NEVER CALL RETREAT

The third in a Civil War series, this novel plays with history and shows how the conflict might have been resolved differently. Most of the war's major players appear and are voiced by Boyd Gaines. General Grant is gruff and raspy, and Lee has a genteel Southern accent; only Lincoln is accentless, belonging to everyone. Throughout the long battle scenes Gaines doesn't allow things to drag; what really sticks with you, however, are the images of lines of war-weary men, the piles of amputated limbs, and the before-battle camp fires. A clever blend of imagination and fact, this is well handled by an experienced reader. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]