Tag: historical fiction

355: The Women of Washington’s Spy Ring by Kit Sergeant

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Book bloggers will be familiar with the dilemma of being sent details of really interesting sounding books in your favourite genre when you already have a teetering review stack and should really say “no”.  Such is the case with Kit Sergeant’s book, 355: The Women of Washington’s Spy Ring, described as ‘an absorbing tale of family, duty, love, and betrayal’.  Naturally, I couldn’t say “no” so it has now taken its place in my review pile but, sadly, it may be there for a while.

Until the happy day comes when I can read it and publish my review, I’m delighted to bring you an extract from the book.

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355 The Women of Washington's Spy RingAbout the Book

Culper Ring members such as Robert Townsend and Hercules Mulligan are well known for the part they played in the Revolutionary War, but who was the mysterious 355 that could “outwit them all?”

355: The Women of Washington’s Spy Ring chronicles the lives of three remarkable women who use daring, skill, and, yes, a bit of flirtation, to help liberate America.

British sympathizer Margaret (Meg) Moncrieffe expects to find the carefree America she remembers as a youth when she returns from her Irish boarding school. Instead she finds the new country at war, with her father on one side and her new love, Aaron Burr, on the other. When her misguided attempt to end the war results in dire consequences for the Continental Army, Meg switches allegiances in order to amend the damage she caused.

After her husband Jonathan is captured by the British and dies aboard one of the notorious prison ships, a pregnant Elizabeth Burgin realizes she is stronger than she once thought. When a prominent member of the Culper Ring enlists her help on a heist of the prison ships, Elizabeth readily accepts, putting herself and her family in jeopardy in order to save the lives of strangers.

Patriot Sally Townsend wants nothing more than freedom for America. When her family is forced to take in enemy soldiers, Sally seizes the opportunity to garner information from them and pass it on to her brother, Robert, knowing that one false move could result in the noose for both of them. Instead of finding herself in danger when British intelligence officer Major John André shows up at her family’s doorstep, Sally finds herself falling in love. But Major André is playing the same dangerous game as her and Robert, albeit for the other side.

Format: eBook, paperback (332 pp.) Publisher: Thompson Belle Press
Published: 12th December 2017          Genre: Historical Fiction

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk  ǀ  Amazon.com
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find 355: The Women of Washington’s Spy Ring on Goodreads

Extract from 355: The Women of Washington’s Spy Ring by Kit Sergeant

Meg
October, 1777

With Coghlan in Philadelphia, Meg felt liberated. Life in British-occupied New York was carefree and frolicsome. Hercules Mulligan introduced Mercy and Meg to hordes of high-ranking British soldiers and then stepped back to let the women use their considerable charms to ferret information. Hercules would then pass on a report to his handler, a man named Nathaniel Sackett, who somehow got the information directly to George Washington himself. Meg wondered what the Commander-in-Chief would say if he knew that some of the intelligence which guided his tactical decisions came from the feisty girl who once declined in front of him to drink to Congress.

Meg and Mercy would pay a visit to Mulligan’s tailor shop a few times a week, ostensibly to shop for clothing. Mercy encouraged Meg to purchase something every time, just to keep up appearances. Because she refused to buy anything for her husband, Captain Moncrieffe’s accessory collection grew by tenfold.

“Christopher Duychenik,” Hercules said one day when they were safely ensconced in the storage cellar.

“Short, stout, friend of Governor Tryon?” Mercy seemed to have a stellar memory when it came to Loyalists.

Hercules nodded. “He claims to be one of us, under the cover of working for David Mathews, the mayor, who has ties to William Franklin.” William was the illegitimate son of the founding father, Benjamin Franklin, but, unlike his Patriot sire, was a diehard Loyalist. He was the former governor of New Jersey and a suspected British spymaster, to boot. “We are not sure which way Duychenik’s loyalties lay. If he is indeed a double agent, the information he feeds to the rebels could be deadly.”

Hercules frequently spoke of the word “we.” Meg was not entirely sure who he was working with, but she suspected it might have had to do with that tall man, Robert, who was in the shop the day when Mercy presented Hercules with her rosette.

“How exactly are we supposed to suss that out of him?” Meg asked. “It isn’t as though he would say he actually worked for the British if we asked him.”

Hercules shook his head. “It’s more the impression he gives off.”

“But if he is a spy should he not be very careful of his impressions?” For some reason Meg thought once more of Robert Townsend.

Hercules sighed and glanced at Mercy, who shrugged. He tried again. “It’s – how do you say it – a woman’s intuition. We just need to know if it’s worth looking into. I want to know what you ladies think regarding Duychenik.”

“Noted,” Mercy replied. She poked Meg in the side with her elbow.

“Duly noted,” Meg countered.

Hercules introduced Mercy and Meg to Duychenik at intermission during a play at The Theater Royale the following night. The suspect was dressed in the red and blue regimentals of the loyalist militia, and Mercy started off by commenting on his coat.

“The number of buttons in a row indicates the battalion number.” He held out the navy lapel. “See, there are three, which means I’m of the 3rd Battalion.”

Mercy reached out to finger the coat. “You must be so brave.”

Duychenik laughed. “I haven’t exactly been in battle. We’re more tasked with keeping order in New Jersey.”

Meg had heard about the havoc caused by the Loyalist militia on the island she used to inhabit. Tasked with harassing the locals and stealing their food was more like it, Meg thought.

Hercules took his leave of the ladies of the group, citing the need of another drink. Mercy squinted her eyes at Meg in a gesture that said, You’re not being very helpful.

Meg turned a nearly bare shoulder to Duychenik. “I spent some time in Jersey last year. Are you on familiar terms with William Franklin?”

“I was,” Duychenik said smoothly. “I met him through the mayor of New York City when they had some business to discuss.”

“What sort of business?” Meg asked. She reached out and pretended to snag a loose thread from Duychenik’s vest.

“Oh, just men’s business, the type that would bore ladies of such grace.” Meg caught the glimmer of sweat that had begun to form over his brow. “How do you know Mr. Franklin?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.

Meg giggled. “Oh, I don’t know Mr. Franklin. I met his wife a few times. What was her name?” She pouted, pretending to have forgotten.

“Lizzie.” Duychenik replied immediately

“Ah, yes.” Meg hid her genuine smile behind her fan. “That’s it, Lizzie.”

At that, Duychenik bowed and took his leave of the ladies. As soon as he was out of range, Meg whispered to Mercy, “He’s lying.”

“Indeed.” Mercy hit Meg with the base of her fan. “See? Nothing to it.”

“I guess there is such a thing as a woman’s intuition,” Meg murmured as a servant came to announce the end of intermission.

Kit SergeantAbout the Author

Like her character Addy in Thrown for a Curve, Kit has a practically useless degree in marine biology. A teacher by profession and at heart, she loves to impart little-known facts and dares you to walk away from one of her “light-hearted” chick-lit books without learning at least one new thing. Kit’s female leads are all intelligent, strong, and stand fine on their own…but then again, a Prince Charming waiting in the background is always appreciated. As long as he puts the toilet seat down.

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Throwback Thursday: 1066 What Fates Impose by G K Holloway

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ThrowbackThursday

Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Renee at It’s Book Talk. It’s designed as an opportunity to share old favourites as well as books that we’ve finally got around to reading that were published over a year ago. If you decide to take part, please link back to It’s Book Talk.

Today I’m reviewing a book that was kindly sent to me by the author, Glynn Holloway, quite a few months ago now but which has only just reached the top of my review pile. Published in 2013, it’s his debut historical fiction about the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

1066WhatFatesImposeAbout the Book

England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break out between the various factions at court, enemies abroad plot to make England their own. There are raids across the borders with Wales and Scotland. Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is seen by many as the one man who can bring stability to the kingdom. He has powerful friends and two women who love him, but he has enemies who will stop at nothing to gain power. As 1066 begins, England heads for an uncertain future. It seems even the heavens are against Harold. Intelligent and courageous, can Harold forge his own destiny – or does he have to bow to what fates impose?

Format: ebook (456 pp.)                             Publisher: Matador
Published: 4th March 2013                       Genre: Historical Fiction

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk ǀ Amazon.com
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find 1066: What Fates Impose on Goodreads

My Review

The powerful opening chapter of the book places the reader by the bedside of the dying William the Conqueror, in 1087. What follows is a sort of book length flashback setting out the factional and political machinations that would lead inexorably – is the author’s suggestion based on the title – to the events of 1066 and the defeat of Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

Most students of English history will, I suspect, be familiar with the events of 1066 but like me know less about the events of the preceding 20 years. Starting in 1045 in the reign of Edward (the Confessor), the author takes the reader in detail through the rivalries, quarrels, battles for land, influence and power of the nobles close to the throne. There are a lot of characters to keep track of so a dramatis personae would have been a useful addition to the book. It’s probably the nature of the times that the female characters play a pretty shadowy role, their chief value being as diplomatic bargaining chips, marriage material or reproductive machines to provide the all-important male heirs.

I’ll be honest and say that half way through the book I was beginning to feel slightly overwhelmed with all the political machinations. Occasionally, the author’s obviously extensive research seemed a little obtrusive with sections on sword-making, dining customs, etc. feeling a little like they had been inserted from a text book. At times, the dialogue came across as rather stilted or included modern idioms that seemed out of place but you did get a sense of the characters from the way they interacted with each other. There were also a couple of nice succinct lines that drew my eye:

On the death by Count Conan by poison: ‘Brittany now had a new Count, Alan the Red, friend and ally of Duke William. Such is fate.’
On Earls Edwin and Morcar manoeuvring Harold into marrying their sister, Aldytha: ‘Harold had their sister but they had him.’

The pace really picked up for me in the final third of the book as events drew nearer to the decisive Battle of Hastings. The author does a great job of explaining all the factors that played a part in the outcome of that day; some a question of chance, the weather or a seemingly unimportant foolish decision. The battle scenes are absolutely gripping. Harold, although ruthless when needed, definitely comes out as the more likeable character and, although I feel a bit soppy for saying this since everyone knows the outcome of the battle, I couldn’t help wishing events had ended differently and he’d prevailed (if only for poor Edyth waiting under that tree).

This was a violent time in history when life was often short and death did not always come about by natural causes. In keeping with the period, there are some gruesome scenes (especially towards the end of the book where the reader encounters a particularly unpleasant character) although nothing worse I would say than you might find in Game of Thrones.

There was a lot I learnt from reading this book, such as the fact that William was able to use his influence to get the Pope to pronounce his campaign against Harold as a crusade, causing additional troops from across Europe to rally to the Norman standard. For historical fiction fans who like their history detailed and aren’t afraid of a large cast of characters, this would make a rewarding read.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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In three words: Detailed, well-researched, absorbing

Try something similar…The King’s Jew by Darius Stransky (click here for my review)

Glynn HollowayAbout the Author

Glynn writes: Born in the 1950s in an anonymous northern English town, I left school at sixteen and worked in a series of manual jobs until, at the age of 24, I decided to do something more challenging and rewarding. I chose to combine education and travel, by working over the winter while I studied and touring Europe in the summer after taking exams. I did this for a couple of years until I had the qualifications to get myself on to a degree course. I have been interested in history since I was a boy, which I suppose explains why, when I came across a degree course in History and Politics at Coventry University that looked tailor made for me, I applied right away.

In my first year at Coventry I lived in the halls of residence within a stone’s throw of the Leofric Hotel. Just a short walk from my halls, is the bell tower that houses a clock, which when its bell chimes the hour, produces a half size model of a naked Lady Godiva riding a white horse. Above her, Peeping Tom leans out of a window for a better view. In all of the three years I was there, it never once occurred to me that I would one day write a book featuring Earl Leofric and his famous wife, as key characters.

After graduating, I spent a year in Canada before returning to England to train as a Careers Officer in Bristol. Later, I lived and worked in Gloucestershire as a Careers Officer and then in Adult Education. After I met my wife, I moved back to Bristol to live and I worked at Bath Spa University as a Student Welfare Officer. It was about this time I read a biography about King Harold II which fascinated me so much it inspired me to write my own version of events. Now, after many years of study and time spent over a hot keyboard, I have finally produced that novel.

The decision to write 1066 was one of best I ever made. Research took to places I either had never heard of or I thought I’d never see. In England I visited York, Stamford Bridge, Winchester, Bosham, Battle, Stowe Anglo Saxon village. In Normandy I went to Falaise, Mont St Michael and of course Bayeux, to see the famous tapestry. The more I researched the more amazed I became about how events played out. For Harold, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It was as though the gods were against him; hence the title, 1066 What Fates Impose.

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