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This is the second novel from [[:Category:Robert Wilton|Robert Wilton]], a civil servant who has been the private secretary to three Ministers of Defence and the Kosovan Prime Minister's advisor. So how would we imagine someone with these credentials writing? In a dry, slam-in-the-research way perhaps? Not a bit of it! That'll teach us to judge an author by his day job. Robert Wilton writes like a combination of [[:Category:Hilary Mantel|Hilary Mantel]], Graham Greene, [[:Category:Philippa Gregory|Philippa Gregory]] and [[:Category:John le Carre|John Le Carre]]. On second thoughts scratch that. Robert Wilton writes like Robert Wilton providing an absorbing story, great twists and facts that sink in via osmosis rather than a sledge hammer. Indeed, he's rather excellent.
Like his first novel the Napoleonic ''The Treason's Tide''/''The Emperor's Gold'' (depending on the version), ''The Traitor's Field'' is based on the shady Comptrollerate for Scrutiny and Survey. It's so shady in fact that, when I search-engined the now defunct government department to provide some background, only Robert Wilton's books surfaced. However, the author gives us a pretty good idea of its purpose as Sir Mortimer inveigles himself into enemy Parliamentarian circles plus motivates and amasses Royalist sympathisers while intercepting correspondence of a delicate nature while order collapses around him.
Indeed, Robert doesn't just give us a superficial rattling good yarn based on a 'what if' he relates in his introduction, his sense of time and place ensure that we're plunged into the midst of the fear and uncertainty. Even the anti-royals are worried about the resulting judgement from God that may ensue from regicide. After all, kings are ordained by God so what would happen if Charles I was removed by man? There's also no such thing as an innocent bystander. The most aloof citizen could become a mortality statistic as towns become ruins and only the sensible or stupid among humanity reveal what's in their consciences.
