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The Crown Agent
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A ship adrift, all hands dead. A lighthouse keeper murdered in the night. The Crown needs man to find the truth. Doctor Mungo Lyon, his reputation tarnished by the Burke & Hare scandal, and forbidden to practise as a surgeon, is the wrong man.
That’s exactly why the Crown chose him.
That’s exactly why the Crown chose him.
Hardcover, 228 pages
Published
November 7th 2019
by Sandstone Press
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Dr Mungo Lyon, an Edinburgh surgeon, is barred from practice following his (minor) involvement in the Burke and Hare case. However, when he is caught up in a strange adventure that takes him to Glasgow and Jamaica, his skill as a surgeon is not the only skill he will need. He will need to use his intelligence and keep his wits about him as he is chased, shot at, accused of murder and taken prisoner on a ship bound for the other side of the world. Never knowing who he can trust and who is a
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I bring to you on the blog today an awesome little Scottish treat. We have The Crown Agent a serious gem in the Historical Fiction genre. I was extremely impressed with this novel. The world building and the stylistic invigorance that I was submerged in was so fascinating. I absolutely love the history of this wee country and its realism was outstanding. From the clothing, to the descriptions within Edinburgh, the trading ports…it was all so perfect. The author didn’t hold back, and he had me
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An interesting and lively story. Mungo Lyon had been a surgeon in Edinburgh, in the 1820’s. Sadly he has been caught up in the Burke and Hare scandal, and then lost a patient in difficult circumstances, and has been banned from his practice. He is called to meet the Lord Advocate, who wants him to quietly investigate a series of incidents that happened in Greenock, near Glasgow. A ship was found drifting in the Clyde, everybody on board was dead, having died of yellow fever; a lighthouse man was
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Having been caught up in the Burke and Hare scandal, Surgeon Mungo Lyon's reputation has been ruined, so when he is offered the opportunity to leave Edinburgh to undertake a clandestine political investigation of behalf of the British Crown he takes this unusual chance to redeem himself. However, this change in his circumstances is not without uncertainty, and Mungo soon discovers, to his cost, that the danger he finds himself in, as he uncovers a deadly secret, is even more devastating than
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There’s rebel blood in his veins, Mungo Lynn claims so when the opportunity to do something adventurous is presented to him, he seizes it. Fifty years on, he relates the story of his first mission as a ‘Crown Agent’. Through this first hand account, author Stephen O’Rourke permits us to see, hear, and feel the customs, mores, and atmosphere of the times in 1829:
“There were shops selling lemons and oranges, and shops selling tea leaves loose from great chests. There were shops selling nuts and ...more
“There were shops selling lemons and oranges, and shops selling tea leaves loose from great chests. There were shops selling nuts and ...more

Some authors write well and some tell stories well. Stephen O Rourke does both with his debut novel, set in 19th century Scotland for the most part, but also with a visit to the island of Jamaica.
This was an adventurous tale of main protagonist Dr Mungo Lyon that would translate well onto film given the colourful descriptions of trading ports, costumes, and buildings but most of all characters. The main story, though fictional, is set against the historical background of the time when Dr Lyon ...more
This was an adventurous tale of main protagonist Dr Mungo Lyon that would translate well onto film given the colourful descriptions of trading ports, costumes, and buildings but most of all characters. The main story, though fictional, is set against the historical background of the time when Dr Lyon ...more

I really enjoyed reading this first novel by Stephen O’Rourke which I read in ten staves on Pigeonhole. The story is set in Scotland in the 1820’s and follows Dr Mungo Lyon a doctor, who has recently been barred from practising medicine, as he takes on a new challenge from the Lord Advocate of Scotland to work undercover to investigate the murder of a lighthouse keeper. His journey takes him from Glasgow to Greenock and eventually to Jamaica! A rip roaring adventure packed with thrills and
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Excellent adventure romp, full of action with dollops of history thrown in. Focused on a James Bond wannabe, with the usual suspects aiding and abetting - a disabled sister whizz at breaking secret codes; a questionable Irishman who never seems to be where he is most needed and of course the inevitable love focus with another agent.
The villains are difficult to identify - I got it completely wrong- but the tension makes for a page turner well worth a read.
The villains are difficult to identify - I got it completely wrong- but the tension makes for a page turner well worth a read.

A great tale from a promising debut author. This is a well crafted story with enough hooks to keep you turning the pages. The author cleverly puts you into early 19th century Scotland and from the first chapter you are taken with the main protagonist, Dr Mungo Lyon, on an adventure that takes him across the country and beyond. I’d thoroughly recommend this and I look forward to further adventures with Dr Lyon.

I really enjoyed this well written tale by Stephen O’Rourke. It draws you in with its fascinating characters and intriguing plot line. I really liked the main character, the brave Dr Mungo Lyon, and rooted for him throughout. I was lucky enough to read this via the Pigeonhole App, a Stave a day over ten days and I really looked forward to each one arriving. I would highly recommend this thrilling book.

This is a rip roaring tale set predominantly in 19th century Scotland.
Dr Mungo Lyon finds himself on the periphery of the Burke and Hare scandal due to his association with Dr Robert Knox, as a consequence he is looking for a new venture to get involved with.
He becomes an agent of the government and is charged with investigating a smuggling set up on the West Coast of Scotland.
This is just the beginning of an exciting and very entertaining adventure story. I loved it.
Dr Mungo Lyon finds himself on the periphery of the Burke and Hare scandal due to his association with Dr Robert Knox, as a consequence he is looking for a new venture to get involved with.
He becomes an agent of the government and is charged with investigating a smuggling set up on the West Coast of Scotland.
This is just the beginning of an exciting and very entertaining adventure story. I loved it.

Nov 27, 2019
Lilian Janson
added it
I thoroughly enjoyed The Crown Agent. The narrative was well written and spellbinding. I really hope to meet Mungo Lyon again.
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