Help! I'm up against the wall for book club suggestions

[LisaM]

I was thinking of suggesting "In Search of Virginia Dare", but the author is too moony and the Virginia Dare part is lost.

I enjoy reading early American history and suggesting it for our book club. HOWEVER, I try hard to break out of the mold of the recent rash of popular books like "American Sphinx", "Duel", etc. (in main part because I don't necessarily trust the authors, many of whom are connected to the Federalist Society, American Enterprise Institute, etc., not to slant the past with their right wing tilt).

The book we read last year from my list was "Island in the Center of the World", which was voted the group's favorite that year, though it's a bit too pop history for my own personal tastes (however, I am picking for a group). The other choice I managed to get through a few years ago was "The Devil in Massassachusetts", so I don't think they'll be up for another Salem Witchcraft trial book.

I want something that's not too long, is available, preferably put out by a university press, and yet is readable for people who don't read a lot of history. It doesn't HAVE to be early American history, though I am currently in that mode.

Now that I've effectively eliminated all probable suggestions, anyone got anything?