Book 2 in Daniel Rawson series by Edward Marston
I am always on the lookout for my next ‘Sharpe’ series. And in my attempt to find one I have decided to go to the War of Spanish Succession. (Duke Marlborough, Blenheim, and battles against the French.) Our hero in this case is Daniel Rawson.
So onto a Book Review Drums of War by Edward Marston.
From the Book
We come across our hero, Captain Rawson, deep inside the war-ravaged borders of Europe, as he fights alongside the brave and resolute Earl of Marlborough in defeating the, self-proclaimed, ‘invincible’ French army. Yet victory is short lived, blunted by the dissenting voices of the Dutch, who secretly seek to wrestle the power and life from Rawson’s compatriot, Marlborough. In these hostile and insecure times, Captain Rawson is called on to succeed in his biggest, most daring mission to the rescue of a celebrated tapestry-maker turned spy from inside the fortified Bastille – the pride of a despotic France.
Now alone behind enemy-lines, the undaunted Rawson must apply all his guile and wit in his rescuing of the renowned prisoner and his beautiful daughter, Amalia – a delicate girl to whom Rawson’s friendship soon blossoms into something more. However, unbeknownst to Rawson the French and Dutch have already combined to plot both the assassination of Marlborough and the reclaiming of his power. This time Europe is beginning to close in on him, and it will take all of his self-sacrifice, skill and sincerity to once again rescue the war and the army’s pride from out of the clutches of the betrayers.
Review
Daniel Rawson is a Captain in the 24th Foot in the army of Duke Marlborough. Having been promoted from the ranks, Daniel’s ability to speak English, Dutch and French is invaluable. So he is sent to Paris to find the whereabouts of a Dutch spy.
He sneaks into Paris via the front door, finds the daughter of his target and moves her to a safe house… whilst falling in love with her – and vice-versa. He finds out her father is in the Bastille, and having determined there is nothing he can do, returns to the camp, attempts to rescue him.
If this is starting to feel unlikely, fear not. There is a second story throughout the book to keep our attention on the 24th Foot. A newly arrived drummer boy is being victimised by a Major. And he turns to Daniel to help him. This could be a perfect opportunity to bring the book down to earth. But because Daniel is sent to Paris he can’t do anything to save the drummer.
Upon escaping Paris, Daniel and his party and captured, promptly escape and return to the army. All in time to fight the Battle of Ramillies.
Daniel join’s the Duke’s closest advisors, is involved with a cavalry charge, and saves the Duke.
Verdict
Oh dear… Daniel Rawson is there nothing you can’t do? And herein lies the problem. At no point in the book did he fail to do something he attempted. Sure he was ambushed… but escaped. That was the greatest bit of peril in the book. And that’s without the whole Bastille debacle.
The secondary story is also weak with a very unsatisfactory ending. I will try book three, but I don’t hold out a lot of hope given this book.
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