Lieutenant John Pearce is in London seeking protection for his friends, the Pelicans, from a reluctant Admiralty. Sitting in the tavern where they were first press ganged, Pearce considers his future. Lacking the evidence of perjury he once had to bring to justice Captain Ralph Barclay, his prospects are not promising. Ralph Barclay's young wife, Emily, is refusing to live under the same roof as him and she has the means to get her own way: the evidence Pearce believes lost at sea. Pearce's companions finally arrive in London just in time to join Pearce in fetching a ship laden with contraband back from France, an illegal act but very profitable. Are Pearce and his Pelicans sailing into prosperity ? or danger?
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.
This is the seventh book in the John Pearce Series. This series must be read in order otherwise one is lost.
The first half of the book deals with Pearce and the Pelicans trying to have the Admiralty agree to try Captain Barclay for perjury. All of the evidence Pearce had went down with the sinking of his last ship. The monies Pearce has coming from prize money is still tied up by the prize board. The three pelicans were forced off the ship they were supposed to wait on for John Pearce to come and get them. They have to make it on their own to London avoiding Press Gangs all the way. Pearce is sitting in the Pelican Pub when a stranger offers him and his friends’ employment. The task is illegal but should be profitable. They are to fetch a ship laden with contraband back from France.
The book does not have a much of the sea action as prior books. As usual the book is well written, the history and setting is well drawn. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Jonathan Keeble narrated the book.