Essex Dogs: The epic Richard & Judy Summer Book Club Pick 2023 from a Sunday Times bestselling historian (Essex Dogs Series 1)

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You were a good little liar,” Udo later tells Nico, and delights in the prospect of breaking the boy’s spirit, which is more fun and a greater challenge than killing him outright. Rooted in historical accuracy, and told through an earthy cast of archers, men-at-arms and misfits, Essex Dogs delivers the stark reality of medieval war in the round – and shines a light on ordinary people caught in the storm. Essex Dogs,” a first novel by the best-selling historian Dan Jones, opens with a group of soldiers pressed together inside a landing craft approaching the coast of Normandy at dawn. They disembark on the beach, where they meet a barrage of enemy missiles and must scramble to safety as soldiers from other boats drop dead all around them. There is some swearing between the men but there’s also a lot of humour and the one liners are truly funny.

Rooted in historical accuracy and told through an unforgettable cast, Essex Dogs delivers the stark reality of medieval war in the round - and shines light on the fighters and ordinary people caught in the storm. I enjoyed seeing the story through the eyes of the Essex Dogs and all the side characters, discovering their backgrounds and their own individualities. The narrative is well written and you can almost hear the clash of swords, the screams of horses and the groans of dying men as the two armies clash. I can feel myself starting to care for these characters and the plot has me intrigued enough to wish the 2nd instalment was out now!Jones creates compelling and authentic characters - bloodthirsty, profane soldiers lacking conscience, killing for coin, yet fighting bravely alongside each other. My problem isn’t so much with the book itself but rather the expectations and hype surround this novel. Though he isn't present in every scene, he conveys each piece of the story leading up to the murder as if he were an omniscient narrator, capable of accessing every character's interior perspective.

I enjoy his books and his tv shows, but his foray into historical fiction isn't quite to his normal superb level. The Essex Dogs are a colorful group and probably the thing I enjoyed most about the novel was reading their conversations and banter as they attempt to rally and support each other and keep their spirits up. Despite its author’s professional background, the novel’s relationship to history is notably loose and irreverent.Unfortunately, they are a consistent feature in the dialogue and quickly lose any of their initial punch. The Essex Dogs were a collection of murderers and thieves, hoping to gain wealth and status by serving in the English army of Edward 111. While it certainly suffers as a debut narrative due to the authors lack of experience in that area, it makes up for that in historical authenticity. The humor is a blessed relief to the descriptions of the brutal everyday grind of their slog through the countryside as they endure shredded feet because of split boots and terrible digestive problems.