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The Pirate Devlin #4
Cross of Fire
With the pirates' domain shrinking, Patrick Devlin and his crew are forced into the unfamiliar waters of Africa and the East Indies. But new ports bring new plunder and it's not long before they are on the trail of the infamous Fiery Cross of Goa.
This most magnificent treasure is in the possession of Olivier 'The Buzzard' Levasseur, captain of the greatest pirate ship of the age. He believes himself unreachable, hidden on an island in the Indian Ocean. Devlin thinks otherwise.
In his pursuit of the Cross, Devlin makes new enemies while still trying to escape the old as, unbeknownst to him, his former master and foe, John Coxon, has set to the waves to hunt him down. With the Royal Navy at his back and a price on his head, Patrick Devlin will need all his courage and cunning to survive.
In CROSS OF FIRE, Mark Keating uses the true account of Levasseur's legendary pirate haul to provide another stunning and heart-pounding portrayal of life on the seas.
This most magnificent treasure is in the possession of Olivier 'The Buzzard' Levasseur, captain of the greatest pirate ship of the age. He believes himself unreachable, hidden on an island in the Indian Ocean. Devlin thinks otherwise.
In his pursuit of the Cross, Devlin makes new enemies while still trying to escape the old as, unbeknownst to him, his former master and foe, John Coxon, has set to the waves to hunt him down. With the Royal Navy at his back and a price on his head, Patrick Devlin will need all his courage and cunning to survive.
In CROSS OF FIRE, Mark Keating uses the true account of Levasseur's legendary pirate haul to provide another stunning and heart-pounding portrayal of life on the seas.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2013
76 people want to read
About the author
Mark Keating
19 books23 followersMark Keating is a new author of historical fiction, whose debut novel THE PIRATE DEVLIN was published by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK in February 2010 and by Grand Central Publishing in the US in July 2010. It draws on the wealth of tales from the Golden Age of Caribbean piracy with the emphasis on adventure and accuracy. No monsters, romance or romantic monsters. He was born in Enfield, North London and now lives in Windsor, Berkshire.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 25, 2021
Read this book in 2013, and its the 4th part of the great "Pirate Devlin" series, from the author, Mark Keating.
Set in the early 18th Century, between AD 1717 and 1721, this tale is all about The Fiery Cross of Goa.
The Pirate, Olivier Levasseur, the Buzzard, has captured the biggest ship ever to sail the seven seas, The Virgin of the Cape, a Portuguese ship which was carrying also a seven foot long solid gold cross.
Although Levasseur is hiding in the Indian Ocean, Patrick Devlin will somehow manage to find him, and various battles will ensue between Patrick Devlin and Levasseur.
Not only is Devlin fighting it out with Levasseur, and finally managing to obtain that Cross, but hot on his heels is still his nemesis, John Coxon, in a bid to kill him.
What is to follow is an amazing and enthralling Pirate adventure in which various piratical actions are brilliantly brought to us by the author in a most believable fashion, and where the historical details concerning this tale are masterly integrated within this of daring Piracy.
Highly recommended, for this is a most wonderful addition to this astounding series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Marvellous Pirate Adventure"!
Set in the early 18th Century, between AD 1717 and 1721, this tale is all about The Fiery Cross of Goa.
The Pirate, Olivier Levasseur, the Buzzard, has captured the biggest ship ever to sail the seven seas, The Virgin of the Cape, a Portuguese ship which was carrying also a seven foot long solid gold cross.
Although Levasseur is hiding in the Indian Ocean, Patrick Devlin will somehow manage to find him, and various battles will ensue between Patrick Devlin and Levasseur.
Not only is Devlin fighting it out with Levasseur, and finally managing to obtain that Cross, but hot on his heels is still his nemesis, John Coxon, in a bid to kill him.
What is to follow is an amazing and enthralling Pirate adventure in which various piratical actions are brilliantly brought to us by the author in a most believable fashion, and where the historical details concerning this tale are masterly integrated within this of daring Piracy.
Highly recommended, for this is a most wonderful addition to this astounding series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Marvellous Pirate Adventure"!
April 14, 2022
4.0
This is the first book I read of the Devlin series (I knew it was the fourth but I wanted the Levasseur story). I'm picking up the rest to read them all, now in order. They are surprisingly hard to get by, at least in Spain, so second-hand it is. The book was a very good pirate adventure, although a bit disappointingly Levasseur is little more than just a background character, with not much weight in the story.
This is the first book I read of the Devlin series (I knew it was the fourth but I wanted the Levasseur story). I'm picking up the rest to read them all, now in order. They are surprisingly hard to get by, at least in Spain, so second-hand it is. The book was a very good pirate adventure, although a bit disappointingly Levasseur is little more than just a background character, with not much weight in the story.
November 15, 2013
This is by far one of the most underrated series out there at present. The lack of volume about Mark Keatings work is deafening, and its such a huge loss for readers and lovers of Historical fiction, sea going adventures, pirates, and action adventure.
Mark keating writes wonderful characters, and writes it in style. The plot in this book for the first time only gets a 4 out of 5 stars because this book felt a bit like a filler, a bridge to the next book. But that doesn't mean it fails because of it.
I'd love to say the historical research is impeccable, and im sure it is, but its not my period, i have decided to take it as fiction and just enjoy it. I hope what i have enjoyed has also taught me something, as a budding writer, i know it has taught me more about writing great character.
Patrick Devlin is a wonderfully deep character, with so many depths and changes of personality, and he is just one of many in this fantastic book and series.
I really do recommend that more people pick this series up and give it a chance
(Parm)
Mark keating writes wonderful characters, and writes it in style. The plot in this book for the first time only gets a 4 out of 5 stars because this book felt a bit like a filler, a bridge to the next book. But that doesn't mean it fails because of it.
I'd love to say the historical research is impeccable, and im sure it is, but its not my period, i have decided to take it as fiction and just enjoy it. I hope what i have enjoyed has also taught me something, as a budding writer, i know it has taught me more about writing great character.
Patrick Devlin is a wonderfully deep character, with so many depths and changes of personality, and he is just one of many in this fantastic book and series.
I really do recommend that more people pick this series up and give it a chance
(Parm)
August 17, 2016
Though I've read the Devlin series before, this book is strictly a one time read since despite the good plot, the characters do not mesh well, and there is no continuity at the end with so many ends tied up/characters killed off
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews