Straits of Anián: The Eighteenth Carlisle & Holbrooke Naval Adventure

by Chris Durbin

The wealth of the world flows through the narrow straits between oceans and seas. Gibraltar, Magellan, Hormuz, Dover, each has had its day. Yet there is one that has lingered in the imagination of geographers and fantasists, of admirals and money-hungry merchants since Columbus crossed the Atlantic, and it remains stubbornly elusive. It was the fast route around the top of the American continent that might lead to the riches of the Orient, and for the English it was the shortcut that bypassed the lands where the Spaniards, the Portuguese and the Dutch held sway. It was the Straits of Anián, reputed to offer an ice-free passage from the Pacific Ocean to Hudson Bay on the Atlantic.
George Holbrooke was surprised to be offered a ship during a time of peace, and frankly astonished to find orders to take his frigate Orion to the far ends of the earth in search of the fabled Straits of Anián. Sir Francis Drake was the last Englishman to attempt such a mission; that was two hundred years before and he’d returned having found nothing.
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The eighteenth novel in the Carlisle & Holbrooke series is the first in which our hero experiences a world without war. However, conflict is never far away when a British frigate dares to sail in Spain’s own ocean.

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2026

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Chris Durbin - Historical Fiction, History

Reviews

[Christopher Taylor]

There's no war at this point for Durbin to write about, so he takes on the circumnavigation by Byron, including the French settling on the Falkland Islands. There's a lot of sailing and not a lot going on, because frankly there's not much out there at this time period (south Atlantic and Pacific). There is an odd side plot involving an obvious spy who practically has a glowing sign on his forehead, and an attempt to find another passage through Canada to save sailing time but since clearly Holbrook (no Carlisle in this book at all) cannot make any real discoveries or achieve anything its just a series of kind of dull events told rather than shown.

[Phillip Mclaughlin]

post war Hilbrooke is recalled to sail in a voyage of exploration

Another superb adventure by Chris Durbin. The war is over with France losing so much, and the English fleet is on mothballs. Holbrooke is on half pay living the life of country squire.
A letter comes from the Admiralty sending him and select crew off to the Falklands, through the straights of Magellan and into the pacific to join another captain on a voyage of discovery.

Excellent read

[Jim Purcell]

In the Series but not of the Series.
It is peacetime, and there is not much work for HMS ship captains, so George Holbrooke is pleased to take command of a frigate on a mission of exploration. With much secrecy, he is sent to the Falklands and then on to the North Pacific. There is some intrigue, a little action, but mostly going where few British captains have gone before. Well worth reading to understand the challenges of exploring large bodies of water in a sailing ship.

[R Watson]

Carlisle and Holbrooke series getting even better.

Really enjoyed this book. A voyage of discovery made it very interesting. The Carlisle and Holbrooke series getting even better! Greatly looking forward to the next one in the series.

[John Rosenberger]

Superbly entertaining. Written with enough sailing detail, and gunnery action to be fun, but with a new and adventurous mission, which kept the story very entertaining. I wish Holbrooke had been tasked instead to explore the rumored new southern continent.

[John Gouldson]

Can't get enough of Holbrooke & his crew, this latest yarn was great from the beginning to the end. Still no closer to understanding the technical sailing terms, but fortunately the storyline is strong enough to carry the book along. Roll on number 19

[Doug Rogers]

What's Next?

Great story. It is apparent from early the identity of Farrington's assistant is not what it seems. All in all it is a very interesting tale and like all of the series is based on or representative of actual events.

[Dr Robert Freeman]

Could not put it down

Really good book. Loads of detail and activity with the usual mix of great characters. Now looking forward to the next one!

[Steve Lumby]

Excellent story, well told. Really enjoyable!

[Christopher]

another grand trip through history!

Not a lot of beating to quarters and clearing for action but a grand tale of discovery on the far side of the New World!