Customer Reviews

Devils Own (Fancy Jack Crossman 1)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Excellent story line, developing characters throughout the book. Douglas keeps the reader involved with the twists and turns in the same high paced, detail as Cornwell, Cussler and MacNeill. Fancy Jack Crossman is here to stay - let's hope for a complete series to come.

Set in 1854, some forty years or so after the bulk of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books, this first entry in Kilworth's"Fancy Jack" series finds the British Army in rather dire straights in the Crimea. The hero is a Sergeant in the 88th regiment (the mainly Irish Connaught Rangers aka The Devil's Own), who is an outsider in more ways than one. Born and bred a gentleman, "Fancy Jack" Crossman has done the unthinkable and renounced his upbringing and entered the army as a ranker. While in the Sharpe series, we see a lowborn orphan rise though the ranks, here we have a highborn Scotsman in much the same situation. Mostly hated by those below for his education and manners, he's also mostly hated by his superiors for being a class traitor.

Kilworth seems to be attempting to emulate Cornwell's template in presenting an unvarnished ground-level view of historical military exploits. The book is full of details on equipment, procedures, social composition of the British forces, et., plus a parade of real historical figures. However, it's not done nearly as smoothly and seamlessly as Cornwell (or George McDonald Fraser's Flashman series for that matter). Clunky prose and exposition somewhat mars the storytelling, as Fancy Jack is sent on a few secret missions behind enemy lines with a band of misfit soldiers. For example, we're told three different times that the Allied (British/French/Turkish) forces number 55,000. We're also privy to a number of scenes of high-level commanders bickering that don't have much to do with anything other than to get across the historical reading Kilworth's on the ineffectiveness of the leadership. And in case you didn't get how devastating cholera was to the army the first time it's discussed, don't worry, you'll get several more chances to absorb the information. Kilworth has apparently written a number of children's books, and often the prose reads as if it's intended for a younger audience.

But the battle scenes are plenty gory, and there are plenty of "adult themes", and a requisite love interest. All in all, it's a decent page turner, but not nearly as good as the Sharpe books. The Fancy Jack saga continues with Valley of Death, Soldiers in the Mist, and The Winter Soldiers, and perhaps in these later volumes Kilworth touch becomes more subtle.

Jack Crossman is a sergeant of the 88th foot but he is not like other sergeants. He is intelligent and resourceful, as sergeants are supposed to be, but he is also the son of a nobleman. Gentlemen are expected to be officers, not noncoms. This leads to his not quite fitting in with either.

Not flitting in does not stop the army from using his talents, however. The British are at war with Russia in the Crimea. Jack is called upon for a variety of special missions in the furtherance of taking Sebastopol. The first thing standing in their way is the Alma and Jack is needed to get vital information on its defense. All he has to work with is a scratch group of soldiers, not all of whom he can trust.

As far as storytelling goes, this one is fair. What is interesting is seeking the Victorian Army from a different point of view.

if you like the Richard Sharpe novels then your going to love fancy jack

Douglas is the new Bernard Cornwell of the Crimean War. Similar to the Sharpe series on the Napoleonic wars, Douglas brings the trials and tribulations of the ordinary (yet extra-ordinary) soldier during the Crimean campaign to life. I know of no better way to get a first hand impression of the action. Much better than any dry history book. I wish I could find a copy of the sequel!

well write account of life in the Crime war. Holds the readers attention through out. Wish I could find the follow on book "Valley of Death"