curiosityp's review
3.0
This one wasn't as fantastic as the first two but still a well-written adventure.
drannieg's review
4.0
Historic thriller, horses, slightly implausible fights, nautical stuff which totally lost me but whatev' and suitably utterly dastardly villains (with cartoonesque physical attributes which suits the whole thing admirably). McGee gets better with each book, and has very much found his stride. Plus, the research behind the books is thorough - both the prison hulks and smuggling industry here are fascinatingly told. I wouldn't say no to a few more gun-toting women and excellent dogs appearing in future books mind you.
deehaichess's review against another edition
4.0
Another entertaining read from McGee! Less grisly than the previous book, Resurrectionists, this book had all the elements and pacing of a blockbuster action movie (maybe if I say that often enough, someone in Hollywood will notice and magically, there will be a kick ass Hawkwood movie on my screen next summer?). Whereas the previous book was more along the lines of a blockbuster psychological/horror thriller movie, this book was more about the fighting and the hiding and the chasing and racing and murder. It even went a little bromancy road movie at one point!
There's actually not much more I can say about it other than "I enjoyed it immensely!" without spoiling things. Hawkwood is awesome as usual, although perhaps a little more vulnerable in this one, making friends with people he's not sure he can trust and getting into some very tight spots etc. Jago of course makes a reappearance (that's no spoiler, because if you've read even one of these books you'd be hoping he makes a reappearance in all of them! Because he is awesome) and the baddie is intelligent, powerful and more than a decent match for our hero.
Easy reading this book might be, but it's fun reading too, and well worth anyone's time! I only didn't give it 5 stars because "amazing" is not quite what it was; awesome fun, really solidly plotted and capably written is what it is. If there was a star for that, it'd totally get 5.
There's actually not much more I can say about it other than "I enjoyed it immensely!" without spoiling things. Hawkwood is awesome as usual, although perhaps a little more vulnerable in this one, making friends with people he's not sure he can trust and getting into some very tight spots etc. Jago of course makes a reappearance (that's no spoiler, because if you've read even one of these books you'd be hoping he makes a reappearance in all of them! Because he is awesome) and the baddie is intelligent, powerful and more than a decent match for our hero.
Easy reading this book might be, but it's fun reading too, and well worth anyone's time! I only didn't give it 5 stars because "amazing" is not quite what it was; awesome fun, really solidly plotted and capably written is what it is. If there was a star for that, it'd totally get 5.
karcitis's review against another edition
2.0
I did finish it, and it wasn't particularly awful or anything, but I really can't think of any part of it that I particularly liked or would recommend about it. It really just existed, and it passed the time while I was waiting for my book to come in from the library.
jonathanrobert's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
krisrid's review against another edition
4.0
This is the third book about Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood, and I still love him as much as I did in the first book!
In this outing, Hawkwook is sent undercover on a prison ship to discover what happened to two previous agents who've disappeared.
The book includes all the kinds of suspense, intrigue, danger, humour and excitement you'd expect from a book called "Rapscallion" (I just LOVE that title!) and it will keep you on tenterhooks right to the end to see if the good guys best the bad guys!
The character of Hawkwood is terrific! He's exactly the sort of slightly battered and disillusioned, living outside the the establishment, doesn't play by the rules but still ultimately has honour and a heart of gold guy you can root for and swoon over (if you're a girl, that is!).
I loved this book, and highly recommend it!
In this outing, Hawkwook is sent undercover on a prison ship to discover what happened to two previous agents who've disappeared.
The book includes all the kinds of suspense, intrigue, danger, humour and excitement you'd expect from a book called "Rapscallion" (I just LOVE that title!) and it will keep you on tenterhooks right to the end to see if the good guys best the bad guys!
The character of Hawkwood is terrific! He's exactly the sort of slightly battered and disillusioned, living outside the the establishment, doesn't play by the rules but still ultimately has honour and a heart of gold guy you can root for and swoon over (if you're a girl, that is!).
I loved this book, and highly recommend it!
graculus's review
3.0
Rapscallion is the third in a series of books featuring Matthew Hawkwood, Bow Street Runner and Man With A Secret Past, following on from [b:Resurrectionist|1776675|The Resurrectionist|Jack O'Connell|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/213qSg11AHL._SL75_.jpg|1775203].
What I really liked about Rapscallion is the efforts the author made to set the story in a completely unique setting - historical detective stories are now a dime a dozen, but this is very much the first where I've come across such good use of background detail. The majority of the story is set on a prison bark, where Hawkwood is sent to infiltrate the French prisoners because there have been a number of unexplained escapes. Not only that, but previous attempts to send someone undercover have ended up with those individuals suffering a nasty death.
Hawkwood is, of course, fluent in French and able to pass himself off as a captured American naval officer, gaining the confidence of other prisoners sufficiently to discover just what is going on. The amount of research McGee clearly did into the period and the elements used in this story shows in the overall plot and makes this an enjoyable read. I expect there'll be more in this series and I look forward to reading them...
What I really liked about Rapscallion is the efforts the author made to set the story in a completely unique setting - historical detective stories are now a dime a dozen, but this is very much the first where I've come across such good use of background detail. The majority of the story is set on a prison bark, where Hawkwood is sent to infiltrate the French prisoners because there have been a number of unexplained escapes. Not only that, but previous attempts to send someone undercover have ended up with those individuals suffering a nasty death.
Hawkwood is, of course, fluent in French and able to pass himself off as a captured American naval officer, gaining the confidence of other prisoners sufficiently to discover just what is going on. The amount of research McGee clearly did into the period and the elements used in this story shows in the overall plot and makes this an enjoyable read. I expect there'll be more in this series and I look forward to reading them...
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