“Tyburn”, the second volume published in a series of novels, aptly named Letters of Fire and Sword, is set in the eastern English counties of Kent and E. Sussex, and the City of London during the years 1746-47.
“Tyburn”, embodies a mix of deception, courage, betrayal, and of course, romanticism. The fictional characters interact with real historical figures in actual events from the battlefields in France, to the prisons, coffee houses, theatres, and gaming tables of 18th Century London.
“Tyburn”, is the sixth novel in order in the series which spans the years of 1733 to 1758; from the onset of the Jacobite Rebellion in the United Kingdom, then moving to North America for the French and Indian War.
While Grote has spent an inordinate amount of time on research, the story line is compelling as well. It is the second of a series of (16) novels, with a cast of characters good and bad, which would make Hollywood jealous.
Grote’s writing style is authentic, humorous and, although sometimes abrupt, will leave you in suspense, wondering what’s next. Although an entertaining and relatively easy read, it is a hard novel to put down.
Kevin John Grote was born in 1951, in Latrobe, Pa. His family moved to Southern Maryland in 1968. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., in 1973. Kevin served as an engineering officer in the Coast Guard on several cutters until 1980. After the Coast Guard, Kevin went to work at the Naval Ordnance Station in Indian Head, Md. Kevin worked for the Navy, until his retirement from Federal Service in 2007. Kevin has a U.S. Patent, and has authored many technical papers on electronic design, software engineering and information systems.
Kevin has been an avid reader his entire life. His favorite authors are Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, Bernard Cornwell, Patrick O'Brian and James Fenimore Cooper.
Kevin grew up in an area steeped in the French and Indian War. This series of novels (Letters of Fire and Sword) is homage to that conflict and the struggles in the wilderness.
Both “Tyburn” and “Skye” are currently available on Amazon.com as an eBook for Kindle, and Barnes & Noble as an eBook for Nook, for $2.99, each volume. Both Nook and Kindle have free viewer Apps for PC, IPad, Android and other devices.