Publishers:
Headline
Pages: 281
Main Characters:
Jack Lark, Captain
Sloames, Colour Sergeant Slater
Hey guys! I’ve got a sneak peak/preview for you today of
Paul Fraser Collard’s brand new book The
Scarlet Thief which is published by headline and will be realised tomorrow
(9th May). I hope you enjoy my review!
Jack Lark was just a normal boy from the poor east-end of
London who, sick of lifting heavy beer barrels in his mother’s pub, decided he
wanted something more. For Jack, that opportunity
came when the recruiting officers of the British Army arrived in Jack’s borough
looking incredibly impressive and promising the young Londoner a life of excitement
and adventure with postings in the vast British Empire. So, one day, Jack
plucked up the courage to leave his mother’s pub and join the army, however
once enlisted, Jack realises that the life of a soldier is not as exciting as
he hoped…
The year is 1854 and Britain has not been at war since the days
of Napoleon and Wellington. Therefore, most British troops are not in active service
but are instead on garrison duty in the heartland of England. Unluckily for
Jack, his new unit is garrisoned in Aldershot and Jack soon finds out that
garrison life can be extremely boring. However, trying to better himself and trying
to impress a young woman, Jack manages to get promoted to the station of Orderly
under Captain Sloames. Being new at his job, Jack is not as efficient as other
orderlies in the camp, but with an understanding Captain like Arthur Sloames,
he soon learns what his duties are.
Nevertheless, just as
Jack believes he is getting somewhere in the army he becomes a target for the
rough and bullying Colour Sergeant Slater who has a grudge against Jack for been
promoted and therefore, no longer been under Slater’s control. The Colour Sergeant
has been known in the camp to frame other soldiers to get his revenge, so Jack
is as cautious as he can be around Slater. However, after a fight between the
two soldiers, which accidently results in a death, Jack has to escape the camp
or face a severe punishment. Luckily, Captain Sloames helps Jack again and
offers him the opportunity to join the division of troops that have been deployed to the
Crimea to fight the Russians.
Jack happily accepts, as it will get him away from Slater.
However, on the road to Dover, Captain Sloames is struck by a fever which ends in his death. Jack is at a loss of what to do. He thought the war in
Russia would lead him to glory and riches but with Sloames’s death, that future
is uncertain. On the other hand, he cannot return to the garrison for fear of
punishment, which could see him whipped and Slater, which could see him killed.
Jack has to make a decision on his own future and eventually makes one that will
see him go to the Crimea, not just as an Orderly, but as the new Captain of the
King’s Royal Fusiliers!
As a first book in a new historical series, I thought Fraser
Collard did an excellent job. At first seeing this book was based in the
Crimean War, I assumed that the novel would take place around the Siege of Sevastopol,
which is probably the best know event in the war after the Charge of the Light
Brigade. However, I was totally wrong, as Fraser Collard bases the novel at the
very start of the war with the first battle between the allies (Britain and
France) and the Russians at the Battle of the Alma. I really liked this fact
because I did not know that much about the battle and found reading Fraser
Collard’s description of it both entertaining and exciting but also really
interesting, making me want to find out more about this period of history!
I also really enjoyed the story in the novel as it was the
type of zero-hero plot which I always love in a historical fiction book. I
think this is why the book has been compared to Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels so often (along with the
fact it in based in the 19th Century). However, I did like
uniqueness of how Jack became a hero in this novel and how his personality and
attitude still manages to shine through even when he becomes an officer. Plus,
I thought the ending set up the next novel in the series really well, making
me want to read more of Jack’s tale!
All in all, this was an exciting and interesting novel which
I really enjoyed reading! If you are a
fan of British military history and like novels such Sharpe, then I think you’ll love this book so make sure to check it
out!
For author’s official website click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment