Manchester, Vermont & Murder Most Foul!...(or not.) This is one of those "small history" titles that are such a delight to discover and that simultaneously entertain and enlighten. And who doesn't love a true murder mystery tale that features ghostly specters and villagers in a frenzied search for evidence that may (or may not) be found "where the potatoes don't freeze." University of Massachusetts historian Gerald McFarland originally intended to write a conventional history explaining the formative years of a Vermont town. But while investigating early Manchester he became fascinated with the notorious Boorn-Colvin story that, in the early 19 century, caused an uproar throughout the Northshire and a sensation all along the American sea board. And it turned out to be a marvelous vehicle for understanding the volatile tensions, stresses, and strains at work in a still developing New England village. Whether you live in Manchester, or are just visiting, COUNTERFEIT MAN is a wonderful read. The sites described are still here (including the house where it all started), the descendants numerous, and the mystery remains as intriguing as it was nearly two centuries ago.