Today I’m reviewing Sharpe’s Assassin by Bernard Cornwell. (The Sharpe Series, Book 21)

Here’s the blurb.

SHARPE IS BACK.

The global bestseller Bernard Cornwell returns with his iconic hero, Richard Sharpe.

If any man can do the impossible it’s Richard Sharpe . . .

Lieutenant-Colonel Sharpe is a man with a reputation. Born in the gutter, raised a foundling, he joined the army twenty-one years ago, and it’s been his home ever since. He’s a loose cannon, but his unconventional methods make him a valuable weapon.

So when, the dust still settling after the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington needs a favour, he turns to Sharpe. For Wellington knows that the end of one war is only the beginning of another. Napoleon’s army may be defeated, but another enemy lies waiting in the shadows – a secretive group of fanatical revolutionaries hell-bent on revenge.

Sharpe is dispatched to a new battleground: the maze of Paris streets where lines blur between friend and foe. And in search of a spy, he will have to defeat a lethal assassin determined to kill his target or die trying . . .

Review

I was lucky enough to receive this as a birthday present from the family. The wife usually struggles with books for me since I read so much but she managed to pick the perfect book for me!

As hard as this might be to believe this was actually my first foray into the works of Bernard Cornwell! As such an established author it was kind of daunting to consider picking up one of his books as much as I wanted too.. I just knew if I enjoyed it then it would spiral…and I was also a little worried.. what if I didn’t enjoy the book..

I was definitely familiar with the character of Sharpe though. As a young child before the days of the OnDemand tv and such I remember vividly may mam watching the TV show and even then I found it interesting.

So firstly.. book 21 in the series.. wow..it was clear from the early chapters that while reading the rest of the series might help you understand the characters it doesn’t set you up with any real disadvantage and the author effortlessly throws in detail when needed to bulk just where it’s needed for new readers to hope on board.

Plot wise.. oh my.. Napoleon has been defeated so you’d think it was time for Sharpe to relax.. not so.. Napoleon still has supporters.

Paris is restless but Sharpe has to navigate his way around, not knowing who he can really trust.. his current mission is now to free a mysterious prisoner.. but who is this man??

When one task is concluded another spawns and things escalate when his new task is to recover some paintings…an easy task you’d think.. but someone keeps trying to kill him..

Sharpe soon has an idea who tried to kill him but how does he prove it? And can Sharpe and his men clear Napoleon’s last few supporters to allow Sharpe the rest he so deserves.

There’s no massive military fights.. this is pure espionage style warfare. I’ve got nothing to base my judgements on other than this 1 book but I really enjoyed it and could tell that I’m going to enjoy the rest of the series as I work my way through it.

Flow wise I felt the book held a decent pace and there’s some adrenaline fuelled moments with Sergeant-Major Patrick Harper which made me to fall in love with the character straightaway!

An old face also appears, Major Charlie Morris, which give Sharpe the chance to get back at the man who had him flogged many years ago. While I haven’t read period yet I can honestly say I was hooked, and made eager to crack on with the series from the beginning so I can engross myself with the emotion at the time.. if this effort is anything to go by I know I’m going to love it.

Cracking read, so good that I ended you buying the rest of the series in paperback to read. It will be fun not only to see how this series progresses but also see what I’ve been missing by not reading a Cornwell novel before!

Final thought as a big historical fiction fan.. this was like a breath of fresh air.. I’m so used to fights with simply swords at a man’s disposal, or a good war axe. It was really interesting to change my focus and see a period when cannons and rifles are the weapons of choice along with a trusty sword.

Thoroughly enjoyed!

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.