A Darn Good Read: The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson

Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Length: (416) pages
Format: Hardcover ISBN: 978-0764239137, Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-0764212369, eBook ASIN: B08LG91Y95, Audiobook ASIN: B0983VZ6XZ
Genre: Historical Mystery, Suspense, Inspirational Fiction

Synopsis

As a barrister in 1818 London, William Snopes has witnessed firsthand the danger of only the wealthy having their voices heard, and he's a strong advocate who defends the poorer classes against the powerful. That changes the day a struggling heiress, Lady Madeleine Jameson, arrives at his door.

In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering

estate, Lady Jameson invested in a merchant brig, the Padget. The ship was granted a rare privilege by the king's regent: a Letter of Marque authorizing the captain to seize the cargo of French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the Padget returns to London, her crew is met by soldiers ready to take possession of their goods and arrest the captain for piracy. And the Letter—-the sole proof his actions were legal—has mysteriously vanished.

Moved by the lady's distress, intrigued by the Letter, and goaded by an opposing solicitor, Snopes takes the case. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more perilous than he'd imagined.

My Thoughts

William Snopes abandoned his privileged life to become a barrister. Over his 20 year career, he has declined political cases or those involving the upper classes, preferring to offer legal representation to those who have been denied it through lack of status or funds.

His stance changes when Lady Madeleine Jameson asks him to defend her cousin, Captain Harold Tuttle, against a charge of piracy, which carries a death sentence should he be found guilty, and save her family from financial ruin. A Letter of Marque issued by the Crown which would prove Tuttle's innocence has mysteriously disappeared. He is intrigued by the story she tells and also by the lady herself, but is reluctant to accept the case until he knows more. Snopes' preliminary enquiries meet with little success as he is unable to ascertain the whereabouts of Captain Tuttle or the identity of the other two investors in the Padget venture.

Snopes devises his own plan to flush out those involved. Unfortunately, the repercussions place himself, his team and Lady Madeleine in danger. When Snopes eventually gains access to Tuttle, the trial is scheduled to commence within a matter of days. Snopes and his team struggle to make a case for their client's defence in such a short time, but they are a tenacious lot and uncover an elaborate plot which suggests that the people behind it have wealth and power at their disposal. But who are they?

William Snopes is a very likeable character. He is honest, kind and passionate about what he does for a living. His other passion is music, which often winds through his thoughts. Despite his honesty, he is willing to bend the rules to achieve his aims and is often accused of courtroom trickery by his peers. His methods certainly make the courtroom scenes entertaining. Although he outmanoeuvres the Prosecution a number of times during the trial, he does suffer a series of set backs that threaten to derail his defence. An unsympathetic judge and witnesses that disappear or prove hostile make his task that much harder.

With time running out before the trial winds up, Lady Madeleine makes one last desperate bid to find a crucial witness. Help comes from an unexpected quarter and reveals to William that she has not been entirely truthful in her dealings with him.

I loved all aspects of this novel. Todd M. Johnson's experience as a trial lawyer made those courtroom scenes come alive and his depiction of post Napoleonic War England suggests a familiarity with the era which also enlivened this brilliant courtroom tale.

There is the basis for an excellent series here. Whether or not Johnson follows that path, I hope he writes more historical mysteries in this vein.

Advance Praise

“Johnson debuts with a tense story of powerful interests teaming up to thwart a legal challenge in Georgian-era England…Johnson steeps his story in legal maneuvering, layers of intrigue, midnight chases, and even a hint of romance. While faith elements are subtle, this enthralling novel will appeal to fans of both legal thrillers and historical inspirationals.”— Publishers Weekly

“… a mystery worthy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This richly historical and lively paced story has all the makings of a modern classic.”— Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of Shadows of the White City “At once atmospheric and gripping, Johnson's latest is a luminous and refreshing new offering in inspirational historical fiction.”— Rachel McMillan, bestselling author of The London Restoration, and The Mozart Code

“A fascinating glimpse into a Regency London readers seldom see.”— Roseanna M. White, bestselling author of Edwardian fiction

Meet the Author

Todd M. Johnson is the author of three legal thrillers: The Deposit Slip (2012), Critical Reaction (2013), and Fatal Trust (2017), and The Barrister and the Letter of Marque (2021), his first foray into historical mystery. He has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong. He lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and daughter.

Connect with Todd:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

Tour Schedule