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A review by scyian
Sharpe's Assassin by Bernard Cornwell
5.0
After a long hiatus, Sharpe is back and in fighting form.
Despite the French defeat at Waterloo, Lieutenant-Colonel Sharpe’s war has not yet ended. Wellington’s orders send him to Paris, but first he must break out an imprisoned spy, whose information is key to discovering a group of revenge seeking revolutionaries, intent on assassinating the Duke. But Sharpe wants the war to be done and return to Normandy with Lucille and his son. To keep fighting a war that is already won seems senseless, but fighting is in Sharpe’s blood. From his childhood, right through Flanders, India, Portugal, Spain and France, he has clawed his way from the gutters into the ranks, and now he must find these assassins and fight a monster, or die trying.
Long-standing readers of the series will know exactly what to expect, and won’t be disappointed. Of course, Harper accompanies our rogue hero; I have thoroughly missed reading these two! I love their friendship and the banter between them. It was interesting to follow Sharpe around 19th century Paris, which is vividly brought to life by the historical research. Cornwell also writes brilliant villains, and they come in the guises of both the French enemy, and as an unwelcome character from Sharpe’s past. There are also the usual foppish characters on Sharpe’s side who he finds infuriating, and the common soldiers—his own troops—who he is immensely proud of. Plus, there is a touching opening where Sharpe and Harper say goodbye to a friend, and a bloody good rifleman.
Cornwell gives enough backstory to the series so far, but readers new to Sharpe might benefit from holding back reading this novel and go first to some of the earlier books. I recommend Sharpe’s Eagle, the first written, or Sharpe’s Tiger, the first in chronological order. Long-term fans of the books will have no trouble, and it is a welcome addition to the series, and I hope there is more to follow.
An ARC was provided to me for free by the publisher via Net Galley in return for an honest review
Despite the French defeat at Waterloo, Lieutenant-Colonel Sharpe’s war has not yet ended. Wellington’s orders send him to Paris, but first he must break out an imprisoned spy, whose information is key to discovering a group of revenge seeking revolutionaries, intent on assassinating the Duke. But Sharpe wants the war to be done and return to Normandy with Lucille and his son. To keep fighting a war that is already won seems senseless, but fighting is in Sharpe’s blood. From his childhood, right through Flanders, India, Portugal, Spain and France, he has clawed his way from the gutters into the ranks, and now he must find these assassins and fight a monster, or die trying.
Long-standing readers of the series will know exactly what to expect, and won’t be disappointed. Of course, Harper accompanies our rogue hero; I have thoroughly missed reading these two! I love their friendship and the banter between them. It was interesting to follow Sharpe around 19th century Paris, which is vividly brought to life by the historical research. Cornwell also writes brilliant villains, and they come in the guises of both the French enemy, and as an unwelcome character from Sharpe’s past. There are also the usual foppish characters on Sharpe’s side who he finds infuriating, and the common soldiers—his own troops—who he is immensely proud of. Plus, there is a touching opening where Sharpe and Harper say goodbye to a friend, and a bloody good rifleman.
Cornwell gives enough backstory to the series so far, but readers new to Sharpe might benefit from holding back reading this novel and go first to some of the earlier books. I recommend Sharpe’s Eagle, the first written, or Sharpe’s Tiger, the first in chronological order. Long-term fans of the books will have no trouble, and it is a welcome addition to the series, and I hope there is more to follow.
An ARC was provided to me for free by the publisher via Net Galley in return for an honest review