Its taken me quite a few years to get round to reading this book, as after Robert Low’s untimely death I couldn’t bring myself to finish his last book.

Its such a shame I waited. Shake Loose the Border is a compelling read. The character of Batty Coalhouse is a fascinating one, and watching as he stumbles from one problem to another, all the while trying to do his semblance of good, makes for a brilliant story.

This is a must read series.

in 1548 Batty Coalhouse, borderer, has been employed to ransom Will Elliott out of Berwick jail on behalf of his border employer. The lawless Scottish English border is afire with cross border forays for cattle and cash. Batty faces every kind of obstacle from both sides. Shake Loose the Border uses the language and customs of the border to recreate the bickering and killing at the time of Henry VIII's passing. Robert Low writes an authentic historical romp.

Reckonings!

A fascinating look at this time of 1548 Scottish history. A life of violence is Batty Coalhouse's heritage. Known for his abilities to get the job done he takes on an unasked for task; to rescue one Will Elliot, Lord of Newark in Fife's Steward, being held by reiver enemies. The rescue attempt leads to even more confrontations and conflict. There's the truly disgusting opportunist, a reiver, styling himself the Laird of Blackscargil whom Batty faces time and again.
And Batty's thoughts are true words,
"No matter that the war atween Scotch and English is trickling to a close, he thought; for the reivers it is just a better excuse to shake loose the Border."
Trapped by his reputation as a hard fighter, trapped by the more powerful and trapped by his, almost melancholic inner voices. No way out! But then Batty "has a fire for vengeance." Batty "has shaken forth the Border" not because he wanted to but because others have unwittingly set him on that path. That path takes him into increasingly dangerous situations. Along the way he faces both friends and old enemies. His reputation makes him a target.
The battles, the fighting and carnage descriptors, with accompanying atrocities are brutal. These aspects are not a read for the faint hearted.
Despite all this Batty Coalfield is a reluctant anti hero with heart.

A Canelo ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)