Thursday, August 26, 2021

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque By Todd Johnson

 


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.

Pick up your copy here...


Todd M. Johnson has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years. Todd's passion for writing blends well with his legal career and his novels are drawn closely from his personal experiences as a trial lawyer.

A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, Todd taught for two years as an adjunct professor of International Law and has served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong.

The Deposit Slip, Johnson's first novel, debuted in 2012. His second novel, Critical Reaction, was released in October 2013.

A third novel, Fatal Trust, is set in Todd's hometown of Minneapolis and released in early summer 2017.

My thoughts...
All my mystery lovers are going to want to grab a copy of this to sit and read over the weekend.
This was mu first book by Johnson and I really loved the premise  so I was happy to get a free afternoon to sit and read. It was very entertaining and the writing style was good.
This is a 4 star read and one I hope you take the time to read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

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