The Missourian

** "The Missourian" by Eugene P. Lyle is a historical fiction that unfolds amidst the backdrop of the French intervention in Mexico, telling the story of John D. Driscoll, a Confederate officer on a diplomatic assignment, where his path crosses with Jacqueline, a courageous French noblewoman involved in a clandestine political endeavor; together in the opening chapters, we see their interactions as Jacqueline arrives in the port of Tampico, eager to explore, undeterred by warnings of danger, and accompanied by her maid, Berthe, and her worried escort, Sergeant Michel Ney. As the story unfolds, Jacqueline's fearless spirit is shown off, revealing the budding political schemes connected to Maximilian's court while also revealing the dangers and excitement that await her and her newfound companions. **