Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

*A thank-you to Rebecca Jenkins, Sapere Books and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I never read Book 1 with Raif Jarrett, and maybe that was the reason I did not fully enjoyed Death of a Radical. It is interestingly set, with the Industrial Revolution in the background, however, I sometimes got confused with the characters. It is my personal opinion. I do not think I should start reading next offerings in a series without reading the first one.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Sapere Books and the author, Rebecca Jenkins, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Death of a Radical in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I really liked the flow of the writing in this book. I thought the storyline was well thought out and written. The characters were well developed and the plot was intriguing. I was hooked to the last page and left wanting more.. 3.5 stars.
Well wortha read.

Death of a Radical is the second book in Rebecca Jenkins’s series of historical crime novels featuring Raif Jarrett, agent to the Duke of Penrith and veteran of the Peninsular War. I read and (on the whole) enjoyed the first one, certainly enough to want to persist with more of the same.

The second book has pretty much the same flaws as the first, plus an additional weakness and an additional strength, which leaves me ready to give a third book in the series a try though I won't be putting publication date in my diary. Jenkins writes well (overlooking the short sentences and head hopping, which are my pet peeves but not necessarily bad in themselves) and I think she knows it. The problem is that she doesn’t have the balance right. The book feels more about the writing than anything else and as a result, the action is obscured.

In a mystery the plot is crucial and the writing should enhance it, not obscure it. In this book there there were several occasions when I had to go back and reread a scene because I wasn’t sure exactly what happened — something I occasionally do if I’m tired and reading late at night, but don’t expect to do repeatedly when I’m reading of an afternoon. For me that blunted the excitement that the book ought to have, and made it quite a slow read — something that was amplified by the unnecessarily detailed descriptions of everything from the weather down to the colour of a lady’s ribbons. It was a nice enough read, I suppose — but I wanted more action from a book that sets itself out as a mystery.

Stripping away the writing leaves the plot a little bit exposed and this is the weakness that the first book didn’t have. The whole thing never quite held up for me: I would give examples, but can’t because of the risk of spoilers, though I can say that the connection between the various murders was never quite strong enough for me, and nor did I really understand exactly what the killings were all about. Again, it may be in there but I couldn’t find it under the elegant prose. (Sometimes there’s a value in plain speaking.) There seemed to be a lot of scenes which didn’t pull their weight in terms of advancing the story — something else which slowed the pace and made the book drag — although when Raif finally decided to take action, he did so dramatically and the conclusion was satisfying.

This feels a slightly mean-spirited review, so I’ll redress the balance with what I did like — the characters. I love the way Jenkins has set up the whole series. Raif is complex and fascinating, ideal protagonist material (even if he does spend rather too much time standing around not doing a lot) and his relationships with Charles, the Duke’s son and with Henrietta Lonsdale are nicely drawn. All the minor characters are fascinating, too, although perhaps we don’t need to see quite as much of all of them as we do in the book.

I don’t like giving stars and this book illustrates why. Do I rate it for its obvious qualities, or do I rate it for how I felt about it? I did like it, but at the same time I struggled to get through. Jenkins has created a wonderful set of characters who seem desperate to be set free from the weight of her description and allowed to act. It’s a good book, and well-written. As literary fiction it would be terrific, but somehow, as a mystery, it doesn’t quite deliver.

Thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A very good historical mystery, enjoyable and full of interesting characters.
The plot is engaging and keep you hooked till the last page.
The book is well written and the characters are well developed.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Jarrett accidentally stumbles across what he is sure is a murder, but the local authorities declare it to be accidental death, being more focussed on the reports they are being fed of an imminent uprising. Jarrett is not convinced by the reports, but gradually realises that something is going on. However, he is unable to work out the details until more people start dying... Will he be able to stop things in time?

As with the first book in the series, I enjoyed the story, the writing, the characters, and the mystery, but found the number of characters confusing, and was a little disappointed at the loose threads remaining. It's not a cliffhanger ending, but has a couple of threads of the narrative that remain unresolved - hopefully a future book will tie them up neatly! Still a four-star book, and I hope to read more by the author in future. Recommended.

Characters: Main characters well drawn, but a few too many minor characters who confused me.
Storyline: Well managed. Hints of the truth along the way, but I still found the ending surprising (not in a bay way though).
Content and language: Clean, occasional language issues.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

'Death of a Radical', the second of the Mr Raif Jarrett's mystery series. I can't speak of the first book, since I have not had the pleasure of reading it. However, if Ms. Rebecca Jenkins' writing is in mark with this book, I'm sure I would enjoy throughly. I love Historical Fiction and the way it brings the past to life. While reading Mr. Jarrett's mystery unfold I found my self spellbound, by both its timeless propriety and its scandal. What I loved most about this novel was the writing style, I believe it could be greatly enjoyed by either man or woman alike. Thank you Netgallery for allowing be the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

While out riding Duke's agent Raif Jarrett is waylaid by the owner of the Bucket and Broom Inn and tells him that a guest was discovered dead that morning. But he is not the first and he will not be the last suspicious death. More problems arise when Colonel Ison, M.P. and magistrate brings in the army as he expects trouble at the annual Easter fair held this year of 1812.
I like the strong, likeable male characters in this series. An interesting and enjoyable well-written mystery.