William Snopes has abandoned his heritage in favor of becoming a barrister who uses his wits and knowledge to sway judges and juries on behalf of the poor and downtrodden. He wants nothing to do with those from his former life—especially his father.

But when Lady Madeleine Jameson comes to his office with a mystery to solve, William finds himself rethinking his vow to never take a case from a titled client. Lady Madeleine has invested what’s left of her fortune in a merchant ship, hoping to recoup the family’s losses and keep her estate running. Her cousin captain’s the ship and mysterious investors procured a Letter of Marque. A license to board and capture French ships operating illegally in the Indian Ocean.

When her ship, the Padget, returns to London full of captured goods, soldiers come and carry away her cousin and order the crew to remain on board. The charge? Piracy. But the only evidence, the letter with a royal seal, disappears the same night as the arrest.

Intrigued by the mystery (and the woman), William decides to take on the case.

Why I Liked this Book

A cross between a Regency romance, a John Grisham novel, with a strong dose of Charles Dickens thrown in The Barrister and the Letter of Marque draws the reader in as each layer of the mystery unfolds. The plot twists and turns like the tunnels beneath London, leaving readers guessing to the very end.

Slow start, great progression, amazing ending

This is a new to me author. I love historical mysteries, so when I heard about this, I was instantly intrigued. I first picked up this book about two weeks ago and tried to read it. I only got about the first two chapters read, and then had to lay it down. Finally, yesterday, I picked it up and began reading it again. I actually had to re-read parts just to remember what was going on.
But...let me tell you, in spite of the seemingly slow start of this book, once you're in it, you do NOT want to stop. I kept reading. And reading....and finally realized I'd have to just keep on until I would finish. (I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep with this story hanging over in my brain...lol)
I enjoyed the characters, William, Edmund, and Obadiah. I liked seeing their methods of pursuing and solving this mystery.
The whole plot line is really intriguing. A ship captain has a letter from the king giving him rights to take over other ships and bring home their spoils...only when he gets to the dock, his letter is mysteriously missing...??!!
I had lots of ideas of what might have happened.
I will not give any spoilers, because the book is absolutely amazing. I will say that my mind was going down some of the right tracks. But the journey of getting to the resolution was captivating and really fun to read.
I would love to see more books in this series. I will definitely be finding more mysteries from this author!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it! The pacing was good and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat! The characters were likeable and it was really nice to see the story unfold from their different perspectives.

THE BARRISTER AND THE LETTER OF MARQUE is a story of a fraudulent charge of a ship captain and those who take up his case, facing danger and deception as they try to find the truth. Readers will find much to enjoy in this book with an intriguing plot, facets of court and law in Regency England, engaging characters and an overall feel of suspense as the story builds to its end.

This is the first book I've read from this author, but after reading this one, I definitely will be checking out his future books. The story started a bit slow for me while I was figuring out what was going on and getting to know the characters (there are quite a few POVs), but once I did, it moved at a good pace. The mystery and suspense were well done, with the danger growing as the book went on. I found the aspects of trying a case in Regency England to be quite interesting, as well as the leg work to investigate the case (including a part where Runners were used). I thought the use of penny novels quite brilliant as well as the use of newspapers to slander characters by the opposing side. I also really liked these characters. They were all complex with their own voices and personalities, making it easy to differentiate one from another. They were quite likable and I fully got behind cheering them on. I could have easily read this book in one sitting (sleep got in the way) as by the time I was several chapters in, I felt completely engrossed. There was a touch of romance, but it didn't overtake the story. It was more of an enhancement of it and a side note, but one that added some sweetness. The religious element was light without a prominent message, weaved through the story well and realistic to the time period, making this ideal for general fiction readers as well as inspirational readers.

The issues I had with the book were fairly minor. I would have liked a bit more flow between POV switches and to have a better handle on the characters and what was going on before they occurred. It took me a bit to figure everyone out and to adjust to the switches in perspective, especially as there were a lot of them. The prologue also felt a bit unnecessary or maybe the back story just needed to be worked in differently. It felt a bit jarring to then jump 20 years and figure out exactly who the man was from the prologue and how it all related (it only pertained to a character in the story, but not really the legal case or focus of it). I would have loved an author's note for what was factual. I know the story was not, but were there any such cases or anything like this that were tried in court at the time? Did Brummell really get sent off and were official documents really stolen? The author could have enriched the story for me if I could have read a summary of some of his research.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was definitely an intriguing and engrossing read. Likable characters, an engaging plot and an interesting setting made for a highly enjoyable story. Definitely recommended!

Content: Some violence (including murder) but nothing overly descriptive - would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through the tour host, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The beginning of the novel jumps around a little, giving the reader a bunch to process, but once I got my bearings and became used to the way people talked to each other. It was smooth sailing as things come together after William Snopes life, fast forwards to 1819, London and his legal profession is established. Mr. Snopes decides to take Lady Malissa Jameson’s case against his better judgement, but something kept him wanting to know more about the situation and this woman. I loved learning about English Society and was intrigued by the unfolding story that kept me turning the pages to see what happens next as William Snopes digs deeper for clues that will help get his client true justice

I liked how the author masterfully thickens the plot as Sir William Snopes does all he can to save Lady Jameson and her cousin from hanging. I loved the twists, turns and the surprises the author has for readers, including a complex, fascinating mystery that included a splash of romance. The author’s legal experience shines through the story and the characters. I enjoyed this compelling, fast-paced story that keeps you guessing until the end. It was a fun, inspirational historical mystery I couldn’t put down. This works as a fun getaway and/or one that would work well for your next book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque was intriguing and complex historical fiction that revolved around barrister William Snopes defending the case of piracy and the mystery of Letter of Marque. The story was about greed, exploitation, deceit, corruption, determination, courage, social differences, ethics, loyalty, and friendship.

Writing was vivid, gripping, and steady paced. Story was written in multiple third person narrative mainly from William, Edmond, and Madeleine’s perspective. Setting of post Napoleonic War Regency England was atmospheric.

Plot was much more complicated than I expected. It started slow with William’s background, his style as barrister and reputation for defending poor against powerful people that caught attention of Lady Madeleine Jameson who desperately needed his help.

Madeleine invested all she had and also took a loan to buy merchant brig, the Padget, in hope of saving her estate through it as her cousin got rare privilege by King Regent’s Letter of Marque giving him permission to take over pirate ship and its cargo. But when her cousin returned with French trader’s illegally acquired tea, he was arrested in case of piracy and now she couldn’t find him in any prison. All his crew was imprisoned below deck, the brig was taken by King’s soldiers and constables, and sole proof of his innocence, Letter of Marque has disappeared.

Intrigued by story of Letter of marque, moved by Madeleine’s distress for the safety of her cousin, and name of solicitor who used him in the past, made William inquired about the case and later when he could verify Madeleine’s words, he was sure things were set up against Madeleine and her cousin.

It was interesting to see how William was going to get the proof of his client’s innocence, how he could unravel the villain’s well laid plan of his client’s demise, and to what length villain would go to get what they started.

William was fantastic throughout the book. He was smart, clever, humble, conscientious person and best barrister. I liked him for standing up against his father all those years ago, carving his own path in world and earning his name as barrister. It was great the way he took Edmund and Obadiah under his wing and trained them to be his junior barrister and his solicitor, respectively. The way he gathered information and fought the case with no evidence and only based on his assumptions and keeping the final hearing at bay until he actually could prove something was commendable.

Both Edmund and Obadiah were best friends since childhood and were great supporting characters. I liked how loyal they were to William. Obadiah was calm, kind and observant while Edmund was tenacious and hot headed. I liked how this case changed Edmund’s view.

Madeleine was most interesting character. Her determination and will was impressive. It was surprising how much risk she took to save her estate and those she loved. She was brave and courageous. I liked the way she stood up against society who let her down, boycott her, and made her family’s struggle social gossip. I admired her for not taking step back when she was threatened and not even when William and his team couldn’t find any evidence. What she did to save everything and the way she ultimately helped was amazing.

There were so many characters in this story. They all were realistic and well portrayed. Even villains were interesting to read. There was hint of romance and light spiritual and philosophical elements that was written through William’s verbal sparring with Father Thomas which was interesting to read.

I don’t know much about early 1800s or regency era, in some reviews I saw a comment about inaccuracy with historical facts with mention of penny dreadful and other things that happened much later than the time period of this story but still I enjoyed reading about law system, dressing, higher class gossips, streets of London, people suffering from taxes and tariffs, and social differences.

Best part of the book was court room drama, William and his team’s investigation, and villains’ plan. It wasn’t exactly a mystery of who were the villains and why they were doing this to Jameson family as things weren’t kept secret. It was more about how William was going to fight the case and get the evidence and it was impossible to tell with all disappearing evidences. It was like Villains were always two steps ahead of him.

All twists and turns were well written. Last 30% of the book was full of surprises. Climax was nail bitingly tense. I really thought they can’t just win the case but things changed so fast with many more surprising revelations. End was so different from what I expected and yet satisfactory. Epilogue was good.

Overall, The Barrister and the Letter of Marque was intriguing, gripping, and well written legal historical fiction with complex plot and interesting characters.

I highly recommend this if you like,
courtroom drama
early 1800s regency era
Unpredictability
Well written main character
complex plot

I really enjoyed this book. It's part mystery and part courtroom drama set in 1818 England. It was fascinating seeing Barrister William Snopes in action. His methods were unconventional and strangely effective.

I liked the camaraderie and the mentoring relationship between William, Obadiah and Edmund. I would enjoy reading about Obadiah and especially Edmund more in a future book. There are layers to uncover there.

The mystery was solid and complex. There were a few surprises that caught me off guard. There really isn't a romance to speak of which is fine. It was all quite interesting and hard to put down. I'd recommend it. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Johnson’s first historical novel sets a suspenseful tale of legal, courtly, and commercial intrigue in Regency England. Though barrister William Snopes is most passionate about using his knowledge of the law on behalf of the underprivileged, he takes on a case presented to him by Lady Madeleine Jameson, who has invested what is left of her family estate in a merchant brig called the Padget. The ship’s captain, Jameson’s cousin Harold Tuttle, has used the powers granted under a royal letter of marque to seize the cargo of French trading ships sailing in the Indian Sea. But when the Padget returns to England, Tuttle is arrested for piracy, the goods he has amassed are seized, and the letter of marque that proves his operation was legal is nowhere to be found. Author Johnson, long a trial attorney himself, does an excellent job evoking Regency legal practice and balancing the novel’s more technical aspects with drama. Published by Bethany House, the novel's inspirational aspects are convincing but subtle, making it enjoyable for both general and faith-centered readers alike.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque is the first book I’ve read by Todd Johnson. This story takes place in Regency London. It has a Dickensian feel with an intriguing mystery.

This type of story is one I don’t normally read, but I really enjoyed it. I loved trying to figure out the mystery behind the Letter of Marque and the Padget and just how William was going to solve this case and free his client.

While I felt like it took a little too long to set up the story, once it got rolling, I was totally invested. I could see this becoming a series of books with William Snopes solving impossible cases.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. I would consider this more of a clean read even though it is published by Bethany House.

An exciting, historical legal thriller!

Disgusted by the actions of his wealthy father, young William Snopes leaves his place of wealth and privilege to become a barrister. Many years later, he has made it his practice to represent those that cannot usually afford adequate counsel to argue their case. He’s had offers from wealthier clients, but always turns them down. However, the day that he meets Lady Madeleine Jameson, his perspective changes just a bit.

As the Jameson estate begins to crumble, along with the health of her father, Madeline Jameson acts as the estate executor and finances a ship captained by her cousin Harold Tuttle, which has been granted the ability to operate under a Letter of Marque assigned by the Prince Regent to capture illegal tea cargo transported by French vessels. After a successful voyage, when the ship returns to the harbor, it is met with a band of soldiers and constables to arrest Captain Tuttle for piracy. When the Captain goes to show the Letter of Marque to the soldiers, it has vanished from his cabinet.

Barrister Snopes agrees to take the case after his own investigation and knows that going up against the Crown won’t be easy. As he tries to collect evidence for the hearing, it seems that someone is one step ahead of him and the mystery continues to deepen with every turn!

I love a good mystery and when the synopsis of this book referenced Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I was instantly intrigued. However, this is really nothing like a Sherlock Holmes book other than it’s setting. With Holmes, readers are unraveling the mystery at the same pace with the same about of information present to try and solve the case. This book, on the other hand, is much more of a legal thriller where the reader is provided with almost all the information ahead of the characters so that they know what has happened and how it all ties together while reading ahead to determine if Snopes and his crew will be able to piece it together before it’s all too late.

It’s takes quite a while to build the setting and the story up to a point where it really takes off. Johnson did a great job of researching the early legal system in London and how it operated. It was almost like reading a present-day legal thriller even though it was set in the early 1800s. I feel as though there are quite a bit of loose ends that will need future installments to tie up. Especially now that I’m vested into the characters and would like to see more of them.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A good mix of historical romance and mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed it and rooted for the characters.
Fleshed out characters, well researched historical characters and an intriguing plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

With mystery and suspense, and lots of twists and turns, The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson takes us right into the world of Charles Dickens.

William Snopes is a London Barrister who is a strong advocate for the poorer classes against the more powerful upper class. Lady Madeleine Jameson invests in a merchant ship in an effort to save her father’s estate. That ship was granted a Letter of Marque - most unusual - which would allow them to seize cargo from French ships operating illegally in the Indian Ocean.

However, when the ship returned to London, the cargo is seized and the captain is arrested for piracy. The Letter of Marque has mysteriously vanished!

Snopes takes the case, but learns that their are forces at work against Lady Jameson, and him as well, that are far more sinister than either had imagined.

This one starts very slowly as the characters and background are introduced. Then the pace picks up rather dramatically.

This is my first time to read any of Johnson’s work. This book is well written, with authentic characters and well-researched historical details. Fans of historical fiction are sure to enjoy this one.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Bethany House for my copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

Are you a fan of historical mysteries? If so, what is one of your favorites?

A ship has returned to the London harbor full of valuable tea and ready to disembark. Suddenly, they are boarded and seized by redcoats who take away the captain. They insist the ship is a pirate ship, while the captain insists that the Prince Regent gave him a letter of marque that allows him to seize cargo from the French. Why would the Prince do this when there is a fragile peace with France? Where has the captain been taken and why?

William Snopes is a barrister in London in 1818. He has forsaken his rich and powerful father to take up a career where he is able to be a voice for the overlooked. Lady Madeleine Jameson is not his sort of client, but when she explains her cousin’s arrest and her seized ship, Snopes realizes that something does not add up. He takes that case. Will he be able solve the mystery before they all lose their lives?

I LOVED this novel. The writing was excellent, and the plot was very engaging. The characters were wonderfully drawn and intriguing. I would really like this to be a series as I want to know what is next in store for William Snopes and crew. Author Todd M. Johnson has over thirty years of experience as a trial attorney, and it wonderfully shines in this novel. It felt like a perfect combination of the adventure of The Scarlett Pimpernel, the trials of a John Grisham novel, and the world of Jane Austen.

Favorite Quotes:
“My lord, a man’s life is at stake, and you’re arguing formalities!”

“This was a singular woman. He would wait two lifetimes for her as long as he was certain there was a chance.”

Overall, Barrister and the Letter of the Marque is an excellent historical mystery novel and is not to be missed for fans of great mysteries or regency era novels.

Book Source: Review Copy from Bethany House. Thank-you!

Gripping from the very beginning, this novel takes interesting twists and turns that held my attention during the entire novel. This is my first book by this author, but I found that I greatly enjoyed his writing and his ability to create a complex plot with lots of components that tied together well. I liked that there were multiple voices (or point of views) in the novel, which allowed for a more complete overall picture of this very fascinating story. I thought the plot developed well and took the reader on quite a journey. The book shines with its focus on mystery. There are only hints of romance in the story. There are a few historical errors, but I could tell the author researched how courtrooms and law worked during Regency London. I liked this book a lot and will definitely read more by this author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from an Austen Prose tour with Laurel Ann Nattress. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Estranged from his upper class father, barrister William Snopes stays clear of cases involving the rich and powerful. But when a desperate Lady Madeleine Jameson begs him to defend her cousin, Captain Harold Tuttle, Snopes is intrigued by both the petitioner and the case.

Granted a letter of marque, presumably by the king himself, Captain Tuttle set out on the noble quest of lawful piracy, seizing a hold full of tea and bringing it home to sell. But when he arrived at the dock, the letter of marque mysteriously disappeared, leaving Captain Tuttle holding the bag while his now illegal cargo is seized. Lady Madeleine, whose failing family has made one last gamble on this voyage, will lose everything if the cargo is confiscated.

As William Snopes and his colleagues investigate the case, they are thwarted at every turn, leading Snopes to believe that someone very high up in the government has an interest in keeping the truth from coming to light. The seedy underbelly of London is adept at covering crime with further crime, and to Snopes chagrin, he discovers that the beautiful Lady Madeleine has secrets of her own to keep from him. As the trial begins, Snopes is woefully underprepared with evidence to make his case, and it will take a masterful argument (and a string of good fortune) to bring him victory over the forces arrayed against him.

This historical mystery is both a fascinating character study and a finely-crafted page turner. Todd M. Johnson provides sympathetic characters, gritty intrigue, and high adventure all in one legal drama. As a longtime Regency Era devotee, I was amused to discover the real villains of the story (no spoilers here, though). I particularly enjoyed the way the narrative unfolded, and I hope that Johnson’s first venture into historical mysteries becomes a habit, perhaps even a habit that continues to involve barrister William Snopes. Recommended.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque follows the case of Captain Harold Tuttle who is arrest on piracy when his ship, the Padget returns to London. Barrister William Snopes works with a lively cast of characters include Lady Jameson, who brings the case to his attention.

The novel was very fast-paced and kept me interested in the story throughout. I enjoyed getting to know more about Snopes as well as Edmund, Obidiah, and Lady Jameson.

Not only was this my first Christian fiction book by a male author, it was also my first time reading a legal drama. It was utterly fascinating! This is not your average Regency novel! I found myself being disappointed everytime I had to pause reading because I needed to eat or sleep etc. I really enjoyed learning about the different aspects of the legal system and the varying layers of society and how it often affected how justice was carried out. I really liked Williams Snopes and thoroughly enjoyed his intelligence and his verbal sparring in court. I'm a big romance buff but I was so hooked by the story that I didn't even notice or mind the lack of romance in the storyline. There was a teeny tiny bit of romance at the end which made me happy. The mystery, suspense, crime and drama of this book will draw you in from the begining and hold your attention to the very last page! I sincerely hope that this book becomes a series and this isn't the last we'll hear of William Snopes and his team!

The Barrister and the Letter of Mark by Todd M. Johnson review
I am someone who normally reads a good historical fiction book, and usually take a few days to read one I particularly like. Well I was drawn to this book by the title, as I am also a urgency fiction fan, and love stories set in England, Ireland and Scotland, so when I saw this book on Net Galley I knew I had to try it, and I was not disappointed! I couldn't put it down! There have been fee books that made my heart pound because I was so unsure of what would happen next, and couldn't wait to keep reading! This book was amazing! It is more of a mystery with a hint of romance, and I really enjoyed it a lot!!!
The book takes place in 1797, in England, and begins with showing a 'Letter of Marqu" summons so we can understand what that entails. A Letter of Marque was issued by the English crown to stop piracy between the English, Irish, and Scottish seas, and in this story gave Captain Tuttle, captain of the Padget ship,and his crew, permission to pursue any ship they believed guilty of pirac. Captain Tuttle finds himself in such a situation, an so with hos Letter of Marque, he boards the vessel he suspects of piracy, and finds it full of pirated tea taken from the East India Tea Company, and he confiscated it on behalf of the crow, and heads back home to England only to find himself arrested for piracy and facing the gallows, and the Letter of Marque nowhere to be found. So he is immediately arrested and taken to New gate Prison which in 1797 was nothing like our prisons today, awaiting his fate at the hands of the very Crown he served, or thought he did.
With Captain Tuttle's fate hanging in the balance, his cousin Lady Madeline Jameson, who had a vested interest in the cargo of the Padget as well, because she was the financiers of the Padget, decides to help her cousin by finding him a lawyer who she can trust. She loves her cousin, and believes he is innocent of the piracy charge, plus she has to find out what happened because the cargo that was confiscated should have belonged to her and her investors, and her estate will fail if she does not get the money for the cargo as planned. So she searches long and hard for just the right lawyer to help her cousin, and it has to be just the right one, because in order to help her cousin, they must go up against the Crown of England to find the answers becaus they are the only ones who can issue a Letter of Marque, but doing that could be very very dangerous!
Lady Jameson finds such a lawyer in Barrister Snopes. He is a defense barrister, who comes from the upper classes, but walked away from society to follow his conscience, and help others who truly need it. He has quite a reputation around for being one of the best, but this isn't a case that is straight forward!
Lady Jameson approaches Barrister Snopes, and after putting him through the tests, realizes he is the perfect one to represent her cousin and the piracy charge. If guilty he would at worse be hanged, or face exile. Lady Jameson would lose everything, including her estate where her father, whose health is declining, because she sunk all her remaining capital on buying the Padget. So she begs Mr. Snopes to take their case, but he must weigh all the risks, as this could threaten his life, and that of his two junior lawyers Edmond and Obadiah as wel, whom he rescued as orphans and trained up in the legal profession.
Finally Mr. Snopes decides to take the case, and as I said earlier, I couldn't put it down! You will have to read it to find out how the trial progresses, but you will not be sorry! This book was so exciting, and I would highly recommend it! I haven't been excited by a book like this in a long time! I would give it 5 star rating out of 5. I learned so much about the legal process during this time, but it was in a way that a layman could understand! I hope you will read this book!!! Great job Mr. Johnson!

Due to the actions of his father, William Stokes leaves his home to venture to London to become a barrister. Twenty one years later, in 1818, he is approached by Lady Madeleine Jameson of Heathcote Estate in Essex. A cousin to Captain Harold Tuttle, accused of piracy because of the missing Letter of Marque. She wishes Stokes to defend her cousin in the court case.
A well-plotted entertaining Regency historical mystery, well-written, with its cast of interesting and likeable characters, main and secondary. A good start to what might be a new series
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Intrigue in high places!

1818 London docks. A ship under guard, the captain Harold Tuttle disappeared, and rumours of piracy abound. Lady Madeline Jameson has invested family money in one last throw for solvency when her cousin obtains a Letter of Marque from the Regent. The Padgett returns triumphant to England with a valuable cargo of smuggled tea wrested from a French ship. In direct contravention of the law as it pertains to the East India Company and the tea trade.
William Snopes is a barrister, the son of a Lord, who turned away from his heritage due to the despicable behaviour of his father.
When Madeline visits to plead her case he little understands that the trail of breadcrumbs he has to follow will lead from the dangerous underbelly of society to the even more treacherous heights of society.
Both Madeline and William are fascinating characters. Madeline in her passionate defence of the people and land she’s responsible for, William for his determination to rise to the challenge of defending cases in order to make a difference.
Some illuminating forays into justice and the laws of the time, plus the mystery of the situation, made this an provocative read.

A Bethany House ARC via NetGalley