Review of Philip K. Allan's In Northern Seas

In Northern Seas by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Napoleon is frustrated. He conquers all in his path except one particular thorn; the British navy thwarts him no matter how he attempts to invade England. One of his ministers suggests an alternative method. Rather than mount a direct attack, France will strike where the English are most vulnerable – the canvas, hemp, and tar that their warships need. If French agents can persuade the Baltic countries to cease selling these supplies to the English, diplomacy and misinformation will prove a far better weapon to achieving his dream.

The loss of a ship, regardless of whether he did all that he could or not, necessitates a court martial. Captain Alexander Clay stands so accused. What puzzles him more than the outcome is the civilian with the silver-topped cane who attends the proceedings. Glances between that gentleman and the presiding admiral, followed by gentle persuading that a question asked need not be answered strikes Clay as odd. When the same gentleman appears unannounced at his home and wonders whether he might be interested in a new frigate, Clay is further nonplused. The answer, of course, is yes; after all, he is a captain in the Royal Navy and the country is at war with France.

The gentleman with the cane proves to be Nicholas Vansittart, a lawyer and influential member of Parliament. He is also a diplomat who requires Clay’s assistance in his current mission – to stop French interference in the Baltic trade. He admires Clay’s ability to get the job done, oftentimes using unexpected methods, and the manner in which he has advanced through the ranks on his own merit. With Clay at the helm of a fast ship, HMS Griffin, the hope is that together they can resolve the current difficulties through diplomacy. If not, Clay will already be on station to assist Sir Hyde Parker, Lord Horatio Nelson, and the Baltic Fleet in demonstrating just how far the British will go to protect their supply chain against Mad Tsar Paul’s League of Armed Neutrality.

Like a ship navigates the swells and troughs of the sea, this seventh book in the Alexander Clay series keeps readers traversing wave after wave of action and adventure. Whether in Paris, London, Copenhagen, or St. Petersburg, intrigue abounds. Clay and much of his old crew, as well as a few new ones, find themselves in the thick of things. One new character, Vansittart’s valet, has ties to two of them, neither of whom are particularly pleased to renew his acquaintance. To further spice up this nautical tale, Allan interweaves humor, romance, bigotry, assassination, murder, and theft with coming to terms with a disability, narrow escapes, and an enemy ship stalking the Griffin. The denouement is a riveting account of the action during April 1801’s Battle of Copenhagen. It is rife with closer-quarter fighting, ships of the line, and Nelson’s famous turning of a blind eye. Readers will find themselves sitting on the edge of their seats, holding their breath as the story carries them back in time to revisit old friends and experience unexpected hazards.




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