66 ratings | 2 reviews | avg rating:4.26

James’s Year In Books

James’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at James’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to James’s 2025 Year in Books

James McGee’s Followers (118)

James’s Bookshelves

to-read (0)
currently-reading (0)
read (66)

James’s Friends (3)

James Minter

372 books | 3,664 friends

Ben

1,114 books | 35 friends

Lucienne Boyce

1,024 books | 218 friends

James McGee

Goodreads Author

Born

The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.jamesmcgee.uk

Genre

Historical Fiction, Thriller

Member Since

August 2014

edit data

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

James McGee was born into an army family. He was educated in Gibraltar, Germany and Belfast, giving him a love of travel, which is evident in his meticulous, vivid portraits of diverse people and places. His career has encompassed banking, bookselling and thirteen years in the airline business. He has also presented book reviews for BBC local radio and several independent stations. ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask James McGee questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

I liked that the first few titles began with an R word. I presume that was intentional. If so, why did you change it?

James McGee Hi Stuart,

Thanks for the question...good one!

Right, bear with me...here we go....
The change came about in a rather contrary way. After the third book …moreHi Stuart,

Thanks for the question...good one!

Right, bear with me...here we go....
The change came about in a rather contrary way. After the third book - Rapscallion - came out, and I was offered a new three-book contract, my publisher thought it might be an idea to veer away from the 'R' titles. At the time, I didn't have a major problem with that (though I'd already compiled a list of suitable 'R' titles if they'd wanted to carry on).

When I submitted the manuscript of the fourth novel I was still hunting for a relevant title and, as far as I knew, my editor was aware of that. Seems I was wrong, though, because when they sent me a proof copy of the book, I discovered, without any consultation, that HC had gone ahead and called it Rebellion, by which time it was too far along the publishing process to make a substitution.

I wasn't best pleased, frankly. If I'd known they were still prepared to go for an 'R' title, I'd have preferred Renegades, as that seemed more appropriate as far as the plot was concerned. To me, Rebellion has never really fitted. I'm still wondering, given that the story is set in Paris, why they just didn't stick with the French connotation and call it Revolution. Though even that would have been a bit of a stretch.

As a result (probably in a fit of pique), I decided to go completely off grid with the next one, set in America and featuring Hawkwood's early years, hence The Blooding, which did seem to fit. and with numero six, The Reckoning, I decided to continue in the same vein.

Now that my latest effort The Salma Option is out, and a world away from the Napoleonic Wars, I'm hunting for a plot in which I can bring Hawkwood and the gang back from their sabbatical. If that happens, I won't have any problem naming the thing as I still have those abandoned 'R' titles gathering dust...or rather, filed away for future reference...including...ahem...Renegades...

Hope that long-winded reply answered your query..!

Best wishes,
James
(less)

flag

1 like · like
1 comment

Have you read A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley ? The basic idea has the makings of a best seller if sited in Victorian London - even Whitechapel . It looks perfect for your next book .

James McGee Hi Eric, thanks for your question. I'm afraid haven't read Jane Smiley's book. As for transferring a version of the story to Victorian London, sadly, …moreHi Eric, thanks for your question. I'm afraid haven't read Jane Smiley's book. As for transferring a version of the story to Victorian London, sadly, it's not a period I'm interested in, plus I'm not sure Jane would be too keen on me stealing her idea, either. I'd hate to be accused of plagiarism... I'll leave that to Melania Trump...!

But thanks for getting in touch...
James(less)

flag

See 2 answers from James McGee…

Combine Editions
James McGee’s books

Average rating: 3.95 · 4,140 ratings · 433 reviews · 49 distinct works • Similar authors

	Ratcatcher (Matthew Hawkwood, #1) 3.81 avg rating — 1,358 ratings — published 2006 — 26 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Resurrectionist (Matthew Hawkwood, #2) 3.99 avg rating — 927 ratings — published 2007 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rapscallion (Matthew Hawkood, #3) 4.06 avg rating — 690 ratings — published 2008 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rebellion (Matthew Hawkwood, #4) 3.82 avg rating — 452 ratings — published 2011 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Blooding (Matthew Hawkwood, #5) 4.20 avg rating — 281 ratings — published 2014 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Reckoning (Matthew Hawkwood, #6) 4.26 avg rating — 204 ratings — published 2017 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wolf's Lair really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 64 ratings — published 1990 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Crow's War 4.28 avg rating — 47 ratings — published 1989 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Trigger Men 4.20 avg rating — 41 ratings — published 2000 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Blooding: free sampler 3.86 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by James McGee…

10 posts
James McGee's Blog

Just a heads up...

For anyone who might be interested and for others who couldn't give a stuff, this just to pass the word that in light of my new(ish) website that's now up and running, I'm curtailing my blog entries on GoodReads. Not that there have been that many, anyway. As I'm not a great one for cutting and pasting between sites and given that I'm a fella and thus limited in my ability to multi-task, I'm savin Read more of this blog post »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 24, 2015 09:12

View all 10 posts »

Series by James McGee

Matthew Hawkwood (6 books)
by

James McGee (Goodreads Author)

3.95 avg rating — 3,912 ratings

rss
James’s Recent Updates

James McGee rated a book really liked it Trickster (Thorn Mystery #16) by James W. Hall (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 25, 2025 08:30AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Trickster by James W. Hall. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Trickster by James W. Hall <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James McGee rated a book really liked it Stare Down: A Thorn Novel by James W. Hall (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 08, 2025 12:50PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Stare Down by James W. Hall. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Stare Down by James W. Hall <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James McGee rated a book really liked it Magic City by James W. Hall (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 04, 2025 03:33AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Magic City by James W. Hall. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Magic City by James W. Hall <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James McGee answered Eric Bruce's question: Have you read A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley ? The basic idea has the makings of a best seller if sited in Victorian London - even Whitechapel . It looks perfect for your next book . Hi Eric, thanks for your question. I'm afraid haven't read Jane Smiley's book. As for transferring a version of the story to Victorian London, sadly, it's not a period I'm interested in, plus I'm not sure Jane would be too keen on me stealing her ide See Full Answer
Aug 20, 2024 08:13AM · like View 1 comment
James McGee rated a book really liked it First Frost by Craig Johnson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 17, 2024 03:32PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of First Frost by Craig Johnson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — First Frost by Craig Johnson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James McGee rated a book it was amazing Dream Girl (The Spenser Series 34) by Robert B. Parker	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 18, 2024 08:04AM · like
James McGee rated a book liked it The Longmire Defense by Craig Johnson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 06, 2024 03:30PM · like
James McGee rated a book really liked it Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 13, 2024 03:56PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James McGee rated a book it was amazing Night And Day (Jesse Stone, #8) by Robert B. Parker	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 28, 2024 02:52PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Night And Day by Robert B. Parker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Night And Day by Robert B. Parker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of James's books…

Quotes by James McGee (?)

“I have.”
― James McGee, The Reckoning

0 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Read 150+ Books a...: 2014 Challenge Booksquirrel's List	16	20	Jan 01, 2015 05:33AM
Happily Ever Afte...: Autumn: Reflections of a Season	499	230	Jan 12, 2015 05:44AM
Historical Myster...: What historical mysteries are you reading?	885	798	Jan 30, 2015 08:22AM
UK Book Club: Book Squirrel's List of New Authors (to me) - 2013/14	95	219	Mar 27, 2015 12:03PM
Historical Fictio...: April Nominations: Freebie	76	231	Mar 30, 2015 12:48PM
The History Book ...: CHRIS DAVIES' 50 BOOKS READ IN 2015	109	105	May 07, 2015 08:33PM
The Challenge Fac...: R6: SSS BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) (4)	259	58	Jun 05, 2015 08:22AM
The Challenge Fac...: R5: SS Readers of the Lost Ark (6)	278	53	Jun 08, 2015 02:33PM