Caribbee

Thomas Kydd #14

by Julian Stockwin

As the captain of a useful frigate, Kydd is claimed by the Leeward Islands station, exchanging the harsh situation in South America for the warmth and delights of the Caribbean. It’s a sea change for Kydd, who revisits places and people that figured in his time as a young seaman. Some are nostalgic and pleasing, while others bring challenges of a personal nature. In Europe, Napoleon is triumphant on land, but so far away in the Caribbean, Kydd and the others feel secure and make the most of running down prizes and sending off fat convoys of sugar to England. But, in a stroke of genius, Bonaparte finds a way to take revenge for Trafalgar and shocks Kydd out of complacency when an element from his past returns and Kydd is accused of murder. In a stroke of irony, it is that same past that may just provide Kydd the means to clear his name.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Nautical, Adventure, Historical, Audiobook, Action

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Julian Stockwin was sent at the age of fourteen to Indefatigable, a tough sea-training school. He joined the Royal Navy at fifteen. He now lives in Devon with his wife Kathy. Julian has written 24 books to date in the Kydd series of historical adventure fiction, the story of one man's journey from pressed man to admiral in the age of fighting sail, and a non-fiction book, 'Stockwin's Maritime Miscellany.' His latest Kydd series title is THUNDERER. And, he's also published two historical standalone novels, THE SILK TREE, set in the time of Emperor Justinian and THE POWDER OF DEATH, about the quest for the secret of gunpowder.

Series:
* Thomas Kydd

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2013, and its the 14th volume of the wonderful "Thomas Kydd" series.

In this book, after Kydd, Renzi and their crew's exploits at the River Plate, they now find themselves in the Caribbean.

With Kydd as Post-Captain of the 32-gun Frigate L'Aurore, and this Caribbean posting seems like a welcome respite.

But soon their rest is disturbed when news reaches them that the sugar trade is threatened, with more and more merchantmen vanishing at sea, with the result that these merchantmen refuse to set sail once more.

Kydd and Renzi have to embark on a dangerous journey of espionage, seamanship, and breath-taking action to find and destroy this enemy to their own Empire's sugar trade.

What is to follow is a tremendous engaging naval adventure, in which Kydd, Renzi and their crew will excel in their endeavours to destroy the enemy of the British sugar trade, and in doing so with great daring actions and great seamanship, and all this is brought to us by the author in his own authentic and very knowledgeable fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is a fantastic addition to this incredible series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Caribbee"!

[Simon Brading · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books in the series, with Kydd in his element

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Already one chapter into # 15 Pasha

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Thomas Kydd joins British naval forces in the Caribbean to root out a source of privateers who are preying on merchant ships and interfering in the sugar trade. Commanding his frigate, L’Aurore, Kydd distinguishes himself but also ends up accused of murder. Together with his scholarly friend and confidential secretary, Nicholas Renzi, he faces adventure, skullduggery, and combat with valor. But will it be enough to clear him of a hanging offense? I enjoyed this latest adventure and reveled in seeing Renzi use his spy skills to ferret out the enemy’s hidden base. Caribbee is another gripping addition to this solid series.

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

I have been a huge fan of this series since 2001, i stumbled across Kydd, i had no real love of sea going tales, and while i love the sight smell and sound of the sea, i get sea sick on a bus, so sailing is well and truly out for me. These books are the closest i can ever get to sailing the seas. The power of the sea and a storm always fascinates me, and i love the beach in a storm more than a sunny day. Its this that captured me at first, then the brilliantly woven characters, I was almost put off by the initial sea shanty style speech, but then i quickly came to love that part of the book, enjoying the musical quality it wove through the book.

Since then Kydd has improved himself, and this has sadly removed this lilting speech. What has remained though is an amazing fictional partnership between unlikely friends, Kydd and Renzi, two men who attack adversity rather than run from it, who live in a time of real men, hero;s both sung and unsung, or honour and action, Written by a man with salt water in his veins. Even someone as landlocked as me can feel the passion for the sea in every line.

14 books in and this series shows no signs of flagging, in fact it grows and improves with every book

as usual, very highly recommended and already purchased for other family members for xmas

(Parm)

[Cindy Vallar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fourteenth Kydd Sea Adventure returns Captain Thomas Kydd to the Caribbean, which he hasn’t visited since he was press-ganged into the Royal Navy as a seaman. Now, he comes to Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane of the Leeward Islands Squadron for assistance in rescuing captured men in Argentina. Instead, Kydd and L‘Aurore are reassigned to Cochrane’s command since he is woefully short of frigates to protect the all-important sugar trade and to prevent the French from sending theirs to ports where the proceeds can fill Napoleon’s war chest.

Unfortunately, Kydd’s return isn’t all happy. One of the other commanders in the squadron is known to him and not in a good way. Captain Tyrell of the ,i.Hannibal was a lieutenant when they first encountered each other and his penchant for strict discipline left a bitter taste in Kydd’s mouth. Now in command of a ship-of-the-line, Tyrell is even more of a martinet, continuing to sow seeds of hatred amongst his crew. Equally unsettling is the fact that Tyrell thinks Kydd familiar but cannot fathom why. Sooner or later, Kydd fears that Tyrell will remember and destroy all that he has worked so hard to attain.

In the meantime, Renzi is plagued with a deep sense of foreboding. Napoleon is not one to take defeat lying down. In the year since Trafalgar, he has had time to plan and foment payback. Renzi fears that when he launches his next attack, it will prove catastrophic. It doesn’t take long for the emperor to reveal his next move, and it brings English trade to a standstill. One of the Jamaican planters affected is none other than Renzi’s brother.

Further complicating British trade in the West Indies is the fact that a pair of mysterious corsairs are seizing British vessels without fear of reprisal. The raiders and their prizes simply vanish and are never heard from again. While Kydd and his men patrol the Caribbean Sea in search of the enemy, Renzi follows through on the thought that a masterful organizer, similar to a spy master, is behind the many French successes. If Renzi can figure out where the enemy’s base of operation is, Kydd and the rest of the squadron can destroy the enemy once and for all.

Caribbee is an engrossing tale that mixes sea adventure and intelligence while contrasting how two men command their ships. One garners loyalty, the other, hatred bordering on mutiny. One aspect of this comparison involves the transfer of one of Kydd’s lieutenants and how he deals with the intolerable situation that he encounters. Interwoven into the central theme of the war and the navy, readers will enjoy noteworthy episodes that include tangling with an underwater volcano, a love interest for Kydd, a bumbling lieutenant who makes an audacious arrival that arouses Kydd’s ire sufficiently to want him transferred off L’Aurore, and a charge of murder that may see Kydd hanged. One of the best so far in the series where readers get reacquainted with people from Kydd and Renzi’s past and jaw-dropping action abounds.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)

[Ed A · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a failed expedition to Buenos Aires, Captain Kydd of the L'Aurore and his friend Nicholas Renzi find themselves stationed in the Carribean amongst Britain's sugar islands. Here, Napoleon's economic blockade threatens British trade interests, as does the unexplained disappearance of mechant ships and their valuable cargo. Kydd and Renzi must discover how these traders are being attacked and hunt the culprits down.

This was my first book in the Kydd Sea Adventures series and it took some time to adjust to the pacing, unusual compared to other historial fiction set during the period. Skirmishes and action sequences were over in a paragraph, whereas bureacratic scenes often take a few pages to resolve. The first and second acts occasionally felt more like an anthology of short anecdotes than a cohesive story and there was only a modest degree of character development to unite various plot elements together.

Notwithstanding, I enjoyed the rich and loving description of Nelson's navy; Stockwell does not shy away from authentic-sounding nautical lexicon and I have come away with renewed appreciation for the sheer professionalism and efficiency of British warships from the period. Real effort was given to describing the strategic situation and Stockwell managed to inject real suspense and tension into points of political economics, which might otherwise have felt quite dry.

I was often uncomfortably aware that the economic interests Kidd and Renzi sought to protect were not just Britain's as a nation, but also the slaveholding plantation owners living in the Carribean. When slavery was mentioned, some characters seemed behind their times (Britain abolished the slave trade shortly after the novel is set) and overall the spectre of this abominable institution soured my enjoyment of this otherwise entertaining story.

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead:

As usual a lot happens in each book in the series. After the abortive take over of Buenos Aires, Kydd is sent back up to the Caribbean. He spends time trying to prevent French privateer attacks on British ships.

They figure that an organized fleet is predating on English merchant ships which are disappearing fast. During one attempt to find them Renzi is given false information and a small flotilla successfully attacks Curacao but it's just a decoy and nothing is found there. This part doesn't make much sense because if the French knew the bait worked they should have set up a surprise defense to destroy the British attackers. Anyway, they eventually figure out where the French are and successfully attack the French and capture the ring leaders.

Overall it's a pretty idyllic commission because the weather is mostly good, they did not have to fight against insurmountable odds and the ship's company bonded together well.

There are a few side stories. One of which was about Tysoe and how he was taken away as a child. Another side story was about Captain Tyrell. He was a tyrannical first lieutenant in the first Kydd book and it seems he became progressively worse. He is now the captain of a 74 and treating his men abominably.

Being that each captain pretty much had godlike powers in his ship, this appears to have been fairly common in that age (shades of Captain Sawyer in Lieutenant Hornblower). Tyrell has also taken to drink and in the end the officers decided to take their case to the admiral but they are interrupted by impending action.

Overall a pretty pleasant book in the series.

[Tony Blenman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me by my son since I have a Caribbean heritage. I was fascinated with the book because of its main issue of keeping the seas open for the shipping of sugar from colonial islands to Britain. Of other interest to me are the attitudes towards slavery, and oceanic storms.
The setting is during the eighteenth century.
Thomas Kydd, Captain of the frigate, L'Aurore, is dispatched to the Caribbean to ensure the sugar trade continues. The threat to impede the trade are the French, who are skillfully carrying out their operations and evading Kydd. At the moment, all he can do is chase and seize Privateers, commissioned ships, taking them as prizes. Nicholas Renzi, an aristocrat, his great friend obtains information on which island the French might be hiding and carrying out their under-handed work in using Privateers.
Everything does not evolve smoothly for Kydd, or Renzi. There are periods of embarrassment, accusation of murder, and a plan of mutiny in the works. Much action, brutality, and a mole in the mix. Excellent reading.

[Terry Steinborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another rousing account of the war against Napoleon and the French during the earliest part of the 19th Century, this one taking place in the waters around the sugar islands of the West Indies. Kydd and his ship have been sent to Barbados to join the British navy in protecting the sugar trade which is vitally important to the British war effort against the French. It soon becomes apparent that somehow great damage is being done by some unknown player against the shipping of the vital sugar and sugar products produced in the British possessions in the Caribbean. Kydd's friend Renzi is instrumental in ferreting out information on the apparently French efforts to stymie Britain's trade, and of course Kydd in in the midst of efforts to stop that interference. Another rollicking tale, this one taking place more on land than the usual sea battles Stockwin writes of so well.

[Adrienne Jacyno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully Depicted

Once again, Julian Stockwin has managed to capture my imagination, taking a reader’s berth in Captain Kydd’s sailing frigate L’Aurore. You’ll find yourself turning page after page through societal gatherings in Antigua, storming islands fighting the French as well as the espionage of Mr. Renzi. This is my thirteenth read in the Kydd series and has this sailor stuck on land thirsting for more. In fact, I’ve already purchased the next in the series,Pasha and plan to plunge back into Kydd’s floating kingdom straight away. Thank you Mr. Stockwin.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The account of the interaction between Spain and England with regard to Argentina is fascinating. Spain may have been the only country that didn't believe that England really ruled the seas. The role of religion in this conflict cannot be overestimated. It was critical and the ultimate reason that the citizens of Latin America would never concede rule to the British. An interesting contribution to the series.

[Pieter Rossouw · Rating 2 out of 5]

i am done with it. I like the concept but the terminology lost me especially when when the writer imitates the accent and slang of that era. It is well done but i lost most of the story because i did not understand most of what the characters are saying. Sad to drop a book at 70% but reading is suppose to be fun not torture.

[Adam‘’s book reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion Julene stock wins authorship of this book is one of the best ones he’s written so far as someone who has lived in the Caribbean and currently does live in the Caribbean he makes the ownership of these islands very understandable… There are some sections where it gets confusing because he doesn’t separate into chapters but other than that a very well written book

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

So for some reason my library system has a 6-7 book gap in Kydd books starting with this one. I was able to get the audio version to listen to. Kydd is transferred from South America to the Caribbean and gets involved in chasing down pirates and privateers. Renzi gets involved in Espionage and Kydd meet a person from his past who threatens his present. Ok book

[Angel Serrano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kydd, su barco y la tripulación son enviados al Caribe a buscar refuerzos para su aventura en el Cono Sur. Pero otras prioridades, como proteger el comercio de azúcar entre las Indias Occidentales y Europa, tendrán que abrir paso. Y los franceses han puesto sus ojos en esa fuente de ingresos.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Captian Kydd adventure. As always I am looking forward to the next story.

[Edwin A Schutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still waiting for more sea battles!

Good book. Very adventurous. I love in the desert and it's a great book to get me out of 112 degrees.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy a good sea story but this wasn't one of the best ones I've read. It felt very disjointed and the characters were one-dimensional.

[Shelly Lincoln · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stockwin returns to form with this entry in the series. Another great read.

[Glenn Walp · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a joy to travel the world of Kidd. I am inspired to see in person the ports described so vividly by Julian Stockwin.

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I found this book to be a really quick, easy read. Although there was a lot I didn't understand about how ships work (in the past and now), I found that the characters were interesting and intriguing enough to drive the story enough.

Although I believe this book was a later one in the series (I believe), I still found it quite easy to understand. I liked Kydd's friendship with Renzi.

It was interesting to see how different Tyrell was as a captain and how his crewmates viewed him in comparison to how Kydd's men viewed him. Although the Hannibal's crew weren't shown in the same detail as the crew in Kydd's ship, I still empathised with the men who had to suffer under a tyrant.

One of the interesting things about this book was the stretching of the rules. I noticed a few times where the truth was stretched, or discarded outright, and it was interesting to see the characters react within those parameters.

There was quite a lot of action in this book and although there were some parts where I wasn't sure what was going on, it was quite cool to see what life on the sea was like during that time. I found this book entertaining and easy to read and I cared about Kydd in particular. I felt he was the most well-rounded character in this book. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed, but apart from that, I think this book is worth reading if you like historical books about the English navy.

[D.w. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stockwin is back on track giving us our heroic Thomas Kydd, doing heroic things, during a time that calls for heroism. We seem to have been at a loss to find a good yarn where we could see that all occur and though we don't have one great cannonball slinging sea battle, we have sea chases and a hurricane, as well as subterfuge and thought in the war against the French.

Renzi finally emerges out of his funk to act like a man instead of a rag that he has been for several books, though still his background and position in the tale seems weak. The son of an Earl, the heir, wants to continue to be estranged from his father hurting the feelings of his mother, and causing undo stress upon all that family seems far fetched after so many books covering so many years.

In the scheme of things, we have Kydd back on track doing what he is meant to do, Captain a vessel in the war. And where other of the recent tales lagged, this moves along at a quick page-turning pace, with prose working into the writing to give us a glimpse of the locale and period even better than previous books. The dialogue places us in the nineteenth century and all that we could hope for is presented with Kydd becoming the hero of 2 major actions in the theater of war.

Now, as our hero makes his way to the next action, we can only hope that Stockwin keeps to this tack and our Kydd does even greater things to reap acclaim.

[Stuart Lutzenhiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

nb: I was given a copy of this novel pre-release in return for this review.

I think that this was the most enjoyable sailing historical novel I have read in a while. Probably since finishing O'Brian.

Things that I appreciated about this work was that, although this is the 14th novel in the series and I haven't read any of the previous ones, I didn't feel too much at a loss to "catch up" in the plot; nor did I find that the author spent an unacceptable amount of time catching his audience up. A fine balance.

The plot is a little hard to summarize only because it is so busy. I don't know if this is a knock on the book or a plus. But there is a lot of stuff happening in this book. Captain Kydd, a young frigate captain of the L'Aurore, is sent to various stations in the Caribbean to assist with various things. He captures a few ships, he spends at least two missions trying to find a base for increased French activity in the area. The cover jacket blurb says that he is accused of murder and this bring up items from his past that he'd rather remain hidden. However, this gem doesn't come in until the last 15% of the book. So a very busy book. Lots of stuff happening - which made for enjoyable reading in short bursts.

[Julia DeBarrioz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent age of sail adventure. Stockwin's seamanship is top notch, and the book is full of fun facts and details I crave in a historical adventure like this. Though this is #14, this was the first of the series I'd read. Starting in the middle, maybe I didn't sympathize with Captain Kidd quite the way the writer would want you to. He came off as rather cold up until the very end, which really drew the story together in such a way that I still give it four stars. It's not really fair to compare them, but Stockwin is a fair successor to Mr. O'Brian, if that's what you're looking for.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book in a firstreads drawing from goodreads.

A great tale about the captain and crew of a ship in the Carribean during the Napoleonic Wars. Episodic in nature, but very good for all that. Hits all the spots you want in this genre without a lot of focus on tying knots or mending lines. Pretty exciting.

[E.R. Yatscoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay story of the pirate days and the British Navy in the Caribbean. There was lots left lacking such as what happened to survivors/prisoners, Tyrell's funeral, the American raiding British merchants. These things were just dropped. There was little suspense. Too bad, could've been so much more.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rousing sea adventure! I didn't realize that it was the 14th in the series until after I started reading it though. I had to consult the cast of characters several times. Which is probably why this is a 3 star review rather than 4.

The book is well worth your time. A good choice for a rainy weekend with a mug of grog!

[Derk West · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the latest installment of this series. I am very happy. can't wait for another.

[Dennis Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. I like this kind of story and enjoyed the time and place. I will read the rest of the books in this series