Ratcatcher

Matthew Hawkwood is a Bow Street Runner, and a very successful one at that.  He has been asked by his boss, Chief Magistrate Read to investigate a deadly highway robbery.  Part of his remit is to find a naval message, which was taken during the robbery.

To begin getting information, Hawkwood is going to have travel to the underbelly of London and meet with his old sergeant, Nathaniel Jago.  That doesn’t prevent him from seeing the arrogance and wealth of the upper crust of society.  It is through the latter that he meets Catherine de Varesne; a young woman who had lost her father to the guillotine.  She had escaped to Portugal with her mother before her father was killed.

Hawkwood finds another case heaped upon his plate when another Runner is found dead upon the banks of the Thames.  When Hawkwood receives the dead Runner’s baton, he discovers the plans for some sort of clockwork mechanism inside.  It turns out that that these were what the dead naval officer was carrying.  It isn’t long before Hawkwood is taken into a secret naval meeting to have things explained, but where does this leave the investigation?

Author James McGee’s historical thriller is exciting from the first page right through to the last.  Based on historical facts and using literary license, McGee has meshed them together into a rollicking good read, which was hard to put down.  I can hardly wait to get my hands on the sequels.

Gallows Drop

DCI Kate Daniels is at the scene of a hanging.  Unfortunately she isn’t going to be the Senior Investigating Officer; DCI James Atkins is, and they have history.  Despite being about to go no leave, Daniels begins her investigation with her DS, Hank Gormley.

Finally a witness steps forward on the day before Daniels is to go on leave.  It is Atkins’ daughter.  Once Superintendent Bright hears that Atkins has a conflict of interest, he removes him from the case.  Atkins promises himself that he will deal with Daniels as a result of her being given the case over him.

The case takes a twist when the friend of the first victim is found hanging in a nearby forest.  This time there is a note with the body.

A problem later arises when Daniels receives the final pathology report.  The cause of death isn’t as they had suspected, so their supposed criminals could get off a murder charge.  The team needs more evidence.

How will they put their case together without evidence?  Author Mari Hannah’s thriller gets even more thrilling as the reader turns the pages towards a very exciting conclusion.  This book was hard to put down, leaving the reader wanting to pick up the sequel.

The Death of Robin Hood

Having recently signed the Magna Carta, King John has decided that he doesn’t need to take orders from rebel barons, so he has recruited soldiers from across the channel to come to his aid in putting them in their place.

It is at this time Alan Dale hears rumours that some people want to offer the throne to the French king.  He is sent by Robin, Lord Locksley, to London to beg reinforcements to stop the siege of Rochester.  Unfortunately he fails to get them.  He returns to inform those within the besieged castle.  How long can they hold out?

It isn’t long, Alan is injured when part of the keep collapses due to mining underneath it.  Now King John can do as he pleases with his prisoners. Fortunately he is persuaded to not kill nor mutilate them.  Not long after being imprisoned in Corfe Castle, the French, under Prince Louis invade.  Robin once again swears fealty to King John, bringing his men with him.

However, the following autumn, when King John died, apparently of dysentery, what were the people to do.  Robin and Alan realise that their loyalty now lies with the child, Henry III.  However, the war in England has not gone away with the crowning of a new king.

Author Angus Donald has plenty of action in the final chapters as the English fight for a new king and the hope of peace.  This ends the story of Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men.  All books by the author in this series were thoroughly enjoyable.

The Templars' Last Secret

Bruno Courreges, chief of police for St. Denis, is just about to head to work when he receives a call about the death of a woman at the base of a cliff.  Did she fall or was she pushed?  The local count is concerned about Templar enthusiasts, but upon seeing the body, suggests that it was posed.  He then shows Bruno a photo of a local ancient statue that had been found in the area; it shows the same exact pose.

Later in the day, Bruno finds that he has had a bureaucrat from Paris foisted upon him.  The woman Amelie, is actually able to help him a bit with puzzling graffiti, which the dead woman had been spray painting on the cliff wall.  She also is a help when it comes to identifying the dead woman.  There seems to be a connection to Israel.

Not long after that, Bruno is informed that the Mossad and Shin Bet are interested in the woman.  It isn’t long before the search is expanded and results begin to pour in; all unbeknownst to Bruno.  It turns out that there were four others with the dead woman and they are terrorists.  The search begins.

Author Martin Walker has plenty of action awaiting the reader, interspersed with periods of calm as Bruno prepares for the wedding of two close friends.  A very good read, which was hard to put down.

A Masterpiece of Corruption

John Grey is at his studies when a mysterious message is handed to him, inviting him to a meeting.  When he attends the meeting, he is surprised to find that the invitation was actually for his father, and the other two at the meeting think that he is going to assassinate the Lord Protector, Cromwell.

Grey approaches the Secret Service, and Secretary Thurloe assigns Grey the task of finding the assassin who is the backup plan should his own fail.  His subterfuge is muddled by Aminta Clifford showing up at his place.  She claims to be his cousin, although she isn’t.  He also begins his work at the court of Cromwell.

It isn’t long before he meets Cromwell in person.  Cromwell orders him to continue the deception in hopes they can find who truly wants to murder Cromwell.  Grey slips into the role of double agent quite uncomfortably. Agents of the enemy become suspicious of him, so he is arrested and thrown in The Tower.  Sometime later he is broken out of jail and sent off to Brussels on behalf of the enemy, yet against his own gut feeling.

Author L. C. Tyler’s novel is full of intrigue, double and triple crosses.  One wonders who Grey should put his trust in.  I quite enjoyed the read, and look forward to reading the sequel when it is available.

Caribee

Captain Thomas Kydd and his ship, the L’ Aurore, have just arrived in Barbados in the hopes of gaining reinforcements for the fleet in Buenos Aires.  Admiral Cochrane tells him that he is too late; reinforcements from England have already passed through.  Since Kydd and his ship are no longer needed to the south, the admiral attaches him to his fleet.

The purpose of the fleet was to prevent the French from taking control of any of the British islands.  While on singular patrol, they hear explosions.  Sailing rapidly to the sound they find nothing, but hear a massive explosion.  Coming to the site of it, they see nothing, but find a single sailor hanging onto a piece of wood.  Suddenly Kydd realises that there is a volcano below them about to explode!

After a few patrols out of Barbados, the L’ Aurore is sent to join the fleet at Jamaica.  Kydd is quite excited about the prospect of working out of Jamaica.  He finds out that his task will be to take on privateers.  With that comes the possibility of prize money.  One privateer that they capture is made into a tender for the L’ Aurore and thereby will help in their assignment.

Napoleon’s decree against trade has the sugar plantation owners in a dither.  How will they ever sell their sugar now?  Desperate, ships still sail, only to be picked off by a couple of French frigates.  L’ Aurore, in conjunction with the Anson, is tasked with putting an end to the Frenchies.  Although successful on this occasion, the French still are causing consternation.  What to do?

Kydd’s private secretary and good friend, Nicholas Renzi has an idea, but can he ferret out the necessary information?  Only author Julian Stockwin has the answer to that question.  He has crafted another swashbuckling historical naval thriller.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.  I look forward to the sequels.

Crowbone

Orm has brought Crowbone a bundle of silver, telling him that he wants him to get a ship and crew together.  Orm also tells Crowbone to stay safe, for he is the future King if Norway.  On the trip, Crowbone learns that there is a special message awaiting him on Mann.

Little does he know that there are others in search of this enigmatic message.  A chance meeting with a dying man leads to Crowbone gaining another crew and ship.  All become Oathsworn, however some of the new men are Christian who don’t like the Odin oath, but do swear to be Crowbone’s men in the faith of Christ.

Crowbone later learns that the man who set the story in motion was a priest from Orm’s past.  He also knew the priest and knew that he was a trouble maker.  But, Crowbone wondered, could he still trust Orm?

The Oathsworn’s luck turns for the worse when during a storm, their boat is badly damaged while landing.  Fortunately they land in Ireland and are taken to the High King, with whom they make a good connection.  They help him in battle.  After winning the battle, Crowbone is granted ships and men to crew them so that he can continue his quest.

On their way in search of Crowbone’s quest, they are joined by a priest who is determined to convert Crowbone to Christianity. 

What do Crowbone’s actions as he progresses on his quest have to do with his future?  Will he resolve his differences with Orm?  You must read on to find out.  Robert Low’s historical thriller is based on fact and Viking legend and is a thoroughly entertaining read.  I found it hard to put down.  This is the last of the Oathsworn series.

Salt Lane

DS Alex Cupidi has just been on TV requesting the public’s help in identifying a woman found dead in a canal in Kent.  The following morning they have an identity.  Cupidi and DC Jill Ferriter travel to London to inform the son.  They are shocked and confused when the son tells them that his mother had stayed with them the night before.

On the way back they are sent to a farm where a body has been found on a slurry pit.  The police now have two murder cases on their hands.  It turns out that the second victim was an illegal immigrant.

With the body in the canal in mind, Cupidi checks with the Drainage Board to find out how far the body could have floated.  She finds out it wouldn’t have.  Someone with local knowledge knew that where the body was found, was a quiet area.

As the investigation progresses, Cupidi learns more about illegal immigrants, and what they will do to stay.  When a third body turns up, Cupidi and Ferriter are sure there is a connection.

William Shaw’s latest thriller is fast paced, full of action and definitely hard to put down.  This page turner kept me engaged throughout.  I can hardly wait to read the sequel.

The Prow Beast

Young Crowbone has come to visit Orm and his few Oathsworn at Hestreng.  Crowbone is now known as Olaf Tryggvasson, Prince of Norway.  Crowbone warns Orm of Randr Sterki, who plans revenge on both of them.  Orm doesn’t want to fight.

Not long after Crowbone’s visit, Jarl Brand brings his son for Orm to foster.  It is a significant recognition of Orm’s status.  Also with Brand was Queen Sigurth, pregnant and very demanding.  She was returning to be with King Eirik.  The day after news arrives indicating that Brand’s home has been raided.  Brand plans to hurry to the king, and fight for him.  However, that means leaving Sigurth with Orm.

Orm sends his community up into the mountains and prepares to do battle with Randr Sterki.  When Sterki attacks, he brings Roman Fire, which destroys Orm’s boat.  Orm and his friend Finn barely survive, but what of their community?  Fortunately they have escaped and Orm and Finn make it back to them.  Then comes the realisation that Sterki is working to not just destroy Orm, but also to ensure that Sigurth doesn’t survive nor produce a son who would be heir before King Eirik’s original heir, Styrbjorn.

Now the community must struggle to get to safety.  They will be set upon by their enemies several times.  Fortunately Sigurth gives birth to a healthy son, to be named Olaf.  It is at this time that Orm’s fostering was kidnapped.  Can Orm and his community survive the attacks and get the boy back?

Once again, author Robert Low, has provided the reader with a rollicking tale of adventure, action and death based on stories of Viking life.  A thoroughly enjoyable read, and hard to put down.

Red Icon

In 1915, Tsar Nicholas gave Inspector Pekkala the task of convincing Rasputin not to take the Russian icon “The Shepherd”, otherwise the Russian people might see it as a bad thing for Russia.  Rasputin, in turn must convince the Tsarina he shouldn’t take it.

However, Rasputin already has it in his possession, and it isn’t long after that that the Tsarina tells Pekkala that the icon is missing.  She also doesn’t want Pekkala investigating it.  Before long, a priest steps forward and admits to stealing the icon and burning it.  The tsar then tells Pekkala that the case is closed.

Thirty years later, two Russian soldiers find the icon in a coffin when they take refuge in a church in Germany.  Stalin wants to know how it came to be there and if it truly is the original icon.  An art historian confirms that it is the original.  Now Pekkala and his helper, Major Kirov need to delve further into the mystery.

They travel to a prison far to the east to interview the priest who claimed to have destroyed the icon.  He tells them the true tale of what he did with it.  Pekkala now wants to know what happened in the intervening years.

Pekkala begins his quest in Finland; there he finds some answers.  Back from Finland, Pekkala and Kirov are called back to the priest’s prison because he has been poisoned by some unknown poison.  It had come in a package he had assumed was from Pekkala.

How deadly is the poison and can Pekkala and Kirov find the icon before more of the deadly poison is utilised?  Author Sam Eastland‘ slate at thriller is fast paced and intriguing.  It was hard to put down and thoroughly enjoyable.

The White Raven

Orm and the Oathsworn are back home awaiting the completion of their new ship, Fjord Elk.  They are getting itchy feet, wanting to go raiding again.  When a neighbouring farm is attacked, it is agreed that retribution is necessary.

The first place they attack is Klerkon’s settlement, the leader who had raided their neighbour.  Here they find a boy who claims to be a prince.  Klerkon has named him Crowbone, but Crowbone shows the Oathsworn where to find Klerkon’s gold.  The group moves on to Novgorod as it gets colder.  Their they meet up with a young former companion who is studying business.  Jon takes Orm to meet his old nemesis, Martin.

While in Novgorod, Crowbone kills a man, resulting in the arrest of him and the Oathsworn who were with him at the time.  Fortunately their confinement isn’t long and they are freed, however they must now help the local prince gain a cache of silver that only Orm knows the way to.

It is a very bitter cold through which the group travels.  Crowbone and Orm are taken by treachery away from their companions.  Fortunately for them, they are rescued not long afterwards.  As the group treks on towards their goal, the bitter cold takes their horses and some of the men.  In their weakened state they are attacked by a group of Men Haters.  They manage to survive that and trek on.

However, will they survive the cold and treachery that awaits them?  Author Robert Low’s tale is based on factual events and is told in an exciting fashion.  A thoroughly enjoyable read, which I found hard to put down.