This true story had to involve an enormous amount of research and a very openminded approach to turning factual data into a historically significant and entertaining account of the murder of Joshua Spooner. As an ancestor of Timothy Ruggles, I had done lots of research, but had not been able to achieve such a marvelous perspective into the day to day life of revolutionary Massachusetts, and into the mindsets of the main and minor characters in making the decisions which led to such tragic outcomes . Many thanks and congratulations to the author (Andrew Noone).