Ratcatcher [Import] [Paperback]

James McGee (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 000723645X
• ISBN-13: 978-0007236459
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,718,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compulsive historical adventure yarn, October 1, 2007

By 

F. J. Harvey "Cricket ,country music and a go... (Birmingham England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ratcatcher (Paperback)

Ratcatcher is the first in what at the time of writing is a two book series about Matthew Hawkwood , a Bow Street Runner (early police officer)in London ,at the time of the Napoleonic Wars .Hawkwood is an ex military man ,having served in the Peninsula War under the Duke of Wellington .The comparisons with Bernard Cornwall's famous creation "Sharpe" are unavoidable and the two men are both tough ,resourceful and ,should the need arise,ruthless.
Hawkwood is assigned by his boss ,the Chief Magistrate James Read to investigate a case of highway robbery in the course of which an Admiralty courier is killed and vital documents stolen .He seeks help from an old army colleague ,Jago a man well connected with the criminal underworld .Soon ,Hawkwood finds other cases assigned to him including the murder of a fellow officer ,Warlock ,and the disappearance of a respected master clockmaker ,Josiah Woodburn .The cases turn out to be linked and revolve around French spies and a plot by the French to utilise a new type of weapon ,the submarine ,to destroy British ships at anchor in London ,and assassinating the Prince Regent in the process ,The arch conspirator is an American ,William Lee ,a vicious Anglophobe with a grudge against the Crown .
It builds to a tense climax during the submarine's attack on a British dockyard ,

There is a lot of action and the plot is exciting and well developed with many memorable creations .Hawkwood is part Sharpe and part James Bond ,and not a man to be trifled with .In addition to seeking to frustrate the enemy he finds time for amorous dalliance and fighting a duel
The book shows us a darker side to Regency society than the genteel world of Hawkwood's contemporary Jane Austen .This is a gritty urban world in which affluence and aristocracy exist cheek by jowl with abject poverty and violence is the norm ( It is not described gloatingly but there is deal of violence in the book).History buffs will enjoy its solid base of historical fact and its excellent research

Great start to a highly promising sries

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jolly Good Romp, January 21, 2008

By 

Jeannie Mancini "vernefan" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ratcatcher (Hardcover)

What a jolly good romp through the underground of Regency London. This debut offers the reader a great new hero who is a bit of a different kind of character we usually see. Retiring from the army, a Captain in the Napoleonic Wars Rifle regiment, Matthew Hawkwood now works for the famous Bow Street Runners catching criminals. The reader does not encounter the wealthy ton of London, but is introduced to the seedy side of the city, complete with rapscallions, pick-pockets, wharfrats, prostitutes, mudlarks, and the entire array of anyone and everything unsavory. The book has great characters, a vivid depiction of what life was like in the late 1700's and early 1800s London and lots of action, humor, and mystery. I loved this debut and hope the author continues with the series in the same adventurous flavor. McGee's writing style could be compared to that of Bernard Cornwell, polished and engaging from start to finish. The character of Hawkwood could be compared to Clive Cussler's famous Dirk Pitt if put in a historical setting. Bravo Mr. McGee, keep 'em coming.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, April 26, 2008

By 

Barb Mechalke (in the lovely Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ratcatcher (Paperback)

I really enjoy historical fiction especially stories set in the Regency period in England. Unfortunately this book didn't impress me like it did everyone else here on Amazon.

I was an easy read with a somewhat straightforward story unencumbered by a variety of story lines, which is perhaps part of why I was disappointed.

The main character, Matthew Hawkwood, wasn't developed enough for me to really sink into the story. And it was plenty long enough to develop him. I will say I did enjoy his relationship with Sergeant Nathanial Jago and the action scenes, but they weren't enough to leave me satisfied at the end of the book.

Sadly, I purchased the sequel in anticipation of loving this book and wanting to read the next installment but the first story hasn't left me wanting more of Hawkwood or the writing of James McGee.