Crusaders come in all shapes and forms and some don’t even realize they are such a person until they face down injustice at the expense of reputation, career, and even life to see a wrong is righted. The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson, a historical mystery that balances Regency backdrop with legal thriller, contains a crusader that captivated me from page one.

A Regency period barrister, William Snopes, who champions the commoner in his clever and cunning way finds himself faced with a conundrum. Does he take a case that goes against his principle of never representing someone from the upper classes and particularly a case that has far reaching ramifications for all involved or tell the desperate woman, Lady Madeleine, he cannot?

To help make up his mind, he has his well-trained, staunch junior barrister, Edmund, his solicitor, and other reliable sources help him determine if the lady is telling the truth about her cousin, his ship, his crew, and goods being seized by the Crown for piracy because the Letter of Marque he was carrying has disappeared. No reports in the newspapers, no stirring in the legal community, and certainly no hint of the other mysterious backers of the ship have surfaced, but slowly he discovers that Madeleine is telling the truth and someone in great power doesn’t want any of it to come out even as they are prepared for a captain and crew and maybe Madeleine and her father to take the fall.

Madeleine has staked everything on this shipping venture and owes loans to some dangerous people even an American smuggler who, along with the greedy family lawyer, want their money. Her father’s mind is gone, the family estate is in shambles, and every friend, it seems, has turned their back on her. In desperation, she turns to a ‘blood-sucking’ lawyer to help her cousin survive the hangman’s noose and for her and her father not to be left destitute. Slowly, she realizes William is unlike any barrister she has heard of and he might be the only one who can fight in spite of all the disappearing evidence and witnesses while taking pressure from the judge, the prosecutor, unknown adversaries, and society itself for pursuing the case. The threats grow more dangerous. Many lives are at stake and the corruption behind the situation comes from powerful sources who can’t afford for the truth to get out.

I’ve always been fond of underdog characters and historical mysteries that include courtroom drama. This one got pretty dire for those on the side of good and there was a formidable group of villains ranged against them. The camaraderie among William and his investigation team was a great additional element.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque starts slow as it introduces the characters, the world, and the mystery, but then it gains steady momentum until near the end when the pace is feverish and the suspense is ratcheted up pretty tight. This was not a mystery where the perpetrators and their motives were hidden so much as it was how to thwart the villains’ conniving, well-laid plans and powerful resources. Though, that said, there are surprise twists including a big one in the end to liven up the tale.

The author did a sensational job developing the character of William who is at the center of it all. Madeline and the others including some of the villains, as well, are deftly drawn and with depth so character, motives, and emotions give layers to the story. I enjoyed getting to know and spending time with these characters and would happily see them return in a series.

The historical background and setting of post Napoleonic War Regency England was brought to rich, colorful life. The author made London and, particularly the dockside and East End, a sensual experience so that dark dank alleys, smoky aromatic Wharfside pubs, trading ships, and even Madeleine’s crumbling, impoverished estate easy to imagine. It was obvious the author did his homework on the era and also infused the story with his own legal expertise so that William, descriptions of his work, and the courtroom drama all rang true.

To wrap it up, I was well-enamored with The Barrister and the Letter of Marque. It hit all the right notes leaving me satiated but yearning for more mysteries and courtroom battles for William and his friends to solve. Though not gritty, the book isn’t exactly light and cozy either so it would appeal to anyone from historical cozy to mild historical thriller fans.

1818 London

Todd M Johnson shows his versatility with this release. The prior three novels I've read have been set in the present day. His talent is equally good in both.

While I was engaged the entire novel, my need to turn virtual pages picked up dramatically about midway through as the plot started to become more clear.

This historical mystery includes all the elements that I look for in this type of novel: the story line is plausible, historical details included, the characters likeable and the mystery interesting. I especially loved Mr Snopes heart for teenage orphans.

This was a rather twisted tale and one I would recommend for fans of historical mysteries.

"The Barrister and the Letter of Marque" was a good book. If you are not familiar with the British legal system, the story provides a good description of the different roles of solicitor and barrister. The story revolves a ship captain (Harold Tuttle) being arrested and accused of piracy upon the return of his ship to London. During their lengthy voyage, they had detained a French trading ship and taken its cargo of tea. Captain Tuttle was operating under a Letter of Marque, which is a royal warrant allowing its possessor to capture foreign ships engaged in smuggling and confiscate their cargo. When Tuttle is arrested, the Letter of Marque is missing. A Letter of Marque is usually issued during times of war, but Britain and France are at peace, which makes Tuttle’s claim more suspicious.

Captain Tuttle’s cousin, Madeleine Jameson, helped fund the voyage, borrowing heavily in order to do so. The family estate is in dire financial straits and she really needs the cargo of tea released and sold to pay her debtors. She approaches William Snopes, a barrister who normally defends (alleged) criminals and is known for his unconventional but effective methods. He is reluctant to take on her case, as he does not represent the upper class based on past experiences, and because it will require going up against the Crown, a difficult and unpopular position. However, as favorable witnesses start disappearing and other opposition mounts, William becomes more invested in the case, sensing a conspiracy.

The inclusion of Beau Brummell, the original dandy, was an interesting choice, but it worked well with the plot. The overall conspiracy was well crafted. The author does a good job of keeping up the suspense.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

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.

"The Barrister and the Letter of Marque combines the intrigue of John Grisham, the vibrant world of Charles Dickens, and 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, 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

This was such a surprising book, in only the best way. Frankly, I wouldn’t have chosen it. Not choosing to read it would have been my mistake. Thanks to NetGalley, I received an advance copy and I am so glad I did. Loved it. William Snopes, at the age of 18, challenges his father on a moral issue and is subsequently disowned. Setting off on a path to become a barrister, he establishes himself as one who shies away from well-heeled clients and controversial cases taking on those that others may find distasteful. Until, that is, he meets Lady Madeleine Jameson. Her cousin, Captain Tuttle, has been accused of piracy and faces the death penalty. In addition, Lady Jameson and her family face financial ruin if her cousin is convicted. Mr. Snopes will face the Crown to defend Captain Tuttle and search for the truth to the mystery. The story moves through the docks of the Thames, the underbelly of early 1800’s London, and the upper crust looking to enhance their fortunes at others’ expense. The story is well-written with engaging character, quick moving, and, ultimately, unputdownable. I envision this as an entry in Masterpiece Theater. Thanks again to NetGalley for opening me to a really fun read.

Historical fiction fans will enjoy the twists and turns in The Barrister and the Letter Of Marque. There’s political intrigue both between and within countries and social classes. Lies are everywhere and told for countless reasons.

The shortcoming is how firmly the characters are split between the good guys and the bad guys. When faced with adversity, the heroes faced the growing challenges with increasing grace. They defied death like comic book superheroes and quickly forgave each other for lies and deceptions. Meanwhile, the bad guys were weak and depraved, losing humanity as the story progressed. The characterizations led to a rapid move from ignorance to exacting knowledge of who did what, why they acted as they did, and what would be the appropriate way to mete out justice to the wrongdoers.

Even with the stock characterizations, the story is well-paced and interesting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House, for providing me an advance review copy of the book.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by @authortoddmjohnson

Okay, so I had never heard of this author before, but when I saw it described on NetGalley as John Grisham meets Charles Dickens meets Arthur Conan Doyle, I just HAD to read it!!

And even with such a high bar set for expectations, it absolutely did not disappoint! The Grisham-Dickens-Conan Doyle description was spot on! With a Grisham style legal thriller plot, a Dickensian setting and side characters and a very Conan-Doyle-esque mystery and main character, this book was an absolute delight. I was absolutely intrigued and could not put it down! It was also completely unpredictable!!

Highly recommended if you like any or all of the above-mentioned authors, or just a good legal thriller or even just historical!

Thanks so much to @bethanyhousefiction and @netgalley for the ARC! I was only required to provide an honest review in return, and here it is!

Ninety-nine percent of authors I read are female. Of that Ninety-nine percent I would estimate ninety percent are written in the Regency time period. The moody cover of The Barrister and the Letter of Marque is what initially enticed me to go against my norm and read a novel written from the male perspective. Guess what?! I really enjoyed it! The plot was intriguing and the characters were interesting and diverse. I would love to read more crime solving adventures with Snopes and his team! I also found it a refreshing change to read about a new found friendship moving toward a blossoming romance where the potential romance was not the driving force of the novel, which is so often the case in many Regency books. The intrigue, danger, and intricacies of subterfuge made this a definite page turner! If Todd M Johnson writes any more books in this time period you can count me in!

Fans of the PBS program Miss Scarlett and the Duke would enjoy this novel.

Thank you Bethany House and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I have to say I’ve never read a book quite like this one. Admittedly, the beginning was a bit slow and tedious. I know it was nevesssry to set the scene for the court case, but if I hadn’t gotten the book off Netgalley, I might have set it aside. I’m glad, however, that I stuck with it because as I kept turning pages I became more intrigued and invested

An absolutely brilliant and intriguing read, set in the Regency 1800’s. William Snopes is a barrister from a privileged background, who has been disinherited by his father, and goes to London to set up his practice, that will concentrate upon helping the poorest and undesirables get a fair representation in legal disputes and court. He has two assistants, Obadiah Cummings, who refers cases to William to take to court and Edmund Shaw, a junior barrister.
He is approached by Lady Madelaine Jameson of Heathcote Estate in Essex, who needs his help for her cousin Harold Tuttle, Sea Captain of the Brig, The Padget, who has been arrested, along with his crew, on suspicion of Piracy. Harold was granted a Letter of Marque, that authorises him to seize the cargo from ships that are operating illegally in the Indian Ocean. Without this letter, these actions can be seen as an act of war. Madelaine and her father have invested in this endeavour heavily, and face losing their estate and all their monies. Harold has disappeared, and so has the letter, and the authorities are reluctant to become involved.
William takes on this case, and quickly finds out that the prosecution is full of dirty tricks. They lie, cheat, and will not hesitate to murder, slander, and kidnap to win their case. There is also the added problem that Royalty and the Gentry may be involved, and William finds that Penny Dreadfuls are extremely useful.
This novel is full of well rounded characters, I thought that Lady Madelaine was very strong minded and brave in the extreme, a welcome departure from the expectations of the weaker sex in those times. She really risked much to protect her father, estate and clear her cousin of the charges.
Loved the musical undertones running through these chapters. The atmosphere of grimy London was well portrayed and lives of the poorer folk dealt with appropriately, the contrast of paying for justice and honestly seeking the same was well conveyed.
This reminded me of the television series Taboo, darkly criminal and dealing with the same problems, this time it was the East India Company involvement, it also had an American thread running through.
I hope there will be other books concerning the cases of William Snopes and his associates. Snopes is so close to snoops, great choice!!
I wouldn’t classify this as Christian Fiction per se, but I can see the altruistic themes here.
My thanks to Bethany House publishers for a engrossing and very satisfying read, thanks go to Netgalley for my advance copy. I will review to Goodreads and others later. A five star read.

What a great new addition to the inspirational historical mystery genre! When I saw this story on NetGalley, I was immediately drawn to the description and decided to give it a try. Some of my favorite historical mystery authors are Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Patricia Wentworth, Jacqueline Winspear, Charles Finch, Anne Perry, and Charles Todd. I can now add Todd M. Johnson to this list. Johnson writes a richly detailed story (without getting into the tawdry details of English Society) that keeps you waiting on tender hooks to see if his barrister William Snopes will manage to get his client true justice. While considered an inspirational historical mystery, I believe anyone who loves the historical mystery genre will enjoy this book. The religious aspects are seamlessly blended into the story and are a subtle but natural part of the lives of the characters.

When Lady Jameson arrives on William Snopes doorstep, he is not sure if he wants to represent someone from the upper class whom he normally defends clients against. But, her compelling story about her cousin, Capt. Tuttle who has been wrongly imprisoned for piracy stirs his sense of justice as well as his sympathy for the struggling heiress who is fighting for her home and survival. As he investigates, William finds that this case goes all the way up to the highest echelons of society, involving Beau Brummell and Princess Charlotte. It’s a race against time with incredible odds stacked against him and his loyal colleagues to prove Capt. Tuttle’s innocence.

I loved William Snopes! He’s a principled man who gave up his father’s status and wealth to become a barrister and fight for the underprivileged in Regency English society. He uses his amazing whit to bring about justice, sometimes in unconventional ways. His love of music which is referenced throughout the book endeared me to this barrister; also his chivalry and the deep caring he has for clients and colleagues alike. I enjoyed his clever use of the Penny Dreadfuls to flush out the whereabouts of his client and get the story of the Padget into the public sphere. Also, without spoiling too much, his waltz with Lady Jameson was magnificent.

The side characters in this story are rich and well developed. I enjoyed the multiple points of view because of the insight it provides. Each of the characters adds to the layers of the mystery and greatly contribute to the fast paced unraveling of the plot and story. William’s interactions with Lady Madeleine Jameson with that hint of romance developing between the two made me want to read more and see what will happen to them in the future.

Favorite quote: “In the courtroom, truth is tool and brick: powerful to wield and the only foundation for real justice.”

This is one mystery series that I look forward to seeing continue. It’s a fast paced read that had me turning the pages. I’m excited to see what’s in store for each of these characters. I received a complimentary copy of this story from the publisher Bethany House and NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

This is the story of an heiress who comes to get help from a barrister about the case of her cousin, the captain of a cargo ship, who was arrested upon returning to London harbor.

I finished this book last week and really enjoyed. It was a quick, light read with a page-flipping suspenseful ending. I am a little confused as to why this is considered Christian Fiction since you don't need to have religion to have good values. There is a Priest in the book who shows up here and there and contributes a bit but not much (no disrespect intended). The book is also categorized as historical fiction, and that is spot on. TBLM is a British legal courtroom drama/suspense novel circa late 1700's and can also be categorized as YA/Juvenile Lit. It is reminiscent of Garrow's Law - one of my favorite BBC One television series. William Snopes, like William Garrow (1760-1840), champions the downtrodden have-nots, especially those who are thrown under the bus by the Aristocratic can-never-have-enoughs.

The expensive war with the French is over, everyone is trying to replenish their coffers. Lady Jameson enlists the help of Barrister Snopes, his grudging junior Edmund, and Solicitor Obadiah to save her cousin (Captain Tuttle) from the noose, after being charged with piracy. Tuttle claims that he was enlisted to confiscate illegal tea cargo from French ships by authority of a Letter of Marque. The Jameson Estate is mortgaged to the hilt. The final remnants of the family's assets are used as security against monies to be begged or borrowed from ruthless usurers so that Jameson can invest in Tuttle’s voyage of the Padget for a percentage of the return on the cargo to be confiscated. But, just as Tuttle brings home the bacon (er, tea), the ship is seized by Order of the Realm and Tuttle is arrested for Piracy. When he attempts to provide the Letter of Marque to prove his innocence, the letter has vanished.

What follows is an exciting tale of deception scaling the very highest reaches of the Kingdom. There is danger, intrigue, and romance. We see that Lady Jameson is strong and resilient to the end. Snopes, on the other hand, is totally besotted and sees himself as her savior, swooping down to release her bonds and rescue Lady Jameson from the train tracks, milliseconds before the train passes over her, thereby thwarting Snideley Whiplash’s evil plans to do away with her and claim the Jameson Estate. (OK – I MADE THAT LAST PART UP, but it could have happened that way if Snidely Whiplash hadn’t been created by a different author two hundred years later on the other side of the Atlantic).

My pet peeve is always the epilogue. Rarely do I feel a need for this overused literary device. It seems like more than half the books I read today, tag on an epilogue after ending. This book actually had an excellent (unlabeled) epilogue before the titled epilogue, whereby the most important issues were resolved to Snopes’ satisfaction and according to his resolute moral and ethical compass. Alas, I fear I am the (l)onely person in the world who thinks that epilogues are meant for wowing and not just for tying up loose ends.

TBLM is a great book and I would like to thank NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the ARC, and the opportunity to read and review, It was a fun read and I loved it!

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I truly enjoyed this period piece loaded with adventure and mystery. The characters are interesting and the story is filled with twists and surprises. I totally recommend this book for anyone who appreciates a sinister tale with evil and mayhem lurking everywhere.

"The Barrister and the Letter of Marque" is a suspense set in 1818 in England. There were a number of point of view characters, but none of these characters were deeply developed. While there were certainly noble things about both William and the lady, they were flawed enough that I didn't really find them engaging. Neither of them had more than one good, loyal friend outside of work/home, so apparently I'm not the only one. The reader knows the scam, who's involved, and what's going on (or, at least, they should have a very good idea based on the clues they get from the bad guy viewpoint). It all seems hopelessly stacked against justice.

The main characters did react realistically to events, but to the point it was a problem for me. Initially, the good guys have a lot of fight in them, but then they view it as hopeless. While I found it interesting to see how everything worked out, I prefer books that maintain a feeling of hope even when things are at their worst. The main characters didn't believe in God or that he might work things out for justice, but either God was at work or the good guys ended up incredibly lucky. The characters didn't thank God.

The author clearly did a lot of research on the historical details, though he still got a few minor things wrong. For example, Saturday was not a "common day of rest" in the Regency Period. Still, the details woven into the story created a vivid, distinct sense of place and time. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this intense historical suspense.

I'm not usually a fan of Regency fiction, but this one felt like a Steve Berry book, combing history and mystery! It also was a bit like John Grisham, with the courtroom action. At one point in the book, I wasn't even sure if we were going to figure out what was really going on because there are so many twists and turns that keep the reader having to read 'just ONE more chapter,' until the book is over. Fans of historic fiction won't be disappointed as the author has definitely worked hard to make the reader feel like s/he is right in the action...so many historic details are included that the setting becomes its own character.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque is a terrific historical thriller/mystery full of politics, intrigue, corruption, and desperation. The cousin of Lady Jameson is charged with piracy after his Letter of Marque turns up missing, and so much hangs in the balance, including the Jameson Estate. Solicitor Snopes is the only barrister that Lady Jameson believes can win the case against the Crown and its forces. A fascinating and enjoyable read with a little romance thrown in. I definitely recommend it.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque is an excellent cozy mystery, with a tiny bit of romance thrown in. Let me start by sharing what I like about a good mystery. First, the characters need to be rich. Checkmark there. The plot line should not be predictable (the whole point of a mystery is to gradually assemble the pieces, not quite knowing how it all comes together in the end). Checkmark here too. The setting has a huge impact on the mood of the story. In this case it was historic London (early 1800s). Checkmark here as well. Todd M. Johnson does an excellent job with this entertaining read. His legal background comes through but in a way that any lay-person can easily follow and enjoy. I'd recommend this novel to historical fiction readers in the mood for a cozy, well drawn out mystery that maintains your interest right to the end.

I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque is a fascinating historical glimpse of the law in the 1800's and of a barrister who seeks justice for those who most need it because of their class in life. The author introduces us to a diverse set of believable characters who all contribute to the plot in surprising turns. We meet commonplace, wealthy, and royal persons who capture our interest as the story line unfolds. Will the accused find justice? Will the guilty be exposed? Read it and find out!

I received a copy from NetGalley and the opinions in this review are my own.

This is a new to me author and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a well written book full of action, suspense, courtroom drama and just enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you Bethany House via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.