The City Of Dreadful Death

Jack Windrush #8

by Malcolm Archibald

Shipwrecked on the African coast, Major Jack Windrush and his wife Mary find themselves embroiled in a war, as the Ashantis attack the British colony of the Gold Coast.

While Jack leads a company of the West India Regiment, Mary tries to help the refugees in Cape Coast Castle. Soon, they both find themselves deeply involved in the war, and will need to make sacrifices they could have never anticipated.

The City of Dreadful Death is the eighth novel in Malcolm Archibald's series of historical war novels, this time set in the tumultuous late 19th century West Africa.

438 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2021

About the author

My primary interest is historical, either fiction or non fiction, but I can enjoy most anything from Jane Austin to Kipling to J K Rowling. I have been very quiet on this site, but I think I might be a bit more active now.
I also enjoy the stimulation of meeting people and finding out about them.

Reviews

[Berk Rourke]

In a binge of reading the wonderful stories of Jack Windrush, Captain, then Major in the British Army I finished #6 and #8. #6 was set in the Northwest Indian area of what is now Afghanistan. It was an amazing story that on wishes had been read by the Generals of the U.S. Army, and those of the Brits, before the U.S. entered into war there. The 8th is set in Africa, the Gold Coast, and brings Windrush to meet and battle the Ashanti tribes. These tribal men and leaders are fierce warriors and the story is touch and go for our hero. Did he survive? You will have to read the story of his battles and search for his wife to know for sure. I will tell you that for the first time in his books the author emphasized the fighting spirit and abilities of the Sawnies, or Scots in great battle against the Ashanti. The historical references to different religious attitudes and practices had shock value, and surprised me to a degree. Just the same nothing diminished the skill of story telling, the use of language appropriate to the times and the setting, the use of the English language in general. Malcolm Archibald is one of the consumate authors of Scotland today. His tales of yore are wonderful reads, and the 8th in the Windrush series was no different. An easy five stars once again. And once again a Cry Havelock to boot. Well done Malcolm.

[Brian Porter]

Breathtaking, non-stop action, Jack Windrush at his best.

This latest episode in the chronicles of Jack Windrush, sees Jack, now a major, commanding a contingent of the 2nd West Indian Regiment in the war against the Ashanti. This latest addition to the Windrush chronicles moves at a breathtaking pace, with non-stop action, and the author manages to paint such vivid mind pictures that take you right into the heart of the action. Things look bleak for Jack when his wife, Mary is kidnapped by Ashanti tribesmen and carried off to their capital. You need to read this explosive account of war in West Africa to discover what happens to Mary and to Jack and his men as they go head to head with some of the fiercest warriors he has ever encountered. I love this series and as usual, I can't wait for the next book to be released. I unhesitatingly give this one 5 big stars. It's superb!

[Helen]

As always, a brilliant story with impeccable historical detail. Jack is in Africa with his wife, as the formidable Ashantis attack the very weakly defended British outposts. This time he has no 113th Foot with him, but joins a West Indian regiment and leads them. In a book that includes slavery, savage jungle battles and a very powerful African woman, Jack has to be at his best to survive.

[Dale Bay]

Unlike the series leading up to the final volume, all five stars', this one just plods along. The well crafted ending is a fair reward for sticking with the story. But fair is not up to Archibald's normal high standards. Four stars.

[AmykateAndrew]

Typical fighting Jack

Typical read BUT the ending became a bit of a let down ..... needed a more dynamic finish . .

[Arve-Halvor Kongerud]

Very god

Very difficult to put down, so far the best in the series. I also now have the next and look very much forward to read that also!

[Phillip Mclaughlin]

Wind rush stories are great, cannot put the book down until complete, then await the next installment.

[Mrs J]

Not bad

Quite a good read, can't say 20 words about it tho'.
Tre tfgm jhg yer tre uytf nhs tgm Ubuntu

[Dave Hammett]

Mary

More blood as the Empire expands. Accidents place Jack at the wrong place at the wrong time again and Mary in peril.

[Jeff]

- Not as good as the others in this series.

[Steve]

Jack Windrush and his wife Mary are ship-wrecked on the Gold Coast of Africa and soon end up embroiled in the Ashanti War. A major plus is the focus on the West Indian Regiment troops here, it would ave been so easy for the author to attach Windrush to a white British regiment. The only thing I didn't like was our hero continually mentally telling his kidnapped wife he was coming and to hold on. I'm sure he would have done it in real life but it seemed to be an overused narrative in the book. Small quibble though.