The sixth in his Matthew Hervey series, he of the Sixth Light Dragoons who now returns to the Peninsula in 1826 where the Spanish threaten and Hervey remembers his first taste of military action when he was a young cornet. This is well written, thrilling, adventure stuff packed with detail and incident.

Comparisons: Patrick O’Brian, Bernard Cornwell, Julian Stockwin.
Similar this month: Gerald Seymour.

Synopsis

THE SIXTH GRIPPING MATTHEW HERVEY ADVENTURE 1826: Bonaparte is dead and there is peace in Europe. But in Portugal, the rumour is of civil war following the death of King John VI. With Spain, and perhaps even France, threatening to take sides, England’s historic treaty with Portugal is set to be invoked.

Newly returned from India, Matthew Hervey joins a mission sent to assess the situation and lend support to the Portuguese Regent. But the Peninsula is redolent with memories. It was there, nearly twenty years earlier, that the young Cornet Hervey had his first taste of action when the 6th Light Dragoons played their part in Sir John Moore’s defiant stand at Corunna. And as he prepares for battle once more, Hervey finds himself confronting ghosts from his past…

Reviews

'I enjoyed the adventure enormously...Mallinson's descriptions of what it's like to be on campaign are as compelling, vivid and plausible as in any war novel I've ever read'
James Delingpole DAILY TELEGRAPH

'Hervey - courageous as ever - exhibits derring do every bit as thrilling as in India for 'The Nizam's Daughters'...With this intelligent but pacy book, Brigadier Mallinson stays well on course to be regarded as the landlubbers' Patrick O'Brian'
Andrew Roberts SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'One of [Mallinson's] greatest skills is his capacity for giving his characters dialogue which is direct without being anachronistic. His narrative shows the same qualities, a respect for the style of the 1820s with an awareness of the needs of fiction almost two hundred later...Mallinson's shrewd handling of the issues of discipline and tactics, the responsibilities of junior and senior command, and the self-esteem of the cavalry, reflect both his own professional experience and excellent historical judgement'
Hew Strachan THE TIMES

‘As always, the author manages to integrate Hervey’s life seamlessly into history…Rumours of War is as well-written, and as wholly engrossing, as any of the previous novels in the series’ T. J. Binyon, Evening Standard

About the Author

Brigadier Allan Mallinson was a serving cavalry officer. Besides the Matthew Hervey series, he is the author of Light Dragoons, a history of four regiments of British Cavalry, one of which he commanded, and a regular reviewer for The Times and the Spectator. Allan Mallinson’s six previous novels featuring Matthew Hervey - A Close Run Thing, The Nizam’s Daughters, A Regimental Affair, A Call to Arms, and The Sabre’s Edge and Rumours of War, which were Sunday Times Bestsellers - are all available in Bantam paperback. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation