Just Finished Reading: Treason by James Jackson (FP: 2016) [300pp] 

London, November 1605. After months, indeed years of planning it all came down to this. In a matter of hours, a match would be lit, a gunpowder fuse would fizzle and a tyrant and his government would be blown to kingdom come. It was not an act that any of them had taken lightly, but what alternative did they have. The Catholic faith was being crushed under the heel of a Protestant King. His agents raided homes, terrorised the innocent and sent their priests to the gallows. They had been pushed into this most deadly of responses. Everything was in place, a rebellion against the crown would rise out of parliaments ashes and restore the true religion back to England. But what if they failed? Each knew in their hearts that the backlash following failure would be terrible to behold. There were already rumours of traitors in their ranks and there was, as always, the ever-present danger of informers who would betray them for a few coins. Failure then was not an option. If they succeeded, they would be remembered forever. Their names would be spoken in hushed reverential tones. But if they failed, oh, if they failed who would even remember the attempt? Who then would remember the name Guy Fawkes? 

There is always a problem at the heart of a fictionised account of an actual historic event, especially one as comparatively well known as the Gunpowder Plot – because we know what happened, whether or not the plot itself succeeded and who lived and who died the tension in the narrative is, inevitably, diminished. So it was with this novel. But... although the author of this very readable historical thriller has the plotters at the centre of things, obviously, the main characters are actually on the edge of events. We are presented with a Catholic co-conspirator with an interesting backstory and a distinctly psychopathic personality who aids, in any way he can, the plot as it moves towards fruition. We are also presented, in the guise of Christian Hardy – a government spy or ‘intelligencer’, with a much more likable character who is tasked by his spy master boss to uncover the growing threats against the crown. Some of Hardy’s activities did raise the odd eyebrow as he used methods more akin to CSI to uncover the links between the major players (details displayed on a cork board with links between them highlighting relationships real and potential). Both Hardy and his Catholic opponent known as ‘Realm’ did has a seeming superhuman quality that grated a little from time to time but both were highly professional killers and so singular proficiency in arms should be expected. The only real criticism I have, which to be honest wasn’t anywhere near a deal breaker, was the dialogue throughout the book. I think what the author was getting at was that 400+ years ago people obviously spoke differently than they do today. I think it’s a toss-up if more modernistic language might have been an anachronistic step too far but I’m not sure. But I’m pretty sure (with zero research) that people in the early 17th century generally didn’t speak principally in aphorisms. Having read a very good non-fiction history of the events surrounding the Gunpowder Plot I was very impressed by the historical accuracy throughout the novel and I also liked the few fictionalised events which filled in known gaps in the real narrative, which I thought were both realistic and well played. Definitely an above average read even if you’re well aware of the real history behind Bonfire Night and Guy Fawkes.