Return to Book Reviews
Cut of the Cross
By Robert Gold
Robert L.
Gold’s historical novel Cut of the
Cross is the second in his Colonial Cities mystery series.
Cut of the Cross is set in
St. Augustine in the late 18th century, where a serial killer is
killing beautiful young women including the governor’s niece. Lt.
Dorado Delgado is charged with bringing the killer to justice. As
Delgado digs into the story, clues take him from St. Augustine to
Havana, Cuba, where information is guarded, enhancing his suspicion.
Dr. Gold, a professor emeritus of history at several universities,
provides a panorama of colonial life full of brutality, intrigue,
fascinating characters, and conflict. The characters are adept at
keeping their secrets, and guessing the culprit will be a challenge.
But there is much more to the book than a mystery. Gold sprinkles
historical details of dress, food, speech, housing, and many other
topics into the story. In one fascinating chapter, he describes how
pathologists of the time studied a variety of insects on corpses to
arrive at time of death.
This is a first-rate historical novel, well researched by an author
who knows his subject. It is a window to our colonial past. Well worth
the read.
Marcinson Press
October 24, 2016
478 pages
ISBN-10 : 0996720731
ISBN-13 : 978-0996720731