Returning to camp from a dangerous solo mission behind enemy lines, career soldier Daniel Rawson finds himself stranded on foot with French soldiers in fierce pursuit. With help from a local farmer and the loan of a horse, Daniel manages to escape by the skin of his teeth. But when Daniel returns to thank the man he finds the farmhouse and barn have been set ablaze and the farmer is approaching death, apparently at the hands of English soldiers.

Back at home in England there is political unrest. Queen Anne’s favour has shifted causing the Duke of Marlborough to resign as Commander-In-Chief. After several similar raids on other farms, Daniel enlists the help of his old friend, Henry Welbeck to help investigate. All the while the treacherous and scheming French Commander, the Duc de Vendome, is becoming hell bent on the capture of Daniel, by any means at his disposal.

EDWARD MARSTON was born and brought up in South Wales. A full-time writer for over thirty years, he has worked in radio, film, television and the theatre. Prolific and highly successful, he is equally at home writing children’s books or literary criticism, plays or biographies and the settings for his crime novels range from the world of professional golf to the compilation of the Domesday Survey. He is also a former Chairman of the Crime Writers Association.

A battle gone bad is a quick way to end up in a mountain of trouble. "Fire and Sword" follows Captain Daniel Rawson as he flees the pressures of the French forces in early eighteenth century Europe. As a nefarious general of the French forces uses any means necessary to bring them to their justice, Rawson has to overcome the odds of being stranded before not only does turmoil destroy his homeland, but he loses the love of his life. "Fire and Sword" is a riveting work of historical fiction, highly recommended.   -- Midwest Book Review, April 2011