Falsely accused of cheating at cards, Alan Carey—the younger son of the Earl of Aubigny—finds himself embroiled in a disastrous duel with his accuser, and is sent down from Cambridge. At a loose end, and considerably disturbed by his own seeming "cowardice," as a result of his confused conduct during the duel, Alan is dispatched by his father to the colony of New York, there to inspect the earl's property in the Mohawk Valley. Finding in backwoodsman Jake Winter an excellent guide and companion, Alan sets out for the Ashwater property, where he must contend with the dishonest bailiff, Mr. Hepburn, and set matters to rights. Working to improve the property, he eventually is caught up in the events of the French and Indian War, witnessing the death of Lord Howe at the Battle of Carillon, and fighting with General Wolfe's forces during the struggle to capture Quebec...

The seventh of Ronald Welch's novels devoted to the adventures of the noble Carey family over many centuries of English history—loosely connected, this "series" is now organized by historical chronology, rather than by publication date—Mohawk Valley is an engaging work of historical fiction, and a worthy addition to the "Carey Family Chronicles." I found Alan a likable and engaging hero, and appreciated the way in which his new life, so far from "civilization," gave him a sense of purpose that he had been lacking, in England. Although not explicitly explored by the author in the narrative, I thought there was some oblique commentary here about America as a place for those who just didn't quite "fit," back in the old country. The story itself is gripping, as is always the case with Welch's books, and I was immediately engrossed in it, once I began. I did find it unlikely that Alan's entire friend set from Cambridge would have reassembled in frontier New York, thus allowing him to resolve the false accusation against him, and to clear his name, but I could suspend my disbelief well enough. A more discordant note, for me, was the dated depiction of the native peoples of the region, chiefly Mohawks and "Algonkins." In a reversal that felt a little less than believable to me, it was Alan who had the more fair-minded approach, as opposed to Jake Winter, who, despite living in the region, was far more hostile, both to the enemy Algonkins and to the allied Mohawk. Of course, Alan being a Welch hero, he would have to be fair-minded, but I couldn't help but feel that it was the colonial who would have been more likely to be comfortable with native peoples. I was also puzzled and rather put off by the depiction of the Mohawk village, which was described as dirty and smelly, with homes that were "bark huts," rather than the expected longhouse.

Despite these dated elements, I would recommend Mohawk Valley, both to Ronald Welch fans, and to young historical fiction readers interested in stories set during the French and Indian War. ( )

A particularly strong installment in the Carey series set during the French and Indian War. Welch elegantly blends historical detail with strong characters and a gripping narrative. ( )