The Traitor's Hand

Imperial Guard's Commissar Ciaphas Cain is still trying to avoid any serious action that may get him killed. Yet he keeps finding himself and his gunner, Jurgen, in the worst possible places. This time Cain must also deal with an old classmate, Commissar Tomas Beije. The two were never friends. Beije is still as pig-headed and stupid as always, but his jealousy of Cain's career makes things much worse. Cain's latest mission takes him and his Valhallan regiment to the planet of Adumbria to defend against an approaching Chaos invasion. It soon becomes apparent that a sinister cult has formed and is summoning something so horrible that the entire universe is in peril. ***** This book is the best of the series thus far! The Adumbria campaign has more going on than the previous two, if that's possible. Readers learn a little more about Jurgen as well (and I am not referring to his overwhelming body odor). There are still footnotes all throughout the book, but unlike the second novel ("Caves of Ice"), there are not too many and I don't believe any of them are pointless this time around. An outstanding story for all! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This third installment in the Ciaphas Cain series by M. Mitchell is every bit as much of an homage to George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman series as the previous novels. The writing is playful and the editorial comments (fictional) alternate between witty and added exposition. However, our misunderstood hero, Imperial Commissar Cain, isn't quite as despicable as M. Fraser's main character, and it might be argued that in this book, where his only motivation seems to be to preserve his over-inflated reputation, he isn't terribly cowardly at all, since regardless of inspiration he virtually always does the right thing. As one definition of bravery is doing the right thing even in the face of fear, his continual protestations of his own cowardice wear thin by the end of the book. There are also only so many ways in a first person narrative to express the same sentiment time and time again - in this case fear - and as the reader nears the end, he will recognize repetition in the writer's craft. On a related point, some of the plot elements fit into the developing puzzle just a tad too neatly for suspension of disbelief at times. This is not to say that the book is bad; it's not, and is still a very enjoyable read. M. Mitchell writes spirited action scenes, and these too are infused with the humor that prevails throughout. The supporting characters add their own contribution to the entertainment, as does the watchful and sardonic editor of the tales. His portrayal of the Imperial Guard and the Commissariat is well thought out and will delight players of the Warhammer 40K game who enjoy good solid "fluff." In short: a fun read (especially for 40K fans), but not quite equal to the infamous Flashman.

Exceptionally great. Loved every minute of it and cannot wait for the next book with Commissar Cain.

There isn't much to say about this third novel following the exploits of Commissar Ciaphas Cain. It's basically a different setting, a different situation, and more of the usual from Sandy Mitchell. Which is a very good thing in this case. Any of the reviews for the author's previous novels, "For the Emperor", and "Caves of Ice" still apply to this novel. Anything I can say has already been said. If you enjoyed the previous novels, you'll love this one as well.

Much to my chagrin, a lot of the readers of fiction set in the grim, mature, and astoundingly rich universe of Warhammer 40k look for only one thing in their novels, violence and action. While I don't share this nearly dogmatic lust I can't blame them. When you have a setting with a tagline of "In the future there is only War" you can't blame someone for looking for a certain amount of bloodshed and mayhem. Most of the writers for 40k either share this rabidly single-minded obsession or grudgingly close their eyes and give the readers what they want, often at the expense of quality writing, immersion, setting, emotion, and story. There are a few exceptions, a few diamonds in the rough, these authors and these books are the ones that leave an indelible impression on the reader. The authors who succeed in rising above the mundane Warhammer action-fest fiction do so by putting their own slant on the universe, through their eyes we see the setting in new and unexpected ways. Is there war in these books? Without question, you can't have Warhammer without it but there is also something more. This feat of "more" is accomplished via a myriad number of techniques: Dan Abnett gives us scope, detail and characterization. William King sweeps us up in passion and hope. Sandy Mitchell author of the books of Commissar Ciaphas Cain does it with sometimes sardonic, occasionally blood-soaked but always sarcastic humor and interesting writing style. The books of Ciaphas Cain in general and The Traitor's Hand in particular do not read like other Warhammer 40k novels. Rather than reading a simple story told via the traditional first person perspective the reader is immersed in an historical record. The escapades of Cain are told not by the author but by the Commissar himself in the form of his memoirs. Throughout the work we are also treated to the comments, in the form of footnotes, of an Imperial Inquisitor who has taken it upon herself to provide additional detail, sub-text, and explanation of key points. Additionally there are occasionally comments from other characters from Cain's story gleaned from their own memoirs or journals and presumably corralled by the aforementioned Inquisitor. Through the use of this style Sandy Mitchell slickly gives us the perspectives of numerous characters on the events transpiring all the while keeping the focus of the work tightly and seamlessly placed upon the shoulders of Commissar Cain. My only complaints are that Sandy Mitchell does not give us more depth in the setting and that the other characters in the Traitor's Hand seem muted rather than actual people. I hope he applies the talent for characterization that he proves he has with Ciaphas Cain to the others in the future. Although he does his best to hide it, particularly in his self-deprecating memoirs, Commissar Ciaphas Cain is believed by the Imperium at large to be a hero, a notion he strongly denies and in his memoirs goes to painstaking detail to refute. He