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Alan Lewrie #18
Reefs and Shoals
Pity poor Captain Alan Lewrie, Royal Navy! He's been wind-muzzled for weeks in Portsmouth, snugly tucked into a warm shore bed with lovely, and loving, Lydia Stangbourne, a Viscount's daughter, and beginning to enjoy indulging his idle streak, when Admiralty tears Lewrie away and order him to the Bahamas, into the teeth of ferocious winter storms. It's enough to make a rakehell such as he weep and kick furniture!
At least his new orders allow Lewrie to form a small squadron from what ships he can dredge up at Bermuda and New Providence and hoist his first broad pendant, even if it is the lesser version, and style himself a Commodore.
Lewrie is to scour the shores of Cuba and Spanish Florida, the Keys and the Florida Straits in search of French and Spanish privateers which have been taking British merchantmen at an appalling rate, and call upon neutral American seaports to determine if privateers are getting aid and comfort from that quarter. Lewrie is to be "Diplomatic." Diplomatic? Lewrie? Not bloody likely!
To solve the problem and find the answers will put Lewrie in touch with old friends, old foes, and more frustration than a dog has fleas. As usual, though, Captain Alan Lewrie will find his own unique way to fulfill his duties, and in the doing, find some fun in his own irrepressible manner!
Reefs and Shoals is the 18th installment in the Alan Lewrie series, from Dewey Lambdin, "The brilliantly stylish American master of salty-tongued British naval tales" ( Kirkus Reviews ).
At least his new orders allow Lewrie to form a small squadron from what ships he can dredge up at Bermuda and New Providence and hoist his first broad pendant, even if it is the lesser version, and style himself a Commodore.
Lewrie is to scour the shores of Cuba and Spanish Florida, the Keys and the Florida Straits in search of French and Spanish privateers which have been taking British merchantmen at an appalling rate, and call upon neutral American seaports to determine if privateers are getting aid and comfort from that quarter. Lewrie is to be "Diplomatic." Diplomatic? Lewrie? Not bloody likely!
To solve the problem and find the answers will put Lewrie in touch with old friends, old foes, and more frustration than a dog has fleas. As usual, though, Captain Alan Lewrie will find his own unique way to fulfill his duties, and in the doing, find some fun in his own irrepressible manner!
Reefs and Shoals is the 18th installment in the Alan Lewrie series, from Dewey Lambdin, "The brilliantly stylish American master of salty-tongued British naval tales" ( Kirkus Reviews ).
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2012
125 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Dewey Lambdin
70 books278 followersDewey 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 16, 2023
There's nothing I like more than to immerse myself in the world of the wooden sailing ships of the Royal Navy battling the French Empire of Napoleon. I've read C.S. Forester's Hornblower series, Alexander Kent's Boiltho series, and some of Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey series. Lambdin's series featuring Alan Lewrie compares favorably with those other series.
I have to admit that this one, the 18th in the series, is the first one of the series that I've read. Captain Lewrie at this point is a hardened veteran, so I have not seen his maturing from being a midshipman (as I assume he was at the beginning). I'll have to go back to the earlier stories to see the younger man but, as for "Reefs and Shoals," I don't think my not having read any previous books hurt my understanding--or appreciation--of the story.
It's 1805 and Lewrie is ordered, first, to Bermuda, and then the Bahamas. It's up to him to form a squadron and this will make him a commodore. His orders are to go after the Spanish and French privateers that are devastating British merchant shipping. He is to search for them along the Florida coast, including the Keys. At that time, Florida was a Spanish colony, but an extremely thinly settled colony with its main settlement being St. Augustine. Furthermore, Lewrie has orders to sail up the coast of the United States to see if privateers are basing themselves on the Southern coast, and thus violating American neutrality. The mission will require Lewrie to use his diplomatic as well as his fighting skills and, of course, his seamanship, especially to deal with the "reefs and shoals."
Maybe there's not as much action as I expected, but for several pleasurable hours, I was immersed in the world of canvas, cannon, and timber--and flesh-and-blood toughness and courage-- on the seas of the early 19th Century.
I have to admit that this one, the 18th in the series, is the first one of the series that I've read. Captain Lewrie at this point is a hardened veteran, so I have not seen his maturing from being a midshipman (as I assume he was at the beginning). I'll have to go back to the earlier stories to see the younger man but, as for "Reefs and Shoals," I don't think my not having read any previous books hurt my understanding--or appreciation--of the story.
It's 1805 and Lewrie is ordered, first, to Bermuda, and then the Bahamas. It's up to him to form a squadron and this will make him a commodore. His orders are to go after the Spanish and French privateers that are devastating British merchant shipping. He is to search for them along the Florida coast, including the Keys. At that time, Florida was a Spanish colony, but an extremely thinly settled colony with its main settlement being St. Augustine. Furthermore, Lewrie has orders to sail up the coast of the United States to see if privateers are basing themselves on the Southern coast, and thus violating American neutrality. The mission will require Lewrie to use his diplomatic as well as his fighting skills and, of course, his seamanship, especially to deal with the "reefs and shoals."
Maybe there's not as much action as I expected, but for several pleasurable hours, I was immersed in the world of canvas, cannon, and timber--and flesh-and-blood toughness and courage-- on the seas of the early 19th Century.
September 12, 2016
I have been getting Dewey Lambdin's books from the library, and so I have not been reading them in the order that they were written, but I have found that each book stands on its on, and even though I have not been reading them in order, I can follow the series of events very easily. Mr. Lambdin writes in a way that is easy to follow, and enticing to read. I have to confess that I do not know much about naval history or sailing ships, but I enjoy reading Lambdin's description of the above, and after reading a few of his books, I am more familiar with both. I look forward to reading another of Lambdin's books!
May 21, 2013
The Warshington Times said "Lambdin is closing in on Patrick O'Brian as the most prolific historical novelist to celebrate a Royal Navy mariner." Indeed, he's three behind the great O'Brian's tally. And while sheer numbers of books may not equal greatness they must mean something, no?
I'm speaking more about Lambdin's series in this review than this one book. The mysterious Mister Lambdin (does anybody have any details at all about the man besides that one image of him??) is no Patrick O'Brian, but then who these days is? But he IS a great writer of military fiction.
If you're a fan of Cornwell's Sharpe or Saxon stories then this will be right in your wheelhouse.
There does tend to be, in latter Lambdin novels a lot of what one might consider mundane details. If one likes bloody battle scenes one after another this might be an issue. On the other hand if one appreciates the fleshing-out of a charachter you might like it.
Lambdin will, ever so often, be a bit a graphic about the hero's sexual conquests. That's part of his appeal I suspect, but if you are a prude you may not enjoy what is described as a "lion's mane" and whatnot.
O'Brian a solid 4.9
Cornwell 4.5+
Lambdin 4.2 or so.
Forester - I need to read him again but 4+ easily.
Yeah, Lambdin's that good.
I'm speaking more about Lambdin's series in this review than this one book. The mysterious Mister Lambdin (does anybody have any details at all about the man besides that one image of him??) is no Patrick O'Brian, but then who these days is? But he IS a great writer of military fiction.
If you're a fan of Cornwell's Sharpe or Saxon stories then this will be right in your wheelhouse.
There does tend to be, in latter Lambdin novels a lot of what one might consider mundane details. If one likes bloody battle scenes one after another this might be an issue. On the other hand if one appreciates the fleshing-out of a charachter you might like it.
Lambdin will, ever so often, be a bit a graphic about the hero's sexual conquests. That's part of his appeal I suspect, but if you are a prude you may not enjoy what is described as a "lion's mane" and whatnot.
O'Brian a solid 4.9
Cornwell 4.5+
Lambdin 4.2 or so.
Forester - I need to read him again but 4+ easily.
Yeah, Lambdin's that good.
July 17, 2020
18 books in and still going very strong!
June 12, 2015
Lambdin provides with the 18th adventure of his hero Alan Lewrie, a series that certainly has legs. Here, unlike the previous few books, we spend 80% of our time in naval action, and 20% of our time back in Port in England, a reverse of what we had seen in the last three novels. And that is well worth it.
It is the time after the Peace of Amiens has ended and before Trafalgar, though we end knowing that the enemy fleet is out in the Atlantic. Fortunately for Sir Alan, Baronet, he has been given a squadron, though his is the only ship of Rate, to cleanse privateers from the coast of Florida. (A Spanish Colony at the time)
Following his adventures one can grasp a true feel for life on ship and the trials of a Sea Captain, perhaps more so than Forester or O'Brien left us with, even more than Kent and Pope as well. Stockwell's Kydd comes close but as time has taken this series to so many books, Lambdin has done better and better research and one gets a feeling wit h his citing of facts, detail and use of idiom that the author has become a master over his period.
The Alan Lewrie series, and this addition to it, is well worth the time.
It is the time after the Peace of Amiens has ended and before Trafalgar, though we end knowing that the enemy fleet is out in the Atlantic. Fortunately for Sir Alan, Baronet, he has been given a squadron, though his is the only ship of Rate, to cleanse privateers from the coast of Florida. (A Spanish Colony at the time)
Following his adventures one can grasp a true feel for life on ship and the trials of a Sea Captain, perhaps more so than Forester or O'Brien left us with, even more than Kent and Pope as well. Stockwell's Kydd comes close but as time has taken this series to so many books, Lambdin has done better and better research and one gets a feeling wit h his citing of facts, detail and use of idiom that the author has become a master over his period.
The Alan Lewrie series, and this addition to it, is well worth the time.
March 13, 2021
Less action than the previous books, but understandable in terms of a real life -- everyone's life has its flat spots! Is my hero aging? I will definitely order the next one from the library, just to see what he gets up to next. Interesting historical sidelights here about the southern Atlantic coast of the then burgeoning US, with Florida still (lightly) in Spanish hands, and the actual ownership of the Caribbean very much up for grabs.
December 18, 2021
Another good read, although interrupted by work! Lewrie is becoming the seasoned commodore and lands an impressive clutch of prizes and sees the demise of his long lost complainer.
May 7, 2022
Another spectacular entry in the Alan Lewrie British Naval saga. This book begins bittersweet with the passing in real life of a close friend of the author when this book was written in 2011. In this case it was a friend who helped fact check the time period and was a valuable edition to keeping all the right lines and cannons in their proper places. Further compounded by the recent passing of the author, which sadly means as I get closer and closer to the end of the line of this series there will be no new books coming. This installment finds our intrepid Captain Lewrie tasked by the admiralty to weed out and out put paid to various pirates lurking off the coast of St Augustine and Savannah, Ga. As usual the action is sharp and the verbiage is quick. Initially Lewrie feels overwhelmed with the task at hand, but we readers know he is a right sneaky bastard and it is only a matter of time before he locates the pirate base and claims some prizes for King and Country. So sally forth me hearties, and enjoy a tall tale on the high seas and there might even be some rum drunk and swords crossed. A fantastic series by an author whose passing I mourn with each book left in the series,
October 27, 2021
Another entry in the Alan Lewrie series, set during the Age of Sail. It is 1805 and Britain is back at war with the France of Napoleon and their ally, Spain. The British Admiralty feels they need to send a small force to the northern Caribbean to look into the matter of Spanish and French privateering activities that are continuing to plague British commercial shipping in the region, so Lewrie is selected and is asked to take his frigate to the area and establish a small task force to look into the situation. His orders come direct from the Admiralty, so the local British naval leaders are not inclined to support his efforts. He manages to add a few small sloops and he proceeds up the coast of Spanish Florida, which is largely uninhabited at the time, and then on north to visit the American ports north to Wilmington to look into possible illegal support of enemy shipping. The usual political complications occur, mostly without naval confrontations until the latter part of the book when things finally come together for some convincing action.
March 25, 2012
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.
December 22, 2021
In Reefs and Shoals Captain Sir Alan Lewrie Baronet and his well tuned crew are ordered to the Caribbean on special Admiralty orders where he is to take command of a small squadron, raise a Commodore’s flag and attempt to put a stop to piracy in the area. Arriving he finds that the area commander is his old nemesis Forrester, now a post captain. Forrester had been a nasty midshipman on one of Lewrie’s early assignments and they are not friends. He manages to get permission to take a couple small warships and shapes this group into a squadron and they take several privateers and expose an American trader who was violating the United States position of neutrality. We get to see Lewrie in a position where he is commanding other ships and, as expected, he does quite well, his subordinates coming to idolize him for his leadership and past achievements. Lambdin seems comfortable staging his stories in the Caribbean and along the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina and John Lee gets the opportunity to do a variety of southern accents. Lee is an entertaining reader and is particularly good at obnoxious, snobbish Royal Navy Captains like Forrester and later Capt Greerson who arrives at Jamaica with a large flotilla of warships. Rumors of French and Spanish fleets have alarmed the populace and Greerson’s fleet approaches without flying colors. Lewrie has no option but to take his tiny squadron out to meet this overwhelming armada, expecting to die trying and is outraged at the “jape” Greerson has attempted. They are at odds immediately and as Greerson outranks Lewrie, our hero must grin and bear it. But the people of Nassau are outraged as well and at a dinner put on by the governor Lewrie is applauded on his entrance while Greerson is not and at table Lewrie’s tales of adventure completely upstage Greerson to his great dismay. Greerson declares that Lewrie is no longer needed in the Caribbean and writes orders sending him back to England.
May 10, 2019
Ok but not great.
February 12, 2020
A little slow but a good finish.
September 20, 2021
Another great yarn
Lawrie is of on his travels again. Another great yarn,well told, pirates,privateers and dodgy merchants all contrive to make an excellent read.
Lawrie is of on his travels again. Another great yarn,well told, pirates,privateers and dodgy merchants all contrive to make an excellent read.
March 27, 2022
A privateer was legal as long as the government says so after that you're a pirate.
February 11, 2023
Lambdin knows his stuff. A must for anyone into the Tall Ships period. As good as, and maybe even better, than Patrick O'Brian.
August 26, 2023
Excellent, as always!
July 24, 2012
Picked this at random off the "just in" shelf at the Westport library. Apparantly, there is a whole series of "Alan Lewrie" -- very similar I would guess to the much more popular Patrick O'Brian naval series (one of which, Master and Commander, was made into a movie starring that Aussie or Kiwi actor whose name escapes me -- not Mel Gibson). This one takes place in waters that I am somewhat familiar with -- Bermuda, Bahamas, Florida Keys, Savannah, Charleston -- and should have been a great read. Unfortunately, the characters all seem a little two-dimensional and certainly too upbeat. Winston Churchill suposedly said that British naval tradition can be summed with the words "rum, sodomy and the lash." There was just too much light-spirited high-jinks and comaraderie in this story.
July 29, 2013
Captain Alan Lewrie takes us from his bedroom (occupied by one other person) to the Caribbean Sea and the United States for this land and sea conflict. What I like about Dewey Lambdin is that he patiently explains many of the details of fighting ships of the 18th and 19th centuries. The fun of these novels lies not only in the plot lines and adventures but the incredible high-technology of sailing and fighting during this era. Bring on more, Mr. Lambdin.
February 21, 2020
Hugely enjoyable tale
In this episode of Alan Lewrie's career as find him sent off to Bermuda to hunt privateers, whilst there he runs into old friends and old enemies. It's not all blood and thunder and reflects what must have been the reality of the task, that is trying too find the one wave amongst many. It is a hugely enjoyable read, with comeuppance served to some and success to others
In this episode of Alan Lewrie's career as find him sent off to Bermuda to hunt privateers, whilst there he runs into old friends and old enemies. It's not all blood and thunder and reflects what must have been the reality of the task, that is trying too find the one wave amongst many. It is a hugely enjoyable read, with comeuppance served to some and success to others
September 29, 2012
Jumping into a series at book 18 isn't always a good choice. But I found I could keep p with this story no problem. I found the first few chapters hard to keep attention on, but eventually I was hooked.
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April 28, 2012I think this is # 18 in the series. I have only read 2. This most likely is not for everyone but if you like British naval history? I like it and if I had been born a man I think I would have been a sailor!
April 23, 2012
Once again Captain Lewrie is sailing his British ship, this time charged to patrol off Cuba , Florida and the southeastern Unitee Ststes in early 1800s.
This is an engaging story of life aboard this Beirish warship as they attempt to seize privateers.
This is an engaging story of life aboard this Beirish warship as they attempt to seize privateers.
February 8, 2012
I'm a big fan of Captain Sir Alan Lewrie.
May 12, 2012
Good Book. I have enjoyed the whole series. If you like Forrester's Horatio Hornblower or Bernard Cornwell, try these.
June 7, 2012
This one was not up to par with his other books. It was very tame and predictable.
December 26, 2013
Awesome! Nice story, great depiction of the Caribean and the southern North American coast. Looking forward to reading other books of the Alan Lewerie series.
December 29, 2013
Not much action as Lewrie is in American waters while Nelson pursues the French fleet, but a pleasant read.
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April 25, 2016Like
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews