Jay Worrall

The mission is strange and there are lots to do as Charles moves on to command another frigate. British policies and neglect towards the ship's crew are compounded by the commitment to the lash by the previous tyrannical captain to create an ugly command environment. Not much action but hard work and lots of often thwarted promises get them to the Red Sea as a competent but not happy ship.
Edgemont's Admiralty orders give him, much to the dismay of the local admiral, the latitude to undertake his mission the prevent Napoleon from invading India. The rousing battle scenes conclude this series about a very overlooked part of the British Empire quite nicely… (mais)

Excellent second effort in, hopefully, a long series. Edgemont is married and off to sea; seeking Nelson, seeking the French. We meet the Hamiltons prior to Nelson's amorous connection with Emma. And Penny, Charles' Quaker wife arrives on the scene with Molly, her fallen woman rescue as her companion. Her intention is to fulfill her conjugal commitment and to get his approval for her business plan for his estate. He enjoys the former but has serious reservations about her involvement in the "manly" aspects of business. The counterplay between his conventional and her enlightened views of female capabilities are unusual for this age but add a touch of modernity.

Edgemont's good insights into training and managing his crew are similarly unique for that era but enables his little frigate to do prodigious nautical feats while turning a "Nelsonian blind eye" to unwanted commands from senior officers. Technical nautical terms abound but do not inhibit a good story seasoned by enough facts to stretch but not break the story line.… (mais)

Good entry into, hopefully, a continuing series about the Napoleonic Wars. Good main characters, a thoughtful Quaker counterpoint which foretends an unconventional marriage. Lively action which aptly demonstrates that good luck is a very useful battle attribute. Putting his ship often in harm's way does require frequent visits to repair yards. An enlightened, probably unlikely, sequestering preserves his crew in an era where impressed men, convicts and rejects were far more likely sources. Solid nautical nomenclature and rational navigational orientation are demonstrated suitably by the naval persons… (mais)