Rebellion's Message

January 1554 and London is in turmoil. Mary I has been on the throne for six months but there are others who wish for a different monarch, one of a less Catholic persuasion, one who isn’t planning on marrying Philip of Spain. Thomas Wyatt is one of those people, and has taken upon himself to raise an army and march on London… but Jack Blackjack, a member of a gang of thieves has other things on his mind.

Normally, those things, apart from the possibility of bedding the gang leader’s mistress, would revolve around who the next purse would be lifted from. But he’s more concerned by his most recent victim – because Jack has just woken up, after being bashed over the head, next to that victim. And his victim is considerably more dead than when Jack saw him last – and there’s blood on Jack’s knife…

And so we conclude a sort-of Michael Jecks month on the blog, which kicked off with the outstanding The Death Ship Of Dartmouth and continued with Michael’s spy thriller, Act Of Vengeance. Now we get to the first in Michael’s new series, a Tudor mystery featuring Jack Blackjack. It’s an interesting choice, setting the series in Mary’s reign, rather than Henry VIII or Elizabeth I – it’s sort of like the best of both worlds. The Tudors seem the most popular era for historical fiction, so the average reader will hopefully be drawn to it whereas for me, who is much more interested in those little corners of history, the five year reign of Mary Tudor is an excellent choice.

The notion of a man stumbling into events much more important than him is an old one, but it’s played exceptionally well here. It’s not long before the secrets carried by Jack’s apparent victim propel Jack headfirst into the uprising, bouncing backwards and forwards between both sides – although who works for which side is deliberately not clear. It’s in the first person, I think the first time Michael has done that, and it’s incredibly readable, with some turns of phrase that never lets you doubt it’s set in the past but still seems fresh and alive.

And, as well as having the feel of an adventure, there’s also a proper mystery here as well. There’s a number of twists throughout the book, and I was caught out by the killer’s identity – definitely didn’t see that coming. And even more intriguing is the set-up for the next book in the series, so I heartily recommend that you read this before the blurbs for Book Two come out, so as not to spoil anything. I rather think I’m going to enjoy this series a lot. So, obviously, it’s Highly Recommended.

I have read perhaps four of Michael Jecks books before this one and liked the Templars characters a bit better than Jack. That being said, I think the attention to period detail was quite good especially the portrayal of Queen Mary as dumpy with fading reddish hair.

The publisher's blurb had this to say:"Introducing Elizabethan cutpurse and adventurer Jack Blackjack in the first of a brand-new historical mystery series..In fact, almost everyone seems to be after Jack Blackjack. " Wow wasn't that the truth! I had a hard time following the pursuers of Jack as they popped in and out of his presence, sometimes in succession.

I am happy to say that Jack evades all the would be assassins and lives to set the stage for the rest of the series. How is that possible? Well it seems to be perceived that he vanquished all his pursuers with his own hands, although he detests bloodshed, so he is set up to be a paid assassin himself.

The images of the fighting between the rebel army and the defenders of London were chilling but surely quite accurate. Recommended for those who enjoy this era

Pleasing new rogue!

Once again Jecks comes up with a winner. This first in a new series has it all--intrigue, deadly court politics, a roguish, likeable anti hero, and murder-- all centered in the firm historical detail of the Elizabethan period during the rebellion of 1554 lead by Jane Grey supporters against Queen Mary.
This engaging mystery tale is told by a bumbling young scapegoat, Jack Blackjack who has the perfectly respectable occupation as a cut purse, living off his wits, along with his fellow gang members, all lead by the nasty piece of work, Bill Tanner. Not your band of merry men, rather a group of people living in squalor thriving and more to make a living. Jack is besotted by the lovely Moll, Bill's girlfriend. Jack and Moll live in the same space. Theirs is a curious relationship never quite realized but Jack always adoringly hopeful. Bill Tanner always threateningly jealous.
Jack becomes unknowingly caught up in the rebellion. One minute he's stealing a purse, the next he finds himself coming to consciousness with a dagger in his hand, a dead body beside him and lump on his head.
Taking off ahead of the hue and cry, Jack's road to discovering who framed him in is littered with dead bodies, traitors, and important personages, including Queen Mary herself.
Masterly! I look forward to hearing more of Jack!

A NetGalley ARC

All reviews appear on Amazon, Goodreads plus Gr Facebook, LibraryThing plus LT Twitter, eyes.2c review blog (August 2016)