What do you think?
Rate this book
Regency Reivers #1
Catching the Eagle
Easter Monday, 1809: Kirkley Hall manor house is mysteriously burgled. When suspicion falls on Jamie Charlton, he and his family face a desperate battle to save him from the gallows. When £1,157 rent money is stolen from Kirkley Hall, it is the biggest robbery Northumberland has ever known. The owner sends for Stephen Lavender, a principal officer with the Bow Street magistrate’s court in London, to investigate the crime. Suspicion soon falls on impoverished farm laborer, Jamie Charlton, and the unpopular steward, Michael Aynsley. Jamie Charlton is a loving family man but he is hot-tempered and careless. As the case grows against him, it seems that only his young brother, William, can save him from an impending miscarriage of justice. But William is struggling with demons of his own—he is falling in love with Jamie’s wife. Catching the Eagle, the first novel in the Regency Reivers series, is a fictionalized account of a trial that devastated a family and divided a community.
364 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2011
About the author
Karen Charlton
27 books475 followersKaren Charlton is an international best-selling author of historical crime fiction.
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 2, 2011
This book is the first in a new series. Set in Northumberland in the early 1800s this is a fictionalised account of the a crime that rocked the community and the author's ancestors. When £1157 in rent money is stolen from Kirkley Hall the owner calls in officers from Bow Street magistrates court in London to investigate. While many think the owner's steward Michael Aynsley is to blame, suspicion focuses on poor farm labourer James Charlton. His behaviour after the theft only serves to further implicate him and the Charlton family, including brother William, begin a battle to save Jamie from the gallows and to keep his young family from the poor house. In his own way Will is also fighting for his freedom, trying to get away from the family farm and a past that has for too long affected his present. The magnificent golden eagle that has been seen over the area is a "lucky" bird, but there are parallels between the fate of the bird and Jamie.
This book is set in rural Northumberland, and although the reader is treated to some description of the life and homes of the upper classes much of the tale is set on the farms, in workers cottages and in the gaol. It is a bleak existence, especially in winter, and the author makes it easy to appreciate how difficult life must have been for the families in the novel. While the greater issues of the time touch on the story it really deals with telling the story of a family. The charming William is considered a bit of a ladies man but the reader sees more to him. He is devoted to his family but needs to cut the apron strings. I loved him, and the way he changed during the book. I also felt for Jamie's wife Cilla who, in common with many of her peers, was a hard toiling mother and worker.
I appreciated the writing style, which was descriptive without being too wordy, and which included enough local dialect to help me hear the characters without using using anything too obscure and confusing. Once I had chance to sit down and get into this book I didn't want to put it down again. The narrative is nice and linear, and easy to follow, seeing the family going through highs and lows. I thought that the recurring presence of the eagle made for a touching sub-plot interwoven with the main story.
I really enjoyed this book, a historical fiction that values the smaller details. I put it down wondering what would happen next to Cilla and Will in particular, and would love to read the next in the series.
This book is set in rural Northumberland, and although the reader is treated to some description of the life and homes of the upper classes much of the tale is set on the farms, in workers cottages and in the gaol. It is a bleak existence, especially in winter, and the author makes it easy to appreciate how difficult life must have been for the families in the novel. While the greater issues of the time touch on the story it really deals with telling the story of a family. The charming William is considered a bit of a ladies man but the reader sees more to him. He is devoted to his family but needs to cut the apron strings. I loved him, and the way he changed during the book. I also felt for Jamie's wife Cilla who, in common with many of her peers, was a hard toiling mother and worker.
I appreciated the writing style, which was descriptive without being too wordy, and which included enough local dialect to help me hear the characters without using using anything too obscure and confusing. Once I had chance to sit down and get into this book I didn't want to put it down again. The narrative is nice and linear, and easy to follow, seeing the family going through highs and lows. I thought that the recurring presence of the eagle made for a touching sub-plot interwoven with the main story.
I really enjoyed this book, a historical fiction that values the smaller details. I put it down wondering what would happen next to Cilla and Will in particular, and would love to read the next in the series.
March 15, 2013
Historical Readings & Reviews
This book caught my attention because it's based on a true story involving the author's own ancestors (and genealogy is one of my obsessions). In 1809 England, near the border of Scotland, a theft was committed at Kirkley Hall and this is an account of the people it influenced in the community and the Bow Street detectives sent from London to investigate.
It's well written in third person and the characters were well formed but I felt like the plot dragged. It seemed as though the author was more concerned with writing about her ancestors and the world they lived in than with writing an captivating story. In theory, a mystery about a real-life theft and the subsequent trial in 1809 should be exciting but too often, I found my mind wandering.
I think part of the problem was that even though the characters all had personalities and back stories, I didn't feel any connection to them. When that happens, it's difficult to care what happens to the characters, and therefore it's difficult to care about what is happening in the plot.
A good effort from a debut self published author, but if the reader has no empathy with any of the characters, it's difficult to remain interested in the story. That said, the author has written a companion book to the novel, a non-fiction piece called Seeking The Eagle which details the history behind the novel and how the author's family discovered this genealogical event in their tree. This may be more enjoyable.
This book caught my attention because it's based on a true story involving the author's own ancestors (and genealogy is one of my obsessions). In 1809 England, near the border of Scotland, a theft was committed at Kirkley Hall and this is an account of the people it influenced in the community and the Bow Street detectives sent from London to investigate.
It's well written in third person and the characters were well formed but I felt like the plot dragged. It seemed as though the author was more concerned with writing about her ancestors and the world they lived in than with writing an captivating story. In theory, a mystery about a real-life theft and the subsequent trial in 1809 should be exciting but too often, I found my mind wandering.
I think part of the problem was that even though the characters all had personalities and back stories, I didn't feel any connection to them. When that happens, it's difficult to care what happens to the characters, and therefore it's difficult to care about what is happening in the plot.
A good effort from a debut self published author, but if the reader has no empathy with any of the characters, it's difficult to remain interested in the story. That said, the author has written a companion book to the novel, a non-fiction piece called Seeking The Eagle which details the history behind the novel and how the author's family discovered this genealogical event in their tree. This may be more enjoyable.
November 12, 2012
First in a promising series of historical novels, this is the true story of Karen’s notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, accused of robbery in the 19th Century assizes, and sentenced to death. It has a well contrived plot, sensitive characterisation, and a neatly crafted ending.
The family is devastated, and the community divided. William is torn between loyalty to his brother, and a consuming passion for Jamie’s beautiful wife, Cilla. The many threads are skilfully interwoven. We know the story ends with Jamie’s deportation to New South Wales, and yet the skill of the author is such that the reader is kept on tenterhooks throughout. Did Jamie steal the money or didn’t he – and what is the significance of the splendid golden eagle so loved by Jamie’s son Jack?
Easy to read and brim-full with suspense, the book encapsulates this bloody period of English history with sensitivity and charm, and comes highly recommended.
The family is devastated, and the community divided. William is torn between loyalty to his brother, and a consuming passion for Jamie’s beautiful wife, Cilla. The many threads are skilfully interwoven. We know the story ends with Jamie’s deportation to New South Wales, and yet the skill of the author is such that the reader is kept on tenterhooks throughout. Did Jamie steal the money or didn’t he – and what is the significance of the splendid golden eagle so loved by Jamie’s son Jack?
Easy to read and brim-full with suspense, the book encapsulates this bloody period of English history with sensitivity and charm, and comes highly recommended.
December 1, 2011
Catching The Eagle is a historical novel based on the authors husband side of the family. The story grips you right from the start with the eagle. Is the eagle an omen or good luck? I guess it depends on what character you ask. The story revolves around the robbery of £1,157 rent money stolen from Kirkley Hall in 1809. The rent collector is a nasty man who immediately accuses Jamie Charlton of the deed. The story goes on to tell and show the reader the dynamics of the Charlton family, from his wife Priscilla, his children, his mother and brothers. It also shows the difference of life in poverty and riches and the corruptness of the legal system at that time and takes us through not only one trial but two. The question still remains, did Jamie do it?? I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend it for any reader who loves historical fiction.
March 1, 2019
The pastoral idyll of bygone England lies mean, snow bound and sun baked and harsh amongst the class-ridden morality and social change of the early 1800s. Sympathetic to detail and time, no character over blown or under done, a tale of family loyalties, local enmity and cold injustice. Human and reachable. I was disappointed to see that the book was published in 2011 as part of a proposed trilogy but apart from a prequel, no further books in the series have been written.
Eagles..... they fly high above us and see more, know more than we can imagine.
Eagles..... they fly high above us and see more, know more than we can imagine.
November 28, 2024
A few weeks ago I read the first book in her Stephen Lavender detective series, this book is a fictionalised account of the story of her husband's ancestor,Jamie Charlton, who was accused of stealing the tenants' rental money from Kirkley Hall Estate in Northumberland - a sum of over £1100, and at the time one of the biggest robberies committed. As Charlton was working at the house at the time, and saw the rent money, and almost immediately after the robbery was seen paying off his debts, and generally spending money quite profusely, when previously he and his family had lived a hand to mouth existence, he was an obvious suspect. What follows is a story of a man who lived by his wits, but whose love of family - wife and several children - drove him on. There is also a sub plot involving a huge golden eagle, which has a price on it's head as the local try to trap it. Stephen Lavender, a real detective at the time, comes up from London to help with the initial investigation. This wasn't a bad book, at times it felt a bit like a Catherine Cookson novel, but the author's writing has improved since she wrote it, it does get a bit repetitive, and the amount of printing errors makes me wonder if it's an uncorrected proof copy, although there's no mention of it. But there were errors everywhere, with words missing and "a" suddenly appearing in the middle of a sentence, and at one point there were two sentences the wrong way round! She is apparently writing a "what happened next" novel,and has also written an account of her research. 6/10
March 25, 2017
This book offers up so many different themes that it would be hard to not like some facet of the book.
The historical fiction is set in the early 1800s with characters, places, and events that are authentic. Based on family history research, Karen Charlton tells the story of one of her husband's ancestors who is tried for robbery.
The story keeps you engaged throughout as you consider the fate of Jamie and his family. The question of what, or how far, we would go to help our family may make you think. The state of prisons and the judicial process in the 1800s is realistic but also shocking.
You might want to begin with the prequel, February 1809, which introduces the place and Jack on the day that he discovers an eagle which he believes to be a sign of luck. Catching the Eagle begins on Easter Monday, 1809.
Charlton also writes one of my favorite series featuring Detective Lavender and Constable Woods. They are minor characters in this book, who are not as likable or well-defined as they turn out to be in the later series.
I am reccomending this book to many of my friends.
The historical fiction is set in the early 1800s with characters, places, and events that are authentic. Based on family history research, Karen Charlton tells the story of one of her husband's ancestors who is tried for robbery.
The story keeps you engaged throughout as you consider the fate of Jamie and his family. The question of what, or how far, we would go to help our family may make you think. The state of prisons and the judicial process in the 1800s is realistic but also shocking.
You might want to begin with the prequel, February 1809, which introduces the place and Jack on the day that he discovers an eagle which he believes to be a sign of luck. Catching the Eagle begins on Easter Monday, 1809.
Charlton also writes one of my favorite series featuring Detective Lavender and Constable Woods. They are minor characters in this book, who are not as likable or well-defined as they turn out to be in the later series.
I am reccomending this book to many of my friends.
July 3, 2020
This novel is set in 1809 in England. It's based on a true crime, but it's not a mystery novel. I've read the author's Detective Lavender novels, so I thought I'd read this because he's in it. However, he's not a main character. The story is primarily about the brothers Jamie and Will and their extended family. When the detective identifies Jamie as the most likely suspect in the robbery, he's arrested. His wife and children are left without a provider, and his brothers and sisters are expected to contribute money towards his support in jail and the hiring of a lawyer. Historical details about the law at that time and the living conditions of the common laborer were woven into the story. However, in my opinion, too much of the story was about Will sleeping with this girl or that girl and getting aroused thinking about sex. The language was crude at times, but the sex wasn't described in graphical detail.
August 19, 2018
Really impressed with the way Karen Charlton has written about the misfortunes of James Charlton and his family when he is caught in an intriguing web of burglary and deceit in 1809 in Northumberland, England. there are two sides in this story - one, that believes that he is innocent but daft. And the other side which believes in his involvement in the burglary.
The end is open for interpretation by the readers though it implies a severe misconduct of justice.
Am absolutely keen to read the next part of this series.
My rating - 3.5/5
The end is open for interpretation by the readers though it implies a severe misconduct of justice.
Am absolutely keen to read the next part of this series.
My rating - 3.5/5
May 5, 2018
Do Not Pass Up This Book
Karen Charlton has a knack for capturing both the misery and infrequent joys of the lives of the poor underclass in early 19th century Britain. Her characters are easy to both root for or against. This all serves as a backdrop to the mystery at the heart of the story. Do not pass up a chance to read this book for yourself.
Karen Charlton has a knack for capturing both the misery and infrequent joys of the lives of the poor underclass in early 19th century Britain. Her characters are easy to both root for or against. This all serves as a backdrop to the mystery at the heart of the story. Do not pass up a chance to read this book for yourself.
February 9, 2021
What a fascinating story about the Charlton family and the appearance of the Eagle.
The characters came to life and the hard injustices that they faced, the poverty and the poor conditions in prison. It was great to read about the double act of Lavender and Woods.
I would like to see what happened to the main characters.
The characters came to life and the hard injustices that they faced, the poverty and the poor conditions in prison. It was great to read about the double act of Lavender and Woods.
I would like to see what happened to the main characters.
May 28, 2018
Great read
Very interesting story regarding Victorian days and the man falsely accussed of robbery and the two side stories about the most likely guilty steward who lost his job and his continuing life and the Golden Eagle.
Very interesting story regarding Victorian days and the man falsely accussed of robbery and the two side stories about the most likely guilty steward who lost his job and his continuing life and the Golden Eagle.
July 31, 2018
Not really
It was interesting but not really. The storyline offered hope but none came, offered promise but didn't arrive, and I couldn't believe when I reached the end that it was the end. Surely there was more..
...not really
It was interesting but not really. The storyline offered hope but none came, offered promise but didn't arrive, and I couldn't believe when I reached the end that it was the end. Surely there was more..
...not really
March 1, 2019
Inspector lavender
Not one of Karen Charlton’s best. Inspector Lavender did not come up to his usual standard and the ending left very much in midair not really knowing if Jamie did the murder or not.
Not one of Karen Charlton’s best. Inspector Lavender did not come up to his usual standard and the ending left very much in midair not really knowing if Jamie did the murder or not.
December 22, 2019
Slow in parts. Slightly truncated ending. Never really got to grips with whether he was guilty or no. An average book.
See above.. not her best. Rather plodding. Maybe a better ending needed.
I enjoyed it but not as much as her others.
See above.. not her best. Rather plodding. Maybe a better ending needed.
I enjoyed it but not as much as her others.
March 17, 2020
Fantastic!
I read it all in one sitting.couldn't believe it was over! I want the next one now.right now, that's how it leaves you feeling.
Great story based on life, you can't ask for more than that.
I read it all in one sitting.couldn't believe it was over! I want the next one now.right now, that's how it leaves you feeling.
Great story based on life, you can't ask for more than that.
April 13, 2020
Interesting Bit of History
Great characters! Nice introduction to Lavender and Woods (my favorites). I'm never unhappy with her tales and historic accuracy. Here's to the next idea she has!!!
Great characters! Nice introduction to Lavender and Woods (my favorites). I'm never unhappy with her tales and historic accuracy. Here's to the next idea she has!!!
February 13, 2021
Catching the Eagle
A wonderful story...with A lot of pain, anger, sadness,violence....and A lot of love.
The love part, you have to dig to find...to tell you the truth..I feel exhausted after reading the two
Books!!!!...I am so grateful I didn't live in that family.!!!
A wonderful story...with A lot of pain, anger, sadness,violence....and A lot of love.
The love part, you have to dig to find...to tell you the truth..I feel exhausted after reading the two
Books!!!!...I am so grateful I didn't live in that family.!!!
October 1, 2024
Wonderfully storytelling!!
This was clearly a heartfelt story of her late husband’s ancestor. It became the beginning of the fabulous Stephen Lavender collection.
Thank Karen, by far my favourite author
This was clearly a heartfelt story of her late husband’s ancestor. It became the beginning of the fabulous Stephen Lavender collection.
Thank Karen, by far my favourite author
September 3, 2018
Surprisingly (for me) good historical crime novel. It conveys the difficult lives of the rural working class.
December 5, 2020
Quite worthy of your time.
Read this for the second time. Karen Charlton never disappoints. I enjoy the effort she takes in her research. It shows.
Read this for the second time. Karen Charlton never disappoints. I enjoy the effort she takes in her research. It shows.
September 3, 2023
The fact that the author’s family research was inspiration for the characters and storyline was quite enjoyable. The parallel of the eagle enhanced the story.
March 11, 2012
My review:
Catching the Eagle is a first book in a historical family saga. You are introduced to the characters and the surroundings in a very fascinated way. The title has also a very significant role in book: you meet an eagle who is struggling for keeping its freedom – just like the main characters in the book. Catching the Eagle was an interesting and well-written book with medium pace which is suitable for historical drama, believable characters and it was easy to read.
Regarding the plot:
Catching the Eagle starts with burglary of a big amount which is gathered as taxes for Kirkley Hall manor house. At the same time you are introduced to the main characters the Charlton brothers and their family. The reader meets Jamie and his beautiful wife Cilla and Jamie’s brother William.
The steward of Kirkley Hall Michael Ansley is sure that Jamie is the one who stole the money and accuses him for it. Detective Lavender is called in from London to solve the case and find out who is the guilty one in the case. As the detective is investigating the burglary, many things point towards Jamie, but since William is protecting his brother, Jamie gets off charges. The mystery remains, because during the first book the case is still not solved.
The author creates quite interesting setting and historical world where the society is much divided – you have the noble class who requires justice and the village people who work hard to survive. I enjoyed to learn more about the Charlton family and their stories.
The only thing I had difficulties with Catching the Eagle was the pace of the story, which in my opinion was sometimes too slow.
Regarding the characters:
Catching the Eagle was packed with fascinating characters, some of them were likeable, some despicable. The novel was very much driven by the characters, because the characters were carrying and unfolding the Charlton family story.
My favorite character was William. He supports his brother and his whole family by working hard and thinking clearly. He is a balanced and down to earth character even though he has his own struggles.
I did not like Jamie very much in the beginning of the story, because he put everything he held dear through lot of suffering. He was careless, clueless and acted very stupidly when the investigation started. Luckily his character developed through the story, but as I see it, he let everybody in his family down.
I loved Cilla, a woman with great strength. I really wished that Cilla and William could be together and Jamie would be imprisoned, but as the story went, I felt sorry for Jamie and Cilla.
There were also many interesting supportive characters in the book and I really enjoyed that the author put as much effort to the supportive characters as into the main ones.
Generally:
Catching the Eagle was very interesting historical novel, where many things were left open at the end of the book and I am looking very much forward to read the sequels.
4 stars.
Catching the Eagle is a first book in a historical family saga. You are introduced to the characters and the surroundings in a very fascinated way. The title has also a very significant role in book: you meet an eagle who is struggling for keeping its freedom – just like the main characters in the book. Catching the Eagle was an interesting and well-written book with medium pace which is suitable for historical drama, believable characters and it was easy to read.
Regarding the plot:
Catching the Eagle starts with burglary of a big amount which is gathered as taxes for Kirkley Hall manor house. At the same time you are introduced to the main characters the Charlton brothers and their family. The reader meets Jamie and his beautiful wife Cilla and Jamie’s brother William.
The steward of Kirkley Hall Michael Ansley is sure that Jamie is the one who stole the money and accuses him for it. Detective Lavender is called in from London to solve the case and find out who is the guilty one in the case. As the detective is investigating the burglary, many things point towards Jamie, but since William is protecting his brother, Jamie gets off charges. The mystery remains, because during the first book the case is still not solved.
The author creates quite interesting setting and historical world where the society is much divided – you have the noble class who requires justice and the village people who work hard to survive. I enjoyed to learn more about the Charlton family and their stories.
The only thing I had difficulties with Catching the Eagle was the pace of the story, which in my opinion was sometimes too slow.
Regarding the characters:
Catching the Eagle was packed with fascinating characters, some of them were likeable, some despicable. The novel was very much driven by the characters, because the characters were carrying and unfolding the Charlton family story.
My favorite character was William. He supports his brother and his whole family by working hard and thinking clearly. He is a balanced and down to earth character even though he has his own struggles.
I did not like Jamie very much in the beginning of the story, because he put everything he held dear through lot of suffering. He was careless, clueless and acted very stupidly when the investigation started. Luckily his character developed through the story, but as I see it, he let everybody in his family down.
I loved Cilla, a woman with great strength. I really wished that Cilla and William could be together and Jamie would be imprisoned, but as the story went, I felt sorry for Jamie and Cilla.
There were also many interesting supportive characters in the book and I really enjoyed that the author put as much effort to the supportive characters as into the main ones.
Generally:
Catching the Eagle was very interesting historical novel, where many things were left open at the end of the book and I am looking very much forward to read the sequels.
4 stars.
September 3, 2012
Amazing true story of 19th century Northumberland family in crisis
What would you do if someone in your family was accused of a robbery, and you didn’t know whether he’d done it or not? And if this took place in the 19th century, when the penalty was death by hanging? To me this is the central question in ‘Catching the Eagle’ and we see the Charlton family, and indeed the whole rural community in the north of England, reacting different ways both personally, and in their court testimonies, when Jamie Charlton goes to trial for a robbery at ‘the big house’ that he might, or might not have, committed.
Based on a true story, this is well-researched and the historical background rings true, without getting bogged down in facts. I found the prison and courtroom scenes particularly telling. I also thought the dialogue managed to convey the northern English accent well, dated enough to fit the period but not distractingly old-fashioned-yokel-ish.
The eagle of the title appears in the Charltons’ story but is also a symbol that puts the fate of the accused robber, Jamie, into a wider perspective. This eagle’s eye is exactly the viewpoint Charlton brings to her novel, never letting us close enough to the characters to truly identify with any of them. Not all readers will enjoy this distance but it enables the novel to have a scope and a sense of the period that worked for me. It also enables the reader to make her own mind up about the evidence given re the robbery, and never were such a motley crew of unreliable witnesses assembled in a trial. There is no doubting the truth of the research!
There did seem to be an ambiguity about Detective Lavender, as if he were meant to be a bigger character, and then disappeared, which struck me as clumsy in an otherwise well-structured novel. Some of the characters verged close to stereotype but with a cast of working-class villagers versus the corrupt, posh nobs at the big house, I can forgive this as long as the relationships work. And they do. I was drawn into the family dilemmas.
Perhaps in the wrong order, I read ‘Catching the Eagle’ after reading ‘Seeking our Eagle’, the companion book, which gives the background research to the novel, along with period photos and useful advice on doing your own genealogical digging. This meant that I already knew the story’s ending but as this is also given by the publisher in the product description, Jamie’s fate is a given from the start. This does take away from the suspense and I would have preferred that this ‘spoiler’ be held back, so that when Jamie is freed it is a real shock to hear that his cell-mate is going to testify against him and re-open the case. The legal ramifications of the trial really interested – and horrified – me. ‘Seeking the Eagle’ is a good follow-up to the novel, showing the weight of research that didn’t end up spoiling a good story.
December 8, 2011
I loved this story, even as the injustice involved made me angry. Jamie Charlton is a poor farmer who is accused of stealing the farm rents from the local lord. Whether he committed the crime is actually irrelevant as he is the favored suspect. As a poverty-stricken tenant farmer, he has no defense against the laws of the day, which favor the gentry and titled.
As his family fights for his freedom, they are involved in their own lives and struggles. Jamie's brothers are arguing over how to help him, while his wife and son are just trying to survive. His brother William is desperate to get away from all the family drama and live his own life. Their oldest brother, John, is more worried about maintaining a good reputation for the family and keeping the family farm going. His wife Cilla is trying to keep her four children fed. His oldest son, Jack has befriended a wild animal and believes his family's fate is tied to that of his new friend.
If you read the acknowledgements at the beginning of the book, you know how the book ends, as Catching the Eagle is a fictionalized account of a real family's story. However, the ups and downs through the book will keep you coming back. It had me hoping for a different ending. In fact, despite some emotional scenes in the story, I didn't cry until the end of the book. This is in no way a "happily-ever-after" and is very disturbing when you remember that there was a time when England's law system was based more on class than justice.
Apparently, this is the first in a series. I'm very curious about what subsequent books will involve. Oh, and this story takes place in northern England, on the Scottish border, so the characters reminded me of the Scots in my favorite historicals. That was a big bonus.
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As his family fights for his freedom, they are involved in their own lives and struggles. Jamie's brothers are arguing over how to help him, while his wife and son are just trying to survive. His brother William is desperate to get away from all the family drama and live his own life. Their oldest brother, John, is more worried about maintaining a good reputation for the family and keeping the family farm going. His wife Cilla is trying to keep her four children fed. His oldest son, Jack has befriended a wild animal and believes his family's fate is tied to that of his new friend.
If you read the acknowledgements at the beginning of the book, you know how the book ends, as Catching the Eagle is a fictionalized account of a real family's story. However, the ups and downs through the book will keep you coming back. It had me hoping for a different ending. In fact, despite some emotional scenes in the story, I didn't cry until the end of the book. This is in no way a "happily-ever-after" and is very disturbing when you remember that there was a time when England's law system was based more on class than justice.
Apparently, this is the first in a series. I'm very curious about what subsequent books will involve. Oh, and this story takes place in northern England, on the Scottish border, so the characters reminded me of the Scots in my favorite historicals. That was a big bonus.
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2011
The biggest robbery has hit Northumberland and immediately everyone is blaming each other. The loudest two, Jamie Charlton and Michael Aynsley become the focus of Stephen Lavendar, an officer with the Bow Street magistrate’s court in London. Jamie becomes extremely overconfident much to the dismay of his family. His brother William starts to become uneasy that Lavender is starting to hone in on this attitude and is leaning away from investigating the very unpopular Aynsely. What happens next leads Jamie’s family on a very painful path that can’t have a very happy ending.
I will be honest and tell you that I had to work really hard to continue reading in the beginning of this book. I didn’t get the whole eagle thing and was about to put the book down and mark it a DNF until I got to the beginning of Jamie’s trial. The book flowed flawlessly after that and pieces started fitting together. Read much like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The reader is always wondering did Jamie to it or not. There is a bit of a love story also intertwined with William the every devote brother who starts to fall for Jamie’s wife during his imprisonment before the trial. The corrupt political world is also injected into this story. Having become desperate to put the thieving bugger behind bars, Lavender is forced to resort to some pretty petty methods to extort a confession.
A great aspect of this historical fiction read is that the author, Karen Charlton, based it on her own family history. This brings the characters more alive and her careful research into the history of this trial is evident in her writing.
I will be honest and tell you that I had to work really hard to continue reading in the beginning of this book. I didn’t get the whole eagle thing and was about to put the book down and mark it a DNF until I got to the beginning of Jamie’s trial. The book flowed flawlessly after that and pieces started fitting together. Read much like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The reader is always wondering did Jamie to it or not. There is a bit of a love story also intertwined with William the every devote brother who starts to fall for Jamie’s wife during his imprisonment before the trial. The corrupt political world is also injected into this story. Having become desperate to put the thieving bugger behind bars, Lavender is forced to resort to some pretty petty methods to extort a confession.
A great aspect of this historical fiction read is that the author, Karen Charlton, based it on her own family history. This brings the characters more alive and her careful research into the history of this trial is evident in her writing.
December 5, 2011
Original review posted here
WOW. Fun! … WOW again!
The introduction to this book had me captured. Karen Charlton knocks it out of the park with the beautiful description of countryside as the reader follows the path of an eagle. At first, I thought – oh no, please don’t let this be hokey, but then my thoughts moved to.. wow, okay this is beautiful writing and then, at the last line of that introduction, my breath was stolen away at the compare and contrast of the eagle and the man.
And that was just the beginning, folks.
Karen Charlton writes the story of Jamie Charlton, his wife Cilla, their children, and his family (brothers and mother). This is based in historical fact, as Karen writes this book from her own family history… but what makes this story such a knockout is, even though you are led to believe you know who the thief is – the story is so filled with twists and turns it will have you guessing and questioning the entire way through.
From the descriptions of the time period, the wildly colorful characters surrounding Jamie, the heartache experienced by Cilla, described so vividly by Charlton, the ups and downs, twists and turns – this book begged me to keep reading until the final line was read. I just couldn’t put it down.
I love a good historical fiction book, and I was not disappointed by Catching the Eagle. I highly recommend you check this one out – I just wish I’d read it before I made my Christmas recommendations!
WOW. Fun! … WOW again!
The introduction to this book had me captured. Karen Charlton knocks it out of the park with the beautiful description of countryside as the reader follows the path of an eagle. At first, I thought – oh no, please don’t let this be hokey, but then my thoughts moved to.. wow, okay this is beautiful writing and then, at the last line of that introduction, my breath was stolen away at the compare and contrast of the eagle and the man.
And that was just the beginning, folks.
Karen Charlton writes the story of Jamie Charlton, his wife Cilla, their children, and his family (brothers and mother). This is based in historical fact, as Karen writes this book from her own family history… but what makes this story such a knockout is, even though you are led to believe you know who the thief is – the story is so filled with twists and turns it will have you guessing and questioning the entire way through.
From the descriptions of the time period, the wildly colorful characters surrounding Jamie, the heartache experienced by Cilla, described so vividly by Charlton, the ups and downs, twists and turns – this book begged me to keep reading until the final line was read. I just couldn’t put it down.
I love a good historical fiction book, and I was not disappointed by Catching the Eagle. I highly recommend you check this one out – I just wish I’d read it before I made my Christmas recommendations!
January 8, 2012
I have thoroughly enjoyed this novel. To be honest, I read it in one go. I couldn’t put it down! The author did a fantastic job at capturing life in the first part of the 19th century in Northern England, complete with rich dialogues.
The story follows the life of the Charltons, a farming family. When one of the brothers, Jamie, is accused of having stolen a large sum of money, the family will have not only to deal with a justice system that does not look kindly to the poor, but also with the people of the parish and their new outlook on their whereabouts. To the end the author will keep the mystery intact, leaving the reader on the edge of his seat, wondering if he will ever get an answer and a resolution to the trial. Who stole the money? What happened the night of the crime? Is Jamie guilty or innocent? Will the tenacity of his brother William be enough to save Jamie from the gallows?
Very well-written, fast paced, humorous at time, poignant at others, Karen Charlton has done a great job at describing the habits and hardship of the population. As I was reading it, I was reminded many times of certain passages from various Dickens’ novels, from Bleak House to the villain of The old curiosity shop in the character of Michael Aynsley. The author really did a good job at establishing the inescapable and un-breach-able social gaps. The descriptions are vivid, the vocabulary well-chosen and the dialogues are impeccable. For anyone interested in the judicial system or in a well-done social study, or simply in solving a good mystery, this is a must read!
The story follows the life of the Charltons, a farming family. When one of the brothers, Jamie, is accused of having stolen a large sum of money, the family will have not only to deal with a justice system that does not look kindly to the poor, but also with the people of the parish and their new outlook on their whereabouts. To the end the author will keep the mystery intact, leaving the reader on the edge of his seat, wondering if he will ever get an answer and a resolution to the trial. Who stole the money? What happened the night of the crime? Is Jamie guilty or innocent? Will the tenacity of his brother William be enough to save Jamie from the gallows?
Very well-written, fast paced, humorous at time, poignant at others, Karen Charlton has done a great job at describing the habits and hardship of the population. As I was reading it, I was reminded many times of certain passages from various Dickens’ novels, from Bleak House to the villain of The old curiosity shop in the character of Michael Aynsley. The author really did a good job at establishing the inescapable and un-breach-able social gaps. The descriptions are vivid, the vocabulary well-chosen and the dialogues are impeccable. For anyone interested in the judicial system or in a well-done social study, or simply in solving a good mystery, this is a must read!
December 2, 2011
I found this book a little slow to get into at the beginning. There are a lot of characters in the book to introduce and I had some trouble keeping everyone straight. Once I managed that, everything flowed really well and I greatly enjoyed the author's, Karen Charlton's, writing style. She gave just enough description that I could see the scenes in my mind, then let my imagination take over.
The novel depicted the vast differences in the social stations at the turn of the 19th century. The nobles and the wealthy held the power, and we see how Jamie, a poor farmer, is railroaded through the legal system. Ms. Charlton wrote in vivid detail the horrid conditions of the jail and the mistreatment that Jamie went through. I really wanted to bring him a pizza! Yet, all the evidence was circumstantial at best. He just didn't have the social standing to have the charges dismissed.
The absolute best part of this book is that it is based on a true story. Jamie Charlton is an ancestor of the author's husband. It was obvious from the beginning that Ms. Charlton put in exhaustive research to get the details of the trial correct, as well as the lives of each character in the novel.
Catching the Eagle is the first in a planned three book series. I cannot wait to find out what happened to Jamie, Will, and all the rest! The book is released today, so run get it for yourself!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The novel depicted the vast differences in the social stations at the turn of the 19th century. The nobles and the wealthy held the power, and we see how Jamie, a poor farmer, is railroaded through the legal system. Ms. Charlton wrote in vivid detail the horrid conditions of the jail and the mistreatment that Jamie went through. I really wanted to bring him a pizza! Yet, all the evidence was circumstantial at best. He just didn't have the social standing to have the charges dismissed.
The absolute best part of this book is that it is based on a true story. Jamie Charlton is an ancestor of the author's husband. It was obvious from the beginning that Ms. Charlton put in exhaustive research to get the details of the trial correct, as well as the lives of each character in the novel.
Catching the Eagle is the first in a planned three book series. I cannot wait to find out what happened to Jamie, Will, and all the rest! The book is released today, so run get it for yourself!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2011
In 1809, the only witness to a robbery at Kirkley Hall manor is an eagle flying overhead. The rich will pay a large fee to enslave this valiant symbol of freedom. And perhaps they’ll pay to catch the thief as well. In this England, police detectives are a new breed as Stephen Lavender of the Bow Street magistrate’s court travels to Northumberland to investigate. Suspicion falls on farm laborer Jamie Charlton, but he claims innocence, even when taken to jail. His family pulls together, though reluctantly, to fight for his freedom and keep him alive and fed till his trial.
Jamie’s brother William fights for his own freedom during this tale, working for an older and deeply religious brother but dreaming of how life could be. The author, Karen Charlton, gives some very vivid and absorbing descriptions of life’s realities in her novel, Catching the Eagle. Part mystery, part history, part drama, with hints of faith, duty and loyalty, this story recreates the world of its time with very natural detail and very believable characters.
There’s a touch of disappointment in the ending that somehow perfectly balances the tale—a real world, a real search for freedom, and an eagle bound. This novel promises to be the first of a fascinating series, loosely based on the author’s real family history.
Disclosure: I received a free eARC of this novel from the publisher, Knox Robinson, in exchange for an honest review.
Jamie’s brother William fights for his own freedom during this tale, working for an older and deeply religious brother but dreaming of how life could be. The author, Karen Charlton, gives some very vivid and absorbing descriptions of life’s realities in her novel, Catching the Eagle. Part mystery, part history, part drama, with hints of faith, duty and loyalty, this story recreates the world of its time with very natural detail and very believable characters.
There’s a touch of disappointment in the ending that somehow perfectly balances the tale—a real world, a real search for freedom, and an eagle bound. This novel promises to be the first of a fascinating series, loosely based on the author’s real family history.
Disclosure: I received a free eARC of this novel from the publisher, Knox Robinson, in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews