An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton - Teaser Review

Hey folks, it's been a while, hasn't it? Over six weeks, I think. I'm so sorry if you've been waiting for a new post to drop in your inbox. I didn't intend to take such a long break but I hit a bit of a wall early in August and my body just said 'Nope. No more'. I needed to stop. So I did. It's been a strange few weeks - slept a lot, rested a lot, watched more TV than usual, crocheted and read just a little. And I'm only just, slowly, getting back into things. The blog will be quieter than usual until at least the end of the year - partly because of where I am mentally and emotionally and partly because of a big holiday in October and November. But I will be around.

Right, so that's housekeeping dealt with, let's get to the important stuff! In under two weeks, on 22nd September, the absolute beauty that is An Honourable Thief, the new historical crime thriller from Douglas Skelton, is published by Canelo. I was lucky enough to receive an early proof copy, it was one of the few books I read last month and the day after publication I'll be sharing my full review as part of the blog tour. But it's such a fabulous book and I'm so excited for it, I wanted to tell you a wee bit about it now. Because I'm a wee tease! And so you can get your pre-order sorted!

The Blurb

1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in the wrong hands.

On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender, rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It may decide the fate of the nation.

The crown must recover it at all costs.

The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot.

When secrets finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past, Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be untold…

An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime, history and thriller, to delight fans of SJ Parris, Andrew Taylor and CJ Sansom.

My Mini (Teaser) Review

I always said historical crime wasn't my bag, but the more of it I read, the more I enjoy, and An Honourable Thief is up there amongst my favourites. My history knowledge generally is very poor and I knew nothing of UK history in the early eighteenth century. I'm happy to say, having read this book, I now know a good deal more. Yes, it's a work of fiction but it's rooted in real history.

Jonas Flynt is an interesting, intriguing character. Not afraid to do wrong to achieve his aim he also has a strong sense of what is right. He feels things deeply. And he's a tortured soul, something that Skelton explores to great effect over the course of the novel. Whilst generally controlled with his emotions, we sometimes see a glimpse of them escaping, but only in front of the right people. Oh, and he has the best names for his pistols!

The scene setting is incredible. The streets in both London and Edinburgh are vividly described. And the smells... oh my goodness! We are totally transported back to the 18th century - the outfits, the ale houses, style of dress, speech, attitudes, everything. It's marvellous and immersive.

The storyline itself has everything you could ask for - part crime story, part spy thriller and part epic adventure. There's politics and fighting, secrets and lies. And it's also the tale of a man coming home, facing family and friends for the first time in years, and there were moments my heart ached for him. Beautifully written, I loved it!

My full review will be on 23rd September together with a wee bit about author Douglas Skelton. In the meantime, if you are in the area he is appearing this coming Saturday afternoon as part of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival (digital tickets are available) and in Aberdeen on 22nd September. Check his social media for details. And I'll see you back here on 23rd! Happy reading!