November 1808. The return to England following service in the Peninsula War has not been a welcome one for former Captain Will Fraser. Having lost his commission and been drummed out of his regiment on trumped-up charges of cowardice and insubordination, he has naught to do but travel north to rural County Durham to break the news of his brother’s death to his parents.
As if that news wasn’t bad enough, Fraser also informs them of his intention to continue his brother’s work with the Alien Office upon his return to London. In other words, he has been recruited to serve as a spy for the government of King George III. His target: Napoleon’s inner circle, especially Vicomte de Menou, a double agent who orchestrated the killing of Fraser’s brother.
But first, Fraser reunites with former Sergeant Duncan Armstrong, who had to leave the army after a catastrophic injury cost him his right arm, to complete a covert mission for John Reeves, head of the Alien Office. Fraser and Armstrong are to sneak into France via Jersey to aid in the escape of royalists and other agents exposed by the treachery of de Menou.
They are also to make contact with Gaston, the mastermind behind the British network in France, who has not been heard from since de Menou broke cover and returned to the Republic. Reeves fears that Gaston may have been captured by Joesph Fouché, the French Minister of Police. Fraser and Armstrong must discover the fate of Gaston and rescue as many others as they can.
The King’s Agent is the second book in Rosemary Hayes’ meticulously researched, richly detailed and highly atmospheric Soldier Spy series. Hayes makes sure to include sufficient background information concerning Fraser and Armstrong’s prior exploits in Portugal to ensure that it can be read as a standalone work, although the story is so engaging that it is recommended to read Traitor’s Game first, if possible.
Despite Fraser and Armstrong’s mission arguably beginning back in Portugal when they first became entangled with Samuel Barker, it officially starts when they commence employment with the Alien Office. Their short stay in London while they are briefed by John Reeves allows Hayes to summarise the state of relations between Britain and France in this period and to provide a fascinating overview of the spycraft of the time.
The pair continue to master the details of the espionage game during their journey to and time in Jersey. The codes, codenames, disguises, inks and plans – even the decision that Armstrong should pretend to be mute due to his poor French – highlight the historical circumstances of the story and enhance its tone and immersive atmosphere. This in-depth establishment of what Fraser and Armstrong must accomplish also ramps up the tension.
Moreover, Hayes adds to the realism and period detail of The King’s Agent by including real historical figures as key characters. For instance, John Reeves really was head of the Alien Office from 1803 to 1814, while Joesph Fouché was every bit as duplicitous and conniving as he is portrayed. The interactions between these figures and Hayes’ own creations appear organic and convincing, and they again stoke the overarching sense of danger.
Hayes also uses the more minor characters that Fraser and Armstrong encounter, such as the Jersey fishermen, Pipette, and Suzanne the maid, to reveal how the post-Revolution conflict has consequences for people from all walks of life and how the danger associated with being perceived as a traitor to the Napoleonic regime is ever-present. Indeed, even the most trustworthy of citizens could ultimately prove to be an informer.
Relatedly, and unusually for a historical thriller set in the early 1800s, it is notable that the female characters in The King’s Agent are every bit as strong and well realised as the males. Just as the Great Terror forced women to face danger and take on roles typically reserved for men, the Napoleonic purges mean that Hayes’ female characters are accustomed to loss, the need to look after themselves and the desire to pursue justice for their people.
Fraser and Armstrong have faced chaos and corruption before, which helps to equip them for what they encounter in Paris. Fouché’s agents have infiltrated almost every institution and establishment, and it is next to impossible to know who to trust. As fear mounts that the British might make another attempt on Napoleon’s life, their mission becomes increasingly complicated and the peril surrounding all the agents grows.
Given all the intrigue and deadly danger, The King’s Agent is a fast-paced thriller that doesn’t allow Fraser and Armstrong much breathing space. As they lurch from one potentially fatal encounter to the next – all the while maintaining their latest disguises and identities – they meet with secrets, lies and enough twists and turns to scuttle La Belle. Their first official spying mission is certainly one they’ll remember.
Sharpe Books
Print/Kindle
£0.99
CFL Rating: 5 Stars
