Graduation

Lady Bethany #1

by Christopher C. Tubbs

Perfect for fans of David Grann, John Drake, C.S. Forester, Patrick O’Brian, Griff Hosker and Bernard Cornwell.

1820, London.

Lady Bethany Stockley is no ordinary young lady. Codename ‘Chaton’ she is trained to protect her country with deadly precision.

A recent graduate from ‘The Academy’, Beth is tasked with uncovering a dangerous plot threatening the British Empire. Aboard her ship, The Fox, she sails to the outposts of the British colonies to unmask dangerous traitors within the corridors of power. She must infiltrate high society, dance with deception and outmanoeuvre enemies on all sides.

From Jamaica and Cuba and back to the opulent ballrooms of London, Beth faces a deadly game where one wrong move could mean disaster for her country — and herself.

Join Lady Bethany on her first mission, where every secret she uncovers brings her closer to the truth — and deeper into danger.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

Biography
I am descendent of a long line of Dorset clay miners and have chased my family tree back to the 16th century in the Isle of Purbeck. I have been a public speaker at conferences for most of my career in the Aerospace and Automotive industries and was one of the founders of a successful games company back in the 1990’s.
Now in my sixties, and living in the Netherlands Antilles, I finally got to write the stories I had going around in my head for many years. Thanks to inspiration from the great sea authors like Alexander Kent, Dewey Lambdin, Patrick O’Brian and Dudley Pope I was finally able to put digit to keyboard and start writing the Dorset Boy series.
I make no apologies that I write for myself. The stories emerge as I write and I am often surprised by the twists and turns that they take.

Reviews

[Caleb Best · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am personally a big fan of historical fiction set on ships! I like the idea of pirates, privateers, and shantys! This book has a lot of what I like, but it is also extremely disjointed. I feel like the first third is really solid, and then as the book progresses, it starts to feel more and more like short adventures that don't have a connecting thread. Yes, our main character Beth is in every adventure, but they feel so separate from each other that I can't really see how we end up where we do by the end of the book.

[norman hore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consistent

Since discovering Christopher. C. Tubbs, I have gradually read my way through one book of the Dorset Boy after another, greatly enjoying each one, and never tiring of the storylines, the characters or the adventures.

The twist of the Lady Bethany stories has kept the Dorset Boy stories going with a new set of characters, which allows us to appreciate another set of stories. If you are new to CCT's novels, make sure you start with Book 1 of the Dorset Boy and read your way up until you reach the Lady Bethany novels.

[Donald B McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Christopher Tubbs writes well crafted books. His characters are believable, plots interesting with plenty of action and suspense to keep the reader either involved in the story line.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting !!!

I really enjoyed this exciting book. The characters were developed well with a mental reflection as if you knew them and stayed in their presence during the entire book. The adventure compels you to continue reading to experience the excitement.

[Dianne P. Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but

Not the cliff hanger the previous novels have been, but still good, interesting and worth reading.
Surely the author can scrounge up a few more words to bring more life to this one!!!!!

[MR BARRY DAVIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Start to a Sea Shanty

Unfortunately I purchased and read Book 2 first, which was excellent and it intrigued me enough to track down book 1, which I also enjoyed, but now I will have to read Book 2 again as I like continuity.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every bit as good as the father

A thoroughly enjoyable book and a fitting sequel to the Dorset Boy. The ending is a bit sudden, but I assume there is to be another book.

[Saul Rosenthal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was easy light reading but I gave it only 3 stars because it was a bit silly, taking place in 1820 and with a lead female 20 year old who beat all the military males in dueling with sabers, fighting with sticks, wrestling, whatever, and took over captaining a captured commercial naval vessel although she had no naval experience at all, etc

[Steven Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filling in details of a previously told story

A more detailed account of Beth's adventures told in a previous book.

Pleasingly, the author's writing is becoming tighter and the use of the word got has almost disappeared.

Definitely one of his better written works.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great spinoff

[Jim Purcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable series and protagonist but rather formulaic.

[Anthony Ayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me know when you have written the sequel……..great story