Latitudes Edge: Book 2 of the Nicholas Cruwys Naval Series

by Adrian Westbrooke

Book Two of the Nicholas Cruwys Naval Series

In the wake of the Battle of the Saintes, Lieutenant Nicholas Cruwys is promoted to commander and granted his first independent Alert, a captured American schooner refitted for speed, stealth, and irregular duty. He earns distinction along the fractured edges of empire—chasing rumours, carrying dispatches, and sailing far from the lines of fleet engagement.

The war is ending and his command may be lost. But for Nicholas Cruwys, the most perilous waters lie ahead.

Returning across the Atlantic with Alert, Cruwys finds himself cast into the quiet anteroom of peace—London in autumn, a navy in flux, and a command that may be sold from under him. Admiralty favour is fleeting, commissions vanish overnight, and the politics of peacetime prove more treacherous than any lee shore.

As old alliances shift and new suspicions surface, Cruwys is drawn into a subtler coded letters, veiled threats, and the careful watching of men who say nothing and mean rather more. From drawing rooms and coffee houses to fogbound estuaries and contested sea-lanes, Latitudes Edge traces a man navigating the uncertain space between war and peace, honour and ambition, loyalty and memory.

Following Soundings Edge, this second novel in the Cruwys series deepens its exploration of character, naval life, and the quiet tensions beneath surface command. For readers of Patrick O’Brian, C.S. Forester, and Andrew Taylor, Latitudes Edge offers a taut, lyrical continuation of a seafaring life shaped by silence, resolve, and the ever-shifting winds of history.

391 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2025

About the author

Adrian Westbrooke has long been a student of the sea, its history, and the men and ships who contended upon it. His fascination with the great age of sail was first kindled by an early immersion in naval history and has since been deepened by years of wide and exacting reading from the voyages of discovery to the wars that set the Royal Navy against the fleets of France, Spain, Holland and others. An experienced offshore and cruising sailor, he brings to his work not only that lifetime of reading but also a sailor’s own feel for wind, weather, and the rhythms of life under canvas. His writing is grounded in a close attention to the detail of period seamanship, gunnery, and society ashore, while always aiming to draw the reader into the lived experience of that world. His Nicholas Cruwys Naval Series reflects this enduring passion, ranging across the maritime powers of the age from the Royal Navy to its adversaries and allies, and to the global reach of the East India Company. He continues to develop the series, exploring the shifting fortunes of war, trade, and empire across the oceans of the late eighteenth century.

Reviews

[Walt Joachim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular series by Westbrooke

I’m not one to comment much but am really enjoying this series. It’s Thanksgiving weekend here in the states and my only concern as I rip thru this great story is hoping it’s follows Nicholas for more than the 3 books I know are available!
Really well written and descriptive of an interesting time in world events. A lot of great suspense and character development. Nice job Adrian Westbrooke and I hope to find more of your work.
Walt

[Joseph Halsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equals Hornblower

Highly accurate tales of British sea power and naval challenges in the 18th century with credible descriptions of life at sea, sea battles and London life.

[Dr Robert Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book

Really enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. One moment it's all about the navy, it moves to the darker side of intelligence gathering and then becomes a Mills & Boon. I read a lot but, so far, this series has cost me sleep, as I've not been able to put it down

[Steven Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues the story of Nicholas Cruwys in the 1780's as the American Revolution is coming to a close, and Lt. Cruwys (I've been pronouncing it to rhyme with Lewis, although it's an unfamiliar spelling) is transferred to Rear Admiral Hood's staff where he gets to participate in the Battle of the Saintes, a historical event, and then is sent on a special mission to capture a Spanish dispatch vessel. He brings back documents and prisoners including a female spy, turns them all in to the Admiral's staff, where his secretary Mr. Thornhill becomes an important character. Then he's sent back to England on the Baltimore clipper schooner he used for that mission and is promoted to Commander.
Once in England, however, the book turns into a story of intrigue and espionage, or rather counterespionage. Other than this rather abrupt transition, I would have given it 5 stars because it's a suspenseful, taut thriller with memorable characters and a fast moving plot. The naval action is spectacular and absorbing, how could it not be, when Britain's two greatest admirals of the time face down the Comte de Grasse and stop his conquest of the sugar islands. It's not surprising that this part of the book distracts us from the spying narrative. However, the espionage episode is every bit as exciting.
The author is clearly a romantic, and at the end he brings Nicholas and Caroline, the merchant's daughter he met in India, back together again and even has her husband, Lord Ashton, prove to be a traitor and villain. The female spy he captured turns out to have been a confidante of Caroline from her time in India. While that sequence is a little contrived, it's still good entertainment and sets the stage for an unorthodox career for Cdr. Cruwys. He's acquired powerful enemies, as well as powerful friends, in this book and I'm planning to continue with the series.

[Mike Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Latitudes Edge.

Well that was an unexpected experience and an extremely pleasant one. Adrian Westbrooke has written a stormer of a book which i have enjoyed immensely. Just wonderful writing which at times reminded me in some ways of Bernard Cornwall at his best.
I have obviously missed the first book in this wonderful series but will not go back to read it as I think sufficient information has been given in this book to clarify the back story.
Back to this book, great story, clear details of life at sea back in those turbulent times, exceptional descriptions of the heroes battles at sea together with beautifully described and detailed personal experiences.
This is one hero I can’t wait to follow in his next voyages and to live with him the challenges that will emerge.
Finally, I would like to say this is one of the best and most intriguing books I have read in the last year and I read a lot. The authors style of writing I envy, it’s that good.
Michael D Lloyd.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicholas' success in rather non-orthodox situations is exploited again by the senior leaders of His Majesty's Navy. His familiarity with the unique ship Alert makes them the logical team to seek out and destroy a French ship transporting a "Noble" British traitor carrying critical diplomatic documents. Personal relationships from his relatively brief past strongly influence his decision-making. Not your usual "Age of Sail" story and all the better for it.

[Conor Gilligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dramatic

Nice storytelling with twust and turns to whet your imagination.
Well composed and seductive bits to entertain us readers. Lookin forward to the next book and hopefully more are following. I hope the rest as just as entertaining and compelling reading.

[W · Rating 2 out of 5]

character issues

Mmm why would the character so dedicated to being at see be willing to be manipulated into intelligence services…also why would he who loved so purely be turned and manipulated by every pretty face he encounters? You departed from the characters base in this one.

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

WOW!!!!

Cannot put it down.....lose sleep reading this book.....hurry to the end only to mourn its passing. EXCELLENT WRITING, EXCELLENT PHRASING.....JUST EXCELLENT!!!!!

[Louie Halfacre · Rating 4 out of 5]

multitude of adventures

Very enjoyable read. I am astonished that with his numerous affairs that no lady was with child. A little too much dialogue and not enough action.