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Alexander Seaton #4
The Devil's Recruit
1635, and Europe is in the grip of the brutal territorial and religious struggle of the Thirty Years' War.
Fear stalks the town of Aberdeen as a ship recruiting for the wars lies at anchor in the river mouth. A sinister figure watches from the shadows as apprehension grows and culminates in the disappearance of the son of a Highland chief - a student of Alexander Seaton.
When the frozen body of a young woman is found in the garden of a prominent citizen, Alexander becomes more deeply embroiled. He realises that the figure in the shadows is known to him and has come for him. He can hide from his past no longer.
Fear stalks the town of Aberdeen as a ship recruiting for the wars lies at anchor in the river mouth. A sinister figure watches from the shadows as apprehension grows and culminates in the disappearance of the son of a Highland chief - a student of Alexander Seaton.
When the frozen body of a young woman is found in the garden of a prominent citizen, Alexander becomes more deeply embroiled. He realises that the figure in the shadows is known to him and has come for him. He can hide from his past no longer.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 17, 2020
This fantastic book is the 4th volume, and hopefully in my view not the final one for it has an open ending, of the wonderful "Alexander Seaton" series from the formidable Scottish author, Shona G. Maclean.
At the end of the book you'll notice an End Note, where the very well researched historical details concerning this historical adventure story, are superbly documented by the author.
This tale is set in October in the year AD 1635, and once more we find ourselves in and around Aberdeen, Scotland.
The book starts with an intriguing prologue telling us about a certain Sergeant Nimmo, who's working under the leadership of a Lieutenant Ormiston who's also "the Devil's Recruit", but during the main story the real name of Sergeant Nimmo will be revealed as someone known from the past to our protagonist, Alexander Seaton.
The main story is about on the one hand the recruiting of young (Aristocratic) boys from Colleges, and younger and older men without a future in Scotland, for the 30 Years War in the German Lands between the Protestants from the North against the Catholic Empire of the Habsburgs, while during this recruiting and after leaving the Inn the son of the Highland Chief, Donald MacKay or Lord Reay, Seoras MacKay, goes missing while his foster-brother, Hugh Gunn, is found severely wounded, and not able to remember anything at all about the incident.
In the meantime Alexander will find out what the real name of Sergeant Nimmo is, being his former best friend, Archie Hay, assumed dead long ago but now risen from the dead from the German Lands, while he also encounters in Aberdeen another great friend from his youth, Matthew Lumsden, but these great friends from his past will be the greatest disappointments in the end.
What is to follow is a gripping historical adventure, in which Alexander Seaton will be drawn into the world of recruiting soldiers for the wars, also the search for the missing, Seoras MacKay, while in the meantime the betrayal of the persons he thought his greatest friends will disillusion him, so much so that in the end his family will come to harm with a death following, and Alexander will be forced in the end to turn away from his real two greatest friends, being William Cargill and his wife Elizabeth.
Very much recommended, for this is another excellent volume of a Scottish historical adventure, and I sincerely hope that the author will create more parts of this series or do another Scottish series, and what this episode is concerned I want to call it: "A Fascinating Scottish Historical Sequel"!
At the end of the book you'll notice an End Note, where the very well researched historical details concerning this historical adventure story, are superbly documented by the author.
This tale is set in October in the year AD 1635, and once more we find ourselves in and around Aberdeen, Scotland.
The book starts with an intriguing prologue telling us about a certain Sergeant Nimmo, who's working under the leadership of a Lieutenant Ormiston who's also "the Devil's Recruit", but during the main story the real name of Sergeant Nimmo will be revealed as someone known from the past to our protagonist, Alexander Seaton.
The main story is about on the one hand the recruiting of young (Aristocratic) boys from Colleges, and younger and older men without a future in Scotland, for the 30 Years War in the German Lands between the Protestants from the North against the Catholic Empire of the Habsburgs, while during this recruiting and after leaving the Inn the son of the Highland Chief, Donald MacKay or Lord Reay, Seoras MacKay, goes missing while his foster-brother, Hugh Gunn, is found severely wounded, and not able to remember anything at all about the incident.
In the meantime Alexander will find out what the real name of Sergeant Nimmo is, being his former best friend, Archie Hay, assumed dead long ago but now risen from the dead from the German Lands, while he also encounters in Aberdeen another great friend from his youth, Matthew Lumsden, but these great friends from his past will be the greatest disappointments in the end.
What is to follow is a gripping historical adventure, in which Alexander Seaton will be drawn into the world of recruiting soldiers for the wars, also the search for the missing, Seoras MacKay, while in the meantime the betrayal of the persons he thought his greatest friends will disillusion him, so much so that in the end his family will come to harm with a death following, and Alexander will be forced in the end to turn away from his real two greatest friends, being William Cargill and his wife Elizabeth.
Very much recommended, for this is another excellent volume of a Scottish historical adventure, and I sincerely hope that the author will create more parts of this series or do another Scottish series, and what this episode is concerned I want to call it: "A Fascinating Scottish Historical Sequel"!
October 8, 2017
Heart is broken
November 1, 2014
Another very interesting historic story by Shona MacLean in the Seaton series, written in beautiful language referring to the old days. The end leaves a lot to think of for its sequel. Looking forward to Alexander Seaton #5.
July 30, 2023
In the midst of what came to be known as the Thirty Years’ War, a recruitment ship has docked at the Aberdeen port looking to add Scotsmen to the army in defense of Frederick V, the Elector Palatine, and his Stuart queen, Elizabeth. Alexander Seaton, regent at Marischal College, is making the rounds of the pubs looking to ferret out any of his young scholars who may be lingering there and send them back to the college and away from attempts to recruit them for the wars. When he finds two students who are the son and godson of a powerful clan lord, he sends them on their way with the promise of reprimand the next day. But the next day finds the students missing, having never returned to the school. This causes a city wide search and sets off a sequence of events that result in the uncovering of dangerous secrets and the upending of Seaton’s settled life in Aberdeen.
This final installment in the Alexander Seaton series brings many things full circle for Seaton and causes him to confront a past that he thought he had left behind. The quality of the plotting, the authentic feel of the historical period, and the complexity of Seaton’s character all combine to make this a top notch historical novel series and one that I would love to see continue.
This final installment in the Alexander Seaton series brings many things full circle for Seaton and causes him to confront a past that he thought he had left behind. The quality of the plotting, the authentic feel of the historical period, and the complexity of Seaton’s character all combine to make this a top notch historical novel series and one that I would love to see continue.
June 15, 2014
Available Now from Quercus.
Historical Fiction.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
1635, and Europe is in the grip of the brutal territorial and religious struggle of the Thirty Years' War. Fear stalks the town of Aberdeen as a ship recruiting for the wars lies at anchor in the river mouth. A sinister figure watches from the shadows as apprehension grows and culminates in the disappearance of the son of a Highland chief - a student of Alexander Seaton. When the frozen body of a young woman is found in the garden of a prominent citizen, Alexander becomes more deeply embroiled. He realises that the figure in the shadows is known to him and has come for him. He can hide from his past no longer.
Review by Gary Shepherd.
First off and unfortunately, I've come to this fourth in the series featuring Alexander Seaton having not read the previous novels. Without giving too much away this dents the emotional wallop the ending would otherwise have had...
That being said, it was still a terrific read. The author, in common with C.J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel, manages to convey a perfect sense of the atmosphere of the period. Seaton is that best of all heroes, ultimately good but flawed, in that he doesnt discover the solution to the mysteries until they are almost presented to him. This is an unusual tale in that there are several mysteries seemingly unconnected but ultimately interwoven at the end, hence why Seaton is so confounded and doesnt see the links until its almost too late. This keeps you guessing right up until the very end.
Characterisation is excellent, the only slight downside comes again from arriving at this point, as the relationships previously drawn come to a head, with shocking results, and some of the ambience is lost due to not having those relationships in your head already. Historically speaking the author has evoked a perfect sense of the time and events in which this novel is set and this backdrop provides an extra dimension to the enjoyment of the novel.
I will definitely be going back and reading the other 3 in the series (in order) and would recommend that you start at the beginning with "The Redemption of Alexander Seaton" in order to fully appreciate this brilliantly written and evocative novel.
Historical Fiction.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
1635, and Europe is in the grip of the brutal territorial and religious struggle of the Thirty Years' War. Fear stalks the town of Aberdeen as a ship recruiting for the wars lies at anchor in the river mouth. A sinister figure watches from the shadows as apprehension grows and culminates in the disappearance of the son of a Highland chief - a student of Alexander Seaton. When the frozen body of a young woman is found in the garden of a prominent citizen, Alexander becomes more deeply embroiled. He realises that the figure in the shadows is known to him and has come for him. He can hide from his past no longer.
Review by Gary Shepherd.
First off and unfortunately, I've come to this fourth in the series featuring Alexander Seaton having not read the previous novels. Without giving too much away this dents the emotional wallop the ending would otherwise have had...
That being said, it was still a terrific read. The author, in common with C.J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel, manages to convey a perfect sense of the atmosphere of the period. Seaton is that best of all heroes, ultimately good but flawed, in that he doesnt discover the solution to the mysteries until they are almost presented to him. This is an unusual tale in that there are several mysteries seemingly unconnected but ultimately interwoven at the end, hence why Seaton is so confounded and doesnt see the links until its almost too late. This keeps you guessing right up until the very end.
Characterisation is excellent, the only slight downside comes again from arriving at this point, as the relationships previously drawn come to a head, with shocking results, and some of the ambience is lost due to not having those relationships in your head already. Historically speaking the author has evoked a perfect sense of the time and events in which this novel is set and this backdrop provides an extra dimension to the enjoyment of the novel.
I will definitely be going back and reading the other 3 in the series (in order) and would recommend that you start at the beginning with "The Redemption of Alexander Seaton" in order to fully appreciate this brilliantly written and evocative novel.
March 14, 2015
I'm biased towards this series - as I am the Stuart MacBride ones. These ones are more enjoyable than the frustrating MacBride. The 16th century Aberdeen setting is interesting - a relatively uncommon time period, but which feels alive - vibrant would be the wrong word for such a dour and repressed time, but it's certainly 'real' with the attitudes of the characters reflecting the pious, austere nature of the times - as well as of Aberdonians to this day. I do enjoy the contrasts between the University life of 16th century and today too.
With this being the fourth, the protagonist is well established - and what I do like is that he does evolve subtly - we found him broken in the first book (the Redemption of Alexander Seaton) and despite the social progress he makes in the next three books, he's still at heart as fundamentally flawed as he was at the start - but dealing with it slightly differently in each book.
The plot has multiple events coming together - some work better than others, and what I nearly took it down a star for was the very soap opera return of a character and the ensuing chaos that I felt just stretched credulity a bit too far for my liking - not that it was impossible in the context - but for me it changed a set of solid stone and wood into wobbly cardboard. In some ways there were enough other plot strands that the whole Hay family strand could have been cut for a less dramatic book - which I may have found less frustrating.
This rounds off at an end point - leaving the door open for future books, but perhaps not imminently. I see from searching for this to review that there's a new series coming with different characters, which I'll pick up.
But are we really that shallow that Shona has become S.G for the fourth book? I guess so...
With this being the fourth, the protagonist is well established - and what I do like is that he does evolve subtly - we found him broken in the first book (the Redemption of Alexander Seaton) and despite the social progress he makes in the next three books, he's still at heart as fundamentally flawed as he was at the start - but dealing with it slightly differently in each book.
The plot has multiple events coming together - some work better than others, and what I nearly took it down a star for was the very soap opera return of a character and the ensuing chaos that I felt just stretched credulity a bit too far for my liking - not that it was impossible in the context - but for me it changed a set of solid stone and wood into wobbly cardboard. In some ways there were enough other plot strands that the whole Hay family strand could have been cut for a less dramatic book - which I may have found less frustrating.
This rounds off at an end point - leaving the door open for future books, but perhaps not imminently. I see from searching for this to review that there's a new series coming with different characters, which I'll pick up.
But are we really that shallow that Shona has become S.G for the fourth book? I guess so...
October 27, 2019
Aberdeen 1635, Alexander Seaton is a matter of weeks away from the completion of his redemption, and eventually become a minister of the Kirk. Winter looms and a recruiting ship is in the harbour. A lieutenant Ormiston and the shadowy seargent Nimmo are ashore trawling for soldiers for the Protestant cause in Europe. Seaton on the nightly check of the taverns comes across one of his students and foster son of a powerful laird about to sign on. Stepping in he sends himoff with a flea in his ear with the Lairds son. Next day both are missing and when the foster son Hugh is found beaten drenched and bleeding with no sign of his brother, the town locks down to find him. When Lord McKay, the father arrives with forty of his highlanders, Aberdeen is turned over in a frantic search that brings Alexanders past crashing home.
May 20, 2020
I find Alexander Seaton an unsatisfactory character and after four books I have ceased to care what happens to him. I find the Seeker series to be much better as a good read.
September 21, 2018
The last book in the Alexander Seaton was a slow burn indeed with intrigue simmering throughout and the actual murder not occurring until about halfway through the book. This doesn't stop Maclean from providing a gripping read however, as the well-developed characters and mysterious developments prove more than enough to keep you turning the pages.
However, I did find certain parts of the book involving Alexander's actions and motivations confusing, which prevent it from getting the 5th star. Despite this, the book was very enjoyable and would highly recommend the series to anyone. I found the series altogether refreshing from the usual books in this genre thanks to the Aberdeen setting and Stuart time-period. Maclean has thoroughly researched the period and put real love into many of the characters. It was a thrill to read.
However, I did find certain parts of the book involving Alexander's actions and motivations confusing, which prevent it from getting the 5th star. Despite this, the book was very enjoyable and would highly recommend the series to anyone. I found the series altogether refreshing from the usual books in this genre thanks to the Aberdeen setting and Stuart time-period. Maclean has thoroughly researched the period and put real love into many of the characters. It was a thrill to read.
October 23, 2022
This work has something to do with a man believed to be dead, who came back from the war 14 years late. Because of this, Alexander Seaton would again be torn and conflicted by past friendships... past allegiances... and past loves. The reader had always known that Seaton was a flawed hero since the beginning of the series, so he would again manifest his failings here. Yet again he would realize his weakness and own them and would make his decision based on his own wisdom regarding the people and events in this story. For while recruitment for the war would be ongoing here, the son and heir of a powerful Laird went missing after a night of cross~eyed bacchanalia leaving his foster brother and servant unconscious and traumatized, a victim of selective amnesia. It was believed that they were attacked on their way to their lodgings. While Seaton has gone full circle here and is being considered as minister to the town, Sarah has given birth to their second son but tragedy would would enter the Seaton household and such would have a marked effect on how Alexander navigates his future and the future of his children. A bit of a cliff~hanger here though it would appear that the series ended here since there were no more books following this one.
September 10, 2022
The last of the Alexander Seaton series, finishing at the end of 1635. The effects of the Thirty Years War come to Aberdeen and changes everything in Alexander Seaton’s life.
While the author may have tweaked the history of some of the real people in the book, in part for the purposes of the story, she has kept a lot of the real history of the period and it’s effect on Aberdeen in particular and Scotland in general. Of course the main effects of the story are felt by the people concerned and as with all of her other books, I really believed in most of the characters in the story. As I don’t want to spoil the book for others I will just say that there were two characters who I struggled to believe in and their actions at the end of the book.
I think the series had to end when it did, before the major upheavals of the English Civil War create even more problems for problems in Scotland as well as in England. I had hopes for a different ending, a different ending for the led character, but overall I have loved this series, and the information about life in North East Scotland in this period.
While the author may have tweaked the history of some of the real people in the book, in part for the purposes of the story, she has kept a lot of the real history of the period and it’s effect on Aberdeen in particular and Scotland in general. Of course the main effects of the story are felt by the people concerned and as with all of her other books, I really believed in most of the characters in the story. As I don’t want to spoil the book for others I will just say that there were two characters who I struggled to believe in and their actions at the end of the book.
I think the series had to end when it did, before the major upheavals of the English Civil War create even more problems for problems in Scotland as well as in England. I had hopes for a different ending, a different ending for the led character, but overall I have loved this series, and the information about life in North East Scotland in this period.
January 1, 2023
Well, that's it - the last in the Alexander Seaton series and my last Shona MacLean book until she publishes another. Again, her plotting and pace are extraordinary and I was left with a deep sadness at the end of the series, not just that it was over, but at where the story ended...but with potential for a new story should Shona ever want to pick up the threads again. This period is very complex with wars and sides and no certainty about who is good, bad or indifferent. As I have said before, the research is clear as the details thread through the pages, but the research does not overwhelm the plot (as can happen in other historical crime series I have read).
Tiny threads from previous books are pulled together so that all four books form a complex and complete tapestry - so don't do what I did and start at book #2 - start at the beginning...it is worth it.
Tiny threads from previous books are pulled together so that all four books form a complex and complete tapestry - so don't do what I did and start at book #2 - start at the beginning...it is worth it.
February 1, 2026
A fabulous series, which I’m glad I’ve read. My interest started with the stand alone book ‘The bookseller of Inverness’ which intrigued me as period of time in history I’d not read about before, so I thought I’d give the Alexander Seaton series a go. Having just finished the final book (no. 4), I’m glad I took the plunge. I’ve enjoyed and learned so much about that era, not just in north east Scotland, but also across Europe. Politics and religion are a common theme in many publications, however I liked how the author built them into the storyline and characters. There were a number of pleasant surprises in this last book which related back to book one, which is part of the reason I gave this a five star review. I’ve downloaded the ‘Seeker’ series, based in a similar time period, on the back of previous reads so, if they’re as enjoyable as the Seaton series, it will time well spent.
September 10, 2017
So I'm being a bit unfair, having grabbed this at the library without having read #1-3. It seems standalone to start with, the historical detail and narration are masterful and I was quickly drawn in. The background to Scottish involvement in the 30 years war was particularly interesting, especially as I confess much of my knowledge of that conflict comes from Ring of Fire novels. But aafter getting "stuck" for a few days, I found I just didn't want to pick this one up again. At one point a character teases our protagonist's wife with "however did you end up with this long streak o' misery?", and while it's a throwaway quip, frankly Alexander Seaton seems to go about in a sort of cloud of miserable disaster that I just didn't want to stick with. Maybe another time.
December 16, 2022
Well the ending was left open enough, and me hopeful enough, that we haven’t seen the last of Alexander Seaton. There were many surprises in this one especially as IMHO we haven’t actually seen his redemption, and while all of us are flawed, Alexander is haunted by and through his own flaws and doesn’t appear to learn much from his own mistakes, repeated over and over again. And yet, he’s extremely likable. The characters are so lifelike, the history of this series is incredible and I learn so much more than expected. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for Alexander Seaton #5.
July 20, 2017
Brilliant 4th book in A series following Alexander Seaton. Beautifully written and historically very interesting. So we'll set in and around Aberdeen. As an Aberdonian I recognise so many places and names which brings the imagination to life. The plots of all 4 books I found authentic and believable and the pace just right. Really good. I would like to think there may be another one or two in the series.
January 9, 2018
An enjoyable end to a fine series
Alexander Seaton's adventures have taken us from Banff to Northern Ireland to Masonic goings on in Aberdeen to Scotland's lengthy involvement in the thirty years war. Nicely wrapped up in a cracking finale which brings the whole series to a tragic conclusion, the author really conjures up an image of Reformation Scotland with all its duplicitous behaviour, secrets and religious conflict. Thoroughly enjoyable
Alexander Seaton's adventures have taken us from Banff to Northern Ireland to Masonic goings on in Aberdeen to Scotland's lengthy involvement in the thirty years war. Nicely wrapped up in a cracking finale which brings the whole series to a tragic conclusion, the author really conjures up an image of Reformation Scotland with all its duplicitous behaviour, secrets and religious conflict. Thoroughly enjoyable
December 28, 2018
Set in Aberdeen during the Thirty Years' War. A ship lies anchored in the river mother with it men to recruit for the said war. The disappearance of the son of a Highland chief and student of Alexander Seaton is just one of several mysteries keeping him and his thoughts occupied.
It's the last book in a series and it leaves me heart broken.
Shona MacLeans writing teleports not only back in time but also to Scotland - and given my love for Scotland I'm ever so thankful for that.
It's the last book in a series and it leaves me heart broken.
Shona MacLeans writing teleports not only back in time but also to Scotland - and given my love for Scotland I'm ever so thankful for that.
January 9, 2025
The 4th and last in the Alexander Seaton series that I am aware of has a story but not much of one. Supposedly centering around a lost boy it is actually more about Seaton's love life, childhood, friendship's and past adventures. Diary of a whimpy kid would be more appropriate as a title for this novel. Set in the 17th century there were some exciting bits but these were few and short lived.My satisfaction level after reading this was zero.
August 24, 2020
This book follows the pattern set by the others: there is a murder that Alexander must investigate, his own flawed character causes problems in his relationships, and many of the events have their roots in real historical events. In this last book of the series, he encounters a ghost from the past who has changed enormously and loses things of great value in the process.
November 7, 2021
I have enjoyed the Alexander Seaton series by this author , but not perhaps quite as much as her Seeker series. /Much as i am not too familiar with the setting of this series, the European Wars, i enjoy the main character's story and how it unfolds, and I think the author writes these novels extremely well
October 25, 2022
This is the true Alexander Seaton sequel. The last two books, honestly, I could’ve taken or left. They’re fine, but didn’t really scratch the itch. This one, unlike them, connects perfectly as a book in its own right and to the original story. Ties things up very satisfyingly and made me glad I read Seaton’s story at all.
June 15, 2025
Having picked this up at a book sale I didn’t realise it was part of a series so was a bit late to the party. Nevertheless I found the characters well drawn and the attention to detail regarding the thirty years war and the often unscrupulous manner in which innocents were recruited for the army engrossing. The protagonist’s story was really good - 😊
August 31, 2021
Alexander's life is looking up. He will soon be called to the ministry and he and his family are preparing to move into the manse.
But all that is threatened by the appearance of ghosts from his past.
But all that is threatened by the appearance of ghosts from his past.
June 25, 2022
Again an excellent read where history is masterfully embedded in the plot. Seaton must face some emotional and integrity challenges in his pursuit of finding the truth about a disappeared student. Highly recommended!
September 14, 2023
Betrayal
Although there are many themes examined here, to me the obvious recurring one is betrayal. How shocking to find that loved ones are not the people you believed them to be. I liked the writing, plot and detailed characters. I definitely will read more of the series.
Although there are many themes examined here, to me the obvious recurring one is betrayal. How shocking to find that loved ones are not the people you believed them to be. I liked the writing, plot and detailed characters. I definitely will read more of the series.
December 2, 2017
A good history based novel. Some difficult characters to follow along with.
October 23, 2020
The best so far.
December 6, 2020
I gave up on this one boring
March 24, 2021
The Devil's Recruit
I really enjoyed this book, it was well written with plenty of twists and turns to mislead the reader, look forward to the next episode
I really enjoyed this book, it was well written with plenty of twists and turns to mislead the reader, look forward to the next episode
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews