5-STAR AUDIO REVIEW: THE TORY by TJ London

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The Rebels and Redcoats Saga: Book 1
Release Date: August 31, 2020

His king or his conscience…which will he choose?

It is the winter of 1776, and Captain John Carlisle, one of His Majesty’s not-so-finest, has gone back to the scene of the crime to right a wrong so dark it left a permanent stain on what was once an illustrious career and left a man broken, defeated, in search of justice…

In an effort to win back his commission, he must discover the true nature of the relationship between the Six Nations of the Iroquois and the Colonial Army. Undercover as a war profiteer, John travels to the treacherous Mohawk River Valley and infiltrates local society, making friends with those he’s come to betray.

But a chance meeting with a beautiful half Oneida innkeeper, whose tragic history is integrally linked to his own, will provide him with the intelligence he needs to complete his mission—and devastate her people.

Now, as the flames of war threaten to consume the Mohawk Valley, John has the chance to not only serve King and country, but to clear his name. When the truth he uncovers ties his own secrets to those in the highest positions of the British military and threatens the very life of the woman he’s come to love, he will be forced to make a choice…

“The pages fly as you immerse yourself in this fantastic adventure.” – RT Book Reviews

The Review

With The Tory TJ London begins The Rebels and Redcoats Saga, a series of books taking place during the Revolutionary War and centering on the relationship between John Carlisle and Dellis McKesson. John is a disgraced captain in the British army, struggling with his role in an atrocity against the Oneida people. In an attempt to rebuild his career he is sent undercover to the Mohawk River valley. Dellis works as an innkeeper while straddling the two cultures of her heritage – Scottish and Oneida. Events entwined John and Dellis before they met, complicating their blooming romance.

The Tory is a very well-written, well-researched book. The audio portrayals were excellent, especially Shane East as John. There were four narrators, something I have not encountered before. This variety of voices greatly enhanced the narration. The drama and intrigue of the story was brought to life by the narrators.

Readers/listeners should be aware of two things. The story includes a sadistic villain (akin to Outlander’s Jack Randall) and his evil actions are graphically described. Also, this is the first part of a continuing saga and ends with a cliffhanger. The relationship between John and Dellis is not fully developed. There are many issues left to be resolved in the subsequent books. Nevertheless, The Tory was an intriguing and compelling book.

TJ London T.J. London is a rebel, liberal, lover, fighter, diehard punk, and pharmacist-turned-author who loves history. As an author her goal is to fill in the gaps, writing stories about missing history, those little places that are so interesting yet sadly forgotten. Her favorite time periods to write in are first and foremost the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, the French and Indian War, the Russian Revolution and the Victorian Era. Her passions are traveling, writing, reading, barre, and sharing a glass of wine with her friends, while she collects experiences in this drama called life. She is a native of Metropolitan Detroit (but secretly dreams of being a Londoner) and resides there with her husband Fred and her beloved cat and writing partner Mickey.