From London to the Goldfields of New Zealand - an Editorial Review of "Counterfeit"

Book Blurb: Coming soon

Book Buy Link: Coming soon

Author Bio: Coming soon

Editorial Review:

Title: Counterfeit

Author: M Jones

Rating: 4.5 Stars

"Counterfeit" by M. Jones is one of those historical coming-of-age stories that sneaks up on you. At first, it seems like a quiet tale about a boy named Jericho Spurge who is born into loss, scraping by in 19th-century England but it slowly opens up into something much bigger. His journey takes him from gritty London streets all the way to the goldfields of New Zealand. And while yes, there’s ink and hardship and travel, it’s really a story about who we are without roots, how we survive when the odds are stacked, and the strange, beautiful families we sometimes build for ourselves. What begins as a story of hardship grows into something much more intimate and profound and just when you think Jericho has found peace, another storm seems to loom on the horizon...

The story opens in 1819, with a vivid and tragic birth scene that sets the tone for Jericho’s life- raw, dangerous, yet strangely tender. Orphaned before he’s even named, Jericho is raised under the reluctant wing of a wealthy but emotionally distant uncle. As he grows up, Jericho clings to learning, drawing, and friendship to carve a path out of obscurity. Eventually, he’s offered an engraving apprenticeship that changes everything.

But the real strength of "Counterfeit" lies in its texture- the grit of riverbanks, the tremble of a tired voice, the ink under a printer’s fingernails. This is a novel that smells like soot and sea-salt and old paper. The dialogue is rich in regional dialect yet never feels forced. You don’t just read this book rather, you live in it.

Take this moment of boyish horror, when Jericho first encounters the idea of violence among his peers:

“‘We was just talking about the murder,’ said Hugh Mead, a thickset and swarthy boy, two years Jericho’s senior...

‘John Any Bird Bell ‘as been arrested for killing another boy, Richard Taylor, at Bridgewood...’

‘John Bell apparently slit Taylor’s throat for ‘is purse.’”

There’s an eerie casualness here with young boys swapping murder stories like schoolyard gossip. But it’s not gratuitous. It’s a reflection of a world where even children can’t escape the brutal realities of class, violence, and survival. It is a chilly moment that beautifully sets the tone for how high the stakes are, even early on.

But the story doesn’t stay grim. One of the things I loved most was how Jericho slowly, almost reluctantly, lets people into his life. He’s not flashy or fearless, in fact, he doubts himself often. There’s a moment between Jericho and his friend Cyrus that wrapped around my heart and stayed there:

“‘‘Hmm. I’m not sure what I’d do in Auckland, Jericho. It’s pretty an’ all, but

I’m no farmer, nor mill hand. Nor am I a settler. I’m a sawyer. I thought I could be a

miner, but that was when Gideon was with me.’ Cyrus’ voice quaked as he talked. He

took a deep breath to steady himself, but Jericho could see how vulnerable Cyrus was.

‘To be honest, I don’t even know whether mining here will be any different to mining

in California, but I’m willing to test that theory, if only to please you. Let’s be

honest…I’d nothing to stay for in America… no kin to fret over me, and nowhere

better to be.’ ‘It looks like you’re stuck with me then,’ said Jericho warmly, ‘for I don’t

have any family fretting for me, either, my friend.’ ”

This one hit differently. It’s not about romance or grand gestures, just two men, broken in quiet ways, choosing to anchor each other. There’s something achingly beautiful about that.

And later, when Jericho is nearly swallowed by grief again, we get this:

“‘Jericho felt Tama’s gaze upon him and turned to face his friend. ‘You are

profoundly right, as always, Tama,’ said Jericho slowly as he gathered his thoughts. ‘I

don’t know how I would have got through these last few months without you.’

‘We’re brothers,’ said Tama. ‘Brothers look out for each other.’

‘I’ve never had a brother before,’ said Jericho quietly.

‘Well, you have now!’ said Tama. Jericho smiled and nodded, grief and sorrow like a constant tide that daily ebbed and flowed, and sometimes threatened to drown him. Sorrow now shaped the way in which he observed the world, but since he and Tama had talked a week ago, he had given himself permission to leave Collingwood, and he would try to rebuild his

life.”

Simple, but gutting- that line stayed with me. You can feel Jericho’s slow re-entry into life, his fear of drowning in sorrow, and his effort to try again. It's not heroic in the traditional sense but it feels brave.

The writing is clean and heartfelt, with no wasted scenes. The grammar is solid- nothing flashy and nothing overwritten. What surprised me was how much the story stretched across time and geography without losing its emotional core. Whether in the classrooms of Corpus Christi, the backstreets of London, or the gold-laced rivers of New Zealand, the focus always remains on Jericho’s inner world. If you’re the type of reader who loves immersive storytelling with historical accuracy, layered characters, and emotional payoff, this book is for you.

"Counterfeit" by M. Jones never felt dry and is one of those books that sneaks up on you. One minute you’re casually reading, and the next you’re blinking back tears over a quiet goodbye or a new beginning. It's a historical fiction but undeniably a human story that is deeply moving, messy, warm, full of doubt and courage. And in the end, that’s what makes it unforgettable.

---

To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission