A King's Trade

Alan Lewrie #13

by Dewey Lambdin

The powder-packed thirteenth installment in a classic naval adventure series.

Captain Alan Lewrie, Royal Navy, is just discovering the truth of the old adage that "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!"
After a bout of Yellow Fever decimated the crew of Lewrie's HMS Proteus in 1797, it had seemed like a knacky idea to abscond with a dozen slaves from a coastal Jamaican plantation to help man his frigate, a grand jape on their purse-proud master and a righteous act, to boot. But now . . . two years later, the embittered Beauman clan at last suspects Lewrie of the deed. Slave-stealing is a hanging offense, and suddenly Alan Lewrie's neck is at risk of a fatal stretching!
Patrons finagle an official escape from Jamaica to England, where the nefarious and manipulative master Foreign Office spy, Zachariah Twigg, is just too nice and helpful to be credited on his behalf, arranging a long voyage even further out of the law's reach, to Cape Town and India, as escort to an East India Company convoy led by one of Lewrie's old captains, who still despises him worse than cold, boiled mutton!
To the Cape of Good Hope, where French cruisers prowl, where a British circus and theatrical troupe joins the convoy, just teeming with tempting female acrobats, nubile young bareback riders, and alluring "actresses" like the seductive but deadly archer, Eudoxia Durschenko!
It will take all Lewrie's shrewd guile, wit, low cunning, and steely self-control to worm his way out of trouble, this time, and keep his breeches chastely buttoned up to avoid even more troubles . . . or will he?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Nautical, Adventure, War, Naval Historical Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2006

About the author

Dewey Lambdin (1945-2021 ) was an American nautical historical novelist. He was best known for his Alan Lewrie naval adventure series, set during the Napoleonic Wars. Besides the Alan Lewrie series, he was also the author of What Lies Buried: a novel of Old Cape Fear.

A self-proclaimed "Navy Brat," Lambdin spent a good deal of his early days on both coasts of the U.S.A., and overseas duty stations, with his father. His father enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1930, was "mustanged" from the lower deck (from Yeoman chief Petty Officer) at Notre Dame in '42, and was career Navy until May of 1954, when he was killed at sea aboard the USS Bennington CVA-20 (see below), on which he served as Administrative Officer, 5th in line-of-command (posthumous Lieutenant Commander).

Lambdin himself attended Castle Heights Military Academy, graduated in 1962, and was destined to be the family's first "ring-knocker" from the U.S. Naval Academy, "... until he realised that physics, calculus, and counting higher than ten were bigger than he was."[1] He studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Liberal arts and Theatre, where he was published in The Theme Vault in 1963, also reprinted in a national textbook, which whetted his appetite for writing. However, he failed his degree. He finally graduated with a degree in Film & TV Production from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1969. This was considered at the time to be the McHale's Navy of the academic set, so the nautical influence was still at work. He has worked for a network affiliate TV station as a producer/director for twelve years, an independent station as production manager and senior director/writer/ producer for three years, all in Memphis, and as a writer/producer with a Nashville advertising/production facility, or in free-lance camera, lighting and writing.

He has been a sailor since 1976 and spends his free time working and sailing on his beloved sloop Wind Dancer, with a special taste for cruising the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Lambdin has thus far resisted the temptation to trade his beloved typewriter for a computer. He lived in Nashville, Tennessee.

He was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, a Friend of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England; Cousteau Society; the former American Film Institute; and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
-Wikipedia

Mr Lambdin passed away on July 26, 2021 at the age of 76.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/deweyl...

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last 15% of this book was great. The vast part before that just dragged and I almost gave up reading it. It just wasn't interesting and didn't go anywhere, simply repeating ideas that have already been done to death in the previous books.
Bring back the wit, the sarcasm, and the naval fighting....that's why we starting dealing the Lewrie books. Unfortunately in this volume all of those hall marks are sadly missing.

[Sunhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lambkin does it again. I find these books captivating, entertaining ...instructive (a period of history I'm not much familiar with, and a way of living that's so hard to imagination a mere 200 years later). In particular, I like Lambkin's insight into the self-doubts of our gallant captain, who is clearly superior both in luck and accomplishments, and yet berates himself constantly for his failings. How else can one ever hope to *do better*?

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 on this review, with the benefit of the doubt going to the author. I can honestly say "Mine arse on a band-box!" five times before the book is halfway compete is at least four times too many. Furthermore, the first 220 pages literally went nowhere, The entire book felt like a filler in the series. I did enjoy the circus ship, and the big finish was worthy of any credible massage parlor. Hopefully the next book in this overall series has a little more dash and pluck.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are now half way through the twenty six book series and Alan Lewrie, now a full post captain with twenty years service in the Royal Navy becomes a celebrity in England for his action in stealing slaves from the Bowman family on Jamaica. Lewrie, short on crew because of the yellow jack, desperately needed men and it seemed like a great idea at the time. That decision, however, has put him in legal jeopardy. Mr Twigg enlists the help of British abolitionists like the Reverend Wilberforce to control public opinion, then hustles Lewrie off to convoy duty to keep him out of harms way. One of the ships escorted is a circus ship and it appears Lewrie might once again get into Lady trouble with an exotic Russian circus performer. On the way back to England he has an hour and a half battle with a French frigate and takes her becoming a hero once again. Sadly, in this battle we lose some key members of the the crew including his former slave coxswain Andrews. It’s quite fascinating to try and visualize life aboard a one hundred and fifty foot ship with a crew of around 150 men and boys. As a management problem it’s quite an interesting one and Lewrie clearly has great management skills in molding this crew which has pretty much been together for three years at the conclusion of this particular story. Lewrie as a manager is a leader by example. Of course, his great reputation as a war leader proceeds him and the men admire his ramcat reputation as a ladies man. But his management secret seems to be his attitude of fairness and a strong streak of self-awareness. He also has tremendous self confidence which keeps him from developing personality traits of lesser captains. He also takes pains to look out for the care and feeding of his men and is loathe to use the cat. At the end of the book his first lieutenant Mr Langley finally gets a well earned command, Lewrie is partially reconciled with Caroline, the Irishman Desmond is appointed the new coxswain and Lewrie is assigned to a better ship although denied a knighthood because of his ramcatting and hustle off again to sea to keep him out of the legal crosshairs of the Bowman’s who are on their way to England to take him to court. Since we all know that slavery ultimately loses we can guess that Lewrie will come out on top eventually although his 37,000 lb fortune earned from prizes may be eaten up with legal fees. And, good grief, there’s thirteen books left to go in the series!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Lewrie is back in England after his cruise in the Caribbean. He is in hot water and despite his reputation, William Wilberforce and his Reformers want to use him as a poster boy for anti-slavery. The Reformers and his patrons admire Lewrie for his courage, cunning, and the results even as they want to keep him a half continent away.

The solution: reward him by posting him on the other end of the Earth. Along the way, he runs into a traveling circus, French ships, and more senior ranking officers who hate his wild ways. One thing I like about Lambdin is that Alan remains a dichotomy of a great naval commander who gets better over time but stays the same in his womanizing way. He still has a wife and three children but somehow there is still a woman out there.

One other thing: Royal Navy seniority rules in the late 18th century and early 19th century were pretty much based on time in rank. You would have to do something so stupid, so inept, to lose your seniority. You might not get an active command any more, but as long as you were on the captain's list and later admiral's list, you will still rise. Keep that in mind whenever Alan has to deal with other captains who are higher or lower on the List.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unlikely story shot through with by-the-numbers writing. Entertaining, but not much fun. The entire novel is a setup for the final chapters, which has a fizzling payoff. Lewrie is a weak character whose actions are almost always dictated from without, and his main attributes are a ridiculous good fortune and a mindless collapse when confronted with boobs. Restrained by a plot that was defined in previous books, this novel simply has Lewrie floating about the southern hemisphere hoping to score with a hot circus trick rider and waiting out events that happen elsewhere. A very flat book overall, and one ridden with catchphrases (mine arse on a bandbox is neither funny or useful as an exclamation).

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings some insight into the history of slavery in the UK and the States. It also gives a curious look at the manner in which the writer believes that "interest" played a role in an officers "fortunes". It doesn't seem likely that so many people would go so far simply to benefit someone that they are certain is guilty, even if they agree with the crime.

[Matt Herman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Lambdin and Lewrie is a fantastic character but this one was pretty awful for 3/4'ths of the book. The final chapters are good but you could easily skip this one. The dialogues between characters is cringy and voluminous. The endless descriptive lists become literary Xanax. First time I am saying this about an Alan Lewrie novel but it was a disappointing bore.

[Mike Moe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was read to me

WWLD? I'm going to find out. Read a little but purchased the audio so I could split wood while "sailing with Capt. Lewrie." Very enjoyable.

[Oismiffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drags a bit in places, but otherwise another fantastic instalment.

[Charlie Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally some fighting frigate action on the high seas. Also a fighting floating menagerie.

[Kenneth Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good installment.

A little slow to start but it picked up quickly. Lawrie in the South Atlantic. Traveling with a circus. What possible trouble could be her into

[09/01 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great yarn

Yet another great yarn,from Lambdin. Thoroughly enjoyed reading. Lawrie gets into the usual scrapes, but for a change manages to behave reasonably well.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous battle at the end. And an amusing -- apparently truth-based -- story of a circus that said the Atlantic. A nice read, this one.

[Mr.Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan moves up in the Royal Navy. Once again, he is a family man, I wonder how long it will last this time.

[David Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, with a rather different but engaging storyline, and a belter of a battle to finish it off!

[albert puknat · Rating 5 out of 5]

afantastic series of books

Great seafaring adventure series from landsman midshipman to capible captain Very entertaining and well researched novel four more words required

[Colin Lambert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much Shoregoing fluff.

I confess to getting bored with all the detail about the slavery issues and then the unlikely circus stuff. Good battle at the end gotcit two stars.

[Frank Mihlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting changes of scenery

Interesting change of pace from the usual Lewrie novels.

Where else can you find a bear ready and willing to fight the French?

[john temple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read

This book is even better than the last, which itself was fabulous. Alan Lewrie is sent away from England to avoid the scandal over his "stolen" slaves, over which the Beauman family wish to take court action. So Wilberforce and other real life historical people make an appearance to put the "mob" behind Lewrie in relation to the case, and Lewrie suspects generally advance the Anti slavery cause. It's a rollicking high seas adventure without, it has to be said, much in the way of romantic or sexual adventure. Although there has to be some otherwise the Ram Cat wouldn't be as interesting, It's a great read and each book in the series seems to get better than the last, although it might also be that Lewrie is getting more and more mature as the books to on, or just more careful? Great book looking forward to number 14

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading it as a sailing adventure. And I'd never thought before about now difficult it would have been early in the 19th century to do battle on a ship, keeping it moving and shooting a cannon and trying to hit another moving vessel.

I did spend a bit of time with Google open, checking the meaning of sailing phrases with which I was not familiar.

This was the first of the series I'd read and it took quite awhile to understand the history that, in many ways was assumed throughout the book.

The story was fun and I will probably try another in the series.

[Joshua · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read, I believe, all of the Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures with the exception of the latest, "In Troubled Waters," with great relish understanding that Alan Lewrie is somewhat of a rogue, to say the least. This novel, however, stretched credulity to a fair degree. Dewey Lambdin has written a caricature of a sea novel. Perhaps I was expecting too much for when compared to O'Brian, the Master of the genre, the story just seemed... ridiculous. What a disappointment!

[Aspen Junge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the entire series largely back-to-back (my local public library is well-stocked). One of the great things about this series is that we get to watch Alan Lewrie, the main character, grow up from a callow, self-indulgent teenager to a mature, thoughtful, and responsible adult.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

In light Lewrie's gathering problems, probably the best bet is for him to get out of country for awhile. This adventure adds some spice to the rather dismal and dull proceeding to escorting a convoy of ships to India.


The circus ship may not be everyone's thing but I found it to be a lot of fun.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

the last battle with the circus ship is fairly ridiculous but what the heck.... I can't stop reading these.

[Stephen]

Like

[Richard Gayton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Lambdin's 13th book in the Alan Lewrie's series. I did not enjoy it and may stop reading the series. Captain Lewrie has become more mature and with that maturity he is much less interesting to me than the younger, impetuous Midshipman. This is in many ways an appropriate change in his character arc but somehow the logical consequences of his womanizing harming his marriage and distancing himself from his children has no entertainment value. Despite the book coming out in 2006 it is starting to grate that there is still a scarcity of gay characters in the story and the few present are negative stereotypes and condemned by the main character. Perhaps this reflects the author's prejudices and his take on that period of European history. Throughout the series we see gay characters come and go, but none are kept around for central roles and ultimately are shown to be defective in strength or character. This despite the fact that gay and bisexual people probably were present in greater numbers on British Navy ships during the period of this novel than even the general population of Great Britain and many made positive conributions in their service to the British Navy from Captains to ordinary seaman. It is indeed true that sodomy was an offense punishable by death under the Articles of War, however it was rarely enforced because it was so common. I am hoping that Lamdin might grow in maturity along with his main character, allow gay characters to be more multidimensional, which might add interest to his series.