Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "west-indies"

The Sea of Silence: A Nathan Peake Novel by Seth Hunter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Twice before the man facing Nathan Peake has tried to kill him, yet now he offers what Nathan craves – command of a ship in time of peace. Even so, experience has taught him not to trust Gilbert Imlay, especially since what he reveals is often only a portion of what is necessary to know. His plan may seem to advance the interests of the Americans and the British, but their previous encounters have taught Nathan that, in reality, it promotes Imlay’s own. Trusting a spy is rarely a good thing. Imlay has the support of the First Lord of the Admiralty and Admiral Lord Nelson, who brings the two together. Instinct warns Nathan to refuse, but out of courtesy to his former commander, he listens to Imlay.

The current cessation of hostilities between England and France after many years of fighting is merely an interlude. Napoleon Bonaparte still rules, which means he has plans to expand his domain. Since the Royal Navy no longer enforces its blockade of the French coast, a French fleet of eighty ships carrying 20,000 troops has sailed for the West Indies. They intend to put down the slave rebellion on Saint-Domingue, using whatever means are necessary. Once peace is restored the island will be the staging grounds to launch an invasion on Louisiana, where Napoleon intends to establish a second empire. Imlay proposes, with Nathan’s help, to throw a wrench in those plans by running guns to Toussaint Louverture, the rebel leader. The longer he and his men can delay French forces, the less likely Napoleon’s grand scheme will come to fruition.

Rather than refuse outright, Nathan agrees to view the captured French corvette. She’s relatively new and well-manned. The sea calls and Nathan is torn. Better to think things through overnight. As he places greater distance between him and the vessel, Nathan resolves to decline the invitation . . . until a trusted friend visits him with news. One of their acquaintances has been arrested – an unforeseen complication with a resolution that alters Nathan’s decision to work with Imlay. What could possibly go wrong?

This is the seventh novel in the Nathan Peake series, but can be read as a stand-alone novel. It takes place early in the first decade of the nineteenth century and combines intrigue with smuggling, a sea chase and sea battle, mass murder, and treachery. It features two of Napoleon’s siblings, as well as General Charles Victor-Emmanuel Leclerc and Touissant Louverture. Several other historical personages make cameo appearances. Fans of Peake will enjoy this addition to the series. Several scenes involve thrilling action or unbelievable horrors, while the tidbits about the past may entice new readers to discover the earlier titles of Nathan Peake’s adventures.




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The Sugar Sands by Lyle Garford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cashiered from the Royal Navy after being found guilty of trumped-up charges of thievery, Owen Spence vows that one day there will be a reckoning with his accuser, a member of the same family that ruined his father. Until then, he must find a new path in life, preferably one involving the sea. A beautiful innkeeper, with whom Owen has an affair, helps in this endeavor, and he soon commands a sloop ferrying cargo and passengers for a plantation. The brutal treatment of the slaves disturbs him, but he is in no position to intervene and desperately needs money to survive. The monotony of his work has him wishing for another job – a real possibility when he happens upon his uncle, whom he hasn’t seen in years.

Alan Giles runs a successful trading company and is seeking a new captain for one of his vessels because he wants to spend time with his family on Barbados. Happening upon his nephew is pure luck, but the more they become reacquainted, the more Alan believes that Owen might be just the man to replace him. And not just in commanding the ship. With his naval training and sea experience, Owen could also surreptitiously gather information for the Foreign Office. After all, Alan’s trading ventures extend from Boston to Porto Bello, and the news he has acquired leads himself and spymaster Sir James Standish to believe that war is in the offing. Should that happen, it would be devastating to the West Indies where more sugarcane is produced than foodstuffs.

This first title in the Owen Spence trilogy takes place between 1772 and 1775, but the series will cover the entire span of the American Revolution. The opening scenes involving Owen and the Royal Navy are quite visual and easily capture the reader’s attention. Once he’s dismissed, the novel serves to set the stage for the forthcoming books. There is some action, as well as an additional romantic angle – both draw readers into the story and make them care about the characters – but the majority of the book involves gathering information and run-ins with a shadowy French ship with an American first mate, who is related to the same radical family that drove Owen’s first mate out of Virginia. This setup promises that when the final confrontation comes between Owen and his crew versus the Frenchmen, more than sparks will ignite. Equally propitious is the expected comeuppance of the family that destroys Owen’s naval career.

Much of the story consists of dialogue, but where action, such as the raid on Bermuda or the confrontation in a Boston tavern where rebels meet, takes center stage Garford keeps the reader riveted. What makes The Sugar Sands different from other stories of the Revolutionary War is its perspective. It unfolds from a Caribbean colonial viewpoint, one rarely covered in works of either fiction or nonfiction. Garford also ably demonstrates how the laws and tariffs that England institutes set the colonists on a war footing. The story is more land-based than sea-based, but incorporates thought-provoking topics – slavery, taxation, conflicting loyalties – that remain relevant today.




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