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Evan Ross #1
Dockyard Dog
In 18th-century Antigua, a wounded Royal Navy officer must risk everything as a spy for Horatio Nelson to uncover a deadly smuggling conspiracy threatening the Empire.
In 1784, when Lieutenant Evan Ross is badly injured in a fight with British Royal Navy deserters, his Captain abandons him in the Royal Navy hospital on the Caribbean island of Antigua.
Upon recovering he meets Captain Horatio Nelson, newly appointed to command of the Northern Leeward Islands squadron and the Royal Navy Dockyard at English Harbour in Antigua. Nelson's primary task is stamping out rampant American smuggling activity. But to succeed, Nelson needs information.
Lieutenant Ross serves as a spy for Nelson against the smugglers, but they aren't his only foe. French and American spies supporting the smugglers are playing for far higher stakes, sowing the seeds of violent unrest. Lieutenant Ross is soon in the midst of desperate action and working with a beautiful slave woman to gain information as he struggles to stop to their plot.
In 1784, when Lieutenant Evan Ross is badly injured in a fight with British Royal Navy deserters, his Captain abandons him in the Royal Navy hospital on the Caribbean island of Antigua.
Upon recovering he meets Captain Horatio Nelson, newly appointed to command of the Northern Leeward Islands squadron and the Royal Navy Dockyard at English Harbour in Antigua. Nelson's primary task is stamping out rampant American smuggling activity. But to succeed, Nelson needs information.
Lieutenant Ross serves as a spy for Nelson against the smugglers, but they aren't his only foe. French and American spies supporting the smugglers are playing for far higher stakes, sowing the seeds of violent unrest. Lieutenant Ross is soon in the midst of desperate action and working with a beautiful slave woman to gain information as he struggles to stop to their plot.
- GenresFiction
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2025
194 people are currently reading
1450 people want to read
About the author
Lyle Garford
15 books42 followersLyle Garford is the author of The Evan Ross Series (historical fiction), The Owen Spence Series (historical fiction), The Stick Bug Stories (children’s fantasy), and two standalone works of fiction entitled The Christmas Cafe and The Space Farmer. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 10, 2016
Not even a year has passed since the American Revolution when twenty-two-year-old Evan Ross steps aboard HMS Wind as the new Third Lieutenant. Being assigned to a frigate is every officer’s dream, but it’s been three months of hell – all because the Admiralty ignored the captain’s request and appointed Evan instead. While the ship sails for England, a Yankee smuggler is spotted unloading cargo on Antigua. A direct violation of the Order of Council – all trade between the United States and the Caribbean islands must be carried on British ships with British crews – so Evan is ordered to assist in capturing the smuggler. On shore, he comes face to face with some of his former shipmates, deserters from the Royal Navy who have no intention of facing punishment. A struggle ensues, during which Master’s Mate James Wilton saves Evan’s life. Their wounds are severe enough that they are shipped ashore while the Wind heads home.
Fed up with the continual violation of the Order of Council, and the resultant loss of needed tariffs to fill the nearly bankrupt royal coffers, the First Lord of the Admiralty assigns his protégé a special assignment. He must do whatever it takes to put an end to the smuggling, regardless of whose feathers get ruffled. At twenty-five, Captain Horatio Nelson is more than equal to the task, for he hates to lose. With his men fully behind him, they sail for Antigua to implement that order, as well as two others. Nelson must see that the desired expansions to the Dockyard are completed quickly, and also gather intelligence on what the French are doing in the Caribbean since war between his country and France is inevitable given the long animosity between them.
No one on Antigua is pleased with Nelson, for his orders directly impact the pocketbooks of influential sugar planters and the corrupt men working in the Dockyard. The former have the wherewithal to thwart him at every turn, and since Nelson must also patrol the sea and confer with his commanding officer on Barbados, he needs someone he can rely on to assist him.
During his recuperation, Evan becomes frustrated in dealing with the loss of one arm and with the lack of anything to do. The navy seems to have forgotten about him and James, who is recovering from a leg injury. They spend many hours together, and their friendship raises a few eyebrows around the Dockyard since ranks and officers don’t usually interact except when necessary. Nelson’s arrival seems like a godsend, but they are disappointed to learn there are no positions aboard any of the naval ships. But Evan is just the man to become Nelson’s representative at the Dockyard with full authority to oversee that construction progresses apace, and James is his assistant. They are less comfortable with Nelson’s second and secretive assignment – spying on the Antiguans and gathering as much intelligence as possible on the smuggling.
Frequent excursions to the Flying Fish, a tavern operated by slaves, but owned by one of the planters, provide Evan and James the perfect place to begin their espionage. The husband and wife who manage the tavern and one of the ladies, with whom Evan has become close, agree to help, and their acquaintance with maroons (escaped slaves) provides Evan and James with many eyes. Two docked vessels flying Dutch colors raise Evan’s suspicions, because neither ship looks to be in distress (as claimed) and neither captain – a Frenchman and an American – strike him as being merchants.
As the intelligence helps Nelson to clamp down on the smuggling, the planters become more riled since they’re losing profits. Then a French sailor asks Evan’s girlfriend if the slaves and maroons are armed. Several months later two plantations are attacked and people are murdered, and with Nelson’s successes, the planters try a new tactic – offer Evan a lucrative job with the smugglers. But his heart and soul belong to the navy, and he has no intention of disappointing Nelson, a man he likes and respects.
Dockyard Dog takes place between June 1784 and June 1785, and is the first volume in the Evan Ross series. Although the majority of the action takes place on land, readers who like tales of nautical and historical fiction will enjoy this story. Evan’s disability is not glossed over, and his friendship with James, while unusual for the time period, aptly demonstrates that people can be friends no matter what color their skins. Garford brings Horatio Nelson to life and focuses on a time in his life before he became the legendary commander who sacrificed his life to save England. In spite of the 425 pages, Dockyard Dog is a fast-paced read filled with action and intrigue. I look forward to reading Evan’s next adventure, The Sugar Revolution.
Fed up with the continual violation of the Order of Council, and the resultant loss of needed tariffs to fill the nearly bankrupt royal coffers, the First Lord of the Admiralty assigns his protégé a special assignment. He must do whatever it takes to put an end to the smuggling, regardless of whose feathers get ruffled. At twenty-five, Captain Horatio Nelson is more than equal to the task, for he hates to lose. With his men fully behind him, they sail for Antigua to implement that order, as well as two others. Nelson must see that the desired expansions to the Dockyard are completed quickly, and also gather intelligence on what the French are doing in the Caribbean since war between his country and France is inevitable given the long animosity between them.
No one on Antigua is pleased with Nelson, for his orders directly impact the pocketbooks of influential sugar planters and the corrupt men working in the Dockyard. The former have the wherewithal to thwart him at every turn, and since Nelson must also patrol the sea and confer with his commanding officer on Barbados, he needs someone he can rely on to assist him.
During his recuperation, Evan becomes frustrated in dealing with the loss of one arm and with the lack of anything to do. The navy seems to have forgotten about him and James, who is recovering from a leg injury. They spend many hours together, and their friendship raises a few eyebrows around the Dockyard since ranks and officers don’t usually interact except when necessary. Nelson’s arrival seems like a godsend, but they are disappointed to learn there are no positions aboard any of the naval ships. But Evan is just the man to become Nelson’s representative at the Dockyard with full authority to oversee that construction progresses apace, and James is his assistant. They are less comfortable with Nelson’s second and secretive assignment – spying on the Antiguans and gathering as much intelligence as possible on the smuggling.
Frequent excursions to the Flying Fish, a tavern operated by slaves, but owned by one of the planters, provide Evan and James the perfect place to begin their espionage. The husband and wife who manage the tavern and one of the ladies, with whom Evan has become close, agree to help, and their acquaintance with maroons (escaped slaves) provides Evan and James with many eyes. Two docked vessels flying Dutch colors raise Evan’s suspicions, because neither ship looks to be in distress (as claimed) and neither captain – a Frenchman and an American – strike him as being merchants.
As the intelligence helps Nelson to clamp down on the smuggling, the planters become more riled since they’re losing profits. Then a French sailor asks Evan’s girlfriend if the slaves and maroons are armed. Several months later two plantations are attacked and people are murdered, and with Nelson’s successes, the planters try a new tactic – offer Evan a lucrative job with the smugglers. But his heart and soul belong to the navy, and he has no intention of disappointing Nelson, a man he likes and respects.
Dockyard Dog takes place between June 1784 and June 1785, and is the first volume in the Evan Ross series. Although the majority of the action takes place on land, readers who like tales of nautical and historical fiction will enjoy this story. Evan’s disability is not glossed over, and his friendship with James, while unusual for the time period, aptly demonstrates that people can be friends no matter what color their skins. Garford brings Horatio Nelson to life and focuses on a time in his life before he became the legendary commander who sacrificed his life to save England. In spite of the 425 pages, Dockyard Dog is a fast-paced read filled with action and intrigue. I look forward to reading Evan’s next adventure, The Sugar Revolution.
August 11, 2017
Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. Set in the 1700’s, Lieutenant Ross gets hurt in a fight and he is left behind by his captain in Antigua. The story takes off from here. The descriptive elements of the book are great, from the Caribbean islands to the tales of slavery. Lieutenant Ross befriends Horatio Nelson and his character is portrayed as a man of strength and well meaning. Not a difficult read, but an enjoyable one.
April 22, 2018
Goodreads Kindle Copy Win
Story deals with adventure on the high sea in the time of Horatio Nelson.
We meet a Lt. Evan Ross who is injure in battle and is left in Antigua by his captain. He meets up with Horatio Nelson and becomes a spy an informant against American smugglers. A angerous secretive game that puts his life at risk.
He will soon find himself caught up into world of slavery and smuggling. It has p
Story deals with adventure on the high sea in the time of Horatio Nelson.
We meet a Lt. Evan Ross who is injure in battle and is left in Antigua by his captain. He meets up with Horatio Nelson and becomes a spy an informant against American smugglers. A angerous secretive game that puts his life at risk.
He will soon find himself caught up into world of slavery and smuggling. It has p
May 27, 2019
I just finished Dockyard Dog and enjoyed it very much. I particularly liked the inclusion of Horatio Nelson's earlier exploits in the Caribbean I have been looking for a good "age of sail" historical series, and this one looks like it will deliver. Can't wait to see what is next in store for Evan Ross and James Wilton.
November 19, 2025
A good start on an interesting new series.
Lieutenant Evan Ross makes a different kind of protagonist for this Age of Sail story as he struggles to succeed following the loss of his arm. He pairs up with Horatio Nelson, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Not really, but a good tale ensues.
Lieutenant Evan Ross makes a different kind of protagonist for this Age of Sail story as he struggles to succeed following the loss of his arm. He pairs up with Horatio Nelson, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Not really, but a good tale ensues.
March 11, 2019
I received this book free via Goodread's Giveaways.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and the authors use of actual individuals. I think that always builds a richer story. If British Naval stories are your thing then this is going to a series for you.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and the authors use of actual individuals. I think that always builds a richer story. If British Naval stories are your thing then this is going to a series for you.
April 24, 2018
Great read. Kept my interest throughout
May 6, 2021
The beginnings of a new hero
I liked the way that adversity of physical disability is transferred into success and reward with the promise of future adventure on the high seas.
I liked the way that adversity of physical disability is transferred into success and reward with the promise of future adventure on the high seas.
July 22, 2020
Decent writing, interesting setting. I'm not very familiar with Barbados in the time of admiral Nelson, so I can't judge the accuracy, but Lyle Harford paints an interesting picture.
I was a little disappointed in the ending. To me it felt like it just kind of ended, without much of a climax. I didn't feel a lot of suspense leading up to the final confrontation, and didn't really get the payoff I was hoping for.
I was a little disappointed in the ending. To me it felt like it just kind of ended, without much of a climax. I didn't feel a lot of suspense leading up to the final confrontation, and didn't really get the payoff I was hoping for.
March 12, 2016
The story delivered everything what has been promised in the description.
A good story with twists and turns. Loveable characters. Information about slavery, The work of admiralty, political background, action and adventure.
I would have rated it with 4.5 stars but that is not possible.
A good story with twists and turns. Loveable characters. Information about slavery, The work of admiralty, political background, action and adventure.
I would have rated it with 4.5 stars but that is not possible.
March 19, 2016
A pleasant read.
A little lightweight compared to some I have read recently but made a pleasant change. I look forward to the next.
A little lightweight compared to some I have read recently but made a pleasant change. I look forward to the next.
June 17, 2025
Excellent yarn!
A very engaging tale with hero's, villains and love interests. Historically well founded, giving a strong narrative and plenty of detailed information.
A very engaging tale with hero's, villains and love interests. Historically well founded, giving a strong narrative and plenty of detailed information.
September 17, 2025
excellent reading
Really enjoyed this book, and can only recommend it to anyone who likes sea stories. Good story line and a must read.
Really enjoyed this book, and can only recommend it to anyone who likes sea stories. Good story line and a must read.
November 3, 2018
Won a copy of this. Lieutenant Ross was badly injured in a battle. The man that also had stepped in to save his life. They were dumped at the hospital and left to die. Needless to say their ship sailed without them. Lieutenant lost his arm in the battle. No ship wants a 1 armed sailor. When they began to heal a little tried the hardest to get back on a ship.
This area overrun with smugglers, bringing in supplies undercover at night and trying to avoid the high taxes. Lots of action, and spying. Nobody is safe.
Hear the drums in a distance at night all across the islands. Someone is stirring up the slaves, and they way outnumber the whites and plantation owners. It can only lead to bloody battles.
This is only the first book of a new series.
This area overrun with smugglers, bringing in supplies undercover at night and trying to avoid the high taxes. Lots of action, and spying. Nobody is safe.
Hear the drums in a distance at night all across the islands. Someone is stirring up the slaves, and they way outnumber the whites and plantation owners. It can only lead to bloody battles.
This is only the first book of a new series.
Want to read
May 1, 2019Placeholder
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews