PATH OF PERIL

Would the assassins plotting to kill Theodore Roosevelt on his visit to the Panama Canal succeed? Until this trip, no president while in office had ever traveled abroad. White House secretary Maurice Latta, thrilled to accompany the President, could never have anticipated the adventures and dangers ahead. Latta befriends watchful secret service agents, ambitious journalists, and anxious First Lady Edith Roosevelt on their hot and humid trip, where he observes a country teeming with inequalities and abounding in opportunities. Along the way he learns about his own strengths—what he never imagined he could do, and what he discovers he can’t do.

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Theodore Roosevelt did visit Panama in 1906, accompanied by White House staffer Maurice Latta. Path of Peril imagines what the newspapers feared to report and what historians never discovered about Roosevelt’s risky trip.

PRAISE

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Nothing better than settling down with a good, crisp, detail-rich assassination thriller. Someone is after Theodore Roosevelt, and author Marlie Wasserman tightens the screws, ratchets the tension, and twists the plot again and again. Read it."   

—William Martin, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Lincoln Letter and December '41

A feast of characters, scenery and history, Wasserman sets the table for a tremendous read. Path of Peril is a privileged walk with TR, his wife, his staff and dozens of characters struggling to create one of the “greatest engineering feats of the century.”

—Chris Keefer, author of No comfort for the Undertaker, a Carrie Lisbon Mystery 

Wasserman’s new novel, set around President Teddy Roosevelt’s visit to the Panama Canal in 1906, is more than just a historical crime novel. Her wonderful style of writing and her painstaking research into how assassins behave makes this book a must for readers. . . . In her profiles of the assassins, she does an excellent job of humanizing them but not excusing their actions or making them out to be heroes. Path of Peril is enjoyable and engaging and places the reader at the center of a fast, explosive and intriguing plot—making this new book one that should not be missed.  

—Mel Ayton, author of Plotting to Kill the President

Wasserman’s Path of Peril gives readers an exciting leap back in time, to Teddy Roosevelt’s 1906 visit to Panama to drum up support for continued work on the canal. The plot focuses on potential threats to the president’s life, but the multiple narrators depict fascinating changes in Panama itself, set off by separation from Colombia, construction of the largest engineering work to that time, influxes of foreigners to the canal, and U.S. accession to great power status due to its commercial and industrial development. These themes intertwine mysteriously with real and fictitious scenes right out of old-timey albums and stereographs. The book keeps us in suspense until the end, although we know that TR ultimately survives. And we grow to care about some of the actors, a mélange of immigrants from all corners of the planet. Buy this book—you’ll love it!

—Michael Conniff, historian of Panama

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Five stars. What a great story! Intriguing characters - both real and imagined. Told from all points of views about a subject I knew little to nothing about. Don't let the number of characters concern you - they all connect and are easy to follow. This is historical fiction at its finest! Great balance of dialogue and description which I love. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the honor of reviewing this book in exchange for my honest opinion!    5 stars

—Christine C., Netgalley

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Five stars. This was a great concept for a historical mystery novel, I enjoyed the use of the time-period and getting to go through and solve the case. I enjoyed the characters within and getting to figure out if they felt like realistic people. I enjoyed the story overall and thought Marlie Parker Wasserman does a great job in the genre. I can't wait to read more from Marlie Parker Wasserman.  5 stars

—Kathryn M. , Netgalley

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Five stars. An excellent historical mystery: well-plotted, gripping, and entertaining. The mix of fictional and historical characters works and the mystery kept me surprising and guessing. Highly recommended. 

—Anna Maria Giacomasso, Goodreads

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Five stars. Excellent book! A really good historical fiction story about a part of history I knew very little about. The Panama Canal construction, Teddy Roosevelt, and an assassination attempt. All great pieces, with excellent characters too! Easily readable, fast moving, hard to put down. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

—Randall White, Netgalley

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Five stars. Being an Under Secretary to a U.S. President is not an easy task. Theodore Roosevelt was a dynamic individual who found it very difficult to stay in one place. Noted for his exploits in Cuba with the Rough Riders among other adventures, he ran most of his staff ragged. France has failed to complete the Panama Canal and Teddy went with a cadre of Secret Service Agents and other dignitaries to assess the progress of the canal. Anarchists around the world planned ways to eliminate this bothersome President. Ms. Wasserman develops a very gripping tale of intrigue as a number of people try to eliminate this dynamic President. Assassins could be anywhere and vigilance is the name of the game.  Panama during the visit is a virtual sweatshop with rain every day. Mud is everywhere and the project is monumental. Panama is an independent country and diplomatic relationships between Panama’s government and the President need to be maintained.  This book does not disappoint in the movement of events. Well-paced and plotted, engaging and entertaining, as well as informative. Read and enjoy this writer’s talents.

—Virginia Williams, Netgalley

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Combining historical facts with fictional details PATH OF PERIL provides readers a fascinating look at a little mentioned, but important, piece of history.

—Cozy Up with Kathy Blog

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This book is just "Wow." The author, Marlie Parker Wasserman has feasted the readers with real-life characters and fictional ones from the time period 1903-1906.

—Smitha A., Netgalley

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For more on Path of Peril

https://crimespreemag.com/rethinking-suspense/

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• an amazing historical fiction thriller. I love how the writer breathes life into the historical figures such as Teddy Roosevelt. I enjoyed the sense of danger and the mystery of who would want to harm one of the most famous Presidents of all time. - Urban Book Reviews

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• an amazing historical fiction thriller. I love how the writer breathes life into the historical figures such as Teddy Roosevelt. I enjoyed the sense of danger and the mystery of who would want to harm one of the most famous Presidents of all time. - Urban Book Reviewsan amazing historical fiction thriller. I love how the writer breathes life into the historical figures such as Teddy Roosevelt. I enjoyed the sense of danger and the mystery of who would want to harm one of the most famous Presidents of all time. - Urban Book Reviews

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• an amazing historical fiction thriller. I love how the writer breathes life into the historical figures such as Teddy Roosevelt. I enjoyed the sense of danger and the mystery of who would want to harm one of the most famous Presidents of all time. - Urban Book Reviews

• Amid presidential assassin plots, anarchists, and contract rigging, the story provides an interesting mystery not typically found in history books. - Novels Alive

• Wasserman has succeeded in blending history with mystery in this fascinating look at early 20th century politics. And make no mistake – this book is *packed* with history, but not your dry, textbook history. Oh no, this is “wild west” history where protocols really didn’t exist, Presidents roamed the globe, and First Ladies were pulled into the action. - It’s All About the Book

• Wasserman conveys the humid uncomfortable atmosphere of Panama as she describes, not only the weather and environs, but also class systems, prejudices, and political beliefs. Combining historical facts with fictional details PATH OF PERIL provides readers a fascinating look at a little mentioned, but important, piece of history. - Cozy Up With Kathy

• The book Path of Peril takes us to a time back in 1906. I learned to get to know the historical characters, as Marlie brings them to life. This is an excellent true story told perfectly, bringing the truth of the greatest engineering achievement in a particular period in the United States. I highly recommend this read and looking for more work by this author. - Novel Nerd Blog

• This is a good historical Fiction Mystery about a plot to kill Theodore Roosevelt when he’s visiting the Panama Canal. I enjoyed reading this I didn’t know much about this time period so it was interesting learning about this time period which the author covered so well. Marlie Parker Wasserman is a good historical crime fiction writer. - Enjoyingbooksagain

• This is a gripping historical fiction filled with mystery and great mix of fictional characters with real characters. Ms. Wasserman’s descriptions are vivid and detailed and will keep you engaged throughout. She blends the history with fiction and mystery that makes it extremely intriguing. - mokwip8991

• Wasserman has taken an important event in American history and woven a good story around it. I can tell Wasserman has done much research as she describes the work done on the canal. She adds lots of detail to the action. A reader wanting to know more about the building of the canal and the atmosphere of the area will find much to appreciate in this novel. - Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

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• an amazing historical fiction thriller. I love how the writer breathes life into the historical figures such as Teddy Roosevelt. I enjoyed the sense of danger and the mystery of who would want to harm one of the most famous Presidents of all time. - Urban Book Reviews

• Amid presidential assassin plots, anarchists, and contract rigging, the story provides an interesting mystery not typically found in history books. - Novels Alive

• Wasserman has succeeded in blending history with mystery in this fascinating look at early 20th century politics. And make no mistake – this book is *packed* with history, but not your dry, textbook history. Oh no, this is “wild west” history where protocols really didn’t exist, Presidents roamed the globe, and First Ladies were pulled into the action. - It’s All About the Book

• Wasserman conveys the humid uncomfortable atmosphere of Panama as she describes, not only the weather and environs, but also class systems, prejudices, and political beliefs. Combining historical facts with fictional details PATH OF PERIL provides readers a fascinating look at a little mentioned, but important, piece of history. - Cozy Up With Kathy

• The book Path of Peril takes us to a time back in 1906. I learned to get to know the historical characters, as Marlie brings them to life. This is an excellent true story told perfectly, bringing the truth of the greatest engineering achievement in a particular period in the United States. I highly recommend this read and looking for more work by this author. - Novel Nerd Blog

• This is a good historical Fiction Mystery about a plot to kill Theodore Roosevelt when he’s visiting the Panama Canal. I enjoyed reading this I didn’t know much about this time period so it was interesting learning about this time period which the author covered so well. Marlie Parker Wasserman is a good historical crime fiction writer. - Enjoyingbooksagain

• This is a gripping historical fiction filled with mystery and great mix of fictional characters with real characters. Ms. Wasserman’s descriptions are vivid and detailed and will keep you engaged throughout. She blends the history with fiction and mystery that makes it extremely intriguing. - mokwip8991

• Wasserman has taken an important event in American history and woven a good story around it. I can tell Wasserman has done much research as she describes the work done on the canal. She adds lots of detail to the action. A reader wanting to know more about the building of the canal and the atmosphere of the area will find much to appreciate in this novel. - Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

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