Windrush: Crimea

Jack Windrush #2

by Malcolm Archibald

Malta, 1854. Jack and his disreputable 113th Foot are stationed in Crimea. A lieutenant in British Army's worst regiment, Jack hankers for recognition to regain his true station in life.

At the Battle of the Alma, Jack is sent to General Campbell of the Highland Brigade to offer the assistance of the 113th. After burying the dead, he meets the beautiful Helen Maxwell, but soon after receives orders to leave the country.

Facing the formidable Russian army led by the savage Major Kutozov, Jack learns that life in the front line is tough, with only the wayward Helen to alleviate the horrors of war.



★★★★★ - "Archibald delivers a gritty tale worthy of the Charge of the Light Brigade, and spins it masterfully with personal storylines. A scorching read."

★★★★★ - "The battle scenes are thrilling and descriptive of the bravery of both the Russians and the Brits. The book is crafted beautifully and the writing is superb."

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2016

About the author

My primary interest is historical, either fiction or non fiction, but I can enjoy most anything from Jane Austin to Kipling to J K Rowling. I have been very quiet on this site, but I think I might be a bit more active now.
I also enjoy the stimulation of meeting people and finding out about them.

Reviews

[The Bauchler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 2* but it redeemed itself towards the end with a reasonably well written battle climax.

I'm frankly not convinced that I'm reading about British soldiers in the mid-19th century.

The speech patterns, words used, and internal monologues seem anachronistic for the time.

There is a lackadaisical treatment of Windrush's 'band of brothers' I cant call them a section, troop or a company as this is never made clear. There seem to be a lack of NCO's around too.

The novel's premise relies on coincidences that seem clumsy and unlikely.

There is a love interest that I felt was clumsily written and took up too much of the middle section

I have started listening to number three, only because it auto-played next on my device.

Hopefully it will get better.

[A.J. Griffiths-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Two in the ‘Windrush’ series is every bit as enthralling as the first. Having survived his first posting with the 113th Foot Regiment in Burma, Jack’s band of vagabonds, thieves & petty criminals find themselves in Malta. Tasked with an underhand spying mission to begin with, Windrush then finds his men on the battlefield at Balaklava facing the fearsome Cossacks. When the very man he had been asked to investigate shows up leading the enemy troops, matters get complicated & it’s up to the crafty men under his leadership to solve some sticky situations. With a touch of romance thrown in, this is an exciting & realistic read.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting!

The battle scenes made my heart race as the British defend attacks by the Russians in Sebastopol mid-1850's. This author makes it real with descriptions of sight, sound and smell of war.

There is much attention given to historical detail. I enjoy the soldiers' banter and Jack's adventure as he leads his misfits into battle.

I'm additionally amazed at the inept battle plans and snobbery between battalions. Found this entire book extremely interesting.

I definitely recommend this series to readers of historical fiction!

[betty hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical hero

After reading the first two Windrush books, I find it refreshing to have a leading character not be the typical rogue that many other authors have written about. The opening scene is excellent and sets the course for Jack , his military career and life in general. Reading about British military adventures beyond the Napoleonic wars is quite interesting and Mr. Archibald does a wonderful job of keeping the reader in suspense for what may happen next to Jack and the 113th.

[Chris Howkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing

A good read, very like the first in the series, a look a lesser campaign, although the Crimean campaign saw a large British army in the field and was the first European fight the British army had fought since Waterloo.
Good characters, well written and a good description of the fighting in front of Sebastopol. Going on to number 3

[Elizabeth Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first in the series. In Windrush Crimea, Jack Windrush fights the Russians, with his regiment, the 113th Foot, gradually being accepted into the body of the British Army. More bloody and gritty than the first in the series, Crimea gives a taste of the reality of mid Victorian warfare.

[S. Nomakeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unlucky 113th

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I came to like the character of Jack Windrush in this second installment in the series. This book centers around the British war in the Crimea in 1854. Hard fought battle scenes and camaraderie highlight the story. I want to learn more about Jack and his adventures. The narration was good.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 113th and Jack Windrush continue to get little respect and much drudgery as Britain starts its run of ugly wars against the Russians. His continuing clandestine activities create conflict for Jack and disdain from the very proper and gentlemanly upper class that constitutes the British officer class. Lots of blood and guts but little glory in the Crimea.

[Stephen K Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent series set in a period that may not be familiar to most fans of historical fiction, which made it more enjoyable for me. Archibald makes the Crimean War come alive with well-researched events, lively characters and action that will keep you reading late into the night.

[David Galindo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series, well written with lots of historical insight.

[Lou Kahle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This is an interesting part of history of the British army. The details are fairly accurate and is a great way to learn about this period of history.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chronology of another time

It takes us back in time when mannerisms and actions were far different than today and a land that most have never seen.

[Leonard White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Windrush in the Crimea in 1852. Exciting, fast paced action adventure story about the British army in Crimea.

[Berk Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy the author's skill at presenting the characters of a British Regiment in the 1800's. This book certainly does not disappoint in that regard. Some of the structure of British society and military society of the times is maddening to the "colonial" that I am. One incident in which a British Col. Murphy is lecturing Leftenant Windrush is instructive. In the lecture, which is complaining about the men developing a dummy with a bomb to stop Russians from looping a wire over the head of Brits and then cutting their throats, the Colonel says, rather stiffly, "We fight for and according to the rules." And of course Col. Murphy is sick so he does not learn the lesson of the Crimean battles which ensue that there are no rules which constrain the means of killing men in war. The battle scenes are thrilling and descriptive of the bravery of both the Russians and the Brits. One of the scenes of the war described wonderfully by the author is the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade." The book is crafted beautifully and the writing is superb. I always look forward to reading one of Malcolm Archibald's works. This one makes me anticipatory of the next. A really good book.

[Louise Musgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as the first in the series, this book sees Jack Windrush and his rogues of the 113th Foot fighting the Russians. His new commanding officer, Maxwell, is a bit of a vagabond himself. Espionage, bloody battles and tough soldiers, this book is the Victorian Army at its grimy best.