Rating: 
Summary: a great glance at our history
Review: a well written book with fiction entwined with history. I have come to enjoy books written in this matter, I feel that fiction is largely based on fact but with some discreet changes. Mr. Jakes has shown the feelings of our people at the end of a bitter war, not only as a nation but a personal hurt that effected every person left alive. I sincerely hope this is not what we will have to live through in the coming years with the current war against terrorism.
Rating: 
Summary: John Jakes Does It Again!
Review: Having devoured John Jakes's American series, the North and South trilogy and The Crown Family Saga, I couldn't wait to read his latest book, On Secret Service. And this furthur illustrated to me why I consider John Jakes to be one of my favorite historical writers as he once again delivered to me a first rate reading experience.As he has done in his previous books, Jakes introduces us to two fictional characters who are involved with notable and famous people as they embark on adventures and participate in historical events. The book begins in Washington and then we, as readers, witness some of the battles of the Civil War, to the beginnings of the Secret Service. And eventhough we may know the climax of the book, it is getting there that is most fascinating. This is a large book filled with an unforgettable cast of charatcers, during a momentous time in American history. I suggest you have lots of time to read when you begin this book. You won't be able to put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Topic, Very Poor Execution
Review: I am a fan of John Jakes. The North and South series are some of the very best novels I've read. I was very disappointed in On Secret Service and could not get past page 100. The concept of the novel is excellent but the plot surrounding the historical facts is very thin. The characters themselves lack any depth and provoked no emotional response from me as the reader. The story simply did not intrigue me enough to finish it.
Rating:
Summary: No plot developement
Review: I enjoyed the parts about the secret service, the development of spying practices, and the war in general. But the romantic subplots were unrealistic and uninteresting. I found it difficult to remember which woman was in love with which man, and which subplot was what. Jakes seems to think the war was fought over slavery, and many disagree. I greatly preferred "How Few Remain" by Harry Turtledove, which exhibits a lot of imagination and is much more fascinating to read the what-if scenario of alternative history.
Rating:
Summary: A great glimpse into the origins of the Secret Service!
Review: I vividly remember when John Jakes's The Bastard hit the TV screens in the 1970s. It was my first introduction to the power of historical fiction, and I've never forgotten it. Since I'm in a mystery frame of mind these days, I purchased a copy of his new book, On Secret Service, because its main subject is the origins of the US Secret Service and the espionage that took place during the American Civil War. I wasn't disappointed. Jakes has a way of describing historical situations and characters that is very persuasive--especially male characters. If you're a fan of the Kent Family chronicles or North and South, there are some differences in this book. First, the enormous cast of characters is hard to get to know because family affiliations (a great organizing tactic in the earlier books) are not the main thing here. I don't know the Civil War period very well, and I think that Civil War buffs will be most satisfied with On Secret Service because it features a lot of key players in the War (Stuart, Mosby, Grant, McClellan, Stanton)who may not be as familiar to those who don't avidly read about the War. The descriptions of warfare, torture, and under-hand tactics are very explicit, but are not overblown. This is, after all, a book about the bloodiest conflict in US History, and Jakes gives us as accurate picture as we can probably stand of that conflict. Civil War buffs and fans of 19th century US History will probably enjoy this book a great deal, and even fans of mystery and spy novels will have a good time!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting book about a little known part of the Civil War.
Review: John Jakes "broke through" with his "Bicentennial Series" aka "The Kent Family Chronicles" and cemented his place with his three volume Civil War series and returns to that conflict with this book. Instead of concentrating on the soldiers, he follows the exploits of the spys and the behind the scene manuvering that went on during the War. The battles of the War are, as another reviewer said, mere footnotes in this narrative. (Not surprising as Jakes once stated that during his Civil War trilogy he had a note above his desk saying "Not Gettsyburg again!") This book explores Jakes belief (correct in my opinion) that the other facets of the War are just as interesting as the battles. Several of the interesting footnote people of the era are here,Alan Pinkerton Lafeyette Baker, Rose Greenhow, and John Mosby, the famous "Grey Ghost" of the Confederacy. Modern espionage had its birth during the Civil War and Jakes depicts that birth vividly. It does drag a bit here and there, which is why "only" four stars, but well worth reading
Rating:
Summary: Sensational look at Civil War spying!!
Review: John Jakes tells a wonderful story of love and adventure, sentered around the Civil War. Spying is the name of the game, for both the North and South. A Northern detective falls in love with a Washington DC lady, who has been secretly spying for the South. At the same time, a Northern actress dresses up as a soldier and gets herself captured by the South. The soldier assigned to take her to prison falls in love with her. The plot twists and turns. Meanwhile, John Wilkes Booth plans to do harm to Abraham Lincoln. All in all this is a wonderful book!
Rating: 
Summary: A FORGOTTEN ASPECT OF THE CIVIL WAR
Review: Most people forget that the Secret Service began during the Civil War era. Also, I don't think many people are aware that there was a spying aspect to the war because it was never in the forefront of events. I've been a Jakes fan since the KENT FAMILY CHRONICLES. (Still his best work, though I loved HOMELAND.) President Lincoln still dies in the end but I wish Jakes had provided his fictional characters with happier endings to balance the tragedy. I look forward to JJ's next work because this was not his best effort.
Rating:
Summary: An Entertaining Read
Review: Mr. Jakes has succeeded in writing a very engaging, yet different sort of novel about the Civil War. If you are looking for a "war narrative" like Killer Angels, you need to look elsewhere. This is one of the first (if not only) Civil War era stories I have read where major battles like Gettysburg and Shiloh appear almost as footnotes. And yet many a familiar military leader (Mosby, Stuart, McClellan, etc) make appearances. The cast assembled by Mr. Jakes is a very good blend of fictional and historical figures. I will admit that I had never given a lot of thought to espionage during the Civil War and found this story very compelling. You will come away uncomfortable with the methods employed by both sides to advance their respective causes. If I have a complaint with the story it is that at times the coincidences become a little too much. Without giving anything away, Jakes' main characters have a knack brodering on the incredible to keep running into each other. But if you can suspend at least that much disbelief, you will have found a story well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: But The End Is Still The Same
Review: ON SECRET SERVICE is the first book I've read by John Jakes. I must say that I'm impressed. The thorough knowledge and understanding of the Civil War period displayed by Jakes in this book is impressive. The literary portraits he draws of relatively little-known, but real, historical figures such as Alan Pinkerton, Lafayette Baker and Elizabeth Van Lew, combine with his well-constructed fictional characters to pull the reader into the story. His sense of the public moods of the times and his use of arcane historical detail, such as the use of balloons for surveillance, lends the story added interest and greater credibility. With all of these strengths, however, the book also has a certain melancholy inevitability about it. In spite of all the effort and all the suffering of the hero, Lon, President Lincoln still ends up dead at the hands of John Wilkes Booth. Nothing can change that. Moreover, the romance between Lon and Margaret follows a rather predictable course. Finally, when all is said and done, everyone ends up deeply scarred by their experiences in the War. As fitting as this probably is, it is nice to feel that the survivors are headed for happier lives once the War is over, but one of the final images is of Margaret crying as she and Lon leave Washington to go west. ON SECRET SERVICE is an excellent book in many ways. The quality of the writing is first rate, the characterization is good, and the historical detail is fascinating. There is plenty of action and it holds your interest all the way. But, in the end, Lincoln still dies. This isn't the author's fault, but the inevitability of it, and the mundane romantic storyline, hold my rating to four stars. Good, but not quite great. I do recommend it, though, especially for Civil War buffs.
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