Douglas Skelton evokes the sights, sounds and smells of London in the early eighteenth century with apparent ease, which no doubt hides a wealth of historical research.
Jonas Flynt is an unforgettable character. I love his very individual sense of justice, and morality, his loyalty to friends and lovers, and his word of honour. Despite the killing, the maiming, and the double crossing, I can't help thinking he is a loveable rogue - but I must admit I usually manage to fall for the bad guys.
The author uses a host of real historical figures which lends an authentic tone to his plot and it flows beautifully from beginning to end.
The best historical crime series since the Cadfael novels by the late, great Ellis Peters.

A thrilling, dark and intense historical thriller. Newgate prison and the bleakness of historic London are evoked in a way that fills all the senses - sometimes in a rather unpleasant manner! Gripping

I will preface this by saying to the reader - please read the first in the series - An Honorable Thief.

This is the second in the series, set in 18th Century Hanoveran London, Queen Anne, who died in 1714, was succeeded by her second cousin, the Elector of Hanover, George I, as Under the Act of Settlement 1701, excluded Roman Catholics from the line of succession - and this included her half-brother, the Catholic James Edward Stuart.

Once again, Jonas Flynt is set a task (no questions asked) by Colonel Nathaniel Charters, puppet / spy master, head of the Company of Rogues. It is another tale heavy with murder, Jacobite plots, and espionage, as Jonas traverses the underbelly of London in the service of Charters.

I will say this - one of the events in the tale is based on fact, which I loved reading about!

Looking forward to the next in the series - A Grave For A Thief - and to eventually sitting down with the whole series and starting from the beginning again.

This is the second book in the Company of Rogues series and if I am honest I think I liked this book more than the first one. Jonas Flynt is back in London and tasked with following a Lord Fairgreave even though he is not sure exactly why. Then again in his line of business it does not always pay to ask too many questions. During his assignment he meets and befriends Justice Geoffrey Dumont. When Dumont is killed, and a young sex worker is arrested for his murder Flynt finds himself investigating events to make sure that the correct person pays for their crimes. As before nothing is straightforward and easy and Flynt will find himself under threat the more he digs.
Jonas Flynt is definitely a rogue and someone for hire, but he does still have a moral compass that makes him want to seek justice for those who are not able to do so for themselves. He has made quite a few enemies and he is definitely of the belief of keep your friends close and your enemies closer, the problem is sometimes he is not quite sure exactly who he can trust and sometimes finds he has to take chances. He certainly has a complicated life and you wonder if all the different things he has going on will be his eventual undoing.
Douglas Skelton has painted a picture of !8th Century London that is quite dark and dangerous, where justice is not always done and can clearly be bought. Whilst there are many characters that we have become acquainted with before there are also new ones that are brought to life with the same skill. I have come to quite like Christy de Fontaine. She has crossed paths with Flynt before and last time gained the upper hand. This time she needs his help and there is clearly a spark between them, but Flynt does not 100% trust her. Their interactions bring real life to the characters and will leave you wondering if they will cross paths again in the future. I for one hope they do as it will be interesting to see who the victor is next time.
As with the first book A Thief’s justice features real life people and events to add that little bit extra to the book and as a history fan its always nice to find things that have me digging into once the book is finished. This is definitely a series that I will be following and I look forward to whatever Jonas Flynt finds himself in the middle of next

I enjoy all sorts of historical novels, but this one failed to hold my attention. I didn't warm to the main character, Jonas Flynt, and found several aspects of the novel rather wooden.

I was hoping for something like Antonia Hodgson's Thomas Hawkins' books, but found A Thief's Justice less engrossing. It's a matter of personal taste, I think, because I find it hard to put a finger on what I disliked, just that I was not pulled into the story, didn't lose myself in the reading and struggled to get through it. I found it all politics and action, and not enough heart.

For those who like an action-packed historical novel, however, it might be just what you're looking for.

My thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I feel like someone who has skipped to the end of a good movie by accident because I have not had the pleasure of reading the first in the series of Douglas Skeltons “Company of Rogues”.What I absolutely will be doing is going back and reading the first one in the same way you’d watch a prequel movie because that is how much I enjoyed this book.

A Thief’s Justice was a quick paced adventure novel set in 1700s London - if you’re a fan of James Bond and historical fiction then this is just right for you. Flynt was just enough of a Rogue and an honest thief to make me root for him and his endeavours. It was evident that Skelton had done a lot of research into historical people and events from that time period as well to make the dialogue very believable,

The twist at the end was satisfying as well as the diverting subplots with all that entangled the characters within this novel - I would have liked more skullduggery and backstabbing from my main protagonist but that’s just me- overall I would recommend this book for lovers of action and adventure novel such as Treasure Island or Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.

London is in the grip of a deadly winter but that doesn't stop life going on as normal. Jonas Flynt is asked by his Government master to investigate a potential escape from the Tower of London but he is more concerned when a newly acquaintance tells him that he is in trouble and is then murdered. Asked by his sometime lover, the courtesan Belle, to look into the matter, Jonas is pulled deeper into trouble and where his violent skills are of use.
I loved this book as it is very dark and very visceral. Skelton depicts the dark and dangerous world of early 18th Century London extremely well and the caste of characters are realistically flawed. The dual plots are suitably twisty and there isn't as excessive forcing of relationships as it often the case in similar novels.

A solid and gripping historical mystery with a well knitted and fast paced plot. The historical details were very vivid and the mystery kept me guessing to the end. Recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

1716 Jonas Flynt, rogue and killer has been order by Colonel Charters of the Company of Rogues to follow Lord Fairgreave and report his activities. Doing so he meets Judge Dumont resulting in a short friendship. Dupont is lured to his death and molly Sam Yates arrested. His friend Belle believes him innocent and persuades Flynt to help her investigate. But there seems to be a Government plot against the Tory party. Is there any connection between these events.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery and thriller with a cast of interesting and varied characters. A good addition to this series
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another solid and gripping historical mystery by Douglas Skelton. I liked the tightly knitted and fast paced plot, the vivid historical backgound, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Judgement and justice!

Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier, ex-highwayman and part of the British spymaster, Colonel Nathaniel Charters’ elite group, the Company of Rogues, falls into company with an interesting judge. Mainly because a fop Jonas detests, Lord August Fairgreave, who challenges Judge Sir Geoffrey Dumont to show his dice. A deadly accusation by implication, of cheating!
It’s London 1716. When the judge is murdered Jonas is involved through more than one path. Geoffrey himself had asked Jonas not to think ill of him if for any reason he is disgraced. Now the judge is dead, in disgraceful circumstances. Another twist, the individual who’s accused of killing the judge is important to Flynt’s occasional courtesan, Belle.
What begins as something personal has tentacles that weave from the darkest spots in the rookeries, to Newgate, spreads to rival gangs for the role of watchmen and marshals, to Jacobite prisoners in the tower, includes the ever plotting politician Walpole, and from there to the dark powerful forces that run London.
A fascinating Georgian mystery, complicated and intriguing. The research is solid, taking us back to times when politics in Britain were volatile and deadly.

A Canelo ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

An enjoyable read. Jonas Flynt attracts trouble but manages it with his usual Tact & Diplomacy (if you know, you know). A number of recurring characters help or hinder along the way.

Flynt is back in London after his travels to Edinburgh, it's a very cold winter and the Thames is frozen so the smells may be a little more subdued, but not by much. He's soon involved in more than the task of keeping an eye upon a certain gentleman when a Justice is murdered and a young man arrested. Plenty of political twists and turns in a turbulent time (1716), atmospheric context and social mores of the times abound. Some of the slang of the times took a bit of working out. Good and thoroughly detailed read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

If you enjoy period dramas then this might just be for you. I do enjoy them, but found this one perhaps a little too much like others.
Obviously the time and place was in common with numerous others, which made it at times like being on the same street, but with different characters, which in reality I suppose it was..
It did come over as a decent read, but not an immediate page turner that made you want to keep going.

A good thought experiment and a great insight into history. I just think that the idea behind the story was way better than the story in its written form. But that happens with an early novel. Still I like the effort behind it and am looking forward eagerly to Skelton's next work.

Another glorious adventure through 18th Century London.

For fans of Douglas Skelton's first book about anti-hero Jonas Flynt, the good news is "A Thief's Justice" is more of the same. A rip-roaring adventure through 18th Century London, it's February 1716, and following his adventures in Edinburgh, Flynt is back in London, during the coldest winter for 30 years. The Thames is frozen, but luckily he is in a warm and cosy gambling club, having been asked by his sometime employer Charters to keep a certain gentleman under observation. Naturally it's not long before a series of events both inside and outside the club turn this into a more complex set of altercations and meetings.

Within just a few pages our hero is soon immersed in murder, mayhem and conspiracy, all set against the smells and sights of London. He comes up against several characters from the first book, while also making some new friends, and enemies. Through the judicious use of Flynt's reminisces, readers not familiar with the first book are soon brought up to speed on his circumstances and fans will be pleased at threads picked up from before. The character of Jonas Flynt continues to develop nicely, and never has a conflicted and conscience-ridden hero been so artfully drawn.

The story is littered with real-life places, people and events and it's a joy to hear some of the less savoury characters use of slang and colloquialisms - it really does add to the atmosphere. The central plot is a real one, a dark conspiracy, and the author has cleverly woven his story around actual events. But I particularly enjoyed a throwaway comment from one character about a certain fictitious smuggler.

So, "A Thief's Justice" is a fine follow-up to "An Honourable Thief", and I look forward to reading much more about Flynt in the future. I was lucky to receive a Netgalley ARC of this book, but I'll definitely be first in the queue for a real copy upon its release. Highly recommended.

A good read with many details of the period and a well drawn character in Flynt. I would recommend it to all who love historical novels set in this period. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.