This was a series that was very well written and researched but just didn't grip me. It should work. It just doesn't for me. It's not a bad set of books but the lead character isn't particularly engaging and the books seem slower. Ok but not terribly memorable.

Unfortunately this novel suffers from being the second in the series. The scene was set in the the first novel "Rebel".... Which was a great story. In Copperhead the plot thickens as individuals struggle with their consciences to figure out who and what they think that they should really be fighting for..... or against as the case may be. The book deals with early espionage which much of the time seems to happen by accident. Once again the reader gets a glimpse of the real battles and the strategies behind them. The incompetence of the leaders is contrasted by the loyalty and the ferocity with which the foot soldiers continue the battle these are the real heros in the carnage. Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of padding in this novel which is disappointing. I am a Cornwell fan and have read most of his books but this one left me feeling that I would like to take a break before going on to either of the final two in the series. I will read the final two books but will not rush out and buy them as I did with Copperhead.... and most of his other sets. The book left too many unfinished plots so obviously setting the reader up for the sequel. It would have been nice to have seen the closure of just one of the threads. Cornwell can do so much better than this (and has so done).