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Jack Lark #1
The Scarlet Thief
1854: The banks of the Alma River, Crimean Peninsular. The Redcoats stagger to a bloody halt. The men of the King's Royal Fusiliers are in terrible trouble, ducking and twisting as the storm of shot, shell and bullet tear through their ranks.
Officer Jack Lark has to act immediately and decisively. His life and the success of the campaign depend on it. But does he have the mettle, the officer qualities that are the life blood of the British Army? From a poor background Lark has risen through the ranks by stealth and guile and now he faces the ultimate test...
THE SCARLET THIEF introduces us to a formidable and compelling hero - brutally courageous, roguish, ambitious - in a historical novel as robust as it is thrillingly authentic by an author who brings history and battle vividly alive.
Officer Jack Lark has to act immediately and decisively. His life and the success of the campaign depend on it. But does he have the mettle, the officer qualities that are the life blood of the British Army? From a poor background Lark has risen through the ranks by stealth and guile and now he faces the ultimate test...
THE SCARLET THIEF introduces us to a formidable and compelling hero - brutally courageous, roguish, ambitious - in a historical novel as robust as it is thrillingly authentic by an author who brings history and battle vividly alive.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2013
160 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Paul Fraser Collard
18 books138 followersPaul's love of military history started at an early age. A childhood spent watching films like Waterloo and Zulu whilst reading Sharpe, Flashman and the occasional Commando comic, gave him a desire to know more of the men who fought in the great wars of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. At school, Paul was determined to become an officer in the British army and he succeeded in winning an Army Scholarship. However, Paul chose to give up his boyhood ambition and instead went into the finance industry. Paul stills works in the City, and lives with his wife and three children in Kent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 14, 2021
Great first instalment to a historical fiction series that begins exploring the Crimean War of the 19th century, the conflict of Britain, France and a number of other powers against Russian forces.
Paul Fraser Collard strikes a great balance of supplying detail to being the scene to life, whilst not overwhelming the reader and allowing for plot to develop naturally around the world building and establishment of the characters.
This was a really good first instalment to the Jack Lark series, which I listened to on Audible, which I look forward to continuing sometime soon.
Full Review to Come
Paul Fraser Collard strikes a great balance of supplying detail to being the scene to life, whilst not overwhelming the reader and allowing for plot to develop naturally around the world building and establishment of the characters.
This was a really good first instalment to the Jack Lark series, which I listened to on Audible, which I look forward to continuing sometime soon.
Full Review to Come
July 21, 2018
Another foray into my summer easy reading for 2018........ And the format is perfect to as the paperwork weighs in at jus over 350 pages with that well spaced out font.
Hooked from the get-go & before you know it around 25% of the way through the book. You’ve all read the preface so I wont repeat that but instead give you a flavour of what to expect.........
Those looking for a Sharpe style hero move along, wrong type of character, what you do get is a young rascal trying to make good and work his way up the ranks coming up against an eviiiiiil colour sergeant to boo hiss when he appears on stage, not to mention the sympathetic officer who looks after our young soldier. Joking aside the characters do seem a little stereotypical but it’s all good & a flowing read with the use of authentic slang of the period adding to the flavour. The historical detail (away from the army) is not great (deep) but no matter as I'm looking for a light read and this fits the bill perfectly. The battle scenes however are well done, with the historical detail very good, allowing you to picture the action & tactics, as well as sense the energy/nerves/Adreline of the combatants.
The story is a simple tale, that of an officer (Captain) in charge of his company, the Light company Royal Fusilier’s who have jus been sent to Russian (Crimea) in a combined force of French/Ottoman & British allies to storm Sevastopol. Before we start the action overseas there is a bit of home front pre-amble which sets the story up & all becomes clear which I shall let you find out for yourselves...... NO Spoilers here! I’ve read elsewhere that it’s also worth reading the novella’s that precede this book to build up the characters some more....
Had set out with the intention of giving all my summer reads a 3 mostly down to the reason they were selected..... not too taxing on the noodle.... but with the final battle scenes being some of the best Ive encountered it seems fair to round this upto a 4 as it kept me hooked & royally entertained.
Very enjoyable adventure style tale, a series I shall be continuing with when the mood suits........ in fact Ive already got the second book “on hold” at the local.
Hooked from the get-go & before you know it around 25% of the way through the book. You’ve all read the preface so I wont repeat that but instead give you a flavour of what to expect.........
Those looking for a Sharpe style hero move along, wrong type of character, what you do get is a young rascal trying to make good and work his way up the ranks coming up against an eviiiiiil colour sergeant to boo hiss when he appears on stage, not to mention the sympathetic officer who looks after our young soldier. Joking aside the characters do seem a little stereotypical but it’s all good & a flowing read with the use of authentic slang of the period adding to the flavour. The historical detail (away from the army) is not great (deep) but no matter as I'm looking for a light read and this fits the bill perfectly. The battle scenes however are well done, with the historical detail very good, allowing you to picture the action & tactics, as well as sense the energy/nerves/Adreline of the combatants.
The story is a simple tale, that of an officer (Captain) in charge of his company, the Light company Royal Fusilier’s who have jus been sent to Russian (Crimea) in a combined force of French/Ottoman & British allies to storm Sevastopol. Before we start the action overseas there is a bit of home front pre-amble which sets the story up & all becomes clear which I shall let you find out for yourselves...... NO Spoilers here! I’ve read elsewhere that it’s also worth reading the novella’s that precede this book to build up the characters some more....
Had set out with the intention of giving all my summer reads a 3 mostly down to the reason they were selected..... not too taxing on the noodle.... but with the final battle scenes being some of the best Ive encountered it seems fair to round this upto a 4 as it kept me hooked & royally entertained.
Very enjoyable adventure style tale, a series I shall be continuing with when the mood suits........ in fact Ive already got the second book “on hold” at the local.
June 5, 2013
Redcoats.
The world sends a strange thrill through you, doesn't it? Especially if you're English, I suppose. Makes you want to start singing 'Rule Britannia'. And the redcoat era of the British army covers some pretty momentous times. The Jacobite rebellion in the 1740s? The war of American Independence in the 1770s? The Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century? The Raj? The Zulu wars? And then there was the Crimean. Funny thing is that few people if you ask them in the street will be able to tell you much about that war. They might remember that Florence Nightingale served in Scutari. They might know names like Raglan, Lucan and Balaclava? Few will know anything and it's possible that it would hardly be remembered at all but for Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade. It's an odd period for most of us as it's still carrying the feel of the Napoleonic era but the army more resembles the defenders of Rorke's Drift.
Not for me. Strange, really, but I reckon the number of people who will even have heard of the battle of the Alma before reading this book will be surprisingly small. And yet as a kid our family often went to a pub by the river that was called The Alma and it had a profound effect on me. You see every pub sign seems to be a coloured animal or some craftsman. The pub sign at the Alma showed redcoats crossing the river in the face of the Russian hordes. It was a stirring thing to see on regular occasions and it coloured my image of the Crimea from a young age.
On to the tale. This debut offering from Paul Fraser Collard is the first tome in the Jack Lark series. It tells the tale (without wanting to risk spoilers) of a low-born proper 'man's man' soldier who by guile and cunning finds himself leading men in the opening salvos of the Crimean campaign among the upper class wastrels that generally occupy the higher ranks. Tied in alongside are threads of a revenge plotline and a nemesis that fits the bill perfectly.
Quite simply, Collard has managed to capture the feel of the Crimea to such an extent that at times I found myself lost in scenes that reminded me faintly of The Charge of the Light Brigade, Waterloo, or Zulu. His descriptions and use of language draw the reader deeply into the world of Jack Lark and make the book eminently readable. The tale is snappy and fast paced and will drag you along by the braces to the end.
Collard has managed to put together an idea for a character and tale that is interesting, refreshing, and not derivative of or directly comparable to most of the current historical fiction and that will earn Jack Lark a solid niche, I suspect, in the manner of Cornwell's Sharpe, Arnold's Stryker or Scarrow's Cato. The book had me wondering to near the end how it would resolve and the final moment fitted absolutely perfectly, giving the epilogue a gold-trimmed finish for me.
The characters are believable and sympathetic (or not where appropriate) and Jack himself is a character that will draw me to purchasing future books in the series without delay or consideration.
It is a rip-roaring novel full of character and action and any writer would be more than pleased to be able to put their name to it, but for a debut work it is quite a stunning piece.
Bravo Mr Collard. Roll on book 2, I say.
The world sends a strange thrill through you, doesn't it? Especially if you're English, I suppose. Makes you want to start singing 'Rule Britannia'. And the redcoat era of the British army covers some pretty momentous times. The Jacobite rebellion in the 1740s? The war of American Independence in the 1770s? The Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century? The Raj? The Zulu wars? And then there was the Crimean. Funny thing is that few people if you ask them in the street will be able to tell you much about that war. They might remember that Florence Nightingale served in Scutari. They might know names like Raglan, Lucan and Balaclava? Few will know anything and it's possible that it would hardly be remembered at all but for Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade. It's an odd period for most of us as it's still carrying the feel of the Napoleonic era but the army more resembles the defenders of Rorke's Drift.
Not for me. Strange, really, but I reckon the number of people who will even have heard of the battle of the Alma before reading this book will be surprisingly small. And yet as a kid our family often went to a pub by the river that was called The Alma and it had a profound effect on me. You see every pub sign seems to be a coloured animal or some craftsman. The pub sign at the Alma showed redcoats crossing the river in the face of the Russian hordes. It was a stirring thing to see on regular occasions and it coloured my image of the Crimea from a young age.
On to the tale. This debut offering from Paul Fraser Collard is the first tome in the Jack Lark series. It tells the tale (without wanting to risk spoilers) of a low-born proper 'man's man' soldier who by guile and cunning finds himself leading men in the opening salvos of the Crimean campaign among the upper class wastrels that generally occupy the higher ranks. Tied in alongside are threads of a revenge plotline and a nemesis that fits the bill perfectly.
Quite simply, Collard has managed to capture the feel of the Crimea to such an extent that at times I found myself lost in scenes that reminded me faintly of The Charge of the Light Brigade, Waterloo, or Zulu. His descriptions and use of language draw the reader deeply into the world of Jack Lark and make the book eminently readable. The tale is snappy and fast paced and will drag you along by the braces to the end.
Collard has managed to put together an idea for a character and tale that is interesting, refreshing, and not derivative of or directly comparable to most of the current historical fiction and that will earn Jack Lark a solid niche, I suspect, in the manner of Cornwell's Sharpe, Arnold's Stryker or Scarrow's Cato. The book had me wondering to near the end how it would resolve and the final moment fitted absolutely perfectly, giving the epilogue a gold-trimmed finish for me.
The characters are believable and sympathetic (or not where appropriate) and Jack himself is a character that will draw me to purchasing future books in the series without delay or consideration.
It is a rip-roaring novel full of character and action and any writer would be more than pleased to be able to put their name to it, but for a debut work it is quite a stunning piece.
Bravo Mr Collard. Roll on book 2, I say.
March 11, 2019
Definitely one for fans of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. Jack Lark has a lot in common with the hero of Cornwell's Napoleonic war stories. A likeable rogue who, by unusual means, finds himself as an officer in the Redcoat army, this time in Raglan's Crimean War campaign. Like Sharpe, he struggles to fit in and to come to terms with what is expected of an officer. The similarities don't end there, either. A brutal, amoral Sergeant as a nemesis; an unfortunate way of attracting tragedy; a closer affinity to the men in the ranks than his fellow officers; courage driven by a determination to better his lot.
The writing is good, the pace relentless and the graphic and frank portrayal of 19th Century warfare striking. At the risk of overloading the similarities with Cornwell, there is also a great deal of historical accuracy and detailed background to this novel, which adds a great deal to the authenticity of the story.
Personally I am a big fan of Sharpe, and so am always reluctant to start in on anything with reviewers claiming positive comparisons; I have been disappointed on more than one occasion by pale imitations. This time, though, I think I may have found an author and a protagonist that can carry the baton. Far enough forward in time from Waterloo to not be a facsimile, but close enough in time to carry a similar appeal, I think Jack Lark may be about to be added to my list of favourite characters, and I look forward to following him into the next chapter. I strongly recommend this, even to those who have been disappointed like me in the past.
The writing is good, the pace relentless and the graphic and frank portrayal of 19th Century warfare striking. At the risk of overloading the similarities with Cornwell, there is also a great deal of historical accuracy and detailed background to this novel, which adds a great deal to the authenticity of the story.
Personally I am a big fan of Sharpe, and so am always reluctant to start in on anything with reviewers claiming positive comparisons; I have been disappointed on more than one occasion by pale imitations. This time, though, I think I may have found an author and a protagonist that can carry the baton. Far enough forward in time from Waterloo to not be a facsimile, but close enough in time to carry a similar appeal, I think Jack Lark may be about to be added to my list of favourite characters, and I look forward to following him into the next chapter. I strongly recommend this, even to those who have been disappointed like me in the past.
August 10, 2018
This book has an implausible premise, but the battle scenes on the Alma are quite exciting so if you are willing to read it with a large grain of salt, stick around for the battle scenes. Jack Lark can be an appealing character, but he has the devil's own luck--or an accommodating author. It's a fast read, and it's interesting to read something about the Crimean War for a change.
August 12, 2020
*** 3.75 ***
March 20, 2016
I think about the only time I willingly put ’The Scarlet Thief’ down - was to go order the next one. It’s THAT good.
The 19th Century is not a period of history I know a right lot about. Make that nothing. However, now I’ve found Paul Fraser Collard and Jack Lark, I think all that’s about to change. Lark is a character, an attitude, a book and a period that stays long after I’ve turned the last page. PFC writes him with energy, style and enthusiasm for the whole that really is infectious. You care for the character immediately. You understand him and his actions and they are understandable, logical - though that doesn’t mean they are predictable. There are enough ‘well, I didn’t see that coming” to send every reader home happy.
PFC treats the reader with respect, one of my favourite observations. He takes it as read, that you can pick up on the differences and nuances relating to the period (as compared to out lives) without having them set out so a five-year-old can understand. That means a lot to me, and elevates PFC even further in my estimation. The character of Jack Lark is - apart from his personal habits, his methods and motivations, an interesting vehicle for allowing the writer to can see both sides - of the social and army divide. You’ll get a hint of why from the book blurb above, but you’ll need to read this to fully understand what I’m blathering on about.
Also, there’s none of this modern nonsense where all sergeants must call those under them ‘ladies,’ or, at a push, ‘gentlemen.’ Because nothing says ‘no-nonsense, don’t mess with me, I’m in no way gay and neither are you, no way’ army-type sergeant’ than someone calling a bunch of new recruits, or no-nonsense (etc) people under him, ‘ladies.’ Here, the difference is, the sergeants KNEW those under them were worthless. To call them ‘ladies’ would have been elevating their social standings! Redcoats are scum of the earth and generally expendable. But, (obviously) indispensable (as is said on p192: 'for it was the humble redcoat who would decide the fate of the battle to come’). Battles are won - as always - by whichever side is lucky enough to be able to throw most men in the line, the 'meat grinder’ as beloved of writers of Roman-period novels, at the right time. Interestingly, for me at least, the descriptions of the Russians attacking, was in a pattern familiar from all the WWII books I’ve read. OK, just me then...
To be fair, the points made about this period’s Army officers’ scant regard - or respect - for their Redcoats’ lives or abilities, is pushing at an already open door of course. However, the observations are well-made, well-times and never laboured or hectoring.
Ignore all this ‘the new Sharpe’ nonsense. I wouldn’t know a ‘Sharpe’ if it came up to me, kneed me in the knackers. Lazy stuff from Marketing Department. Though, if that’s what it takes to get you into bookshop to buy this, then go for it. I’m pretty sure I did see something about the character being compared to 'The Talented Mr Ripley.' Maybe so. However, this isn’t bollocks. I’d say, the ‘regeneration’ of Jack Lark is more Dr Who-like. That should get the kids onto the books.
So, a totally believable character, exceptionally well and knowledgeably written and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
More world-class reviews on Speesh Reads
The 19th Century is not a period of history I know a right lot about. Make that nothing. However, now I’ve found Paul Fraser Collard and Jack Lark, I think all that’s about to change. Lark is a character, an attitude, a book and a period that stays long after I’ve turned the last page. PFC writes him with energy, style and enthusiasm for the whole that really is infectious. You care for the character immediately. You understand him and his actions and they are understandable, logical - though that doesn’t mean they are predictable. There are enough ‘well, I didn’t see that coming” to send every reader home happy.
PFC treats the reader with respect, one of my favourite observations. He takes it as read, that you can pick up on the differences and nuances relating to the period (as compared to out lives) without having them set out so a five-year-old can understand. That means a lot to me, and elevates PFC even further in my estimation. The character of Jack Lark is - apart from his personal habits, his methods and motivations, an interesting vehicle for allowing the writer to can see both sides - of the social and army divide. You’ll get a hint of why from the book blurb above, but you’ll need to read this to fully understand what I’m blathering on about.
Also, there’s none of this modern nonsense where all sergeants must call those under them ‘ladies,’ or, at a push, ‘gentlemen.’ Because nothing says ‘no-nonsense, don’t mess with me, I’m in no way gay and neither are you, no way’ army-type sergeant’ than someone calling a bunch of new recruits, or no-nonsense (etc) people under him, ‘ladies.’ Here, the difference is, the sergeants KNEW those under them were worthless. To call them ‘ladies’ would have been elevating their social standings! Redcoats are scum of the earth and generally expendable. But, (obviously) indispensable (as is said on p192: 'for it was the humble redcoat who would decide the fate of the battle to come’). Battles are won - as always - by whichever side is lucky enough to be able to throw most men in the line, the 'meat grinder’ as beloved of writers of Roman-period novels, at the right time. Interestingly, for me at least, the descriptions of the Russians attacking, was in a pattern familiar from all the WWII books I’ve read. OK, just me then...
To be fair, the points made about this period’s Army officers’ scant regard - or respect - for their Redcoats’ lives or abilities, is pushing at an already open door of course. However, the observations are well-made, well-times and never laboured or hectoring.
Ignore all this ‘the new Sharpe’ nonsense. I wouldn’t know a ‘Sharpe’ if it came up to me, kneed me in the knackers. Lazy stuff from Marketing Department. Though, if that’s what it takes to get you into bookshop to buy this, then go for it. I’m pretty sure I did see something about the character being compared to 'The Talented Mr Ripley.' Maybe so. However, this isn’t bollocks. I’d say, the ‘regeneration’ of Jack Lark is more Dr Who-like. That should get the kids onto the books.
So, a totally believable character, exceptionally well and knowledgeably written and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
More world-class reviews on Speesh Reads
April 12, 2013
Review
Paul Collard in the form of Jack Lark provide the reader with a new man, not a hero, but a man flawed and heroic, a product of his environment, but with a desire to pull himself away from the squalor that is the lot of the poor man in the 1850’s.
His story has flashes of the writing that gave Bernard Cornwell his man Sharpe, but it is also more, There is no pretence to the man which is funny given that his entire career as a Captain is a pretence. He is who he is, even hiding as a Captain the man will out, his colourful language, his ability to think for himself, to act, to think of the men under him and the way they are treated, so many things that would and do set him as a Captain apart. There is a different camaraderie in the book coupled with a small level of romance that were flashes of John Wilcox and his Simon Fonthill series, the interplay between batman and officer.
I’m no expert on the period so cannot say if the history is accurately depicted, but it felt accurate, it felt real, it felt alive.
The story its self contains some of the most riveting battle scenes I have read ever, every line every paragraph and page of the battles had me hooked, riveted to the page, there were times when I was almost as breathless as the exhausted soldiers. Paul Collard put the reader through the mill (almost as much as the soldiers). Death is on a huge scale, but not gratuitous, it merely shows the reader the hell of the battles in the Crimea, and the worthlessness of having a command built on privilege rather than skill, and even the skilled can break in the teeth of the utter horror that is war. It also shows that the writer is not afraid to kill off what would be key characters for other authors.
I really like reading debut books, to see who are the starts of the future, and Paul Collard is most certainly one. Book two cannot come soon enough for me
Hardback (9th May 2013) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarlet-Thief...
Paper Back (21st Nov 2013) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarlet-Thief...
Kindle: (9th May 2013) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarlet-Thief...
Book 2 The Maharajah’s General is due 21st November 2013 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maharajahs-Ge...
Jack Lark barely survived the Battle of the Alma in Crimea, and his future seemed bleak. But now he’s found a way to get back to war, masquerading as a captain who died of his wounds. Arriving in India, Jack finds new enemies to fight, but this time they’re on his own side. Unmasked as a fraud, he escapes with the chaplain’s daughter, and in desperation, they seek refuge with the Maharajah the British Army is trying to defeat. The Maharajah sees Jack as a curiosity, but recognises a fellow military mind. In return for his safety, Jack must train the very army he came to India to fight. And one day soon, the two sides must meet in battle…
Paul Collard in the form of Jack Lark provide the reader with a new man, not a hero, but a man flawed and heroic, a product of his environment, but with a desire to pull himself away from the squalor that is the lot of the poor man in the 1850’s.
His story has flashes of the writing that gave Bernard Cornwell his man Sharpe, but it is also more, There is no pretence to the man which is funny given that his entire career as a Captain is a pretence. He is who he is, even hiding as a Captain the man will out, his colourful language, his ability to think for himself, to act, to think of the men under him and the way they are treated, so many things that would and do set him as a Captain apart. There is a different camaraderie in the book coupled with a small level of romance that were flashes of John Wilcox and his Simon Fonthill series, the interplay between batman and officer.
I’m no expert on the period so cannot say if the history is accurately depicted, but it felt accurate, it felt real, it felt alive.
The story its self contains some of the most riveting battle scenes I have read ever, every line every paragraph and page of the battles had me hooked, riveted to the page, there were times when I was almost as breathless as the exhausted soldiers. Paul Collard put the reader through the mill (almost as much as the soldiers). Death is on a huge scale, but not gratuitous, it merely shows the reader the hell of the battles in the Crimea, and the worthlessness of having a command built on privilege rather than skill, and even the skilled can break in the teeth of the utter horror that is war. It also shows that the writer is not afraid to kill off what would be key characters for other authors.
I really like reading debut books, to see who are the starts of the future, and Paul Collard is most certainly one. Book two cannot come soon enough for me
Hardback (9th May 2013) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarlet-Thief...
Paper Back (21st Nov 2013) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarlet-Thief...
Kindle: (9th May 2013) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarlet-Thief...
Book 2 The Maharajah’s General is due 21st November 2013 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maharajahs-Ge...
Jack Lark barely survived the Battle of the Alma in Crimea, and his future seemed bleak. But now he’s found a way to get back to war, masquerading as a captain who died of his wounds. Arriving in India, Jack finds new enemies to fight, but this time they’re on his own side. Unmasked as a fraud, he escapes with the chaplain’s daughter, and in desperation, they seek refuge with the Maharajah the British Army is trying to defeat. The Maharajah sees Jack as a curiosity, but recognises a fellow military mind. In return for his safety, Jack must train the very army he came to India to fight. And one day soon, the two sides must meet in battle…
July 31, 2013
In choosing this book I was going out of my usual comfort zone, although not entirely as I love historical fiction. I had been studying the Poem The Charge of the Light Brigade in English and the time period of the Crimean War was of interest. Although the battle mainly featured in this is the Battle of Alma, not Balaclava as written about in aforementioned poem.
Anyway the book follows the fortunes and misfortunes of Jack Lark, a humble but resourceful orderly who has dreams of bettering himself, but stuck in an army where money talks to get you advancement rather than your potential skills as a soldier. He has a sweetheart, Molly. He also has an arch enemy, Slater. He is a big bully who likes nothing better than to use his rank and brutalize men under his control. Jack has the temerity to stand up to him at huge personal cost.
Circumstances, and fate as well as choices give him a hope to prove himself. He ends up in the Crimea, but things from his past refuse to remain there. A fairly large part of the book focuses on the Battle of Alma, considered one of the first battles of the Crimean War. The writer portrays it in all its blood and gore and give it a sense of realism. This is battle at its bloodiest and most visceral. The horror of the ravaging effect of weapons on the human body, as well as fighting conditions.
Jack Lark is a hero to follow, not a perfect knight in shining armour, but a man of courage and cleverness that outranks his station and his birth.
Anyway the book follows the fortunes and misfortunes of Jack Lark, a humble but resourceful orderly who has dreams of bettering himself, but stuck in an army where money talks to get you advancement rather than your potential skills as a soldier. He has a sweetheart, Molly. He also has an arch enemy, Slater. He is a big bully who likes nothing better than to use his rank and brutalize men under his control. Jack has the temerity to stand up to him at huge personal cost.
Circumstances, and fate as well as choices give him a hope to prove himself. He ends up in the Crimea, but things from his past refuse to remain there. A fairly large part of the book focuses on the Battle of Alma, considered one of the first battles of the Crimean War. The writer portrays it in all its blood and gore and give it a sense of realism. This is battle at its bloodiest and most visceral. The horror of the ravaging effect of weapons on the human body, as well as fighting conditions.
Jack Lark is a hero to follow, not a perfect knight in shining armour, but a man of courage and cleverness that outranks his station and his birth.
Read
October 14, 2014I actually wrote a few notes for this book and they are really harsh. I must have been in quite the mood. I shall not be that severe now that I've had a little time to digest what I've read.
I didn't read very far before finding this wasn't my kind of hero. I thought him seriously wussy, he came across too everyman without enough character. No matter how hard I try not too, these type of stories always get compared to Richard Sharpe and because I love that character so much.....no one else can compare.
I've also started to tire of the easy read, historical fiction tale. The type that remind me of boys adventure stories but written for men. I guess man deserve their version of fluffy books too but I just want to sink my mind into a deeper story and this didn't do it for me.
I rather feel that I'm taking out my general frustrations on a novel that didn't deserve it so I've decided not to give it a rating because I don't consider it quite fair to the book.
I didn't read very far before finding this wasn't my kind of hero. I thought him seriously wussy, he came across too everyman without enough character. No matter how hard I try not too, these type of stories always get compared to Richard Sharpe and because I love that character so much.....no one else can compare.
I've also started to tire of the easy read, historical fiction tale. The type that remind me of boys adventure stories but written for men. I guess man deserve their version of fluffy books too but I just want to sink my mind into a deeper story and this didn't do it for me.
I rather feel that I'm taking out my general frustrations on a novel that didn't deserve it so I've decided not to give it a rating because I don't consider it quite fair to the book.
December 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and the idea at the heart of the story, which is that our hero Jack Lark, from a poor part of London, steals the identity of a wealthy officer. There are interesting sub plots and a good mix of characters. The book is mainly set around the battle of Alma during the Crimea war. The action is very well depicted and the battle scenes quite gory!
It is well writtn and has just enough historical detail to make us feel part of the adventure without weighing us down with too much detail. The style of the narrative is easy to read and I finished the book in about four hours.
Jack makes a bold and exciting hero and I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
It is well writtn and has just enough historical detail to make us feel part of the adventure without weighing us down with too much detail. The style of the narrative is easy to read and I finished the book in about four hours.
Jack makes a bold and exciting hero and I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
August 12, 2016
I won The Scarlet Thief for free in a first-reads giveaway, and I am so pleased because from the very first paragraph I was hooked. The captivating plot with its seamless and intense narrative had me soon investing in the characters' fates. I definitely want to read The Maharajah's General. I adore the Sharpe series and feel Jack Lark is a wonderful antidote for anyone who misses the atmosphere of Richard Sharpe's world or anything similar. Many thanks to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this novel.
April 11, 2013
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/04/... - The Original Review
“A great read with an interesting take on the Crimean War, with some excellent writing. If you loved Bernard Cornwell, then you’ll love this.” ~The Founding Fields
I’m a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell’s novels, having read as many that I can get my hands on and have several of his books sitting on my shelves waiting for me to get round to. He was the author that got me into historical fiction, alongside Simon Scarrow, and it’s always nice to discover new authors who are writing in the past – and The Scarlet Thief, penned by Paul Fraser Collard – is one of these terrific debuts that all fans of historical fiction should enjoy.
"The new Richard Sharpe bursts onto the historical adventure scene in a brilliant, action-packed debut of Redcoat battle and bloodshed.
1854: The banks of the Alma River, Crimean Peninsular. The Redcoats stagger to a bloody halt. The men of the King’s Royal Fusiliers are in terrible trouble, ducking and twisting as the storm of shot, shell and bullet tear through their ranks.
Officer Jack Lark has to act immediately and decisively. His life and the success of the campaign depend on it. But does he have the mettle, the officer qualities that are the life blood of the British Army? From a poor background Lark has risen through the ranks by stealth and guile and now he faces the ultimate test…
THE SCARLET THIEF introduces us to a formidable and compelling hero – brutally courageous, roguish, ambitious – in a historical novel as robust as it is thrillingly authentic by an author who brings history and battle vividly alive."
The blurb seems to agree with me that Jack Lark is the new Richard Sharpe. He’s an interesting character, with an interesting background that’s demonstrated very early on in the story. The book itself has many notable comparisons to Sharpe, as you’ll no doubt be able to note as you find yourself reading through these pages – for it is quite clear that Slater, the character in this book who plays a key role in providing a foil for Lark, shares some similarities with Obadiah Hakeswill, Sharpe’s nemesis within the ranks. Whilst Slater isn’t as downright as detestable as Hawkeswill, he certainly has his moments – and he is the character that readers will want to hate by the time this book is over.
The Crimean War was what gave me a bigger incentive to read this book, as whilst it’s not one of my favourite areas of history to cover, it’s certainly one with a lot of potential for some good storylines, even if when I was studying it I looked more at the after effects of the Crimea on the Russians than the actual War itself, but as far as I’m aware – there wasn’t any glaring historical inaccuracies in The Scarlet Thief which should please readers who like their historical fiction to be as accurate and as factual as possible. The action is very well written, and the pace itself is very quick and fast throughout the book – something that helped me not being able to put it down.
The plot is pretty engaging, and the book itself is pretty short as well, allowing for a quick read if you’re a fast reader like myself – it’s a welcome break particularly if you’ve just come off a huge book by George RR Martin or Brandon Sanderson, as you’ll get through this fairly quickly. If you need any further tips on why you should be reading The Scarlet Thief, see what Bernard Cornwell himself has to say about it:
“This is a brilliant debut and I look forward to reading more of Jack Lark.”
It’s fairly safe to say then that this book is the perfect antidote to anybody suffering Sharpe withdrawal. It reads like Sharpe, it feels like a Sharpe novel and fans of Cornwell will find themselves at home here. Collard has crafted a great tale that although may not be the most original of debuts – is certainly entertaining. If you’re an urban fantasy fan then you’ll know that I disliked the first Alex Verus novel by Benedict Jacka for being too similar to The Dresden Files. The difference here, aside from the genres, is that Paul Fraser Collard has managed to make The Scarlet Thief very entertaining and more gripping, compelling and engaging than Fated was, at least in my opinion anyway. I’ll be sticking around for the next book in the series, The Maharajah’s General, and it will be very interesting to see where Collard can take the series, and the character from here.
VERDICT: 4/5
THE JACK LARK SERIES: The Scarlet Thief (May 2013), The Maharajah’s General (Nov 2014)
“A great read with an interesting take on the Crimean War, with some excellent writing. If you loved Bernard Cornwell, then you’ll love this.” ~The Founding Fields
I’m a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell’s novels, having read as many that I can get my hands on and have several of his books sitting on my shelves waiting for me to get round to. He was the author that got me into historical fiction, alongside Simon Scarrow, and it’s always nice to discover new authors who are writing in the past – and The Scarlet Thief, penned by Paul Fraser Collard – is one of these terrific debuts that all fans of historical fiction should enjoy.
"The new Richard Sharpe bursts onto the historical adventure scene in a brilliant, action-packed debut of Redcoat battle and bloodshed.
1854: The banks of the Alma River, Crimean Peninsular. The Redcoats stagger to a bloody halt. The men of the King’s Royal Fusiliers are in terrible trouble, ducking and twisting as the storm of shot, shell and bullet tear through their ranks.
Officer Jack Lark has to act immediately and decisively. His life and the success of the campaign depend on it. But does he have the mettle, the officer qualities that are the life blood of the British Army? From a poor background Lark has risen through the ranks by stealth and guile and now he faces the ultimate test…
THE SCARLET THIEF introduces us to a formidable and compelling hero – brutally courageous, roguish, ambitious – in a historical novel as robust as it is thrillingly authentic by an author who brings history and battle vividly alive."
The blurb seems to agree with me that Jack Lark is the new Richard Sharpe. He’s an interesting character, with an interesting background that’s demonstrated very early on in the story. The book itself has many notable comparisons to Sharpe, as you’ll no doubt be able to note as you find yourself reading through these pages – for it is quite clear that Slater, the character in this book who plays a key role in providing a foil for Lark, shares some similarities with Obadiah Hakeswill, Sharpe’s nemesis within the ranks. Whilst Slater isn’t as downright as detestable as Hawkeswill, he certainly has his moments – and he is the character that readers will want to hate by the time this book is over.
The Crimean War was what gave me a bigger incentive to read this book, as whilst it’s not one of my favourite areas of history to cover, it’s certainly one with a lot of potential for some good storylines, even if when I was studying it I looked more at the after effects of the Crimea on the Russians than the actual War itself, but as far as I’m aware – there wasn’t any glaring historical inaccuracies in The Scarlet Thief which should please readers who like their historical fiction to be as accurate and as factual as possible. The action is very well written, and the pace itself is very quick and fast throughout the book – something that helped me not being able to put it down.
The plot is pretty engaging, and the book itself is pretty short as well, allowing for a quick read if you’re a fast reader like myself – it’s a welcome break particularly if you’ve just come off a huge book by George RR Martin or Brandon Sanderson, as you’ll get through this fairly quickly. If you need any further tips on why you should be reading The Scarlet Thief, see what Bernard Cornwell himself has to say about it:
“This is a brilliant debut and I look forward to reading more of Jack Lark.”
It’s fairly safe to say then that this book is the perfect antidote to anybody suffering Sharpe withdrawal. It reads like Sharpe, it feels like a Sharpe novel and fans of Cornwell will find themselves at home here. Collard has crafted a great tale that although may not be the most original of debuts – is certainly entertaining. If you’re an urban fantasy fan then you’ll know that I disliked the first Alex Verus novel by Benedict Jacka for being too similar to The Dresden Files. The difference here, aside from the genres, is that Paul Fraser Collard has managed to make The Scarlet Thief very entertaining and more gripping, compelling and engaging than Fated was, at least in my opinion anyway. I’ll be sticking around for the next book in the series, The Maharajah’s General, and it will be very interesting to see where Collard can take the series, and the character from here.
VERDICT: 4/5
THE JACK LARK SERIES: The Scarlet Thief (May 2013), The Maharajah’s General (Nov 2014)
October 18, 2015
Other than the fact that The Crimean War took place, I know nothing about it. Heck, my fine American public school education in history barely mentioned Waterloo. So, once again I ventured into unknown historical-fiction territory as I, after being poked and prodded for months to do so by various sources, finally picked up The Scarlet Thief by Paul Fraser Collard. I must offer a public thank you to those various sources for their sage advice. The author has delivered an exciting tale; one of those books that had me reading farther into the night than I had intended; one of those books that had me searching ahead to see how long the next chapter was in an attempt to convince myself to put the damn bookmark in and get some sleep. Jack Lark, the protagonist in this series, a lowly army orderly finds himself in a position to rise above his station(I am going to be intentionally vague about details so as to not deal out spoilers). Thus he finds himself as a captain and leader of a fusilier company on the Crimean Peninsula as the British, French and Turkish armies converge on Sevastopol to try to wrest it from the Russians. Mr. Collard does a fine job in setting up the circumstances leading to this point complete with a nasty piece of work who can threaten to expose Jack's identity thereby creating an exciting sub-plot during the battle at the Alma River. Now, as good as the book is through the first three-quarters of it, the author really steps it up a notch during the climatic battle including the horrors endured and the heroic actions as the three armies cross the Alma. It is an excellent example of how battle plans are rendered useless as chaos is the only battle plan that emerges during the ensuing carnage. I have read many battles by many different authors over the years and this one ranks among my favorites and is a foreshadowing of the horrific battles in the next decade's Civil War in America. Kudos to Paul Fraser Collard and my apologies for not getting to this sooner.
5-stars and a hearty Hoover Book Review recommendation.
About the author:
Paul's love of military history started at an early age. A childhood spent watching films like Waterloo and Zulu whilst reading Sharpe, Flashman and the occasional Commando comic, gave him a desire to know more of the men who fought in the great wars of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. At school, Paul was determined to become an officer in the British army and he succeeded in winning an Army Scholarship. However, Paul chose to give up his boyhood ambition and instead went into the finance industry. Paul stills works in the City, and lives with his wife and three children in Kent.
Links for Hoover Book Reviews:
On Twitter @hooverbkreview
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clash-...
March 29, 2020
4.5 stars.
A great historical fiction. The author really knew the time period and the battle scenes were incredible. I enjoyed the pacing as well.
I would have liked more character interactions. I would have enjoyed seeing more characters and fleshing out the people populating the world a little more.
A great historical fiction. The author really knew the time period and the battle scenes were incredible. I enjoyed the pacing as well.
I would have liked more character interactions. I would have enjoyed seeing more characters and fleshing out the people populating the world a little more.
May 7, 2015
The Scarlet Thief
In the genre of British sword & musket fiction, we have an entry here that merits our consideration. We must suspend disbelief at the outset due to the basic plot premise. Once the plot device is out of the way, we are in for a very fine armchair adventure that ensures excitement and daring do to the satisfaction of fans of historical fiction.
The war in the Crimea, from the British perspective, was a major campaign setting in motion many elements of modern European history today. I credit the author’s research here in disclosing some of the ugly history of the British military leadership during this campaign inside elements of the story.
The Scarlet Thief is simple stuff in the telling, and, well done.
In the genre of British sword & musket fiction, we have an entry here that merits our consideration. We must suspend disbelief at the outset due to the basic plot premise. Once the plot device is out of the way, we are in for a very fine armchair adventure that ensures excitement and daring do to the satisfaction of fans of historical fiction.
The war in the Crimea, from the British perspective, was a major campaign setting in motion many elements of modern European history today. I credit the author’s research here in disclosing some of the ugly history of the British military leadership during this campaign inside elements of the story.
The Scarlet Thief is simple stuff in the telling, and, well done.
August 25, 2019
In the Bernard Cornwell space this. Leading up to the invasion of Crimea in 1854 with the Brits and the French trying to dislodge the Russians. Amongst the Redcoats is an officer who is not what seems. Jack Lark, a common private has stolen the identity of an officer and is now leading me in a critical battle.
So, like Cornwell this is a military campaign given life by a variety of characters. The commoner Lark gets away with being a posh officer rather too easily and there are some familiar themes of a created bad guy and the danger of Lark’s discovery.
It’s not Cornwell and it’s not Sharpe either, but it’s okay lightweight military action.
So, like Cornwell this is a military campaign given life by a variety of characters. The commoner Lark gets away with being a posh officer rather too easily and there are some familiar themes of a created bad guy and the danger of Lark’s discovery.
It’s not Cornwell and it’s not Sharpe either, but it’s okay lightweight military action.
November 15, 2016
I have a problem with my concentration levels at the moment for various reasons however as soon as I picked up this book I was hooked. It is easy to read as you are engrossed from the off. The battle scenes were described perfectly I could see myself there, on the field, with the Red Coats (probably a long way back though). I have a new rogue to follow and I want to know where he is going.
February 24, 2017
Brilliant book
This is a really really good book one of the better ones. Possibly better than Bernard cornwells Sharpe series must read
This is a really really good book one of the better ones. Possibly better than Bernard cornwells Sharpe series must read
June 10, 2017
For the full review and more, visit my blog
The Jack Lark series written by Paul Fraser Collard is often compared to the highly-appraised Sharpe series from Bernhard Cromwell. In this case, I count myself fortunate as I have not yet have had the chance to read it and can therefore (perhaps in contrast to many others in the historical fiction community) enjoy this series wholeheartedly.
The first book of the series “The Scarlet Thief” covers the Crimean war of 1853-1856 between the Russian empire and an alliance of the British Empire, France and the Ottomans. The protagonist is the ambitious British soldier Jack Lark who is the Orderly (something like a military butler) of his company’s Captain. As the British army commissions are only available for members of the society’s upper class, Jack has no hope of the career-advancement he so desperately longs for. When Jack and his Captain are on the way to join the Crimean-campaign happenstance and cunning find Jack in the position to grasp his desired commission as a British officer – even though it makes him guilty of identity theft (good choice of title there, Mr.Collard!). Upon arriving in a war zone, Jack soon discovers that being an officer is not as easy as expected. Only there is no time to reconsider and in the face of Russian fire, Jack must prove whether he is courageous enough to see the men under his command through the torments of the early stages of the Crimean war.
The Scarlet Thief is a fast-paced, action-filled tale of a man from the bottom of British society, who follows his aspirations to free himself of the limitations of his social station in a tumultuous time of the British Empire. Jack himself is an engaging yet not easy to fully-comprehend character with more to him than is apparent at first. He is confronted with the atrocities of battle and a darker part of himself and must face both simultaneously. Collard manages to draw the reader into the story and creates a character that is easily-likable and (maybe more importantly) believable. And while there are certainly scenes in which the reader might be questioning his sympathies, in the end there can only be one answer. The Crimean war itself is relatively unknown (I certainly had no clue about it before I read this book!) and marks a good start of the series.
I fully support the wide-spread love for the book and series as a whole and find myself a fellow-advocate in the historical fiction community! Excited to finish the other books of the series, I cannot wait to write about the sequel!
The Jack Lark series written by Paul Fraser Collard is often compared to the highly-appraised Sharpe series from Bernhard Cromwell. In this case, I count myself fortunate as I have not yet have had the chance to read it and can therefore (perhaps in contrast to many others in the historical fiction community) enjoy this series wholeheartedly.
The first book of the series “The Scarlet Thief” covers the Crimean war of 1853-1856 between the Russian empire and an alliance of the British Empire, France and the Ottomans. The protagonist is the ambitious British soldier Jack Lark who is the Orderly (something like a military butler) of his company’s Captain. As the British army commissions are only available for members of the society’s upper class, Jack has no hope of the career-advancement he so desperately longs for. When Jack and his Captain are on the way to join the Crimean-campaign happenstance and cunning find Jack in the position to grasp his desired commission as a British officer – even though it makes him guilty of identity theft (good choice of title there, Mr.Collard!). Upon arriving in a war zone, Jack soon discovers that being an officer is not as easy as expected. Only there is no time to reconsider and in the face of Russian fire, Jack must prove whether he is courageous enough to see the men under his command through the torments of the early stages of the Crimean war.
The Scarlet Thief is a fast-paced, action-filled tale of a man from the bottom of British society, who follows his aspirations to free himself of the limitations of his social station in a tumultuous time of the British Empire. Jack himself is an engaging yet not easy to fully-comprehend character with more to him than is apparent at first. He is confronted with the atrocities of battle and a darker part of himself and must face both simultaneously. Collard manages to draw the reader into the story and creates a character that is easily-likable and (maybe more importantly) believable. And while there are certainly scenes in which the reader might be questioning his sympathies, in the end there can only be one answer. The Crimean war itself is relatively unknown (I certainly had no clue about it before I read this book!) and marks a good start of the series.
I fully support the wide-spread love for the book and series as a whole and find myself a fellow-advocate in the historical fiction community! Excited to finish the other books of the series, I cannot wait to write about the sequel!
June 25, 2017
I enjoyed it
It's a bit far fetched expecting a low bred ruffians to get away with impersonating an officer but once past that the battles are described with enough blood and guts as anyone can possibly require. Again it's air far fetched that someone could go through the eye of the battle with bullets all round and be protected as though by magic,except that is what actually happened to many soldiers through the passage of time. A peninsula war man myself this is my first foray into the Crimea, it will not be my last, now I know where the Crimea actually is !!!
It's a bit far fetched expecting a low bred ruffians to get away with impersonating an officer but once past that the battles are described with enough blood and guts as anyone can possibly require. Again it's air far fetched that someone could go through the eye of the battle with bullets all round and be protected as though by magic,except that is what actually happened to many soldiers through the passage of time. A peninsula war man myself this is my first foray into the Crimea, it will not be my last, now I know where the Crimea actually is !!!
January 24, 2022
This is essentially Sharpe's Rifles in the Crimea, with a soldier fighting in the British Army about four decades later, but the same kind of tactics and combat. This time all the Brits have rifles (Minié ball ammunition) and they're allied with the French and Turks against the Russians.
The action plays out much the same, but Jack Lark isn't as capable or likable as Richard Sharpe, and the story feels less from a series than a disjointed section of various historical events.
The action plays out much the same, but Jack Lark isn't as capable or likable as Richard Sharpe, and the story feels less from a series than a disjointed section of various historical events.
June 1, 2017
Richard Sharpe, meet Jack Lark. If you want a face pace historical fiction book you cant put down. This is it. Battle scenes are very detail, makes you feel like you are part of the battle.
May 21, 2014
Reading The Scarlet Thief at this point in time was an oddly well-timed choice as it turns out, set as it is in the Crimea. It appears history truly can be cyclical if one compares what is revealed about the origins of the Crimean War with what is happening there now. It was also a closer look at a conflict I've never learned that much about, beyond Florence Nightingale and Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade. And what a hopeless conflict it was. Paul Fraser Collard paints us a vivid and horrifying picture of life at the front and the terrible cost of life, not just to the armed forces on both sides, but to the innocent inhabitants of the Crimea as well, who were burned out of their houses and robbed of all their possessions in a scorched earth policy to deny resources and cover to the enemy. But The Scarlet Thief is more than descriptions of death and horrible war wounds, there is also a lot of humour and a wonderful protagonist who will capture your heart.
Said character is Jack Lark, former mud lark from London's seedier streets. As a commoner, Jack's opportunities for advancement are limited. He will never be able to rise above the rank of a non-commissioned officer, with Quartermaster being the pinnacle of achievement. For a young man set on bettering himself and one who considers many officers incompetents, this is a frustrating situation to be in. He feels that the redcoats are not treated well by their officers and he has some rather progressive (for the time) ideas as to how one should lead his men. The way his frustrated ambitions influence his decisions was interesting, unlike another factor influencing him that I didn't care as much for—his relationship with Molly. Molly was my biggest problem with this book. Not the character in itself, which was fine, but her story arc and how this was used to move the plot forward felt a little clichéd and it’s a trope we've seen many times before. Once Jack and his officer, Arthur Sloames, leave the Aldershot garrison to join the King's Royal Fusiliers and ship out to the Crimea the narrative picked up and really started speeding up once Jack arrives at Kalamata Bay.
Collard shows the bleak life of the enlisted (or drafted) men in the Victorian British Army, one on the cusp of modernity with its leaders struggling to adjust their thinking and strategies to new materiel and changing social mores. Jack's leading from the front fits right in with this. Jack starts of despising the other officers thinking them all arrogant aristo's who are only there because they had the money not because they had the skills, but throughout the book he learns that they are not all alike and comes to view them in a different light. In fact, Jack's connection with some of his fellows and first his officer are delightful and one of the strengths of the book. The way he bonds with his orderly was wonderful and I loved how he gains respect for his second-in-command Digsby-Brown. I adored the quiet scenes we're shown of camaraderie between the men and the way that they all become equal, be they enlisted or criminal conscript. But not just Jack's dealing with his friends is wonderfully written, The Scarlet Thief has a fantastic villain in Sergeant Slater and some more equally distasteful characters, most notable the aptly named Major Peacock.
One element that confused me was the troop formations. There were divisions and brigades and companies and they all had different names and in the end I rather lost track of how the command structure worked and who belonged with whom. This difficulty might be due to my unfamiliarity with the British Army of that era, but this was one of those occasions where an appendix showing how the forces were structured would have been useful. Then again, it seems as if once the battle started the hierarchy in and structure of the army didn't really matter in any case, as it's one chaotic mess and many soldiers lost their unit and forgot their orders anyway. The battle depicted is terrifying, chaotic, noisy, stinking of death and blood and an enormous amount of casualties, who often perished from the most gruesome wounds.
The Scarlet Thief is an impressive look at the atrocities of war; unflinching in its descriptions and honest in its assessment of its characters' human nature in all of its beauty and monstrosity. Collard leaves us with a great set up for the following book, which promises to be interesting and very different from the Crimea. I'm curious to see where exactly Jack will go in The Maharajah's General and whether he'll remain there or move on to a new identity after. Needless to say I'll be back to check in with our Mr Lark in the next book, hopefully sooner than later as I already have the review copy for it on my shelf. The Scarlet Thief is a must-read for any lover of military historical fiction.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
Said character is Jack Lark, former mud lark from London's seedier streets. As a commoner, Jack's opportunities for advancement are limited. He will never be able to rise above the rank of a non-commissioned officer, with Quartermaster being the pinnacle of achievement. For a young man set on bettering himself and one who considers many officers incompetents, this is a frustrating situation to be in. He feels that the redcoats are not treated well by their officers and he has some rather progressive (for the time) ideas as to how one should lead his men. The way his frustrated ambitions influence his decisions was interesting, unlike another factor influencing him that I didn't care as much for—his relationship with Molly. Molly was my biggest problem with this book. Not the character in itself, which was fine, but her story arc and how this was used to move the plot forward felt a little clichéd and it’s a trope we've seen many times before. Once Jack and his officer, Arthur Sloames, leave the Aldershot garrison to join the King's Royal Fusiliers and ship out to the Crimea the narrative picked up and really started speeding up once Jack arrives at Kalamata Bay.
Collard shows the bleak life of the enlisted (or drafted) men in the Victorian British Army, one on the cusp of modernity with its leaders struggling to adjust their thinking and strategies to new materiel and changing social mores. Jack's leading from the front fits right in with this. Jack starts of despising the other officers thinking them all arrogant aristo's who are only there because they had the money not because they had the skills, but throughout the book he learns that they are not all alike and comes to view them in a different light. In fact, Jack's connection with some of his fellows and first his officer are delightful and one of the strengths of the book. The way he bonds with his orderly was wonderful and I loved how he gains respect for his second-in-command Digsby-Brown. I adored the quiet scenes we're shown of camaraderie between the men and the way that they all become equal, be they enlisted or criminal conscript. But not just Jack's dealing with his friends is wonderfully written, The Scarlet Thief has a fantastic villain in Sergeant Slater and some more equally distasteful characters, most notable the aptly named Major Peacock.
One element that confused me was the troop formations. There were divisions and brigades and companies and they all had different names and in the end I rather lost track of how the command structure worked and who belonged with whom. This difficulty might be due to my unfamiliarity with the British Army of that era, but this was one of those occasions where an appendix showing how the forces were structured would have been useful. Then again, it seems as if once the battle started the hierarchy in and structure of the army didn't really matter in any case, as it's one chaotic mess and many soldiers lost their unit and forgot their orders anyway. The battle depicted is terrifying, chaotic, noisy, stinking of death and blood and an enormous amount of casualties, who often perished from the most gruesome wounds.
The Scarlet Thief is an impressive look at the atrocities of war; unflinching in its descriptions and honest in its assessment of its characters' human nature in all of its beauty and monstrosity. Collard leaves us with a great set up for the following book, which promises to be interesting and very different from the Crimea. I'm curious to see where exactly Jack will go in The Maharajah's General and whether he'll remain there or move on to a new identity after. Needless to say I'll be back to check in with our Mr Lark in the next book, hopefully sooner than later as I already have the review copy for it on my shelf. The Scarlet Thief is a must-read for any lover of military historical fiction.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
September 17, 2018
If you like Cornwell's Sharpe series like I do then you will love this. Jack Lark is an interesting character and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
June 15, 2017
Feels a little like Sharpe fan fiction but a good read all the same. Glad I got it whilst on offer
January 24, 2018
Superb!
Five star! This is excellent - could not put it down, a really exciting very well written historical novel. Well done Paul!
Five star! This is excellent - could not put it down, a really exciting very well written historical novel. Well done Paul!
May 8, 2013
Jack Lark was just a normal boy from the poor east-end of London who, sick of lifting heavy beer barrels in his mother’s pub, decided he wanted something more. For Jack, that opportunity came when the recruiting officers of the British Army arrived in Jack’s borough looking incredibly impressive and promising the young Londoner a life of excitement and adventure with postings in the vast British Empire. So, one day, Jack plucked up the courage to leave his mother’s pub and join the army, however once enlisted, Jack realises that the life of a soldier is not as exciting as he hoped…
The year is 1854 and Britain has not been at war since the days of Napoleon and Wellington. Therefore, most British troops are not in active service but are instead on garrison duty in the heartland of England. Unluckily for Jack, his new unit is garrisoned in Aldershot and Jack soon finds out that garrison life can be extremely boring. However, trying to better himself and trying to impress a young woman, Jack manages to get promoted to the station of Orderly under Captain Sloames. Being new at his job, Jack is not as efficient as other orderlies in the camp, but with an understanding Captain like Arthur Sloames, he soon learns what his duties are.
Nevertheless, just as Jack believes he is getting somewhere in the army he becomes a target for the rough and bullying Colour Sergeant Slater who has a grudge against Jack for been promoted and therefore, no longer been under Slater’s control. The Colour Sergeant has been known in the camp to frame other soldiers to get his revenge, so Jack is as cautious as he can be around Slater. However, after a fight between the two soldiers, which accidently results in a death, Jack has to escape the camp or face a severe punishment. Luckily, Captain Sloames helps Jack again and offers him the opportunity to join the division of troops that have been deployed to the Crimea to fight the Russians.
Jack happily accepts, as it will get him away from Slater. However, on the road to Dover, Captain Sloames is struck by a fever which ends in his death. Jack is at a loss of what to do. He thought the war in Russia would lead him to glory and riches but with Sloames’s death, that future is uncertain. On the other hand, he cannot return to the garrison for fear of punishment, which could see him whipped and Slater, which could see him killed. Jack has to make a decision on his own future and eventually makes one that will see him go to the Crimea, not just as an Orderly, but as the new Captain of the King’s Royal Fusiliers!
As a first book in a new historical series, I thought Fraser Collard did an excellent job. At first seeing this book was based in the Crimean War, I assumed that the novel would take place around the Siege of Sevastopol, which is probably the best know event in the war after the Charge of the Light Brigade. However, I was totally wrong, as Fraser Collard bases the novel at the very start of the war with the first battle between the allies (Britain and France) and the Russians at the Battle of the Alma. I really liked this fact because I did not know that much about the battle and found reading Fraser Collard’s description of it both entertaining and exciting but also really interesting, making me want to find out more about this period of history!
I also really enjoyed the story in the novel as it was the type of zero-hero plot which I always love in a historical fiction book. I think this is why the book has been compared to Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels so often (along with the fact it in based in the 19th Century). However, I did like uniqueness of how Jack became a hero in this novel and how his personality and attitude still manages to shine through even when he becomes an officer. Plus, I thought the ending set up the next novel in the series really well, making me want to read more of Jack’s tale!
All in all, this was an exciting and interesting novel which I really enjoyed reading! If you are a fan of British military history and like novels such Sharpe, then I think you’ll love this book so make sure to check it out!
For more book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
The year is 1854 and Britain has not been at war since the days of Napoleon and Wellington. Therefore, most British troops are not in active service but are instead on garrison duty in the heartland of England. Unluckily for Jack, his new unit is garrisoned in Aldershot and Jack soon finds out that garrison life can be extremely boring. However, trying to better himself and trying to impress a young woman, Jack manages to get promoted to the station of Orderly under Captain Sloames. Being new at his job, Jack is not as efficient as other orderlies in the camp, but with an understanding Captain like Arthur Sloames, he soon learns what his duties are.
Nevertheless, just as Jack believes he is getting somewhere in the army he becomes a target for the rough and bullying Colour Sergeant Slater who has a grudge against Jack for been promoted and therefore, no longer been under Slater’s control. The Colour Sergeant has been known in the camp to frame other soldiers to get his revenge, so Jack is as cautious as he can be around Slater. However, after a fight between the two soldiers, which accidently results in a death, Jack has to escape the camp or face a severe punishment. Luckily, Captain Sloames helps Jack again and offers him the opportunity to join the division of troops that have been deployed to the Crimea to fight the Russians.
Jack happily accepts, as it will get him away from Slater. However, on the road to Dover, Captain Sloames is struck by a fever which ends in his death. Jack is at a loss of what to do. He thought the war in Russia would lead him to glory and riches but with Sloames’s death, that future is uncertain. On the other hand, he cannot return to the garrison for fear of punishment, which could see him whipped and Slater, which could see him killed. Jack has to make a decision on his own future and eventually makes one that will see him go to the Crimea, not just as an Orderly, but as the new Captain of the King’s Royal Fusiliers!
As a first book in a new historical series, I thought Fraser Collard did an excellent job. At first seeing this book was based in the Crimean War, I assumed that the novel would take place around the Siege of Sevastopol, which is probably the best know event in the war after the Charge of the Light Brigade. However, I was totally wrong, as Fraser Collard bases the novel at the very start of the war with the first battle between the allies (Britain and France) and the Russians at the Battle of the Alma. I really liked this fact because I did not know that much about the battle and found reading Fraser Collard’s description of it both entertaining and exciting but also really interesting, making me want to find out more about this period of history!
I also really enjoyed the story in the novel as it was the type of zero-hero plot which I always love in a historical fiction book. I think this is why the book has been compared to Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels so often (along with the fact it in based in the 19th Century). However, I did like uniqueness of how Jack became a hero in this novel and how his personality and attitude still manages to shine through even when he becomes an officer. Plus, I thought the ending set up the next novel in the series really well, making me want to read more of Jack’s tale!
All in all, this was an exciting and interesting novel which I really enjoyed reading! If you are a fan of British military history and like novels such Sharpe, then I think you’ll love this book so make sure to check it out!
For more book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
May 9, 2013
On the far bank of the River Alma the massed ranks of the Russian army are lined up. Strong points are bristling with cannons, loaded with canister shot just waiting shred the flesh of any advancing enemy. They are confident and determined, this is their home and they will resist the invaders from Britain, France and Turkey.
On the other side of the river stands Captain Jack Lark. He is about to lead his company into battle for the first time.
As he nervously looks upon the formidable Russian position he wonders whether he be able to show the necessary bravery and guts to inspire his men to charge into the jaws of death.
As a lowly ranker, who through a mixture of luck, guile and bravado has risen to the dizzying heights of a Captain in the British Army, he knows he must show the leadership expected of an officer.
But Jack hides a dark secret, one that could threaten his new position and even his liberty and when someone from his past appears, he must go into battle not only watching his front but also his back.
Can Jack survive the mad rush into the Russian defences and the danger from one of his own men or will his secret be exposed?
The Scarlet Thief is the debut novel from Paul Fraser Collard and I think it takes a brave man to write about a British redcoat in the 19th century. Any book like this, is always going to be compared to Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series.
I am a huge fan of Sharpe and this has always clouded of any other series of similar ilk. I always feel that other authors either try to copy Sharpe or be so different as to make it ridiculous. The author seems to have not concerned himself with this and just written a believable character who is his own man. The clever twist in the story also helps move this away from a Sharpe like comparison.
The historical content of this book is first class and really brings to life the trials and tribulations of the British solider in the middle part of the 19th century. The descriptions of uniforms and equipment are accurate and add a layer of believability to the story.
The battle of Alma is loving described and is the centre piece of the book. The author captures the confusion, anarchy and downright terror of advancing into enemy guns and anybody with a passing knowledge of the battle will know that the author has stuck pretty much to the real life events. It is one of the best fictional accounts I have ever read.
Jack Lark is a great new character who because of the clever twist (which I won’t say what it is!) can go anywhere and be anything and I’m really looking forward to following him around the Empire.
Is there any gripes? Just a couple of minor ones. First off, the ‘baddie’ could of been developed a bit more. He didn’t really cause enough mischief for our hero and I felt he was criminally underused.
Secondly, its just too short! At under 300 pages I got though this in an afternoon (this is also a good thing!). The battle scene is excellent and is well detailed but I felt the build up was a little light. Jack should have struggled more in the presence of other officers (this was touched on but again underused IMO) and this could have been an interesting side story.
These really are minor gripes and for a debut novel this was a cracking book. I’ve spent years trying to find a replacement for Richard Sharpe and I think I have found him in Jack Lark.
On the other side of the river stands Captain Jack Lark. He is about to lead his company into battle for the first time.
As he nervously looks upon the formidable Russian position he wonders whether he be able to show the necessary bravery and guts to inspire his men to charge into the jaws of death.
As a lowly ranker, who through a mixture of luck, guile and bravado has risen to the dizzying heights of a Captain in the British Army, he knows he must show the leadership expected of an officer.
But Jack hides a dark secret, one that could threaten his new position and even his liberty and when someone from his past appears, he must go into battle not only watching his front but also his back.
Can Jack survive the mad rush into the Russian defences and the danger from one of his own men or will his secret be exposed?
The Scarlet Thief is the debut novel from Paul Fraser Collard and I think it takes a brave man to write about a British redcoat in the 19th century. Any book like this, is always going to be compared to Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series.
I am a huge fan of Sharpe and this has always clouded of any other series of similar ilk. I always feel that other authors either try to copy Sharpe or be so different as to make it ridiculous. The author seems to have not concerned himself with this and just written a believable character who is his own man. The clever twist in the story also helps move this away from a Sharpe like comparison.
The historical content of this book is first class and really brings to life the trials and tribulations of the British solider in the middle part of the 19th century. The descriptions of uniforms and equipment are accurate and add a layer of believability to the story.
The battle of Alma is loving described and is the centre piece of the book. The author captures the confusion, anarchy and downright terror of advancing into enemy guns and anybody with a passing knowledge of the battle will know that the author has stuck pretty much to the real life events. It is one of the best fictional accounts I have ever read.
Jack Lark is a great new character who because of the clever twist (which I won’t say what it is!) can go anywhere and be anything and I’m really looking forward to following him around the Empire.
Is there any gripes? Just a couple of minor ones. First off, the ‘baddie’ could of been developed a bit more. He didn’t really cause enough mischief for our hero and I felt he was criminally underused.
Secondly, its just too short! At under 300 pages I got though this in an afternoon (this is also a good thing!). The battle scene is excellent and is well detailed but I felt the build up was a little light. Jack should have struggled more in the presence of other officers (this was touched on but again underused IMO) and this could have been an interesting side story.
These really are minor gripes and for a debut novel this was a cracking book. I’ve spent years trying to find a replacement for Richard Sharpe and I think I have found him in Jack Lark.
December 1, 2013
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I liked that this book went straight into the action, although I was a bit confused about the build-up to everything at first. It did a good job of pulling me completely into the story and the characters involved.
I found Jack to be quite an interesting, well-written character. I wasn't sure what to make of him after the first scene when it went back three months, but I was quickly able to identify with him and found him to be a really likable character.
Some of the other characters were really well-written as well, but I found that there were quite a lot of them, which caused a bit of confusion.
I thought that the fighting scenes were written really well. I've never thought that there was much romance in war, but I think the author did a really good job of showing just how awful war really is - and the fact that a lot of people died just from fever or heatstroke as well as being shot down or stabbed.
I liked the relationships that Jack formed with the other characters. I really disliked Slater. I couldn't see any redeeming qualities in him at all. I also felt that there were a couple of major errors made by certain characters in the book - like Peacock's mistaking the Russians for the French. But I think that made a certain amount of sense - the confusion and chaos came across really well.
There were certain scenes in the book that I could really feel the tension in. The flogging scene was particularly awful. When I was reading it, I could really see the events happening in my mind and feel how it affected the characters.
I'd probably eventually check out the next book in this series. I was a bit disappointed to see some of the more likable characters die, but it was war, so it made sense that there were a lot of casualties.
All in all, this was a really good book that I thought showed the true nature of war particularly well. I'd recommend it to people who like these kinds of books.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I liked that this book went straight into the action, although I was a bit confused about the build-up to everything at first. It did a good job of pulling me completely into the story and the characters involved.
I found Jack to be quite an interesting, well-written character. I wasn't sure what to make of him after the first scene when it went back three months, but I was quickly able to identify with him and found him to be a really likable character.
Some of the other characters were really well-written as well, but I found that there were quite a lot of them, which caused a bit of confusion.
I thought that the fighting scenes were written really well. I've never thought that there was much romance in war, but I think the author did a really good job of showing just how awful war really is - and the fact that a lot of people died just from fever or heatstroke as well as being shot down or stabbed.
I liked the relationships that Jack formed with the other characters. I really disliked Slater. I couldn't see any redeeming qualities in him at all. I also felt that there were a couple of major errors made by certain characters in the book - like Peacock's mistaking the Russians for the French. But I think that made a certain amount of sense - the confusion and chaos came across really well.
There were certain scenes in the book that I could really feel the tension in. The flogging scene was particularly awful. When I was reading it, I could really see the events happening in my mind and feel how it affected the characters.
I'd probably eventually check out the next book in this series. I was a bit disappointed to see some of the more likable characters die, but it was war, so it made sense that there were a lot of casualties.
All in all, this was a really good book that I thought showed the true nature of war particularly well. I'd recommend it to people who like these kinds of books.
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