1794. In the wake of the Glorious 1st of June, an equivocal success for the British naval fleet against the French Revolutionary forces, John Pearce has pressing matters to attend to. He has an urgent commission from Lord Hood, he must track down Midshipman Toby Burns and placate Emily who, estranged from her husband, Pearce s enemy Captain Ralph Barclay, is now under his protection. Meanwhile, the Pearce finds himself aboard HMS Agamemnon, and in series of actions and shore raids, impresses Horatio Nelson with his bold and brave maneuvers.Donachie's sea-faring, firebrand hero throws an intriguing light on the naval skirmishes between Britain and Revolutionary France.
David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which he drew upon for the many novels he has set in that period. The author of a number of bestselling books, he lived in Deal with his wife, fellow A&B author Sarah Grazebrook.
This is the ninth installment in the John Pearce series. The year is 1794 and Pearce has become a grudging secret-errand boy to the powerful minister Henry Dundas. Emily Barkley wants Pearce to track down her nephew Midshipman Toby Burns.
Toby Burns is now assigned to the HMS Agamemnon commanded by Lord Horatio Nelson. They go on a series of actions and shore raids. Pearce is living with Emily and Captain Barkley will soon find out, and the Pelicans are all together now.
There is a feeling of transition to the whole story, as Pearce deals with the aftermath of the previous mission and prepares for the next. Donachie builds great characters and the story moves right along. There is lots of action and suspense in the story. Please note that this series must be read in the order it was written. I am getting the feeling the series might be winding down. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is narrated by Peter Wickham.
The John Pearce series is well-written and the plot has been carefully crafted as well. Descriptions, dialogue, and characters are all good. Donahie's vocabulary and understanding of nautical terms and situations make the story thing true.