Matthew's Prize

Matthew Loftus #1

by Marcus Palliser

In the final decade of the 17th century in England, the Dutch trade wars are coming to a close, and the struggles with the French for naval supremacy are just starting. Meanwhile, young Matthew Loftus has no intention of spending his life underground in the coal mines of Whitby. Living in a seaside town, he studies navigation and yearns to go to sea, following in his late father's footsteps. He eventually leaves the port of Whitby for what he expects will be a short voyage, but after he risks his life to save a man who fell overboard, Loftus is himself rescued by a passing Dutch trader-that turns out to be a pirate ship. The Dutch vessel sweeps Mathew to the Spanish Main where he, surprisingly readily, plunges into a bloody life of pillage and prize money. Struggling to adhere to his code of honor yet seduced by life at sea, Matthew carries in his heart the hope of reclaiming his rightful legacy. Furthermore, he longs to be worthy of the woman he loves-the woman he left behind in Whitby-who was on the brink of marriage to another man. Fierce sea battles, lawless privateers, naval skirmishes, and ruthless slave traders combine in this story of adventure and high drama.

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Robert Hepple]

Published in 1999, 'Matthew's Prize' is a maritime adventure set in the 1690s. The attention to detail is outstanding, although the plot was so downbeat for the first third of the novel that my enthusiasm did wain. My perseverance did pay off to some extent, with a rise in tempo that overdid things to the point where the novel lacked credulity at times. It was good of the writer to pick a historical period that has not been done to death by other authors.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin]

Not a real swashbuckler

I am a real fan of sailing ships and stories about them, this one lacked believability and was further burdened with to much romance.

[Luc]

Slow Burner

A sluggish start, but it soon picked up the pace. I hope this sets the tone for the next book.

[Ahamad Yasir]

I just read Matthew's Prize and I found it to be a thrilling adventure story that kept me engaged from start to finish. As a fan of historical fiction and sea tales, I was delighted to discover this book and found Marcus Palliser's attention to detail and vivid descriptions to be immersive and enjoyable.

I particularly liked the character of Matthew and his journey from a coal-mining town to a life at sea. His passion for navigation and desire to explore the world beyond his hometown resonated with me, and I found myself rooting for him throughout the story. The book's action-packed plot, including sea battles, privateers, and ruthless slave traders, also kept me on the edge of my seat and eager to see what would happen next.

That said, I do agree with some reviewers who have noted that the pacing of the book can be slow at times, and the romantic subplot could be a bit clichéd. However, these minor criticisms did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

[Jerry Mercer]

Good Story

A rags to riches sort of story with a good plot, good characters, and true nautical descriptions. Matthew is a fine protagonist with feelings and aspirations.

[Amy VanKessel]

The misfortune that befalls Matthew is almost impossible to believe for the first half or so of the book; it seems a bit unrealistic.

However, the detail of every part of the ships was phenomenal!

[A D Smith]

Not for me.

Difficult read. I struggle d to follow the story line. Put it down a number of times. I was reluctant to take it up again. Introducing period piece and may interest those with that goal.