Raif Jarrett has returned from battle, and is seeking a quiet life as agent to the Duke of Penrith. So when he is sent to the Durham town of Woolbridge to settle the affairs of one of the Duke’s tenants following his sudden death, the dangers of the Yorkshire countryside could not be more unexpected. Jarrett begins to uncover a network of crime and corruption but is thwarted at every turn by the … the town’s powerful and much-feared magistrate, Mr. Justice Raistrick. When a young woman dies in tragic and mysterious circumstances, Jarrett is accused of her murder and has to fight for his life as he desperately seeks to uncover the truth.
While he unravels one mystery, Raif Jarrett keeps the lid firmly closed on another. As a stranger in Woolbridge, Jarrett sets tongues wagging, but he refuses to talk about his family, especially his connection to the Duke. And why did he flee to the army–seeking almost certain death–some years previously? Even the elegant and charming Henrietta, in whom Jarrett longs to confide, cannot work out this enigmatic newcomer.
Rebecca Jenkins writes with the skill of a natural-born storyteller. The Duke’s Agent is full of richly evocative descriptions, audacious plot twists and a cast of unforgettable characters: vivacious black-eyed Sal who falls prey to the sinister Tallyman; sharp-minded old Lady Catharine who is cared for by her poised and proper niece; and of course, the gallant Jarrett himself, who may yet have more in common with his amoral nemesis Raistrick than he would ever care to admit.
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Wow!! This is an unbelievable book, I was intrigued by this book on sight and couldn’t wait to have a read at it and I can honestly say that the back blurb does it no justice, it is far better then I expected. This is a thrilling, edge of your seat, historical who done it which I can guarantee will keep you glued to every page, you will be following the story while sitting at the very edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next.
Frederick Raif Jarrett has returned home after being wounded in the war, he was wanting a life of peace and quiet after the horrors of the war, but alas that isn’t meant to be. Instead he becomes an agent for the Duke of Penrith, who sends him to Yorkshire to settle the affairs of the Duke’s tenant’s. What starts out as a simple task turns into something far more sinister, as not only has Raif found himself in the centre of a village full of deadly dealings, corruption, crime and the mysterious Tallyman who is lurking around spreading fear. On top of that a young woman dies in mysterious circumstances Raif, as the outsider he is immediately under suspicion. Raif literally has his head on the line, if he can’t find the person who is behind this crime he male well hang for murder, but that is easier said than done as his investigation is dogged and thwarted at every turn by the towns feared magistrate Mr. Justice Raistrick.
The only thing that I will say against this book is that is was a slow starter, no less engaging but I would have liked the first couple of chapters to move along with a little bit more speed then it doe’s. But once Raif is in the investigation the story picks up pace. I loved the character’s, the mysterious and fearsome Tallyman is like a ghost on the edges of the story which does genuinely make you get goosebumps which is a tantamount of the authors writing skill. Raif is a brilliant character, there is so much more to this man that what we learn about from this and we do need more books in the series just to really delve into what kind of man Raif is. My absolute favourite has to be Duffin who is a poacher with his dog; Bob, he is a realistic, monosyllabic Yorkshireman who I instantly liked and I do hope that he will feature in books in the future.
A brilliant book, highly engaging, atmospheric and compelling it has a real edge to it that you don’t see in regencies and I loved it. From this first book, I can say without a doubt that the Raif Jarrett Regency Mystery Series is going to be a brilliant series to follow and I will be reading more from it. This is a refreshingly new story, it’s not a romance I did have hopes that Raif would have a romance with Henrietta the woman who tries to help him in the investigation, but no. This is all about the case, all about the history which I thoroughly loved it and it really is highly recommended!!
1811, England
Frederick Raif Jarrett has recently recovered from a battle injury and is seeking a quiet life as agent to the Duke of Penrith. So when he is sent to the northern town of Woolbridge to settle the affairs of one of the Duke’s tenants following his sudden death, the dangers of the Yorkshire countryside could not be more unexpected. Jarrett begins to uncover a network of crime and corruption but is thwarted at every turn by the town’s powerful and much-feared magistrate, Mr. Justice Raistrick.
When a young woman dies in tragic and mysterious circumstances, Jarrett is accused of her murder and has to fight for his life as he desperately seeks to uncover the truth.
I found the descriptions at the beginning of the book very detailed & really drew a picture of the people & town of Woolbridge but I found the pace very pedestrian & wondered if I’d finish it. However I persevered & I’m glad that I did. The pace did increase after Raif was attacked on the moors & increased when there was a murder. After that I was hooked & read the rest of the book in two sittings. The characters were well fleshed, Raif was very likeable & as the book progressed his backstory became more apparent even though not everything was revealed. I look forward to more of his adventures
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read