Richards' strength lies in his ability to describe battle scenes and interweave historic detail with the action. His fascination and enthusiasm for the subject matter comes across and captures the reader while propelling the story forward. The book includes a glossary, maps and a "Fact and Fiction" section.

The difficulty with The Lady at Batoche is it is tough to get started. Richards tries to bring many characters to life in his novels and, for the most part, is successful. However, keeping track of these characters can be a problem, at least in the early pages of this novel. In order to get the characters straight, one should probably read Soldier Boys first. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that Richards refers to the characters using a combination of nicknames, first names, and family names.

The book takes its title from a short scene near the end of the novel, where two of the central characters, Tom Kerlsake and Luc Goyette's love interest, Marie, see an apparition. Although the vision is a turning point in the lives of these two characters, it seems a strange choice for a title, given the compelling exposition of the historic scenes in the novel.

This is an important novel for its subject matter and, when paired with Soldier Boys, is an engaging read.

Recommended.