Randy Overbeck
June 2026
In occupied New York, a schoolteacher with everything to lose turns information into a weapon, threading between Redcoats and rebels as plots against Washington gather steam.
After rogue Redcoats assault her and strip her family's Long Island farm, Abigail Trench fights to survive in New York City—tutoring in a high-ranking British officer's Water Street household by day, navigating taverns, informants, and soldiers by night. Through Abigail's keen eyes—and a counter-narrative following a principled British major—the novel renders the moral gray zones of occupation with gritty intimacy. As rumors swirl of a strike at General Washington, Abigail's vantage inside upper-crust parlors and rough waterfront rooms makes her an ideal courier—and a target.
Between The Pages
Abigail Trench is a gripping historical novel that immerses readers in the tension and uncertainty of occupied New York. Randy Overbeck crafts a vivid, tightly woven narrative that follows a resilient schoolteacher forced into the shadows of espionage. By day, Abigail tutors within a British officer’s household, and by night, she navigates taverns, informants, and danger with a courage that steadily deepens. Overbeck balances the story with a compelling counter perspective from a principled British major, adding nuance to the moral complexities of war. While some depictions of violence and occupation may feel especially resonant given today’s global conflicts, the novel ultimately centers on strength, compassion, and the quiet heroism of an ordinary woman who chooses to act.
With its textured world building, escalating tension, and emotionally grounded heroine, Abigail Trench delivers a high intensity read that highlights both the brutality of war and the bravery found within it.
Rating: 5 Stars
