The Missourian

In the chaotic wake of the American Civil War, a hardened Confederate lieutenant‑colonel is dispatched to the far‑off court of Emperor Maximilian in Mexico, carrying secret orders that could shift the balance of power in a continent still bruised by conflict. There he encounters the enigmatic Marquise Jeanne d’Aumerle—known as Jacqueline—who moves like a living riddle, her mission a delicate weave of French ambition and Mexican intrigue. Around them swirl a cast of sharp‑tongued officers, daring brigands, and a restless Mexican hacendado whose fortunes hinge on daring blockade runs.

As alliances flicker and betrayals loom, the Missourian must navigate a world of glittering courts and shadowy guerrilla camps while keeping his own loyalties intact. The novel paints the clash of cultures and the raw hunger for destiny, offering vivid scenes of sword‑play, daring horse rides, and the tense negotiations that bind strangers together. Listeners will be drawn into a richly textured panorama of postwar ambition, where every conversation could spark a new war.