‘Time Exposure’ by Lynne Kennedy

Published in the USA,
September 2012.
ISBN: 978-1479331505

When having some work done at her Washington home, digital photographer Maggie Thornhill finds a mummified corpse in her basement. Could this be her ancestor Civil War photographer, Joseph Thornhill, who disappeared just after the end of the Civil War and whose body has never been found?

The story starts in Washington City in July 1861 with the main narrator Joseph Thornhill, a young man who with his friend and mentor Alex Gardner, undercover of taking photographs to record the Civil War becomes a spy for the U.S. Secret Service. In the course of his observations of the war Joseph uncovers a killer.  As he tracks the man he discovers the reason for the killings and realises that he is dealing with arms dealing, profiteering and treason.

Eventually Joseph is wounded and captured by Confederates. Although, he later escapes with proof of his suspicions, can he bring the evil doers to justice?  Through Joseph’s diary and photographs found with the body Maggie links the arms company with one still in business today. But is the body that of Jospeh Thornhill.

Whilst the story of the mystery of Joseph Thornhill is intriguing, the descriptions and history of the American Civil War provides fascinating reading.  Lynne Kennedy has seamlessly blended fact and fiction to produce a modern mystery with its solution set in the past. With some clever twists this tale will keep you guessing to the end.

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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

Lynne Kennedy  was born in Brooklyn, New York. She obtained a Masters Degree in Science from Hofstra University, New York, and moved to San Diego, California in the early 80’s. In San Diego, Lynne worked as a museum director at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California for many years. In this capacity, she developed education programs, exhibitions and film projects on a number of timely science subject areas. She also worked with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department Crime Lab and the San Diego Police Department to develop forensic programs for teachers and students and conduct mystery nights for families. She has worked with experts at various historical museums, such as the Tenement Museum in New York, the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Coronado Historical Museum, in Coronado, to create innovative ways of bringing history to life. She began writing mysteries in 1995. History, digital photography and forensic science are personal interests and play significant roles in her novels. Her position in the museum community has also enabled her to network the community of experts needed to assist in her research and add authenticity to her books.  Lynne is married to John Kennedy!