"Gideon's short-lived run as a locally famous boy detective ended when middle school started, and everyone else--including his best friend, Lily--moved on while Gideon kept holding on to his trench coat, fedora, and his treasured film noir collection. Now he's sixteen and officially retired. That is, until Lily shows up suddenly at Gideon's door, needing his help. He might be mad at her for cutting him off with no explanation, but Gideon can't turn...

Covers the Civil War from January 1862 to January 1863, describing the events of that year through messages, proclamations, newspaper articles, letters, diaries, and poems from people who lived through it.