Brock’s Assassin: Someone Had to Burn Washington

Written by Tom Taylor
Review by Waheed Rabbani

In 1813, in war-ravaged Niagara, Upper Canada, Lieutenant Westlake of the 1^st York Militia is trailing Willcocks, a notorious traitor. Willcocks has turned coat and, having organized a band of so-called Canadian Volunteers, is fighting alongside the Americans. Earlier, Westlake’s home in York (present-day Toronto) had been destroyed. Although the invading American forces are being gradually pushed back, they are executing a tactic of looting and burning civilian homes. In retribution, the British armies follow up with similar acts south of the Niagara River.

Following skirmishes, injured Westlake is nursed back by a young and attractive American war widow. When British nobleman Lieutenant Simpson’s home in Newark (present- day Niagara-On-The-Lake) is torched, twice, killing his wife and child, he concocts a unique plan to seek vengeance. In 1814 the Americans re-invade Upper Canada. But, following the fierce Battle of Chippawa Creek, and a British naval force sailing up the Chesapeake, Simpson absconds. Westlake is sent after Simpson to dissuade him. However, Westlake faces a dilemma of either staying loyal to his principles or his friend.

While this is the fourth novel in Tom Taylor’s series, it continues seamlessly, following Westlake in his various assignments during the War of 1812. Reading it, a similar protagonist, Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe, will come to mind. Taylor’s writing is just as evocative as Cornwell’s while describing the characters and period details, and showing the battlefields as if we were taken along with him. The historical aspects are freshly narrated with the insertion of real characters, not only military officers, but also others such as President James and Dolley Madison and Betsey Bonaparte. The romance and plot twists will capture readers’ interest up to the thrilling ending. The philosophical aspects of the politics of that era and discussions on the causes of the war are informative. Readers will eagerly await Taylor’s next book.