Every so often, I come across a book—in this case, an Advance Reader Copy—I’m particularly pleased to recommend, and On Free Ground by Greg McDonald @GregMcd99 is one of them.
Set against the turbulent years leading up to the Civil War, the novel takes readers into an America where the question of slavery was no longer something the country could postpone confronting. McDonald brings that period to life not simply through historical events, but through people forced to make difficult choices about freedom, conscience, loyalty, and courage.
What particularly impressed me is the sense of historical authenticity. The world of the novel feels lived in rather than reconstructed for our benefit. The history provides the foundation, but it never overwhelms the characters or the story. That balance is difficult to achieve in historical fiction, and it’s one of the things I appreciate most about the book.
Readers of my own novels know how much I enjoy stories in which the past becomes something immediate and consequential rather than merely a backdrop. On Free Ground approaches history in a very different setting from my Vatican thrillers, but it shares that conviction: history is ultimately about human beings making choices, often without knowing what those choices will eventually mean.
If historical fiction is among your interests—or if you simply enjoy a compelling story grounded in a fascinating and deeply consequential period of American history—I think On Free Ground is well worth your time.
Highly recommended. Publication date November 1, 2026.
