Mathew's Tale

Book excerpt: No better friend, no deadlier enemy... In Mathew's Tale, his landmark fortieth novel, Quintin Jardine tells the remarkable story of a man's quest for justice - at any cost. Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and Paul Doherty. 'Once I picked it up, I couldn't let it go' - Michael Jecks 1818, Carluke, Lanarkshire. Mathew Fleming returns home to Scotland following heroic service at the Battle of Waterloo. After seven years away, he is a ghostly presence to those he left behind. But Mathew is ambitious and soon becomes a man of influence in his county and beyond. Yet through all his success, he still hides the loss of his one true love. When a terrible act of murder occurs, Mathew must choose between the rule of blood and the rule of law. And as a man of honour with a warrior's instincts, he embarks on a journey of vengeance that will test every sinew of his faith in mankind... What readers are saying about Mathew's Tale: 'The quality of the prose, which feels authentically early 19th-century and has such a skilled lightness about it, sucks the reader in and [this book] becomes an addictive read' 'Mathew's Tale is full of colour, immersing the reader in a bygone age with deceptive ease. It is such a pleasure to read' 'This is a highly accomplished, sensitive novel, enriched by great storytelling, characterisation and historical setting and mood'