Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 22

Review of The Jolley-Rogers and the Pirate Piper

The Jolley-Rogers and the Pirate Piper by Jonny Duddle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Once again trouble sails into Dull-on-Sea late at night. While the harbormaster dozes, thousands of rats infest the town. The next morning, they perch on window sills. They munch on crumbs. They infest the laundry. Everywhere the residents look, rats are to be found.

During this infestation, the Jolley-Rogers are at sea. Grandpa has given Nugget a gift she has long yearned to own – a fiddle. From dawn to dusk she practices, while everyone else finds something else to do. Jim Lad dons headphones to listen to loud music. Dad repairs the ship, while Mom relaxes in the crow’s nest. Which is where she hears a news report about Dull-on-Sea’s problem. So off they sail to investigate.

Matilda loves seeing her friends again, but she’s particularly fascinated by Nugget’s music. So are the other children of Dull-on-Sea. An emergency meeting interrupts the makeshift concert and everyone repairs to the townhall. As a discussion ensues, Captain Horatio Rattus strolls into their midst and offers to rid the townspeople of the rats . . . for a price. Everyone agrees, including the stingy mayor. Without further ado, Captain Rattus begins playing a hypnotic tune on his pipe. From every rafter, nook, and cranny, the rats emerge and follow the captain onto his ship where he leads them into a crate, which he promises to dump into the sea far away from Dull-on-Sea.

Later, Captain Rattus returns to collect the money owed him. But the mayor reneges on his promise. Double-crossing Rattus isn’t wise – a lesson he soon teaches to the mayor and every other parent in town. Once the sun sets, he plays his pipes; instead of rats, it’s the children who follow him this time. The next morning only one child awakens.

Matilda had recorded Nugget’s fiddling and used it to lull her to sleep. Her parents insist she carry out her usual routine, but what fun is it when she’s the only one in school and all the adults give her funny looks? Determined to solve the mystery, she enlists Jim Lad’s help. While finding the children proves a simple thing, removing Captain Rattus’s spell will be much harder to do. Based on his tactics after the rat infestation, he’s not about to allow Matilda to ruin his plans. If she’s going to outsmart this villain, she’ll need the help of others – and Nugget is key to her plan’s success.

This latest adventure of the Jolley-Rogers is tale spinning at its best with a new take on an old story. The illustrations captivate and the characters beg you to cheer or boo as you wend your way through riveting twists and turns. Matilda and Jim Lad take a backseat to Nugget, who finally shines center stage. What’s left to your imagination is the sound of Nugget’s music. Is she a budding star as the children seem to think, or does her fiddle really sound like “a kraken pullin’ the gizzards from a mermaid?” This delightful chapter book will soon become a favorite of pirates young and old.




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Review of Inside Out Pirate Ship

Pirate Ship by Paul Beck

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Pirates! They’ve been around for centuries, but they have one thing in common – they steal from ships at sea. This latest entry in the Inside Out series explores Caribbean pirates and their ship from 1690 to 1730.

Colorful double-page spreads are jam-packed with historical tidbits and artifacts in full color, but the centerpiece of each is the ship. Although many different types of vessels were mentioned, the one spotlighted throughout the book is the brig. On the left-hand side is a silhouette, on the right, the exterior hull, masts, and sails. Each successive pair of pages highlights a particular aspect of the inside of the brig on the silhouette, while the exterior shot provides a cut-away glimpse from the outside in. This allows readers to see the same section of the vessel from two different perspectives at the same time.

The book explores eight separate themes: pirates and the exterior of their ships; symbols of fear (their flags); pirate captains; plunder; food and drink; the great guns (cannons); who’s who on a pirate ship; and setting sail. Yet these are broad subjects that often include far more information than pirate apprentices might expect. For example, the answer to “Why become a pirate?” includes the fact that discontented sailors were not the only people who turned to piracy. What’s particularly delightful is the inclusion of details rarely mentioned in other books. One example shows where the Jolly Roger was flown on a pirate ship. Two other samples discuss the possible origin of “feeling blue” and where pirates go to the bathroom on the brig. Equally important is the fact that pirates aren’t glorified; instead, Beck portrays the reality rather than the legend – a refreshing change from many accounts written for young pirates between the ages of seven and twelve.

Another feature of interest is that comparisons are provided in terms that young pirates will easily relate to. Instead of saying the mainmast is so many feet high, Beck likens the height to a building with ten floors. All information is presented in easy-to-understand language, and if a word or expression is unfamiliar, it’s explained. For example, do you know that a chicken egg was sometimes referred to as “cackle-fruit?” Plunder, of course, is discussed in all pirate books, but few remember to share that ships themselves could be part of the pirates’ treasure or provide specific examples of such plunder. This book does.

Inside Out: Pirate Ship may be a short book at only sixteen pages, but it’s as rich in treasure as Black Sam Bellamy’s Whydah Galley. This treasure trove may be intended for pirate apprentices, but even full-fledged pirates will find this both a fantastic introduction to pirate life and a wonderful way to refresh what you know about these scalawags.




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Review of Escape Game Pirates

Pirates Escape Game: A High Seas Mystery by Éric Nieudan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


You awake to find yourself all alone on a ship in the middle of the sea. You have no memory of what happened. Where is the captain? What became of your mates?

That is the premise of this combination adventure, mystery, puzzle book. Written for pirate apprentices between the ages of eight and twelve, it’s up to you to unravel clues, decipher secret messages, and wend your way through the ship to gather the information you need to answer those questions.

This book actually consists of two volumes, one bound inside the other. The main book contains the puzzles and pictures, as well as several pages of answers, while the clue book contains objects and information needed during the course of this adventure. The main book also contains several pages for note-taking and list-making.

While the idea for this book is tantalizing, the translation doesn’t always work. According to the instructions at the beginning of the book, you are alone on the ship. This is a fallacy, because there are others aboard. The fact that one may be a traitor is downplayed, rather than emphasized, which made me wonder why this was important to the story. Checkmarks throughout the book are supposed to alert readers that these objects are important, but I only found one such marking and by the time I did, I’d forgotten what the purpose of the checkmark was. The page numbers are so small that they are difficult to read. Although the artwork is great and fits the mood of the story, the subdued coloring makes it difficult to find essential items. For example, the trap doors at the end of one maze are barely visible. Another problem is that some numbers hidden in the page illustrations are brown on brown or black on black, which makes them difficult or impossible to locate. (If you’re wondering, I have 20/20 vision and was sitting directly under a bright light and still haven’t found one or two of the numbers.) Assumptions are also made that readers will know what a particular item is, such as in the pantry where the food and other items are strewn about, or that they understand foreign words, for one puzzle uses a French number rather than its English equivalent. A few clues were so cryptic or lacking sufficient detail, I couldn’t solve them and there is at least one place where the stated solution on the answer pages can’t possibly be correct because the number of letters in the clue and the answer don’t match.

If children enjoy this book, they may be disappointed that its format really only allows them to solve the mystery once. Another format, such as a spiral-bound or loose-leaf book with laminated pages, might have allowed them to erase their answers and solve the mystery again and again. Another reason the format is an issue is that some text and illustrations on the double-page spreads are lost in the book’s binding. For example, where one maze crosses the center between one page and the next, there’s no way to tell if the path through the maze is open or blocked.

One final caution to consider is how adept pirate apprentices are at unraveling puzzles. If they are easily frustrated or have short attention spans, this book may not be a treasure they will enjoy.

Akin to role playing games, for which the author is a specialist, this book requires readers to explore, investigate, and maneuver not only the ship and the sea, but also the intricate details of the illustrations. A sharp mind and excellent eyesight are essential, and while the instructions don’t mention the need for a magnifying glass and good lighting, some pirate apprentices may find these as essential as the compass and other tools found on a ship.

In spite of these issues, I enjoyed the majority of the book. The puzzles and mazes are fun and somewhat challenging. It is a book that most pirate apprentices will not complete in a single sitting, which is why those blank pages are a good inclusion so you don’t forget what you’ve found once you’re able to return to the mystery. Although aimed at pirate apprentices, full-fledged adult pirates who like puzzles will find challenges and have fun deciphering and unraveling these.




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Review of Cap'n McNasty's Pirate Guide

Cap’n McNasty’s Pirate Guide by Michael Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Do you want to be a pirate? Well, you’re in luck! Cap’n McNasty seeks a crew for the Knotty List. But hurry! Quite a few scoundrels are already lined up on the dock to sign up.

Of course, just wanting to be a pirate is never enough. You need to study and Cap’n McNasty has just the thing – a guide book to help you achieve your dream.

One of the first items to learn is that pirate life is not easy. There are chores galore to attend to from dawn to dusk, but there’s also fun to be had. But the adventure any scalawag craves comes when the search for treasure is afoot.

This delightful tale, the fourth in the Cap’n McNasty adventures, provides glimpses into a pirate’s life at sea, from cleaning the ship to doing the laundry and everything in between. The fun includes bowling with a twist, spinning ghostly yarns or ones about fearsome whales. Verses of four lines that rhyme go hand-in-hand with colorful illustrations of the scurvy scoundrels aboard the Knotty List. It’s almost like touring a haunted house – you never know what’s lurking just around the corner. And there are lots of discoveries to be made along the way, such as a pirate juice box, clothes pins with skeleton heads, or an abacus with skulls. The last page contains an author’s note that explains that even pirates need to know how to read and do math if they want to be true scalawags. Sure to be a favorite of all young pirates!




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Review of Armada's Wake by JD Davies

Armada's Wake by J.D. Davies

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Twenty years have passed since the tragic expedition to the Caribbean that abandoned Jack Stannard and other Englishmen to the whims of the Spanish. Now, all of England fearfully awaits word of the arrival of King Philip’s Armada. Peter Stannard, one of Jack’s grandsons, has the honor of delivering that fateful news during the middle of a theater performance. He, himself, has no intention of fighting, but his brothers and father are already on ships of the Navy Royal, determined to stop the invaders.

Disquiet and disappointment swirl within John Stannard, who finds himself aboard Sir Francis Drake’s Revenge. Being in the Navy Royal is where he wants to be, but not serving as the deputy purser. He’s an accomplished sailor and fighter, but the vice admiral bestowed this job upon him because he possesses a rare skill: the ability to do math. Nor does it help that one of the gentleman volunteers, a man named Nicholas Fitzranulf, has taken an instant dislike of John. Time and again they butt heads, until John finally discovers the arrogant popinjay engaged in an activity for which the punishment might well mean death and dishonor. While Fitzranulf takes the out John offers him, their mutual dislike only worsens.

Meanwhile his father, Tom, and oldest brother, Adam, are with the Narrow Seas fleet, England’s last hope should the rest of the Navy Royal fail to stop Spain’s Armada. While Tom’s lifeblood is the sea, he hasn’t a clue as to why Adam wished to join his crew. Adam’s religious zeal makes the men uneasy and only worsens when he witnesses a forbidden act. In fact, this knowledge tips the balance of Adam’s sanity and only Tom’s standing within the fleet and the community allow him to rescue Adam. It isn’t until after the admiral asks Tom to make a sacrifice for the good of the fleet that he discovers the price asked is far greater than he initially thinks.

Peter’s determination to remain outside the fight proves futile. Besotted with a scullery maid, he tangles with the bishop’s steward, who has been taking liberties in spite of her protests. In the aftermath, Peter has no other option than to elude pursuit by assuming another identity and enlisting in the militia. His stage experience proves handy not only as a soldier but also in thwarting the law.

With Spanish hysteria and fear rousing the countryside, Meg de Andrade (nee Stannard) is arrested on charges of witchcraft. The face of her prosecutor might be the justice of the peace, but Meg knows her true enemy is her half-sister. Ill blood has existed between them since her father married Mary’s mother, and with brother Tom and her nephews at sea, there is no one to help her escape this predicament. She must keep her wits about her, but fears that Mary’s enlistment of the family’s nemesis may tip the balance and result in Meg being hanged.

Known as “the man who will live forever,” Juan Estandar has longed dreamed of returning to his family, but never thought to see England again. But his homeland lies not far from the Girona, the Spanish ship that is both his home and his prison. He has been a galley slave for longer than he wishes to remember. Although Juan practices the true faith, his past association with Spain’s heretical enemies, the pirates Drake and Hawkins, guarantee that he will burn in the fires of hell according to Fra Gordillo. One day, the malevolent priest goes too far and Juan lashes out. The consequences are dire, but fail to quench his dream.

Have you ever read a book that pulls you deeper and deeper into the story, that makes you want to toss aside all obligations and just read? Armada’s Wake is one such story. It is the last entry in the Jack Stannard of the Navy Royal trilogy and, while it encompasses only a brief span of time in July 1588, it recounts events in the lives of three generations and is, by far, the best of the three books. The depth and breadth of the characters draw readers into the midst of the sixteenth century, whether it be at sea or in England or Ireland. Davies weaves a web of many threads that are intricately spun together to provide a riveting tale that allows readers to experience a wide gamut of emotions. This is historical adventure at its finest and the portrayal from both sides of the battle makes for a poignant and memorable account that vividly portrays the perils of the Spanish Armada’s invasion of England.




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Review of From Across the Sea

From Across the Sea: North Americans in Nelson's Navy by Sean M Heuvel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


We often assume that those who fought for Great Britain against the French for more than two decades were English. The reality is that men from North America also participated in the wars between 1793 and 1815. Most did so voluntarily because of their deep abiding loyalty to England. Some were forced to serve the king against their will. This book – sponsored by The 1805 Club and the fifty-first entry in Helion’s From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 series – spotlights some of the officers and enlisted men who served in the Royal Navy during this historical period, and also looks at their lives and careers throughout their lives. The contributors of these essays include military and maritime historians; members of the US Navy, Royal Navy, and US Marine Corps; educators; and others who have particular interest in the Georgian navy and the Age of Nelson.

To gain a better understanding of this time and these men, the first four essays focus on the Great War’s impact on North America and the West Indies, the relationship between the United States and Royal Navies after Napoleon’s downfall, impressment, and North Americans who were present at the Battle of Trafalgar. The other half of the book contains biographical portraits of those who served and these are divided into three regions: the Mid-Atlantic and South, New England, and Canada and the West Indies. The Brentons of Newport, Rhode Island, and the Coffins and Lorings of Boston, Massachusetts made joining the Royal Navy a family affair. Two – Ordinary Seaman William Cooper of Brookhaven, New York and Able Seaman Philip Brimblecom of Marblehead, Massachusetts – served belowdecks. More than a few officers went on to become admirals in the Royal Navy. Captain Nicholas Biddle of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was one of two men who died at the age of twenty-eight, while the longest to live was Captain John Loring, who was 92 when he passed. Of all those who fought at Trafalgar, Captain William Carleton of New Brunswick, Canada became the longest-living survivor. Another Canadian, Lieutenant William Pringle Green of Halifax, Nova Scotia, held that officer rank for more than forty years. One senior officer, who came from Jamaica and served in several capacities while protecting British interests in the Caribbean, was Captain John Perkins, the first mulatto officer in the Royal Navy. While the majority of these men saw themselves as loyal Englishmen doing their duty, two of the men included in this book were pressed, managed to escape, and served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.

Illustrations and maps are found throughout the book. Footnotes accompany each chapter, rather than being placed in a notes section at the narrative’s conclusion. A lengthy bibliography and an index are also included.

While the men portrayed in these pages may not be known to readers, historians are familiar with all of them. Their stories, however, are often not included in other books about the period. Combining the men with thematic essays about the period provides the necessary context to understand what was happening at this point in history. There are fascinating and insightful tidbits within these pages that enlighten and expand our knowledge; at the same time, the information offers up possibilities for future in-depth research. The primary goal of this book is to show that men outside of Britain fought valiantly for king and country, and the editors and contributors have done a laudable job in this endeavor. Highly recommended and a worthy companion to Nelson’s Band of Brothers (Seaforth, 2015) and The 1805 Club’s series, The Trafalgar Chronicle.




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Review of Lyle Garford's The Admiral's Pursuit

The Admiral's Pursuit by Lyle Garford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Shortly after crowning himself emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte devises a plan. Not trusting his naval advisers to oversee its deployment, he sends orders to several of his admirals, telling each only what they need to know to carry out single stages of his strategy – a plan to which no one else is privy. He, the most powerful man in the world, is determined to finally bring about the demise of his nemesis, the British, and particularly the Royal Navy.

Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, who commands the British naval forces in the Mediterranean, is beyond frustrated. Two days ago, the French navy broke through the blockade of Toulon and vanished in foul weather. Determined to break them once and for all, he must pursue them, but where? The list of possibilities – Egypt, Portugal, the Caribbean, the English Channel – precludes venturing off in any direction without some clue as to their destination. Yet no one has seen even one of their ships.

Like his English counterpart, Rear Admiral Edouard Burguês le Comte de Missiessy is frustrated. He commands a French squadron of ships, but his orders are vague and the ultimate goal remains unknown. He receives three sealed envelopes containing his emperor’s commands, but he can only open each at a specific time and place. The first tells him to sail from Rochefort, France to Spain where he is to take aboard a large contingent of soldiers. No reason is given. Nor do the contents of the second envelope provide enlightenment. They simply provide him with his next destination and a warning not to open the third envelope until after he arrives there.

Admiral Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve is unhappy and troubled. His orders tell him to break through the British blockade, but the storm that permits him to accomplish this feat damages his ships so much that they must return to Toulon for repairs. Escaping the blockade a second time will not be so easy, but his emperor’s orders give him little choice in the matter. Unlike previous orders, these are strangely silent on why. Does this mean Napoleon no longer trusts him? Or is someone setting him up to fail? The answers are not forthcoming, and all he can do is obey.

Best friends and fellow spies, Captain Evan Ross and Commander James Wilton are desperate to capture Hubert Montdenoix, their archrival in the Caribbean, who time and again has been a thorn in their sides. They finally have that chance on St. Lucia, but the firing of a cannon alerts the French spy and he escapes, even though the lookout’s signal could not have been a warning about Evan and James’s carefully laid snare. Evan has the unsettling feeling that some other danger is afoot and it isn’t long before he discovers what it is. He is also certain that Montdenoix is behind the many rumors that keep him from pinpointing exactly where the danger lies. This makes it doubly important that he and James bring an end to this man’s interference as soon as possible.

This last entry in the Evan Ross series takes place between December 1804 and November 1805, and provides an account of the Royal Navy’s chase of the French fleet from Europe to the Caribbean. Garford does a commendable job showing the various commanders’ frustration at being hampered by orders and lack of knowledge, while making this sometimes muddy episode in naval warfare crystal clear. Evan and James meet new comrades in arms, such as Admiral Alexander Cochrane, and renew old acquaintances. Horatio Nelson devised the plan that allowed both Evan and James to remain and excel in the navy in spite of their disabilities. In addition to a tale of the chase that precedes the Battle of Trafalgar, it also recounts a little-known episode in naval history about HMS Diamond Rock, the only rock to be commissioned as a sloop of war in British naval history. The Admiral’s Pursuit is a fitting conclusion to this series, and while Evan and James will be missed, readers will find the ending satisfying, surprising, and emotional.




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Review of Corinne Demas's and Artemis Roehrig's The Grumpy Pirate

The Grumpy Pirate by Corinne Demas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Pirates smile. They shout “Aye aye.” They do their chores. Well, almost all pirates. There’s one who’s not a team player. He complains and pouts and avoids chores whenever he can. His name? Grumpy Gus, and the rest of the crew has had enough! They want action or they’ll walk the plank. The wise and sly pirate queen understands. Rather than scold, she gives Grumpy Gus a special friend, who soon teaches him that grumpy and pirate don’t go hand in hand.

Geared toward young pirates between the ages of three and five, this is a delightful book for teaching an inventive way to resolve a problem and change an attitude. The pirate queen’s answer to near mutiny is unique and fresh; it’s also one that children will readily identify with and enjoy parroting. The large illustrations are bright, colorful, and easy to see. The infectious rhyming text invites places where listeners can participate as someone reads the story. Anstee does a marvelous job of incorporating differences into the pirate crew, not just in color but also disabilities, sexes, ages, and sizes. There’s even a crab with a hook for one claw. Young pirates will also enjoy perusing the pictures to spy surprises, such as Grumpy Gus’s pirate underwear. Great fun for young and old pirates alike.




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Review of Philip K. Allan's Larcum Mudge

Larcum Mudge by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


HM Sloop Peregrine is an unhappy vessel. Her captain brooks not the slightest infraction, and punishment almost always involves the cat. The discontent on the lower deck foments into mutiny and once in control, the mutineers and ship vanish in the Caribbean, with no one wise to the brutal and bloody slaughter because they assume the ship went down during a hurricane.

With repairs to HM Frigate Griffin almost complete, Captain Alexander Clay attends to the task of recruiting for his undermanned ship. A short time after a printer informs him that some mutineers have been captured, a visit with the First Lord of the Admiralty reveals that the mutineers delivered Peregrine to the French. Clay is ordered to sail to the Caribbean, find the ship, and recapture her. If that’s not possible, she must be destroyed. There is no other way to erase the stain on the Royal Navy’s honor. To assist him in this task is a boatswain’s mate who once served aboard the Peregrine before the mutiny.

In Plymouth, a man encounters mates from the Griffin talking outside a tavern where an officer is signing on new recruits. Larcum Mudge likes what he hears and decides to join the navy. Yet his familiarity with life aboard a king’s ship causes them to wonder why someone who has spent so much time on a whaling vessel never claims to have served aboard a warship before. Then, during an encounter with a French privateer, Mudge slays one of the captives after he surrenders. It looks like a righteous kill, especially when a tattoo on the dead man identifies him as a deserter from the Royal Navy.

With rumors of peace abounding, the Griffin sails for the Caribbean. Upon arrival there, Clay has a brief reunion with his brother-in-law, who warns him about the mercurial temperament of the captain who blockades Guadeloupe where Clay hopes to find Peregrine. Once arriving on station, he discovers there is also a French warship in the harbor – one that the blockading captain has no knowledge of. Since the fortifications and natural layout of the harbor make it impossible to extract Peregrine, Clay devises an ingenious, yet risky, strategy to succeed in his mission. That entails a series of orders, one of which upsets the blockading captain. During his absence, Clay discovers the reason for the outburst and, in the process, captures one of the mutineers. In the meantime, Mudge and his messmates are among the men tasked with implementing Clay’s plan. When one of them does so with a tad more zeal than necessary, they become trapped. Only Mudge can lead them to safety. In doing so, he reveals knowledge that he shouldn’t have.

This eighth book in the Alexander Clay series takes place prior to the Peace of Amiens in 1802. It also represents Allen’s first venture into self-publishing. While Clay plays an important part in this story – one that involves a puzzle that could reopen wounds of a past scandal – it is predominantly a tale of the lower decks. Allen’s artful recreation of the past is second only to his skillful creation of Larcum Mudge. The name alone sparks interest, but readers soon come to care about this man and what happens to him. Larcum Mudge is by far the best book in the series and an adventure that fans old and new will enjoy.




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Review of William Westbrook's Barbarians on an Ancient

Barbarians on an Ancient Sea by William Westbrook

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


On the shoals of Bermuda, a ship founders in a storm in 1800. All hands are lost. Among the scattered wreckage is a chest of gold coins. Later, nine-year-old Little Eddy roves the beach in search of his long-lost father and whatever treasure the sea deigns to wash ashore. This day of foraging delivers a single wooden plank with the letter “J” on it. He hurries back to tell Ezra Somers, whose ships carry salt throughout the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Caught in the same storm, Nicholas Fallon cruises the ocean north of Hispaniola in hopes of encountering French privateers or pirates that have been harassing the ships of the Somers Salt Company. As captain of the Rascal, he carries a letter of marque and since the British are at war against France and Spain, he and his crew are eager to snare a few more prizes. Instead, they spy a signal rocket and investigate. As a New England sloop teeters on the brink of sinking, they embark on a daring rescue to save those aboard.

The loss of the sloop weighs heavy on Caleb Visser, but he prays that his brother’s ship has weathered the storm. His hopes are dashed once Rascal docks in Bermuda and Nicholas takes him to meet his future father-in-law and partner, Ezra Somers. Little Eddy shares what he found and Caleb knows that he’s lost not only his brother, but also any chance they had of rescuing their father. The gold his brother carried was the ransom demanded by the dey of Algiers, whose corsairs had captured and enslaved Wilhelm Visser.

When Little Eddy reveals the location of the wreck, a sliver of hope surfaces. If a diver can locate the gold, there’s a chance Caleb can recover what has been lost. Then all he will need is to find a merchant ship willing to venture into the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean, the hunting grounds of the Barbary pirates. Nicholas wants to help Caleb, but his wedding day approaches and he must convoy two salt ships to Boston – a journey fraught with peril from the pirates in the Caribbean and a French frigate prowling the waters near the Chesapeake.

First mate Beauty McFarland, Aja, and the rest of the Rascals return, some with important roles to play in this tale that depends on outcomes prefaced by “if.” While Nicholas’s first encounter with Achille Zabana, the Barbary captain with a portable beheading machine, is breathtaking, and the capture of Little Eddy provides additional impetus to go to Algiers, Nicholas and Aja’s furtive visit into Algiers is less plausible since their knowledge of the city, culture, and language is decidedly lacking. Even so, the denouement is galvanizing.

Single strands of diverse threads – Barbary slavery, international intrigue, heart-pounding sea battles, crafty subterfuge, ghastly torments, and vicious pirates – coalesce into a stirring gamble that affects characters and readers alike. Fans of the Nicholas Fallon Sea Novels will find this as immersive as the previous two books; newcomers will be lured by enthralling challenges and rich characters, especially Little Eddy who almost steals the stage from Nicholas.




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