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Jack Absolute #3
Absolute Honor
Blooded on the battlefields of Canada, fresh from a winter spent with a voluptuous widow, Jack Absolute has every reason to feel good. And life only gets better when the ship returning him to England takes a rich prize.
But gold is not all Jack collects. Fever nearly kills him, and it is only the skill of his new comrade, Red Hugh McClune, which saves his life. The friendship takes him to convalesce in Bath - and into a passionate liaison with the Irishman's beautiful cousin. But things are not as they seem, tragedy strikes, and Jack escapes with his life but loses something more important to him: his honour.
From an assassination attempt on King George to espionage at the Jacobite Court in Rome, through betrayal, mutiny, cavalry charges and duels, Jack seeks to restore that honour - with a consequence he could not have foreseen, and a price to be paid in blood...
"A rip-roaring adventure packed with action, drama and passion - C.C. Humphreys takes you into a swashbuckling world you won't want to leave." --Kate Mosse
But gold is not all Jack collects. Fever nearly kills him, and it is only the skill of his new comrade, Red Hugh McClune, which saves his life. The friendship takes him to convalesce in Bath - and into a passionate liaison with the Irishman's beautiful cousin. But things are not as they seem, tragedy strikes, and Jack escapes with his life but loses something more important to him: his honour.
From an assassination attempt on King George to espionage at the Jacobite Court in Rome, through betrayal, mutiny, cavalry charges and duels, Jack seeks to restore that honour - with a consequence he could not have foreseen, and a price to be paid in blood...
"A rip-roaring adventure packed with action, drama and passion - C.C. Humphreys takes you into a swashbuckling world you won't want to leave." --Kate Mosse
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
19 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
C.C. Humphreys
29 books428 followersaka Chris Humphreys
Chris (C.C.) Humphreys was born in Toronto, lived till he was seven in Los Angeles, then grew up in the UK. All four grandparents were actors, and since his father was an actor as well, it was inevitable he would follow the bloodline.
Chris (C.C.) Humphreys has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London’s West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He has written eleven adult novels including The French Executioner, runner-up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers; Chasing the Wind; The Jack Absolute Trilogy; Vlad – The Last Confession; A Place Called Armageddon and Shakespeare’s Rebel – which he adapted into a play and which premiered at Bard on the Beach, Vancouver, in 2015. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in Canada in 2015. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. His epic fantasy series the Immortals’ Blood Trilogy, beginning with Smoke in the Glass' has just been published by Gollancz. He also published his other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, beginning in August 2020 with ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn’. His foray into modern crime, 'One London Day' was published in 2021. Hie new novel, the World War Two epic romance, 'Someday I'll Find You' is published by Doubleday in Canada on June 6, 2023.
Several of his novels are available as Audiobooks - read by himself! Find him here:
https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/...
He is translated into thirteen languages. In 2015 he earned his Masters in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of British Columbia.
Check out his website: http://authorchrishumphreys.com
Chris (C.C.) Humphreys was born in Toronto, lived till he was seven in Los Angeles, then grew up in the UK. All four grandparents were actors, and since his father was an actor as well, it was inevitable he would follow the bloodline.
Chris (C.C.) Humphreys has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London’s West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He has written eleven adult novels including The French Executioner, runner-up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers; Chasing the Wind; The Jack Absolute Trilogy; Vlad – The Last Confession; A Place Called Armageddon and Shakespeare’s Rebel – which he adapted into a play and which premiered at Bard on the Beach, Vancouver, in 2015. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in Canada in 2015. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. His epic fantasy series the Immortals’ Blood Trilogy, beginning with Smoke in the Glass' has just been published by Gollancz. He also published his other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, beginning in August 2020 with ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn’. His foray into modern crime, 'One London Day' was published in 2021. Hie new novel, the World War Two epic romance, 'Someday I'll Find You' is published by Doubleday in Canada on June 6, 2023.
Several of his novels are available as Audiobooks - read by himself! Find him here:
https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/...
He is translated into thirteen languages. In 2015 he earned his Masters in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of British Columbia.
Check out his website: http://authorchrishumphreys.com
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 11, 2018
The Jack Absolute Books.
Blooding of Jack Absolute 1752 - 1760
Absolute Honour 1761 - 1763
Jack Absolute 1777 - onwards
Does anyone know if there is a book which covers the missing years ? 1763 - 1777
Thoroughly enjoyed the 3 above.
"Absolute Honour" again shows Jack as a loveable character whose duty to his father, king and country takes precedence over his wine and women, but still trouble follows him throughout Europe and gets him into more dire straits.
Again, a book I hated to put down. I was so eager to know how he would get out of all his messes as well as learning of the vivid battles he fought, his rise from Cornet to Lieutenant, and it all being wrapped up in an intriguing adventure.
Would love to know what happened to him on his arrival back in Canada/US. in 1763 as an unlisted officer.
To reappear in "Jack Absolute", in 1777, as a Captain and once again fighting in the British Army.
Blooding of Jack Absolute 1752 - 1760
Absolute Honour 1761 - 1763
Jack Absolute 1777 - onwards
Does anyone know if there is a book which covers the missing years ? 1763 - 1777
Thoroughly enjoyed the 3 above.
"Absolute Honour" again shows Jack as a loveable character whose duty to his father, king and country takes precedence over his wine and women, but still trouble follows him throughout Europe and gets him into more dire straits.
Again, a book I hated to put down. I was so eager to know how he would get out of all his messes as well as learning of the vivid battles he fought, his rise from Cornet to Lieutenant, and it all being wrapped up in an intriguing adventure.
Would love to know what happened to him on his arrival back in Canada/US. in 1763 as an unlisted officer.
To reappear in "Jack Absolute", in 1777, as a Captain and once again fighting in the British Army.
November 21, 2023
3.5 stars
It was good timing to finish this series finally, because I saw The Rivals last summer, and Jack Absolute is a character from that play. Humphreys played the character when he was working as an actor, and that inspired this trilogy. This one is especially fun to read after seeing it, because a chunk of it closely follows the plot of the play before turning it on its head. It was cleverly done, and I never expected the direction he took.
I liked the adventurous aspects of it the most, and the novel kept a brisk pace. The battles were exciting and felt well-researched. Jack can be a real bonehead, but he's a brave, daring one.
He's kind of sleazy with the ladies and sometimes downright rotten.
I liked where he ended up, but the aftermath of his last revelation to his parents felt very rushed.
It was good timing to finish this series finally, because I saw The Rivals last summer, and Jack Absolute is a character from that play. Humphreys played the character when he was working as an actor, and that inspired this trilogy. This one is especially fun to read after seeing it, because a chunk of it closely follows the plot of the play before turning it on its head. It was cleverly done, and I never expected the direction he took.
I liked the adventurous aspects of it the most, and the novel kept a brisk pace. The battles were exciting and felt well-researched. Jack can be a real bonehead, but he's a brave, daring one.
He's kind of sleazy with the ladies and sometimes downright rotten.
I liked where he ended up, but the aftermath of his last revelation to his parents felt very rushed.
November 12, 2011
The continuing adventures of Jack Absolute made for highly entertaining reading. The opening scene of the novel finds Jack in Newport, Rhode Island, parting from the Quaker widow in whose arms he's whiled away the winter months. He appears to have become restless and is eager to board ship for England. Rowing to the ship he rescues a naked swimmer who turns out to be fellow passenger Red Hugh McClune. Jack and the Irishman soon become fast friends. At sea there is an encounter with privateers, and then Jack becomes ill with fever, nursed back to health by McClune. Back in England, Jack is enticed to Bath by McClune where he meets the lovely Laetitia Fitzpatrick, McClune's cousin. A secret courtship follows, Jack pretending to be a mere Cornet and poor man to fulfill Laetitia's romantic notions. Jack soon also finds himself embroiled in a Jacobite plot. With the plot foiled, and Jack's innocence confirmed, he agrees, as a matter of honour, and with little choice in the matter, to go to Rome as a spy among the Jacobite supporters. Eventually Jack rejoins his regiment in Portugal for further action. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - never a dull moment!
June 11, 2023
It’s April 1761 and Jack is in Rhode Island, about to board ship for England. He is instrumental in rescuing an Irish Grenadier, Red Hugh McClune from a mob, saving his life. Hugh is a rumbustious fellow, larger than life and seems a firm friend. The voyage is not uneventful, whether its mutiny and attacks by the French to enliven their days.
Finally, ending up in Bath, Jack is smitten by Hugh’s beautiful cousin, Laetitia. Complications arise, however, part farce, part suspense, that get in the way of true love. In due course Jack finds himself employed as a spy in Rome, to infiltrate the Jacobites living and plotting there. But it doesn’t end here, for he is soon fighting the Spanish in the storming of Valencia de Alcántara…
There’s plenty of sailing ship lore, sword-fights, footpads, ambushes and betrayal to keep the pages turning. Readers of C.S. Forester and Bernard Cornwell will certainly appreciate these books.
A triumph and a worthy successor to Jack’s previous two outings.
Finally, ending up in Bath, Jack is smitten by Hugh’s beautiful cousin, Laetitia. Complications arise, however, part farce, part suspense, that get in the way of true love. In due course Jack finds himself employed as a spy in Rome, to infiltrate the Jacobites living and plotting there. But it doesn’t end here, for he is soon fighting the Spanish in the storming of Valencia de Alcántara…
There’s plenty of sailing ship lore, sword-fights, footpads, ambushes and betrayal to keep the pages turning. Readers of C.S. Forester and Bernard Cornwell will certainly appreciate these books.
A triumph and a worthy successor to Jack’s previous two outings.
January 24, 2020
I found the chronology of this trilogy a little weird. Bk 1 takes place in 1777 during the Amer. Revolution. Have not read that one. Bk 2 went back to 1757 during the French & Indian War. I read and enjoyed that one some 10 years ago. This Bk 3 takes place in early 1760s after Jack has left the colonies to report back to his military superiors but circumstances see him involved in privateering, Irish plots against the monarchy and eventually secondment as a spy in Italy followed by service in Portugal during the Spanish invasion of that country. Throughout we have romantic exploits as Jack is still young and foolish in that area but there is too much of battle/sailing/war descriptions for my taste. Lots of swordplay. Decent period detail. Jack is not as compelling a character as Richard Sharpe but he’s OK. One day I will get to that first (last) book.
March 27, 2022
I have really enjoyed the three Absolute novels (haven’t read birth of Jack Absolute) - Jack is ‘real’, the action is enjoyable, the characters not all good/bad but a reflection of humanity as it is. My question is: when are more novels about Jack coming out??
January 13, 2023
Least favorite of the trilogy, but same fun characters.
September 9, 2014
I enjoyed the beginning of this book when the protagonist Lieutenant Jack Absolute was at sea returning to England from America with his new friend, the Irishman Red Hugh McClune. Jack and Red make a great pair. I don't know naval terminology at all but I still found the battle sequence exciting.
When it stuck to swashbuckling adventure, I found this book engaging. However, during the middle section of the book devoted to the romance between Jack and Red's 17 year old cousin Laetitia, I totally lost interest. I got so tired of notes being passed and secret trysts. After a while, every time I saw the name Laetitia on a page I skipped the whole page, so I may have missed vital plot points. It was also a little irritating that almost all of the other women in the book seemed to be whores.
The adventure story picked up again in the final third of the book when Jack went back to spying and fighting. I have not read the other books in this series so I don't know whether they focus more on adventure or on sappy romance. I wouldn't mind reading more about Jack the soldier/spy, but I don't want any more of lovesick Jack.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
When it stuck to swashbuckling adventure, I found this book engaging. However, during the middle section of the book devoted to the romance between Jack and Red's 17 year old cousin Laetitia, I totally lost interest. I got so tired of notes being passed and secret trysts. After a while, every time I saw the name Laetitia on a page I skipped the whole page, so I may have missed vital plot points. It was also a little irritating that almost all of the other women in the book seemed to be whores.
The adventure story picked up again in the final third of the book when Jack went back to spying and fighting. I have not read the other books in this series so I don't know whether they focus more on adventure or on sappy romance. I wouldn't mind reading more about Jack the soldier/spy, but I don't want any more of lovesick Jack.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
April 3, 2016
When I started reading this I found out it was part of a series. I believe I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous book of this series.
A masculine read full of adventure that takes place during the eighteenth century. From pirate attack to betrayed friendship, broken romance, Jacobite prison, and Spanish war a young man matures to self awareness. I would like to read the next in this series only if I read the previous novel first.
Labels: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Jacobite, 18th Century
I liked a term, artificial naturalness in describing a garden
A masculine read full of adventure that takes place during the eighteenth century. From pirate attack to betrayed friendship, broken romance, Jacobite prison, and Spanish war a young man matures to self awareness. I would like to read the next in this series only if I read the previous novel first.
Labels: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Jacobite, 18th Century
I liked a term, artificial naturalness in describing a garden
August 2, 2011
Jack Absolute does it again! I am a little confused about the order of these books though. I didn't realize this one existed and it's been a few years since I read Jack Absoute and Blooding of J.A, so I've lost a bit of the momentum. Humphreys does a good job at describing military and espionage adventure even for those who don't typically like kind of genre. Very accessible and fun!
June 8, 2013
finally got around to reading my xmas present, and what a plonkeer I was..the story had me gripped from start to finish, had difficulties putting it down, well written and draws you in from the start. now looking for the rest of the series, definitely up with Wilber Smith and John Grisham for me superb author.
July 4, 2014
I received this book through Goodreads for honest review.
Although this period of history was interesting and not the usual story, I found the hero difficult to like. For all the emphasis on his honor it was at times at his convenience. Also the author has a low opinion of most of the women in this story which also makes this an unsympathetic character."
I can give only four star.
Although this period of history was interesting and not the usual story, I found the hero difficult to like. For all the emphasis on his honor it was at times at his convenience. Also the author has a low opinion of most of the women in this story which also makes this an unsympathetic character."
I can give only four star.
January 21, 2009
I liked this one, but it wasn't as good as the first two. I like Absolute better when he is spying and fighting rather than wooing the ladies. I understand why he had to do it for the novel's plot, but I it's not my favorite.
April 24, 2011
This book was a fantastic ending of the Jack Absolute series. Jack`s many scrapes entertain throughout, and the only negative aspect is his constant obsession with women. Altogether, a well rounded, page-turner.
July 28, 2011
Another great swashbuckling adventure in the Jack Absolute series. Though, I wish the author would hurry up and give us a proper sequel to the first book. These prequels are great but I am still waitng to close off the cliffhanger
October 15, 2012
Excellent. Interesting view of the potential Jacobite threat to the English throne in the mid-18th Century, along with romance, war, duels of honor. A lot of action packed into a bit more than 300 pages. I anxiously await the next volume in the series.
February 5, 2016
This is the third in the trilogy about Jack Absolute and his adventures as a member of the Queen's 16th Dragoons. Spy, cavalryman, lover, whether in the New World's territories, France or Italy, he's always up to something.
March 8, 2009
What a great book and series. Stands up tp Flashman, Sharpe, Aubery, etc. The Series starts with the American Revolution, the next 2 books fill in the back story.
June 3, 2012
Excellent series..
July 30, 2014
Great book. This is the 3rd or 4th time around for me. There is always some detail or plot that I have missed previously. I love this series and you should enjoy it also.
June 3, 2015
Still in love with this series. Simply can't get enough of Jack Absolute. Nuff said.
July 16, 2015
Absolute fun
Good sequel. I do want another book, what is Jack doing now since he is at the school where Ate is?
Good sequel. I do want another book, what is Jack doing now since he is at the school where Ate is?
October 16, 2016
All I can say is that I am truly saddened to reach the end of Jack Absolute's adventures
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October 31, 2009Recommended. I've enjoyed all 3 of this series.
January 6, 2018
It's definitely a good book. I agree with the others;Most of his romantic interests are like whores if they aren't they're treated like them. This is the first time I read about drama I thought it would be boring, but after reading this it has me craving for the other two earlier books. The climax suggest that this would be the last book... Such a shame.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews