My Lord and Spymaster

My Lord and Spymaster (2008) Joanna Bourne

There is so very much to like about this book.

Jess Whitby was a thief, but is now the daughter of one of the richest traders and is a genius at accounting.

“I am England’s expert on skullduggery in accounting.”

And she is desperately searching for the traitor Cinq–the man who has been sharing British secrets with the French.

Capt. Sebastian Kennett is responsible for the arrest of Jess’ father–as Cinq, whose traitorous deeds lead to the sinking of many ships and the deaths of many he called friends.

I really like Jess.

There her dress was, a heap of slit-up rags on the carpet. “My dress got wet, so you cut it off. You must be a right terror in a thunderstorm.” A prudent woman in her situation wouldn’t embark upon sarcasm.

ALSO, if you read the first in the series, The Spymaster’s Lady, we get more Adrian.

Adrian joined him at the window. “I’ll see you in Garnet Street at midnight, outside the (N) warehouse. What does one wear to ransack a warehouse? Black, I think, and the charcoal waistcoat. Tasteful, yet understated.”

“The evidence says he’s Cinq.”
“Forget the evidence. I spread my own entrails over the rocks and took auspices. My guts are never wrong.”

My ghod I love that character.

But truly, Jess is the heart of the story, and the best part.

“You have copies of their bank accounts. How the damn hell did you get hold of that?”
“Bribery, mostly. It’s a business expense, and we budget for it.”

This story is just truly and utterly marvelous.
Rating: 9/10

Published by Berkley

• Browse the archives:
  
• The Forbidden Rose » »
• « « Rightfully His