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Matthew Hawkwood #4
Rebellion
Rebellion is brewing in Napoleonic Paris, in the new action-packed novel from the author of the bestselling Ratcatcher October 1812: Britain and France are still at war. France is engaged on two battle fronts - Spain and Russia - and her civilians are growing weary of the fight. Rebellion is brewing. Since Napoleon Bonaparte appointed himself as First Consul, there have been several attempts to either kill or overthrow him. All have failed, so far! Meanwhile in London, Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood has been seconded to the foreign arm of the Secret Service. There, he meets the urbane Henry Brooke, who tells him he's to join a colleague in Paris on a special mission. Brooke's agent has come up with a daring plan and he needs Hawkwood's help to put it into action. If the plan is successful it could lead to a negotiated peace treaty between France and the allies. Failure would mean prison, torture and a meeting with the guillotine!
522 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2011
16 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
James McGee
49 books119 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 11, 2015
When I heard that this book had been released, I couldnt wait to get my hands on a copy as I had enjoyed the previous 3 books in the Matthew Hawkwood series. Like the others, this was incredibly well researched but although I enjoyed the read, it was a bit of a letdown.
I much prefered our hero in his role as Bow Street Runner as in the earliest books. I felt that the main character here was a bit of a cross between Flashman and Sharpe.
I am afraid that I found the numerous french named officials difficult to 'personalise' in my mind and I was left with the choice of either looking back through the book to remind myself who I was reading about or reading on regardless. I started with the former and finished with the latter and therefore missed some of the nuances and intrigues that the author had included.
I will still look forward to the next episode and just hope that Captain Hawkwood gets back to his 'day job'
I much prefered our hero in his role as Bow Street Runner as in the earliest books. I felt that the main character here was a bit of a cross between Flashman and Sharpe.
I am afraid that I found the numerous french named officials difficult to 'personalise' in my mind and I was left with the choice of either looking back through the book to remind myself who I was reading about or reading on regardless. I started with the former and finished with the latter and therefore missed some of the nuances and intrigues that the author had included.
I will still look forward to the next episode and just hope that Captain Hawkwood gets back to his 'day job'
April 17, 2011
I was so looking forward to the next installment of Runner Hawkwood's adventures... and then James McGee spends what seems like half this book following Major Colquhoun Grant. Admittedly, we know that both Hawkwood and Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe owe much of their inspiration to the exploits of the real-life Grant, but if I wanted a book about Grant, I'd have bought one.
My advice to Mr McGee: get back to London, where a Bow Street Runner belongs.
My advice to Mr McGee: get back to London, where a Bow Street Runner belongs.
May 4, 2011
First Sentence: He heard the rattle of musket fire and ducked instinctively.
Matthew Hawkwood, former military officer now a Bow Street Runner, as been sent to France by the Home Office. Napoleon and his Grand Army are in Moscow, and the country nearly bankrupt. He has been given no information as to his assignment but knows, if he fails, all help for, and knowledge of him will be withheld. When he learns of his assignment it is audacious, dangerous and may result either in Hawkwood helping change the course of history or, quite possibly, in his death.
Although not really a mystery, this was one incredible book. Strongly rooted in historical facts, it is fascinating to see the events of history at the personal level and how the events rival anything pure fiction could ever invent. One learns so much from this story, including about the beginnings of the Brigade de la Sûreté, organized by a man, Eugène François Vidocq, who had been a criminal. In fact, most of the characters here were real.
Hawkwood is a dynamic character. He is smart, clever, brave and skilled yet also described as neither being a rake nor a celibate. He is a trained soldier. We actually know little of his background yet he’s as far from being a one-dimensional protagonist as one can imagine.
While sense of place, in terms of descriptions of locales, may be lacking, there is more a sense of atmosphere and tension created by weather, time of day, conditions and the tension of the story. This is not Paris at its most lovely, but Paris and other locations, as a surrounding in which the characters are trying to fight and survive. It absolutely worked.
There is absolutely nothing dry or boring about this book. Any brief disappointment that Hawkwood was not operating in England as a Bow Street Runner is quickly overcome. The one small criticism is that it did, at times, become difficult to keep track of who was whom and on which side they were so a character list would have been very helpful. Even so, even for one who is not particularly a soldiers and war fan, the 516 pages flew by in two days with nary a pause and only a bit of sleep. However, if you are a Patrick O’Brian and/or Bernard Cornwell fan, here’s another author to add to your list.
“Rebellion” is exciting, tense, suspenseful, at times a bit brutal, dramatic, and completely absorbing.
REBELLION (Hist Susp-Matthew Hawkwood-France-1812) – VG+
McGee, James – 4th book in series
Harper Collins, ©2011, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780007320240
Matthew Hawkwood, former military officer now a Bow Street Runner, as been sent to France by the Home Office. Napoleon and his Grand Army are in Moscow, and the country nearly bankrupt. He has been given no information as to his assignment but knows, if he fails, all help for, and knowledge of him will be withheld. When he learns of his assignment it is audacious, dangerous and may result either in Hawkwood helping change the course of history or, quite possibly, in his death.
Although not really a mystery, this was one incredible book. Strongly rooted in historical facts, it is fascinating to see the events of history at the personal level and how the events rival anything pure fiction could ever invent. One learns so much from this story, including about the beginnings of the Brigade de la Sûreté, organized by a man, Eugène François Vidocq, who had been a criminal. In fact, most of the characters here were real.
Hawkwood is a dynamic character. He is smart, clever, brave and skilled yet also described as neither being a rake nor a celibate. He is a trained soldier. We actually know little of his background yet he’s as far from being a one-dimensional protagonist as one can imagine.
While sense of place, in terms of descriptions of locales, may be lacking, there is more a sense of atmosphere and tension created by weather, time of day, conditions and the tension of the story. This is not Paris at its most lovely, but Paris and other locations, as a surrounding in which the characters are trying to fight and survive. It absolutely worked.
There is absolutely nothing dry or boring about this book. Any brief disappointment that Hawkwood was not operating in England as a Bow Street Runner is quickly overcome. The one small criticism is that it did, at times, become difficult to keep track of who was whom and on which side they were so a character list would have been very helpful. Even so, even for one who is not particularly a soldiers and war fan, the 516 pages flew by in two days with nary a pause and only a bit of sleep. However, if you are a Patrick O’Brian and/or Bernard Cornwell fan, here’s another author to add to your list.
“Rebellion” is exciting, tense, suspenseful, at times a bit brutal, dramatic, and completely absorbing.
REBELLION (Hist Susp-Matthew Hawkwood-France-1812) – VG+
McGee, James – 4th book in series
Harper Collins, ©2011, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780007320240
March 18, 2011
As a swashbuckling spy-cum-adventurer tale, Rebellion probably works well enough at a not too demanding level. For originality of plot and command of language, the discerning reader may feel inclined to look elsewhere - perhaps to George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman books or Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series.
Rebellion features Matthew Hawkwood, hero of James McGee’s earlier novels. Now he is sent under cover to France where he must work with a clandestine British agent to overthrow Napoleon. Alexandre Dumas, for all his wordiness, would have given the tale more edge, more flair, and - dare one say - more plausibility.
More pace, too. The unnecessarily elongated set-up, during which the reader is given little hint of Hawkwood’s ultimate task, takes nearly a third of the book. Not for the first time, one sadly suspects that publishers need five hundred pages in order to announce another blockbuster.
My advance copy was produced from the unedited typescript. No doubt the final printed book will have corrected such surprising errors as ‘spys’ and ‘jist’. But lapses into sub-Mills and Boon banality (“... Hawkwood found his attention drawn to a pair of cornflower blue eyes set above a pert nose, framed in an oval face ...”) may be beyond rescue.
Rebellion features Matthew Hawkwood, hero of James McGee’s earlier novels. Now he is sent under cover to France where he must work with a clandestine British agent to overthrow Napoleon. Alexandre Dumas, for all his wordiness, would have given the tale more edge, more flair, and - dare one say - more plausibility.
More pace, too. The unnecessarily elongated set-up, during which the reader is given little hint of Hawkwood’s ultimate task, takes nearly a third of the book. Not for the first time, one sadly suspects that publishers need five hundred pages in order to announce another blockbuster.
My advance copy was produced from the unedited typescript. No doubt the final printed book will have corrected such surprising errors as ‘spys’ and ‘jist’. But lapses into sub-Mills and Boon banality (“... Hawkwood found his attention drawn to a pair of cornflower blue eyes set above a pert nose, framed in an oval face ...”) may be beyond rescue.
May 25, 2012
The fourth book in James McGee's Matthew Hawkwood series of books, and over the course of the last two (in particular), the eponymous Bow Street Runner is getting further and further away from his usual haunts!
In this installment, Hawkwood actually spends the vast majority of it in the heart of Imperial France: in Paris itself, while Napoleon is away on his ill-fated Russian campaign. Again taking real historical facts as its basis, this novel concerns itself primarily with a conspiracy attempt to over-throw the regime: an event which, obviously, did not succeed.
If I'm honest, and to draw an anology between these books and the Star Wars films (which might seem strange, but bear with me!), the first couple of books in the series are like the original couple of films: full of danger, action and excitement. This one, unfortunately, is more like Episode I: seeming to be setting itself up for a broader story arc, and more concerned with politics than with action and excitement.
Worth a read? Yes, but if this was my introduction to the series as a whole - which can, by and large, be read independently as they only occassionally refer to earlier events - I wouldn't be going out of my way to look for any others in thes series, unlike if I had read any of the others first.
In this installment, Hawkwood actually spends the vast majority of it in the heart of Imperial France: in Paris itself, while Napoleon is away on his ill-fated Russian campaign. Again taking real historical facts as its basis, this novel concerns itself primarily with a conspiracy attempt to over-throw the regime: an event which, obviously, did not succeed.
If I'm honest, and to draw an anology between these books and the Star Wars films (which might seem strange, but bear with me!), the first couple of books in the series are like the original couple of films: full of danger, action and excitement. This one, unfortunately, is more like Episode I: seeming to be setting itself up for a broader story arc, and more concerned with politics than with action and excitement.
Worth a read? Yes, but if this was my introduction to the series as a whole - which can, by and large, be read independently as they only occassionally refer to earlier events - I wouldn't be going out of my way to look for any others in thes series, unlike if I had read any of the others first.
September 5, 2017
I liked the first few Hawkwood books, but this one left me cold, and I did not finish it.
I think the whole Hawkwood getting shipwrecked on his way to the secret mission in France was what did me in. It took multiple chapters to tell us what - as far as I'm concerned, could have been communicated in a few sentences, a paragraph at most. There was a storm on the ship ride to France, Hawkwood ends up alone and friendless in France, and has to navigate French forces to get where he needs to be without getting killed. There, you're welcome.
Instead, I had to wade through pages and pages of the description of the ship voyage that turned into a wreck [totally didn't need, or care about all the detail about either] and then schlepping with Hawkwood and one of the sailors from his ship trying to not get shot by the French soldiers who find them after they make it to land.
I'm sure the secret mission Hawkwood was in France to do would have been very exciting, had I been able to continue slogging through the flotsam and jetsam details about what happened first, but unfortunately, I wasn't, and I gave up on this before any of that happened.
Fortunately, this was a library book, so it goes back and no harm, no foul, no great loss for me.
I think the whole Hawkwood getting shipwrecked on his way to the secret mission in France was what did me in. It took multiple chapters to tell us what - as far as I'm concerned, could have been communicated in a few sentences, a paragraph at most. There was a storm on the ship ride to France, Hawkwood ends up alone and friendless in France, and has to navigate French forces to get where he needs to be without getting killed. There, you're welcome.
Instead, I had to wade through pages and pages of the description of the ship voyage that turned into a wreck [totally didn't need, or care about all the detail about either] and then schlepping with Hawkwood and one of the sailors from his ship trying to not get shot by the French soldiers who find them after they make it to land.
I'm sure the secret mission Hawkwood was in France to do would have been very exciting, had I been able to continue slogging through the flotsam and jetsam details about what happened first, but unfortunately, I wasn't, and I gave up on this before any of that happened.
Fortunately, this was a library book, so it goes back and no harm, no foul, no great loss for me.
November 21, 2011
I was a little disappointed with this book. Although there were some brilliant scenes it just didn't grip me like the previous Hawkwood books have, hence the reason it took me an age to read it. Very well researched and a has a great epilogue that details how many of the characters featured in the book existed in reality and how their lives turned out after the period over which the book is set. Also gutted by the distinct lack of Jago in this book! All in all this book hasn't been enough to put me off the Hawkwood series, I would love to read more if more are written :o)
December 11, 2022
My guess is that what happened here is that the real history inspired a rather good idea for a story, but then during its execution it just … never quite came off. It feels like it takes forever to get anywhere in the plot, which then reaches its conclusion when there’s still five or six chapters left to go. Protracted meanders punctuated by brief action sequences that leave the story at the same point that they’d found it feel like they were just inserted because nothing was happening. Expository digressions about real historical figures with tangential connection to events make it feel like there wasn’t enough separation for the author between the history he was studying and the work of fiction he was writing.
I really, really liked the sequence of Malet’s coup attempt. McGee absolutely nailed how to write a multi-pronged, military-backed coup d’état.
I really, really liked the sequence of Malet’s coup attempt. McGee absolutely nailed how to write a multi-pronged, military-backed coup d’état.
October 18, 2019
Rebellion finds Hawkwood loaned out to the international office as a spy. He's to go to France and learn his assignment. He gets to Paris but at the cost of many deaths. Napoleon is in Russia and Paris is a place of women and old men. Any eligible man has been enlisted in the army and taken away. Even the ones guarding the city aren’t really all that eligible.
Hawkwood is there to try and start a rebellion against Napoleon. It’s not the first time during his reign that it’s happened and many of the leaders are languishing in horrible prisons. Much to the surprise of the British agents he’s assigned to, he finds a plot is already in the works by one of those very prisoners. Can they pull this off, and more importantly, can the get out alive?
Hawkwood is there to try and start a rebellion against Napoleon. It’s not the first time during his reign that it’s happened and many of the leaders are languishing in horrible prisons. Much to the surprise of the British agents he’s assigned to, he finds a plot is already in the works by one of those very prisoners. Can they pull this off, and more importantly, can the get out alive?
January 14, 2021
I was almost put off reading this by some negative reviews, yet it was an always tense and exciting story set in France in 1812 where Hawkwood is sent by his superiors to assist in a coup against Napoleon. The shipwreck that lands him in France is superbly described, the sights and sounds of Paris convincingly portrayed as are the political machinations and the real and fictitious characters. Despite the attempt obviously failing, it is gripping as Hawkwood helps the audacious coup come close to success with many narrow escapes
February 2, 2023
A coup to dethrone Napoleon. Most action in 1812 Paris. Espionage, fast action, interesting multi-faceted characters.
Now some comparisons to other Napoleonic Wars fiction. Not as brilliant as O'Brian, less humorous and military than Cornwell (though less cheesy, too!) but excels in depicting dramatic scenes and cinematic sequences. Probably less realistic than the Matthew Harvey series but the title character is much more interesting and relatable.
Now some comparisons to other Napoleonic Wars fiction. Not as brilliant as O'Brian, less humorous and military than Cornwell (though less cheesy, too!) but excels in depicting dramatic scenes and cinematic sequences. Probably less realistic than the Matthew Harvey series but the title character is much more interesting and relatable.
December 21, 2018
I enjoyed two of the first three books in this series, but not this one. It was too long and drawn out and the description of the torture, etc. was not something I wanted to read about and I therefore skimmed through that section. I'm hoping that the next book in the series is less gruesome and less prolonged.
March 14, 2018
Historical drama set in Paris during Napoleon's Russian campaign. Reasonable, interesting background details about France in early 19th century, and attempted coup.
September 4, 2020
Another tour do force that made great late night reading!
December 4, 2020
Good start to the book pretty exciting ending not so much too much french names and different titles to keep up
February 5, 2021
Reads like someone asked for a 500-page novel of spies in Napoleonic France, and McGee just slammed this together.
Not very good, not recommended.
Not very good, not recommended.
October 27, 2024
I really liked the other books in the series, but this one, oh dear, this one was incredibly heavy reading and I just wanted it to be over. I do hope this was just a one low.
March 13, 2023
This is a great series of well written historical novels in the Regency period. Reminiscent of Bernard Cornwells Sharpe as the hero served in "The 95 Rifles" but Hawkwood is his own man. On my final novel of the series and missing the characters already.
October 3, 2016
Hard to keep up with all the French characters, this felt more like a history lesson. Looking forward to Hawkwood getting back to London!
May 6, 2012
I'm a fan of the Hawkwood series and enjoyed this latest outing.
This installment, finds Hawkwood thrust into a world of espionage at the behest of the "Alien Office" and involved in a plot to take down Napoleon.
Fresh from the horror and claustrophobic atmosphere of the prison hulk ship in Rapscallion, We find our hero about to embark on a dangerous mission, to help facilitate a plot to overthrow Napoleon.
Hawkwood must first make his way across the channel, a journey that almost puts pay to the mission before it even begins.
We meet several interestingly written charcters, Navy Captain Stuart, young, brave and optomistic, Major Grant, a former comrade of Hawkwood, General Malet, The Leader (or so it seems)of the operation, and several other supporting cast members, but it is the introduction of Vidocq, head of the "Brigade de Surete" that holds the most interest.
If, for the purpose of this story we are viewing "the French" as the Enemy, then we could concievably see Vidocq become a regular protagonist, he is a man with a chequered past, and has similar skill sets to Hawkwood, determined, honourable, resorceful, capabable & leathal, he and Hawkwood are so like of character, that one could suppose that, were they not on apposing sides, they would probably be friends! However, England and France are at war, so professional respect is as far as it can go, these two will surely cross paths in future installments.
For the most part, this is a good tale! however, to me, it didn't quite feel like a Hawkwood book!
Thats not to say that fans of the series won't enjoy it, because it is, a very good read! but for me there didn't seem quite the same tension or personal involvement as was evident in the previous three outings!
That being said, what this is, is a great re telling, of what is (largely) a true historical event!
In summary I'd say this wasn't quite what i'd hoped for, but is enjoyable and well handled.
I hope the series continues its quirk of each title starting with an "R", I don't know why, but that appeals to me, and i'm sure there are plenty of options to work with.
This installment, finds Hawkwood thrust into a world of espionage at the behest of the "Alien Office" and involved in a plot to take down Napoleon.
Fresh from the horror and claustrophobic atmosphere of the prison hulk ship in Rapscallion, We find our hero about to embark on a dangerous mission, to help facilitate a plot to overthrow Napoleon.
Hawkwood must first make his way across the channel, a journey that almost puts pay to the mission before it even begins.
We meet several interestingly written charcters, Navy Captain Stuart, young, brave and optomistic, Major Grant, a former comrade of Hawkwood, General Malet, The Leader (or so it seems)of the operation, and several other supporting cast members, but it is the introduction of Vidocq, head of the "Brigade de Surete" that holds the most interest.
If, for the purpose of this story we are viewing "the French" as the Enemy, then we could concievably see Vidocq become a regular protagonist, he is a man with a chequered past, and has similar skill sets to Hawkwood, determined, honourable, resorceful, capabable & leathal, he and Hawkwood are so like of character, that one could suppose that, were they not on apposing sides, they would probably be friends! However, England and France are at war, so professional respect is as far as it can go, these two will surely cross paths in future installments.
For the most part, this is a good tale! however, to me, it didn't quite feel like a Hawkwood book!
Thats not to say that fans of the series won't enjoy it, because it is, a very good read! but for me there didn't seem quite the same tension or personal involvement as was evident in the previous three outings!
That being said, what this is, is a great re telling, of what is (largely) a true historical event!
In summary I'd say this wasn't quite what i'd hoped for, but is enjoyable and well handled.
I hope the series continues its quirk of each title starting with an "R", I don't know why, but that appeals to me, and i'm sure there are plenty of options to work with.
May 11, 2016
In this book, Hawkwood is sent to work for a shadowy department of the Home Office who send him undercover to France to meet with a British agent to bring down Napoleon. He's shipped over by the charismatic Lieutenant Stuart and his crew, who sneak people over to France for the British.
One slight issue we had with the book, is that Hawkwood has very little nautical knowledge, yet the scenes on Stuart's ship were very detailed with things only a sailor would know. So whilst it proved the author had done a lot of research, Hawkwood wouldn't have had that knowledge. It would've been more realistic to have told that from Stuart's point of view. Stuart was one of our favourite characters and we would've liked to have seen more of him.
The book is well written and it feels very realistic. There is so much detail that it's clear the author knows a lot about the plot to bring down Napoleon. The plan is so audacious, it can only be true.
There was a lot of talking between the characters and it took a long time for the Napoleon plot to be put into action. Once the action kicked off, it was fast paced and exciting. Though like the last book, it seems that Hawkwood is moving away from being a Bow Street Runner and becoming a British spy. If that's the case, it would've made more sense to make him a spy from the start. Despite this, Hawkwood is still a great character and any book with him in it is enjoyable. Plus we learned a lot about Napoleon, who we didn't know much about before. So if you want to know more about the Napoleonic era, or have an interest in history and daring heroes, check it out.
One slight issue we had with the book, is that Hawkwood has very little nautical knowledge, yet the scenes on Stuart's ship were very detailed with things only a sailor would know. So whilst it proved the author had done a lot of research, Hawkwood wouldn't have had that knowledge. It would've been more realistic to have told that from Stuart's point of view. Stuart was one of our favourite characters and we would've liked to have seen more of him.
The book is well written and it feels very realistic. There is so much detail that it's clear the author knows a lot about the plot to bring down Napoleon. The plan is so audacious, it can only be true.
There was a lot of talking between the characters and it took a long time for the Napoleon plot to be put into action. Once the action kicked off, it was fast paced and exciting. Though like the last book, it seems that Hawkwood is moving away from being a Bow Street Runner and becoming a British spy. If that's the case, it would've made more sense to make him a spy from the start. Despite this, Hawkwood is still a great character and any book with him in it is enjoyable. Plus we learned a lot about Napoleon, who we didn't know much about before. So if you want to know more about the Napoleonic era, or have an interest in history and daring heroes, check it out.
March 17, 2017
This book scraped 3 stars from me. I love McGee's level of research, use of language and attention to detail but after reading this and Rapscillion I feel he suffers from 'Dan Brownism' which is where he puts unnecessary detail into his narratve that end up padding the story out by mentioning things that the author thinks is interesting (about the time, place, politics) but slow the plot to a snails pace for the reader.
At times I like that sort of thing but this book in particular (I also remember Rapscillion taking about 300 pages before the plot went anywhere of note) suffered from this badly when the 'rebellion' of the title starts to kick off.
There are names thrown at you to such an extent it makes Martin's Song of Ice and Fire books seem like a shopping list when introducing characters that mean nothing to the story and in fact do precisely that, nothing.
It made it hard to stay interested and I couldn't help wondering why Hawkwood was even involved, the reason seemed tenuous at best. I also can't help thinking McGee thought the story and historical goings on in France at the time were much more interesting than they actually were for me.
Still I consider myself educated on the matter (time, place and politics) and am hanging in there for the next Hawkwood adventure. It looks like he's left the 'Running' behind for now and his next adventure is going to be in America. Interesting. I just hope the plot has some sort of pace other than meandering (much like this review)
At times I like that sort of thing but this book in particular (I also remember Rapscillion taking about 300 pages before the plot went anywhere of note) suffered from this badly when the 'rebellion' of the title starts to kick off.
There are names thrown at you to such an extent it makes Martin's Song of Ice and Fire books seem like a shopping list when introducing characters that mean nothing to the story and in fact do precisely that, nothing.
It made it hard to stay interested and I couldn't help wondering why Hawkwood was even involved, the reason seemed tenuous at best. I also can't help thinking McGee thought the story and historical goings on in France at the time were much more interesting than they actually were for me.
Still I consider myself educated on the matter (time, place and politics) and am hanging in there for the next Hawkwood adventure. It looks like he's left the 'Running' behind for now and his next adventure is going to be in America. Interesting. I just hope the plot has some sort of pace other than meandering (much like this review)
January 21, 2014
'Bon chance!' Indeed!
Captured by the French in Portugal, and taken before Marshall Marmont, an English Intelligence officer (in uniform) is ill treated despite have given his parole. Enroute from Salamanca, in the Pyrenees the officer escapes.
Three years later, 1812, Bonaparte has decided to move on Russia leaving certain Parisian factors seeing this as an opportunity to end his regime.
Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood is about to be thrust into the political turmoil of Paris. It seems tension seethes below the facade of acceptance of Bonaparte as Emperor. The British want to cash in on it.
A storm at sea as Hawkwood is crossing the English Channel was a realistically terrifying picture. I was there with Hawkwood staring out into the night at the watery inferno, lit by lightening, holding on afraid at the unholy magnitude of the sea at storm.
Disguised as an American in Paris, Hawkwood meets up with an old friend. Life certainly takes an even more interesting turn as the mission and old friends combine.
I liken Harkwood to other reluctant hero's like Bernard Cornwall's Sharpe or C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower. Englishman cut from the same cloth who have a duty to King and country to perform.
Action packed, historically accurate, stimulating and a grand adventure. A bonus for me is that the historical background brings gravitas to my understanding of the political times and conditions behind the regency romances of which I'm so fond.
Sharply written, this thriller had me on the edge.
A NetGalley ARC
Captured by the French in Portugal, and taken before Marshall Marmont, an English Intelligence officer (in uniform) is ill treated despite have given his parole. Enroute from Salamanca, in the Pyrenees the officer escapes.
Three years later, 1812, Bonaparte has decided to move on Russia leaving certain Parisian factors seeing this as an opportunity to end his regime.
Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood is about to be thrust into the political turmoil of Paris. It seems tension seethes below the facade of acceptance of Bonaparte as Emperor. The British want to cash in on it.
A storm at sea as Hawkwood is crossing the English Channel was a realistically terrifying picture. I was there with Hawkwood staring out into the night at the watery inferno, lit by lightening, holding on afraid at the unholy magnitude of the sea at storm.
Disguised as an American in Paris, Hawkwood meets up with an old friend. Life certainly takes an even more interesting turn as the mission and old friends combine.
I liken Harkwood to other reluctant hero's like Bernard Cornwall's Sharpe or C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower. Englishman cut from the same cloth who have a duty to King and country to perform.
Action packed, historically accurate, stimulating and a grand adventure. A bonus for me is that the historical background brings gravitas to my understanding of the political times and conditions behind the regency romances of which I'm so fond.
Sharply written, this thriller had me on the edge.
A NetGalley ARC
May 7, 2012
Review
James McGee writes about Regency London as if he was born in that time period, he obviously has a great love of the time period and has lavished a lot of his time effort and research on it, the books from Ratcatcher to Rapscallion are excellent, and transport you to that period of history.
Rebellion sees Hawkwood our hero loaned out as a spy to help with a plan to undermine Napoleons Paris while the man himself is away in Russia. and while its interesting and fact filled its not Regency London and for me seems to lack the same passion as the previous books. As such the book gets bogged down with all the political intrigue for a large portion of the book.
There is nothing to bring this book to life, when you read it you cannot smell Paris, you cannot taste Paris, you cannot hear Paris, but in the earlier books set in London you felt like you could, in summary I didn't really care about this book. I just Hope Hawkwood returns to London and what he does best.
This book should still be read by all who have read and enjoyed his work, as N Brett stated " not a bad novel, but not a great one either" and I think that about sums it up. (Parm)
James McGee writes about Regency London as if he was born in that time period, he obviously has a great love of the time period and has lavished a lot of his time effort and research on it, the books from Ratcatcher to Rapscallion are excellent, and transport you to that period of history.
Rebellion sees Hawkwood our hero loaned out as a spy to help with a plan to undermine Napoleons Paris while the man himself is away in Russia. and while its interesting and fact filled its not Regency London and for me seems to lack the same passion as the previous books. As such the book gets bogged down with all the political intrigue for a large portion of the book.
There is nothing to bring this book to life, when you read it you cannot smell Paris, you cannot taste Paris, you cannot hear Paris, but in the earlier books set in London you felt like you could, in summary I didn't really care about this book. I just Hope Hawkwood returns to London and what he does best.
This book should still be read by all who have read and enjoyed his work, as N Brett stated " not a bad novel, but not a great one either" and I think that about sums it up. (Parm)
October 25, 2013
While I certainly enjoyed this latest exploit of Matthew Hawkwood there came a point that I started to feel a little confused during the later sections when the conspiracy comes to fruition in Paris. So many things were happening that I felt I almost needed to take notes to keep track events and who was impersonating who or being arrested by who.
However, what I didn't realise until reaching the author's historical notes is that while Hawkwood is a fictional spy pretty much everyone else involved were real historical figures as were the events chronicled. So the complexity in the narrative reflected the complexity of what happened on that day in history. While Hawkwood leaves the scene the author's notes provided welcome details of the fallout of the conspiracy and fates of the conspirators and others.
I am also pleaded to see that the series is continuing with new one due out in 2014.
I did also listen to this partly on audio as I own the Audible edition though found that the plot demanded that I read the print edition as well. Simple narratives can work fine audio alone but this demanded more attention.
However, what I didn't realise until reaching the author's historical notes is that while Hawkwood is a fictional spy pretty much everyone else involved were real historical figures as were the events chronicled. So the complexity in the narrative reflected the complexity of what happened on that day in history. While Hawkwood leaves the scene the author's notes provided welcome details of the fallout of the conspiracy and fates of the conspirators and others.
I am also pleaded to see that the series is continuing with new one due out in 2014.
I did also listen to this partly on audio as I own the Audible edition though found that the plot demanded that I read the print edition as well. Simple narratives can work fine audio alone but this demanded more attention.
August 7, 2016
Set in Paris during the years following the Revolution, this is an interesting adventure where various aspects of the government are set against one another. You alos get an idea of the first profiling and state control over dissidents, early versons of the secret and not so secret police. Hawkwood, a Bow Street runner is on loan to the forerunner of M6.
I read this book at about the same time I read Rapscalion, and felt that I was reading them out of order, and yet it really made no difference. The secquence of Hawkwood's life might become important later on as he develops, but these books stand independently.
I appreciated this book because it gave a face to Jacobite presence in the French Revolution, and he number of McXXX's in the French Napoleanic forces seemed quite high. Hawkwood is chosed for the assignment because he is fluent in French, also a factor in Rapscallion. He often passes as an American, a part of his history that requires some more reading on my part. He's spent time in America, briefly but seems to have been born in England, or to English parents. His adventures are so compelling that his biography is less importnat that his current scrape.
I read this book at about the same time I read Rapscalion, and felt that I was reading them out of order, and yet it really made no difference. The secquence of Hawkwood's life might become important later on as he develops, but these books stand independently.
I appreciated this book because it gave a face to Jacobite presence in the French Revolution, and he number of McXXX's in the French Napoleanic forces seemed quite high. Hawkwood is chosed for the assignment because he is fluent in French, also a factor in Rapscallion. He often passes as an American, a part of his history that requires some more reading on my part. He's spent time in America, briefly but seems to have been born in England, or to English parents. His adventures are so compelling that his biography is less importnat that his current scrape.
February 16, 2014
You might want to rethink starting Rebellion if you haven't had the pleasure of reading Hawkwood, The Resurrectionist, or Rapscallion. This, the 4th in the series was less an exciting foray into Hawkwood's life (as a Bow Street runner and sometimes spy in Napoleonic times) than it was a history lesson on the Malet Coup of 1812. Only the beginning and the end of the novel had the same feel as the earlier Hawkwood books.
But don't despair! After reading other readers' reviews I imagine that McGee will get the message and the next book will find Hawkwood embroiled in an adventure more in keeping with his predilection for danger and over-the-top action.
In the meantime, if you've already read all of the Sharpe and Flashman books, head into the 21st century and read the books by David Rich featuring Lt. Rollie Waters.
But don't despair! After reading other readers' reviews I imagine that McGee will get the message and the next book will find Hawkwood embroiled in an adventure more in keeping with his predilection for danger and over-the-top action.
In the meantime, if you've already read all of the Sharpe and Flashman books, head into the 21st century and read the books by David Rich featuring Lt. Rollie Waters.
April 1, 2011
OK, the adventures, as they do with these series, get a bit far fetched, but it was still fun. Another of my Napoleonic / Regency mystery genre, with a healthy dose of swashbuckling and sabre fights, albeit with no romance. But what more could a girl want when the character is tall dark handsome and scarred??!! My biggest criticism is either James McGee had no copy editor (are publishers eliminating this function thinking we're all dumbing down and no one will notice?) or this was one of the sloppiest jobs to get hrough. Maybe he should read the punctuation chapters in Eats Shoots and Leaves.
February 26, 2012
This fourth novel in the Hawkwood adventures was possibly my least favorite. While still very well written with incredibly engaging characters at every turn, the basic premise of the story was much more political and as a consequence this book featured a lot less of the 'swashbuckling' action that I've come to love about McGee's work. I found myself appreciating the same attention to detail the author is so good at, while at the same time struggling a little to get through the last third or so.
I certainly don't mean to say this wasn't an enjoyable read - it very much was. I'd definitely read the next Hawkwood book, despite the slight change in modus operandi in this one.
I certainly don't mean to say this wasn't an enjoyable read - it very much was. I'd definitely read the next Hawkwood book, despite the slight change in modus operandi in this one.
March 23, 2012
Hawkwood goes to Paris at the tail end of the French Revolution/Imperium. There he.....McGee takes a very strange piece of French history, adds in some real characters and then throws Hawkwood, a Bow Street runner, into the plot. Of the four Hawkwood stories this is the weakest because, no mattter what its basis in fact, it is the least believable. There are too many conveniences in the book for me to be able to suspend my disbelief. McGees descriptive powers are less potent than in his other works - perhaps he too was overwhelmed by the miasma of nineteenth century Paris. This is a fun read, but not his best in the Hawkwood series.
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