just ok for me but it might be interesting for American history buffs.

Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 starsEntertaining and Imaginative
ByToni V. Sweeneyon July 9, 2018
Format: Hardcover
This is a very imaginative book in the alternate universe genre, posing the “What if...?” question...What if George Washington had been kidnapped by His Majesty’s agents and brought to London, tried for treason, and found guilty?

In this story, it happens, when British officer Jeremiah Black is given those orders by Lord North, First Minister of Great Britain. Though North truthfully expects both Black and Washington to be killed during the attempt, Black surprises him by succeeding and bringing his prisoner back to London. The colonies immediately send Ethan Abbott, war veteran, lawyer, and Ambassador Plenipotentiary, to secure a barrister practicing law in England. Washington demands to be represented by someone born in America but now living in London and he won’t agree to any negotiations unless independence for the colonies is included in the terms. Unknown to Abbott, a “rescue team” is also on its way.

There are a great many characters in this story, some real, some fictional. Of them all, Jeremiah Black is the most believable and realistic, from his continuous bout with mal-de-mer as he crosses the Atlantic (A man on a secret mission taken down by seasickness? How human can you get?) to his final noble act at the end of the novel. Oddly, though he carries the beginning of the story, once they get to England, he disappears, and doesn’t reappear for several hundred pages. Supposedly visiting his sister after his return, then stationed in the Tower of London in a room next to Washington’s to spy on him, since practically everyone in the Tower is also spying on Washington, it seems a redundancy to have Black there doing the same thing, especially since his findings are never reported. In fact, before his reappearance, he’s only mentioned once and then in an aside.

The trial will be of interest, since it shows how British law varied from American even at that time in history, and also from contemporary rules. Some of the procedures will probably appall devotees of courtroom TV series in the way the judges blithely brush aside opening and closing statements, the defense’s objections, etc., but what they do in the defense’s behalf will be equally surprising.

The story is a bit dry in places, with a great deal of dialogue and little action, and the escape itself, the one goal toward which the entire novel is aimed, is almost anticlimactic in its presentation. It has a near-history book factuality, where more action and a little more “adventure-novel” aspect would’ve better fit.

The ending itself is a little disappointing, in spite of the total irony that in the end, the fate of the greatest man of the American Revolution and perhaps the Revolution itself, is decided by a sharpshooter’s sense of honor.

An entertaining and imaginative novel, with a good use of fact but a bit lacking in the action department.

This novel was supplied by the publisher and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.

I don't come across enough alternative histories. The title of this one jumped out at once. Although George Washington is revered in American history as the father of the country, it is easy to see that according to the British he was a traitor to the king. Any Americans who started a revolution for independence even now, regardless of how justified their reasons were, would be in a difficult and dangerous position and have their supporters and opponents. This novel does a good job of presenting both sides of the story and makes for interesting reading. The writing itself is alright. It is the story that carries the day.

Jeremiah Black, an officer of the King’s Guard and British special agent, lands on the beach in late 1780 when the American Revolution is at its height but is currently deadlocked between the two sides. Black's mission is to change the tide of the war by kidnapping George Washington and sneaking him back to London on nearby ship with help from American Loyalists. Some of the Loyalists, though, would prefer to just kill Washington instead of sending him to England to stand trial for high treason.

I can't resist a good alternate history story and The Trial and Execution of the Traitor George Washington by Charles Rosenberg certainly presents an intriguing hook. I can't say I've read a "what if" novel where so much of American Revolutionary history as we know it hangs in the balance. This is my first book by this author and I'd say it's a great introduction to his imaginative take on the time period. I also enjoyed his presentation of both countries at war - and due to his writing we feel like we're right in the middle of everything from the moment of his capture through to his trial. As interesting as Black and the rest of the cast are to follow, I was hoping we'd actually get to see a bit of the story through Washington's eyes - whether that came in the form of alternating chapters or just small segments of text where we could get a closer look at Washington than what we had the opportunity to in the end. Even though the author has such a great hook, there are some moments that didn't quite work for me. Some scenes, especially closer to the end, are too dull when you should be riveted to your seat. On a similar note, at times I felt to distantly removed from the cast and events to be fully invested throughout the novel.

Overall, if you're in the market for a creative and believable alternate history on the American Revolution and the fate of one of America's founders, you ought to look into The Trial and Execution of the Traitor George Washington by Charles Rosenberg. It has a brilliant hook that will keep you reading to the very end. You'll have to bear through the slower moments, but it's well worth trying out. I will certainly need to look into more of Rosenberg's work in the future.

With this intriguing title, how can you pass up this alternative history novel? It begins with Washington being captured by a British spy and returned to England to b tried as a traitor.

Needles to say the Americans send someone to negotiate. This novel tells a complete tale, with spies, politicians, diplomats, patriots, and traitors all having a hand in the plot.

Suffice it to say that it's great with a marvelous plot.

I really liked the idea of a Man in the High Castle treatment for the American Revolution, but unfortunately the story lacked a lot of momentum. The writing was descriptive and introspective yet difficult to get through when it takes so long for the plot to move forward. A great idea whose execution just didn't work for me.

A plausible and well-crafted alternative history narrative of George Washington stolen away to London and tried for high treason, to be published June 26.

The historical figures involved in this story are entertainingly developed and presented. The story is more about those figures than about Washington until the third part of the story. Clear, accessible writing, and the reader is drawn into the story by those sympathetic figures and the compelling question of the justness of the American cause.

Interesting, informative, and a good read.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Charles Rosenberg, and Hanover Square Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

In this novel of alternate history, Charles Rosenberg asks the reader to ponder what might have happened if the British Crown had been able to get their hands on General George Washington and bring him to justice in an English Court. In the dead of night, off the New Jersey coast, Colonel Jeremiah Black undertakes his ultra-secret mission. He has only one chance to succeed and many have put their trust in him. Making his way ashore, Black begins a journey that will see him play the role of a disaffected Colonial soldier, inching closer to his ultimate prize. Striking at just the right moment, Black is able to capture General George Washington and take him aboard HMS Peregrine for the trip across the Atlantic. While the journey is slow and laborious, Washington is not yet panicked, sure that he will be treated as a prisoner of war. However, Black has his orders and while he would have rather put a bullet in the military man, he hopes for long-term praise when they reach the English Coast. Meanwhile, news of Washington’s capture reaches the king, as well as the British Cabinet. George III is beside himself with delight—perhaps fuelled by his insanity?—and is prepared to levy charges of high treason, which will lead to a gruesome form of execution, one the monarch is sure will make an example of Washington. Panicked, the Continental Congress of the American States sends its ambassador plenipotentiary, Ethan Abbott, to negotiate terms and bring Washington home safely. However, Britain does not recognise the Congress or any of its officials, leaving Abbott neutered and unsure what to do. After some smooth talking, Abbott is able to communicate with the prisoner, who is prepared to face his indictment, but demands an American represent him in court, even though some high profile Brits are prepared to step up for the cause. Enter Abraham Hobhouse, whose work in a small firm has been anything but remarkable up to this point. When he is approached to represent General Washington, the chance to change history flashes before Hobhouse’s eyes, though the notoriety might also turn sour should he fail. Armed with the most significant case of his career, Hobhouse must cobble together a case to defend a man who does not deny his charges, though remains firmly rooted that the Colonial cause was just and that he led a necessary rebellion. All eyes turn to the London court prepared to hear the case, where history hangs in the balance. Rosenberg proves adept at entertaining as well as educating his reader in this wonderfully developed story that asks ‘what if’ in relation to one of America’s founding historical moments. Recommended for those who love history and its alternate possibilities, as well as those who enjoy a unique legal thriller.

Having never read Rosenberg before, this was a delightful introduction to an author with a vivid imagination for alternative history. When I first saw the title, I was immediately drawn to the book, as it sought to posit a significant change in paths to one of the central pieces in early American history. Might Washington’s capture and guilt have deflated the American States and left the English to run roughshod in the colonies, locking them into a horrible situation? Additionally, how would both sides negotiate through international law, sovereign state interaction, and during a state of war? One can only imagine in this well-paced piece of historical fiction. The characters used throughout help the story to progress nicely at different points. Rosenberg uses not only time-centred dialogue and settings, but also brings the characters to life as they seek to find a balance. The reader can feel right in the middle of the action, particularly throughout the lead up and into Washington’s trial. Rosenberg uses a mix of short and mid-length chapters to push the story along, keeping the reader wondering what is to come and how it will resolve itself. This constant pace keeps the narrative crisp and the plot from getting too bogged down in minutiae. Perhaps this is why the story seems to read to swiftly and with ease. As things built, I could find myself curious to see just how far Rosenberg would take things, having literary freedoms under the umbrella of alternate history. The final product is definitely worth the time spent and keeps the reader engaged until the very end.

Kudos, Mr. Rosenberg, for this interesting piece of American history. I will be certain to check out more of your work and keep an eye out to see what you might have coming down the pipeline.

The premise is simple enough, what if the British would have succeeded in kidnapping George Washington? From there, the author explores what might have happened to George Washington as he was tried as a traitor. There was plenty of suspense and action, and the author certainly bases this alternative history in enough reality to feel real. Deeper exploration of what was happening in the colonies simultaneously to the trial and execution would have been great.

Loved this book. Didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend.

Love love love. Incredible book. Fabulous book club pick too

Thank you to NetGalley and Charles Rosenberg for allowing me to read and review The Trial and Execution of the Traitor George Washington. This book was very well written and un-put-downable! 5/5

Normally I don't care for alternate histories in fiction. "What if "X" major historical event never happened/ended differently" books usually end up feeling gimmicky and leave me mumbling "yeah...but that's NOT how it went." Odd as it is that we can suspend our disbelief to enjoy a book about werewolves or time travel more easily than if someone imagines that, say, the Romanovs were never assassinated, using this theme for a novel and succeeding is no small feat.

So given that, I was skeptical about a book that hinged on the idea that the British captured and extradited General Washington to London to stand trial for high treason.

Thus, this book was a huge pleasant surprise. Rosenberg somehow managed to avoid that gimmicky feeling, and did an outstanding job of weaving together a story that centered around both real Revolutionary War figures and imagined characters.

This was funny, clever, and didn't drag at all in the way I worried it might before I started reading it. I didn't love that the ending was so, uh...Tale of Two Cities, but overall, an excellent read, especially for those like myself who love this period of history.

There was definitely a lot of research that went into this book. I just could not follow the conversations between characters. I don't know exactly how to explain it, but there was just no flow, no emotion between characters. Even Washington was very stilted. I don't know what would make this flow any better, and I am sorry I don't have a recommendation on how to fix the story. I would not read this book again.

I received a copy of The Trial and Execution of the Traitor George Washington by Charles Rosenberg from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was initially intrigued by the summary and was extremely happy that the actual novel was quite enjoyable from start to end. It had plenty of action, suspense and solid writing. I am a big fan authors that explore alternate history and world-build so well.