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Privateersman Mysteries #1
The Devil's Own Luck
1793: Harry Ludlow, forced out of the Royal Navy, becomes a privateer in partnership with his younger brother James. But for the Ludlows, murder and intrigue take more of their time than hunting fat trading vessels. Harry and James find themselves aboard the Navy's 74-gun Magnanime. In command is a captain with whom Harry has crossed swords in the past. When James is found standing over the body of a dead officer, Harry's feud shifts into the background.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 1993
15 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
David Donachie
66 books63 followersaka Tom Connery, Johnny 'Two Combs' Howard, Jack Ludlow, Jack Cole.
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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 24, 2007
This mystery is set aboard a Royal Navy ship during a post-Revolutionary French-English conflict, but Patrick O'Brian it's not. Donachie is a competent but not inspired author whose work never rises above the level of cliche. Privateer Harry Ludlow encounters Oliver Carter, the captain who caused him to be cashiered from the service; when his brother James is accused of murder, Harry must investigate in the face of Carter's animosity. Carter's villainy is so firmly established at the beginning of the book that his partial redemption at the end is totally unconvincing. Despite the numerous "oh, nobody really minds" references to shipboard homosexual activity (too many; it has an air of protesting too much), the ending has a distinctly anti-gay tone.
April 8, 2021
It's somewhere around 1793, when the U.K. is at war with France and the world's oceans are alive with navy and merchant vessels, all powered by wind. Former naval officer Harry Ludlow is now a prosperous captain of a British privateer, in partnership with his younger, more artistically inclined brother James. One fine day, they spot an opportunity to tag-team with a 74-gun ship of the line to capture a French frigate, but unfortunately the other British captain happens to be Harry's greatest lifelong enemy – the officer with whom he fought a duel, resulting in the end of his naval career. Long story short, Harry wakes up on the HMS Magnanime to a painful head wound and the news that his schooner has been sunk, his crew has been put aboard the prize and Capt. Oliver Carter has taken full credit for its capture, without even firing a shot.
As if that isn't bad luck enough, Harry finds himself on board what seems to be almost a shot-rolling ship. That is to say, its crew is very unhappy, possibly thinking about mutiny, in part because of the cruelty of its first lieutenant, a drunkard named Bentley. Hated and feared by everybody, including his captain, Bentley seems like just the type to find himself in a dark passage in the bowels of the ship with a dagger stuck through him. But of all the people who had reason to want him dead, it has to be James who is found at the scene with the murder weapon in his hand.
Hampered by the hostility of Capt. Carter, who seems to be bending all his power toward hurting the Ludlows, Harry starts sniffing out the real killer in a desperate hope of clearing his brother's name before they reach a port. It doesn't look good for James, however. Two witnesses are ready to swear they saw him do it. Everybody seems to be closing ranks to keep Harry from getting at the truth. Yet at the same time, there is clearly something amiss on the Magnanime – a secret no one will tell, but that may have something to do with the death of a popular ship's boy and a mysterious power the late Bentley seemed to hold over Carter. Aided at times by a sympathetic lieutenant, an alcoholic surgeon and a personal servant appointed to him from the ship's crew, Harry seems to get closer and closer to cutting the noose off James' neck – if only his hatred of Carter doesn't blind him to the evidence right in front of him.
This is an interesting genre mash-up, combining a historically realistic and often thrilling depiction of naval life in the age of Napoleon with a clever whodunit that almost drinks of the spirit of hardboiled fiction. Well researched and (to my eye at least – I'm no seaman, but I've read all the Hornblower, Aubrey-Maturin and Ramage books) authentic in its depiction of ship life in the age of sail, it doesn't glamorize it; it's quite open about the moral failings, harsh discipline and nasty conditions one had to get used to between the decks. But it also makes a strong case for both the high and low water marks of that world, showing men both at their noblest and in the lowest sink of vice. Harry himself is a man of complex character, neither infallibly right nor quite innocent of other men's blood, but with the more cultured James at one elbow and the devoted Pender at the other, I think he may turn out to be a remarkable force for exposing the truth.
This is the first of six "Privateersman Mysteries," published in the 1990s and featuring the brothers Ludlow. Also publishing under the pen-names Jack Ludlow, Tom Connery and Johnny "Two Combs" Howard, David Donachie specializes in naval historical fiction, mostly set in the Napoleonic area. He is also the author of three "Markham of the Marines" novels, three "SAS/Boat Troop" novels, the "Nelson and Emma" trilogy of biographical fiction about Horatio Nelson, the "John Pearce" series of currently 15 novels following the naval careers of a group of friends known as the Pelicans (the 16th installment, HMS Hazard, is slated for release in October 2021), the "Contraband Shore" trilogy and four "Midshipman Wormwood" short stories.
As if that isn't bad luck enough, Harry finds himself on board what seems to be almost a shot-rolling ship. That is to say, its crew is very unhappy, possibly thinking about mutiny, in part because of the cruelty of its first lieutenant, a drunkard named Bentley. Hated and feared by everybody, including his captain, Bentley seems like just the type to find himself in a dark passage in the bowels of the ship with a dagger stuck through him. But of all the people who had reason to want him dead, it has to be James who is found at the scene with the murder weapon in his hand.
Hampered by the hostility of Capt. Carter, who seems to be bending all his power toward hurting the Ludlows, Harry starts sniffing out the real killer in a desperate hope of clearing his brother's name before they reach a port. It doesn't look good for James, however. Two witnesses are ready to swear they saw him do it. Everybody seems to be closing ranks to keep Harry from getting at the truth. Yet at the same time, there is clearly something amiss on the Magnanime – a secret no one will tell, but that may have something to do with the death of a popular ship's boy and a mysterious power the late Bentley seemed to hold over Carter. Aided at times by a sympathetic lieutenant, an alcoholic surgeon and a personal servant appointed to him from the ship's crew, Harry seems to get closer and closer to cutting the noose off James' neck – if only his hatred of Carter doesn't blind him to the evidence right in front of him.
This is an interesting genre mash-up, combining a historically realistic and often thrilling depiction of naval life in the age of Napoleon with a clever whodunit that almost drinks of the spirit of hardboiled fiction. Well researched and (to my eye at least – I'm no seaman, but I've read all the Hornblower, Aubrey-Maturin and Ramage books) authentic in its depiction of ship life in the age of sail, it doesn't glamorize it; it's quite open about the moral failings, harsh discipline and nasty conditions one had to get used to between the decks. But it also makes a strong case for both the high and low water marks of that world, showing men both at their noblest and in the lowest sink of vice. Harry himself is a man of complex character, neither infallibly right nor quite innocent of other men's blood, but with the more cultured James at one elbow and the devoted Pender at the other, I think he may turn out to be a remarkable force for exposing the truth.
This is the first of six "Privateersman Mysteries," published in the 1990s and featuring the brothers Ludlow. Also publishing under the pen-names Jack Ludlow, Tom Connery and Johnny "Two Combs" Howard, David Donachie specializes in naval historical fiction, mostly set in the Napoleonic area. He is also the author of three "Markham of the Marines" novels, three "SAS/Boat Troop" novels, the "Nelson and Emma" trilogy of biographical fiction about Horatio Nelson, the "John Pearce" series of currently 15 novels following the naval careers of a group of friends known as the Pelicans (the 16th installment, HMS Hazard, is slated for release in October 2021), the "Contraband Shore" trilogy and four "Midshipman Wormwood" short stories.
October 22, 2024
A murder mystery at sea, a mad captain, naval order vs capitalistic privateers. I went in expecting middle of the road naval fiction as I have become so accustomed to. But was blown away by how much I loved the writing, the characters, and unique plot. A quick and enjoyable read.
April 5, 2024
Disappointingly, this is a detective story rather than a story about the late 18th-century navy.
January 14, 2010
Hard to miss with this combination mystery/detective story/nautical yarn. Harry Ludlow is an ex-Royal Navy officer now operating his own vessel as a privateer. His ship is destroyed, and he and his crew are taken on board the Magnanime, commanded by one of Harry's old enemies, Oliver Carter. James, Harry's brother, who had also been on Harry's ship, and is hardly a seaman, is discovered standing over the body of a murdered Magnanime officer. Harry must find the real killer in order to clear his brother.
Using his knowledge of the sea and ships, Harry worms his way into the good graces of some of the other officers and sailors. A raft of dark secrets soon emerges, including a secret space where several of the men and officers, would gather to conduct unmentionable activities.
I would rank Donachie somewhere between O'Brian and Forester. The addition of the mystery adds a nice twist to what would otherwise be a very credible naval series.
Using his knowledge of the sea and ships, Harry worms his way into the good graces of some of the other officers and sailors. A raft of dark secrets soon emerges, including a secret space where several of the men and officers, would gather to conduct unmentionable activities.
I would rank Donachie somewhere between O'Brian and Forester. The addition of the mystery adds a nice twist to what would otherwise be a very credible naval series.
Want to read
July 29, 2007There are at least six books in this series, a combination of 18th-century sailing adventure and mystery.
April 21, 2008
This book is pretty good. It is really a murder mystery that is set on a ship. A basic understanding of the British Navy in the 18th century is a must.
Want to read
May 12, 2016A nautical mystery! I'll be doing this for sure for the library's Mystery a la Carte book discussion series.
January 8, 2014
Fun read
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews