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ladyreading365's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
eososray's review against another edition
5.0
As witnessed by my 5 start rating I thought this was a fabulous book. I am not sure if listening to it in audio form rather than reading it affected my enjoyment but when a book makes you put in extra time at the gym so you can listen to more, it's gotta be good.
Set in 1817, two years after the Battle of Waterloo, Rider Sandman is no longer engaged to the woman he loves, has given up his commission in the army and no longer enjoys the privilege that money affords. Not being able to support himself on what he makes from playing cricket, he accepts a job from the home secretary to confirm the guilt of a convicted murderer.
The story is filled with references to cricket and even though I don't understand the game at all, it only added to the story. Whether characters had large or small parts they were all memorable, though you have to wait for the last half of the book to get much action. It is not a deep or complicated mystery but the end is satisfying.
I would be happy to have Bernard Cornwell continue this series though at present it looks to stay a stand alone book.
Set in 1817, two years after the Battle of Waterloo, Rider Sandman is no longer engaged to the woman he loves, has given up his commission in the army and no longer enjoys the privilege that money affords. Not being able to support himself on what he makes from playing cricket, he accepts a job from the home secretary to confirm the guilt of a convicted murderer.
The story is filled with references to cricket and even though I don't understand the game at all, it only added to the story. Whether characters had large or small parts they were all memorable, though you have to wait for the last half of the book to get much action. It is not a deep or complicated mystery but the end is satisfying.
I would be happy to have Bernard Cornwell continue this series though at present it looks to stay a stand alone book.
bibliomaniac33's review against another edition
5.0
I loved Gallows Thief and was disappointed to see there are no follow up books to the story. I think it's my favorite Cornwell novel to date. Perhaps even more so than The Last Kingdom, which is saying something.
deehaichess's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
My first Bernard Cornwell ever and of course I didn't want to start with an epic series, but I think I may have sabotaged myself anyway - this was a really enjoyable read and if his others aren't like this I'm going to be so disappointed. Cracking pace, really well controlled narrative, interesting and likeable characters, and one of the best uses of Checkov's Gun I have yet read. Also, occasionally amusing, and deeply engaging. I have read a fair few novels set in this period but none of them have had the kind of detail about the society and culture this had. I am extremely sad this *isn't* a series - I would read them all!
sxk's review against another edition
5.0
It's not Cornwell's most sweeping or action-packed story, but it's probably the one I've read the most often. It's one of the coziest books I've read and that's a big part of why I come back to it so often. I would love to see Cornwell write of the further adventures of Rider Sandman, Lord Alexander, Sam Berrigan, and Sally Hood.
lreay89's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It took some getting used to (the style of writing) but after reading the first chapter I figured it out a bit more and was able to enjoy the story.
My only disappointment with this story is that it’s not a series! I would love to read more about Rider! He’s a wonderful character.
Bernard is a master storyteller who completely gets human nature and can weave a wonderful story around it.
I definitely felt like I’d fallen back in time to regency England.
I would definitely recommend this story. I also couldn’t figure out who the murderer was until the last chapter!
My only disappointment with this story is that it’s not a series! I would love to read more about Rider! He’s a wonderful character.
Bernard is a master storyteller who completely gets human nature and can weave a wonderful story around it.
I definitely felt like I’d fallen back in time to regency England.
I would definitely recommend this story. I also couldn’t figure out who the murderer was until the last chapter!
aotora's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I actually loved this one, and it's one of my favourite books I read this year. I loved everything about this story, the suspense, the pacing, I didn't see who the guilty people were until the end of the book reveals it and I loved the time period this was set in. All around a great book and a great historical fiction about the race against the clock and saving an innocent life.
sachahusken's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
gilroi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
It's a Bernard Cornwell novel (narrated by Jonathan Keeble, which automatically makes it one of Cornwell's best novels) and knows exactly what it wants to do, and it does it. Yet it's not really boilerplate Cornwell-- it's notable as a Cornwell novel because it speaks to his skill as a writer, at knowing exactly what his goals are and accomplishing them.
Notably, this is a murder mystery with political themes and a keen interest in sports. There are some action scenes, but no battle scenes, which (as I've said in previous reviews of Cornwell's novels) are some of his strongest and most able writing. No one writes huge battles like Bernard Cornwell. Comparitively, this novel is borderline Austen-- but not really. The romance is actually mostly offscreen, another unusual choice for Cornwell, who loves to make his leading heroes writhe and pine (or lust) over the women they desire. The political animus of the novel is surprising as well; it goes out of its way to be about the evils of capital punishment, and how government-sanctioned death is abhorrent.
And it all totally, completely works, because Bernard Cornwell knows exactly what his strengths are, and he plays on them without hesitation. The historical research is lovely and vibrant, the characters are interesting and their interactions are fun and frequently funny. The main character is an ex-soldier with financial problems and a temper, something that's not altogether unheard of for Cornwell or fiction in general, but the way that he fights against his worse nature creates fascinating tension. I'll read a book about a man fighting against his own internal toxic masculinity any day.
If you like Cornwell, you'll like this book. If you like murder mysteries, you'll like this book. If you'd like a less marriage-and-tea-parties focus on the Regency Era, you'll like this book. If you like cricket, you'll like this book. And if you hate the death penalty, you'll like this book. I couldn't recommend it to everyone, but if you want a nice, lush bit of historical fiction that is relatively light (though very much not a comfort read, it's not cozy by any stretch of the imagination), this is an excellent choice.
Notably, this is a murder mystery with political themes and a keen interest in sports. There are some action scenes, but no battle scenes, which (as I've said in previous reviews of Cornwell's novels) are some of his strongest and most able writing. No one writes huge battles like Bernard Cornwell. Comparitively, this novel is borderline Austen-- but not really. The romance is actually mostly offscreen, another unusual choice for Cornwell, who loves to make his leading heroes writhe and pine (or lust) over the women they desire. The political animus of the novel is surprising as well; it goes out of its way to be about the evils of capital punishment, and how government-sanctioned death is abhorrent.
And it all totally, completely works, because Bernard Cornwell knows exactly what his strengths are, and he plays on them without hesitation. The historical research is lovely and vibrant, the characters are interesting and their interactions are fun and frequently funny. The main character is an ex-soldier with financial problems and a temper, something that's not altogether unheard of for Cornwell or fiction in general, but the way that he fights against his worse nature creates fascinating tension. I'll read a book about a man fighting against his own internal toxic masculinity any day.
If you like Cornwell, you'll like this book. If you like murder mysteries, you'll like this book. If you'd like a less marriage-and-tea-parties focus on the Regency Era, you'll like this book. If you like cricket, you'll like this book. And if you hate the death penalty, you'll like this book. I couldn't recommend it to everyone, but if you want a nice, lush bit of historical fiction that is relatively light (though very much not a comfort read, it's not cozy by any stretch of the imagination), this is an excellent choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Excrement
Moderate: Classism, Ableism, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexism
Minor: Torture and War
evaine13's review against another edition
3.0
Historical fiction usually isn't a genre I'd pick up, but I have to admit I wasn't disappointed by this one! It's the first and probably the last book from Cornwell that I'll read though, and I definitely cannot see myself re-reading it.