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Todd M. Johnson (1)

Auteur de The Deposit Slip

Pour les autres auteurs qui s'appellent Todd M. Johnson, voyez la page de désambigüisation.

4 oeuvres 234 utilisateurs 30 critiques

Œuvres de Todd M. Johnson

The Deposit Slip (2012) 98 exemplaires
Critical Reaction: a novel (2013) 51 exemplaires
Fatal Trust (2017) 37 exemplaires

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Title: The Barrister and the Letter of Marque
Author: Todd M. Johnson
Pages: 416
Year: 2021
Publisher: Bethany House
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
The setting for the story is 1818 in London. William Snopes is the son of Lord Snopes but gave up his wealthy upbringing twenty years ago. He is estranged from his father and supports himself as a barrister. He has avoided taking cases involving the aristocracy his entire career until he meets Lady Madeine Jameson. He agrees to hear her out but secretly has already decided he will not take her case because she is of the aristocracy. After hearing her case and consulting his subordinates, he decides to decline her case but wants to do so in person. He arrives at her estate and it is not at all what he expected. He sees the condition of the estate and knows Lady Jameson has told him the truth and is in dire straits. He changes his mind and agrees to take her case, never realizing exactly the powers that he is up against.
Lady Madeleine Jameson is desperate for Mr. Snopes to take her case. She has invested all her money, as well as quite a bit borrowed from a smuggler and a crooked lawyer, in the purchase of a ship. The ship is captained by her cousin. The ship has sailed with a Letter of Marque signed by King George, which allows the ship to seize foreign goods from other ships that are carrying smuggles goods. The captain seizes such a ship, arrives back in London after a year at sea only to be arrested for piracy immediately upon docking. As the captain arrives in his cabin to produce his Letter of Marque, which assures the legality of his actions, the letter is nowhere to be found. The ship and cargo are held by the crown, so the cargo can’t be sold. Piracy is a crime that carries the sentence of transportation to a prison colony or hanging. Lady Jameson will lose her worn down estate and could herself be arrested as she is part owner of the ship. What unravels as William and his aides investigate is challenge after challenge seeking answers and justice and a deadly plot involving those at the highest level of power.
I enjoyed the plot of the story very much, though it was a bit slow in some parts. This is one of my favorite time periods to read about, so I also enjoyed that aspect. The aspect of class differences as far as how justice was meted out and how life was lived were accurate I thought. There was no personal relationship with God in the story, so I’m not really sure why this is marketed as a Christian book and published by a Christian publisher. There were also some historical errors but that didn’t detract from the entertainment value for me.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
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Signalé
lamb521 | 13 autres critiques | Sep 28, 2021 |
Todd M. Johnson’s contemporary suspense novels checked all the boxes for me — complex legal wrangling, underdog characters to cheer for, and page-turning mystery. I found all that and more in his newest novel, The Barrister And The Letter of Marque. This historical mystery set in Regency England features a clever barrister with a reputation for creativity in the courtroom. Barrister William Snopes and his colleagues take on a case of piracy involving a missing Letter of Marque from the Crown. Mysterious and highly influential people in society seem to be behind the case, and Snopes must uncover their identities before it’s too late for his client.

I found the legal aspects of The Barrister And The Letter of Marque fascinating. This is not a modern-day setting with Miranda rights and presumption of innocence. Johnson does a great job of bringing the 19th century English judicial system to life. Sleeping jurors, a hostile judge, and all the weight of the Crown join together to make Snopes’ job next to impossible. I loved how the characters had to use their wits and experience without modern forensics and communication. I think this is one of the reasons I could not put this book down. Another reason was the view of British society of the time — both the glittering ballrooms and the back alleys. The reader sees the veneer and the underbelly. Of course, the characters were wonderfully drawn — main and secondary. I loved how the author included historical figures in the novel, making me use my Google search and ponder the what-ifs of their stories. Barrister Snopes is a character to love — earnest and sincere with a heart that is both tender and calloused. His story is unfinished, hinting at more to come. I can’t wait!

If you are a fan of courtroom drama, historical details, and a complex story, then The Barrister And The Letter of Marque is the book for you. While set in an earlier era, the book will definitely appeal to fans of Sherlock Holmes (books and TV series/movies). I am passing this book on to my husband, a fan of all things British mystery. Can’t wait to hear his thoughts.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Bethany House/NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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Signalé
vintagebeckie | 13 autres critiques | Sep 22, 2021 |
Although I love Regency fiction, The Barrister and the Letter of Marque is a quite different type of story than I usually read. I decided to stretch myself a little and see what this author could do with a legal suspense book set during that time. This is the first book I’ve read by Todd M. Johnson, and, overall, I felt like it was good solid writing. While the beginning started out a little slow for me, I soon got invested in the story and was looking forward to finding out how barrister William Snopes was going to get Lady Madeleine Jameson and Captain Tuttle out of the mess they were in.

The story flowed well, was carefully crafted, and the author kept the suspense up and the twists and turns coming. I enjoyed learning more about the workings of the legal profession in Regency England. The characters were well-written and engaging. I especially liked getting to know William Snopes and Madeleine Jamison and seeing their relationship grow and change. I wouldn’t mind more tales about William Snopes.

With plenty of intrigue, suspense, historical detail, and dashes of romance and inspiration, this book has something for everyone and should especially appeal to those who enjoy historical mysteries. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.
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½
 
Signalé
swissgranny | 13 autres critiques | Aug 27, 2021 |
This is the first historical book by this established author. He has described his protagonist, William Snopes as a bit Sherlock Holmes and a bit Rumpole of the Bailey. I think that is spot on. It even had me re-reading a few Sherlock stories and remembering how Rumpole and his creative ways of defense.
Told from a Christian World View, Mr. Johnson immersed me in Regency London. He spun an intriguing tale of manipulation in high places. The barrister, Snopes, is an honorable man although somewhat unorthodox when defending a client. He has a heart for the underdog and shuns his noble beginnings. He hesitates to take a case from Lady Madeleine Jamison but accepts and investigates what he perceives as a great injustice. The mystery takes us to all walks of life from seedy Whitechapel to the inner workings of Royal Government. Great historical information.
I liked the dynamic between Snopes and his Junior barrister, Edmund and his solicitor, Obadiah, lads he has mentored. The way his mind is always humming a classical piece adds to his character.
There is a hint of romance for good measure and also a possibility of more mystery stories in the future.
I enjoyed this tale immensely and cannot wait for more.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and BPH Open Book. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
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Signalé
paulashreckhise | 13 autres critiques | Aug 20, 2021 |

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Statistiques

Œuvres
4
Membres
234
Popularité
#96,591
Évaluation
½ 4.4
Critiques
30
ISBN
32

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