Mad Blood Stirring Hardcover – 19 April 2018

I live on Dartmoor so had the benefit of knowledge of the area and the desolation the moors can have. Initially I thought I’d have a problem remembering characters’ names as I struggle with that generally, but I got to grips with it as their individual personality traits helped.Yep, enjoyed it. I’d read some reviews which were mixed, but I was very glad to form my own opinion. Without that I would not have found out about the war of 1812. So both entertaining and informative.Can’t please all the people all the time, but pleased me.

My goodness, I struggled with this for about 100 pages, and then whow what a powerful story line. Based on historical fact, about an incident, little reported. Now come to light as a horrendous occurrence in the history of military incidences, ‘gritty launguage’. I flew through the back end of this narrative with tears in my eyes at the brutality of this, also with tenderness at aspect of unusual love. A ‘Must Read’ from an unusual source of a Radio 2 DJ. Well done Simon Mayo

Coincidence is a weird phenomenon. Last week I read a book largely about a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” but touching on “Romeo & Juliet” and this week I read a book where a production of “Romeo & Juliet” taking place in the newly built Dartmoor Prison and performed by American Sailors taken prisoner in a war of which I had never heard. Last week’s was good, this is brilliant. I was very surprised. I have appreciated Simon Mayo’s skills as a broadcaster, but I had never come across his novels. Now I am hooked and will set about adding his other books to my “to read” pile. At the core of this book is an excellent piece of storytelling with great characters and a lot of depth particularly in the way it deals with racial sssues. I recommend this very enthusiastically.

An interesting setting in place and time but a weak plot and poor characters make for a ponderous read.The author description of the prison is excellent; bleak and menacing. The setting of the story of American POWs in the immediate aftermath of the 1812 war with America is fascinating. However, the plot just drifts with far too much time focussed on the production of Romeo and Juliette. The characters meanwhile are very disappointing - shallow and predictable. His depiction of the female lead us frankly silly.

It is a long time since I have felt strongly enough about a book to write a review, but Mad Blood Stirring certainly stirred my emotions.Having discovered the book after first reading Mr Mayo's thriller Knife Edge, I was very interested to read his first novel, not having any idea that he had actually written any books.All I can say in this short review is that Mad Blood Stirring is a history lesson told in such a way that took me right into the heart of Dartmoor Prison.I am one of the no doubt many who are somewhat ignorant of this period in history and this war in particular, much to my shame.This wonderful book, for me, brought it all to life - the characters, the squalid conditions, the hardship and the lifelong friendships forged by the prisoners.It is one of those books that, after reading, stays in your mind and occupies your thoughts for quite some time.It is now sitting on my bookshelf among the select few books that I actually keep after reading, those books that just have to be read several times over.

I really wanted to like this more than I did as I enjoy listening to Simon. I appreciated the historical accuracy. I can't help thinking that there must have been more collaboration between the wardens and the inmates in order for them to procure all the kit required to put on a play, but that didn't come across in the book. Neither did the terrible weather conditions that there must have been at times on Dartmoor (we've all been there...). I just thought the inmates were a bit too cosy and comfortable. But I will be reading more by him, as I don't reckon it will be long before I won't be able to listen to him any more.....

Intrigued by the idea of a chirpy DJ writing what sounded like a pretty serious book I decided to read this out of curiosity more than anything else. Historical novels aren't normally my thing, neither are war or prison stories, but I quickly found myself captivated by this seemingly simple tale of a forgotten war that ended just as the story began. American sailors, supposedly hardened by war and years in a desolate prison setting were shown as a community of friends, shipmates, families within their blocks, rivals between them and united against their British captors. They also loved, laughed, fought and lived as routine a life as any other person, but most surprisingly they were creative, supportive and tender. Who would have thought a powerful story like this could weave together suffering, friendship, a deadly epidemic, racism, hatred, violence, a love story, unexpected love, forbidden and secret love and set all this against a backdrop of a desolate location, high tension and historical events largely unknown. Simon Mayo does all this with great writing, credibility and an effortless ability to tell a good tale.

1814, the treaty ending Britain's war with the United States has been signed but thousands of American sailors are still being held as prisoners of war at the bleak and forbidding Dartmoor jail pending the arrival of ships to take them home.The prisoners plan to stage a production of Romeo and Juliet to relieve their wait for release, but some want use that as a cover to effect an escape.There's a lot going on here, tensions between the Americans and their British guards, racial tensions, love, hardship, disease and more. The climax is brutal but not without a glimmer of hope.The novel is based on real events of which many people on both sides of the Atlantic will be largely unaware, which makes it all the more fascinating and poignant.