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In All About Romance’s review of The Black Hawk in November 2011, Jean Wan wrote, “Once in a while, during every reader’s literary life, you encounter a book that reminds you why you are a reader. It renews your faith, if faith was lost; it rekindles your interest, if interest waned; and every word, every page, is a wonder. Adrian and Justine’s story is not only such a book and it confirms Joanna Bourne is one of the best authors currently writing.” That still holds true. This is a truly exceptional story that has been enhanced by an equally exceptional performance from Kirsten Potter in this new audiobook version.
England’s war with Napoleon has been over for three years, and former French spy Justine de Cabrillac has settled in London where she makes her living as a shopkeeper. But old habits die hard, and when Justine comes into possession of valuable information concerning a plot against the British Intelligence service, she knows there is only one man she can turn to: her former friend, former lover, and former enemy Adrian Hawker, now Sir Adrian Hawkhurst and Head of British Intelligence. On her way to headquarters, Justine is attacked and seriously wounded, reaching her destination by sheer force of will alone. As Justine fights for her life, Adrian and his team of agents sets about investigating the whys and wherefores of the attempt on her life – and discover a plot that goes far further than any of them have anticipated. Someone is out to discredit Adrian and see him tried for murder, and that someone will go to any lengths to achieve these aims.
The stage is set for an engrossing story of revenge and espionage, and I really can’t say much more about the plot without spoilers; all I’ll say is that it’s satisfyingly complex, detailed and expertly rendered. Anyone who has read or listened to any of the other books in this series will know that Joanna Bourne is a superb storyteller whose knowledge of the period seeps through in every sentence. She never loses sight of the fact that her characters are just as important as the twists and turns of the plot.
The search for Justine’s would-be-murderer finds her and Adrian working together once more to unravel a knot of truths that goes back more than two decades – and interweaving through that plotline is a love story that spans the same period, a story that has been briefly glimpsed in the other books in the series (Adrian and Justine met as teenagers in The Forbidden Rose). The Black Hawk is unlike the other books in the series, which all tell their stories in a straightforward, linear way. Here, we jump backwards and forwards to different points in Adrian’s and Justine’s pasts, seeing their very first joint operation as teens and then finally discovering why, when we met Adrian as a gangly twenty-something in The Spymaster’s Lady, he was suffering from a near-fatal bullet wound inflicted by Justine.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in this series in both print and audio formats, but I think this is my favourite of them all. Adrian has been a strong presence in the other stories, and he makes for an absolutely wonderful hero: highly intelligent, authoritative, ruthless – and sexy as hell. As has been apparent from the moment they met, Justine is his perfect match in every way. She’s just as intelligent and ruthless, and over the years they have come to know each other as nobody else ever has or will. They’re a couple that is truly meant-to-be, despite all the obstacles they have had to overcome, or perhaps because of them. The romance between them is full of insight, tenderness and sensuality and I love the way it unfolds in flashback.
Kirsten Potter delivers another absolutely wonderful performance in this audiobook. Her narration is well-paced and expressive, and all the characters are easily identifiable and appropriately voiced. The standout performance is that of the Black Hawk himself. She portrays him as a teenager, a young man, and as Sir Adrian, a mature man in his late thirties who has lost none of his childhood insouciance or tendency to circumvent authority when it suits him. Her interpretation of Justine, too, is spot on. Ms. Potter has a wonderful way with Ms. Bourne’s French heroines, not just in her expert use of accent, but in the way she conveys their courage and pragmatism. There are times I can actually hear the Gallic shrug in her voice! While the story is quite dark at times, it’s not without humour, most of it coming from the deadpan utterances of the protagonists, rendered brilliantly by Ms. Potter. The characters we have met in previous books are portrayed consistently, and other than the odd mispronunciation and antipodean twang in Ms Potter’s English accent, there is absolutely nothing about her narration that doesn’t work.
The Black Hawk is a wonderful audio experience from beginning to end and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Breakdown of Grade – Narration: A and Book Content: A+
Unabridged. Length – 10 hours 39 minutes
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
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I love this book so much, but to really get the payoff I feel you need to read the previous ones in the series.
While it certainly could be a stand alone, it would be like reading about Alyssa and Sam Starett without the buildup in the other Brockmann books.
I read all the Bourne books as they came out and I began actually despising this unknown French harpy who had shot Adrian and broken his heart and then by her first appearance skipping onto the pages of “The Forbidden Rose” I was 100% a fan of Justine.
The Black Hawk was probably the first arc I ever got of a romance novel and I adored it so much I sent in a review to Dear Author for it. It’s absolutely one of the best romances ever written and a book I use as an example of this genre’s excellence. A++++
Love what you wrote here, and I agree with you about every point. Bourne is the best historical writer writing today imo.
As you say, you have to read about Hawker right from the beginning, including the short story Gideon and the Den of Thieves in order to understand him and the build-up to his transformation as Head of Service. Amazing writing.
I agree Bourne is the best historical romance author working today, and that her precious covers were lacking.
The French version of My Lord And Spymaster was absolutely stunning and I wished they had used it on the English version. The Black Hawk cover gentleman looks nothing like my version of Adrian or the picture Bourne posted on her blog one time. At least his hair color is correct. I guess that’s something.
I agree that The Black Hawk works best read as part of a series rather than a standalone. Both characters evolve so much over the course of the series, and by the time we reach this one, it feels like a very adult romance where Adrian and Justine have really earned their happiness together.
I’ve always wanted to read “Gideon and the Den of Thieves” but I’ve never been able to find a copy. It used to be a part of an anthology but the anthology is no longer available.
And the sad part of Joanna Bourne being the best historical romance author is that she writers sooo slowly.
Blackjack- you really hit the nail on the head when you said it’s a very adult romance, in the best sense of the word. It’s funny because we see Justine and Hawker from adolescence but I had no trouble accepting them as one of Bourne’s “older” couples when they finally get their happy ending.
I have read “Gideon and the Den Of Thieves” and I recommend it if you can get your hands on a copy.
Confession: even though I have owned “Her Ladyship’s Companion” (Bourne’s first book published years before her Spymaster series) for years and years I haven’t read it. Adrian appears in a prototype form of his character and many people say he doesn’t seem like the same Adrian from the novels. I know the book gave Bourne problems later (because of the timeline she gave it) and she had to work around it when finally giving Justine and Adrian their happy ending. I love the Adrian of the other books so much I haven’t wanted to read a version of him that doesn’t 100% sync with what I know and love.
Maybe someday I’ll pluck up the nerve
Until Beauty Like the Night, Bourne has had the worst covers.
I,too, imagine a lean, hard man of average height.
I do have to say though…this cover & this guy aren’t quite what I think of when I imagine Hawker. He seems sleeker and darker in my mind. Not quite so wholesome. I have an image in my minds eye, but my google search: “dark, enigmatic broody looking hero” has yet to hit pay dirt. :)
While The Spymaster’s Lady is my favorite of Bourne’s book, The Black Hawk is close and one that I find I return to frequently.
I haven’t listened to the audio, but this book is my favorite in the series.
it/he’s the best.
This remains my top favorite Joanna Bourne book and among my favorites books of all time. Bourne is such an amazing writer.