But they're rapidly outnumbered, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and as the French edge ever closer to the frontline, time is running out . Richard Sharpe is back and this time it is May 1812 and is a Major and once again fighting the French by the Tagus River in Spain. Granted, this is the first Peninsular War adventure we've had since 2006, so mistakes on Cornwell's part are bound to happen.

Harper was a wise-cracking Irish stereotype, Dan Hagman was super soldier sniper extraordinaire (literally his own role was to shoot things at a distance) and Teresa was a cold-blooded murderer. He starts off as a Private and then is given a battlefield commission to ensign for an act of bravery. It had been sheer pride and overconfidence that had persuaded him that he could win, and in the end he had only been saved by Teresa and her partisans. If you’ve watched any of the Sharpe TV films then you’ll be familiar with the characters and can even hear their voices as they speak from the page. Sitting high above the Almaraz bridge, it is the last link between two French armies, one in the north and one in the south; if they meet, the British are doomed.

They are behind enemy lines, intent on preventing the French from crossing the bridge to reinforce one of their forts which is soon to be under British siege. Turncoat and murderer William Dodd, looking to prove himself to his new Indian masters, massacres every last British soldier at Chasalgaon – all save for one.

And the impossible is exactly what the formidable Captain Sharpe is asked to do when he's sent on an undercover mission to a small village in the Spanish countryside, far behind enemy lines.Sharpe takes advantage of the situation, thinking what the officer should do to win the battle, but the officer does not. Featuring extraordinary illustrations by Clive Hicks-Jenkins and an exclusive introduction by Janina Ramirez, each of the 750 numbered copies has been signed by both contributors. A great Sharpe book, thoroughly enjoyed the read, and all the great characters, really cannot get past visualising the characters from the TV series.