Dark Treason
An American Revolution Spy Thriller
By Robert J. Skead
Synopsis
A NATION BETRAYED. A SPY CAPTURED. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
1780. The fate of a fledgling nation hangs precariously in the balance. Benedict Arnold, a hero turned traitor, plots the unthinkable: surrendering the strategic fortress of West Point to the British.
If his dark scheme succeeds, the flame of liberty will be extinguished. Now, two young patriots, John and Ambrose Clark, are thrust into the heart of this perilous moment. Witness their courageous race against time as they become entangled in the astonishing true story of Arnold’s betrayal and the captured British spy, Major John André.
Will they reach General Washington in time to expose the treachery? Or will André face the hangman’s noose, taking the secrets of Arnold’s treason with him? Discover the untold story that could have changed the course of American history.
Experience the suspense. Discover the truth.
Dark Treason is the only historical-fiction, middle grade novel that tells how this amazing saga unfolded from the point of view of the major figures involved.
Endorsements
“The Clark brothers are back—this time to foil Benedict Arnold’s plot to betray America. It’s an action-packed adventure with a keen eye to historical detail. No other fiction writer does a better job than Robert Skead bringing to life the high-stakes heroism of the American Revolution.”
– Robert M.S. McDonald, Professor of History, United States Military Academy, West
Point
“Twin brothers Ambrose and John Clark are on the job again in this rollicking tale of spies, deception and chance events. Young readers engrossed in Dark Treason won’t realize they are also absorbing a carefully researched history lesson on a turning point of the Revolutionary War.
The Clark twins are on the scene as Benedict Arnold’s treasonous plans to deliver West Point to the British unravel. Skead uses their points of view to make a complex episode of American history understandable to young readers. Readers learn about the history and motivations of Revolutionary War figures such as Arnold, British spy John André, and Benjamin Tallmadge against the backdrop of the Neutral Ground of Westchester County where neither side was in control and no one was safe. The choices and decisions the twins make as they navigate this highly charged moment in history send a subtle message that doing the right thing is not always easy but is always right.”
– Char Weigel, Vice President for Special Projects, Revolutionary Westchester 250
“Deftly blends fictional characters into a sharply accurate account of a chapter of the Revolutionary war that is almost stranger than fiction. Tense, suspenseful, fast-moving, and well-suited to its audience. A wild nail-biter of a yarn.”
– Jack Kelly, historian and author of God Save Benedict Arnold and Band of Giants
