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The Matty Graves Novels #3
Peter Wicked
Set in the early 19th century amid the ships and seamen of a nascent United States Navy, Lieutenant Matty Graves is recovering from his ordeal during the slave rebellion in the French Caribbean colony of Saint-Dómingue when he is ordered to Washington to answer questions about the death of his former captain. On home soil he must deal with the mystery and shame surrounding his birth as well as the attractions of his best friend's sister. But when he is offered a command of his own, he seizes the opportunity to seek his fortune and make a name for himself, even if it means destroying those closest to him.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 23, 2016
The last in a series of three. Much more fiction than "historical" in book three, but overall, a fun series. Quick reads, entertaining.
April 24, 2020
I almost stop with the second book in this series, but I decided to read the next one. Glad I didn't this one was much better than the second one. There was action aplenty for those, who want action. Then there was intrigue was Matty and crew search for a pirate called Meche and finding out just who he is. The character of Matty seemed to grow in this book and started a journey of being a ship's captain. I don't know if there are more of these stories, but I hope so as I would like to see Matty Graves grow as a n officer in the U.S. Navy.
December 14, 2024
Well written book about an overlooked period of American history.
January 3, 2013
"I went to the railing and looked out over the sea. It had been fussing earlier in the day, but now it lay greasy and hushed. 'You got a tremendous prospect from up here, Brother Assembly.'
'Aye. Two evenings hence, for instance, I noted thy schooner passing westward. I also saw a cutter at the same time, a low and black-hulled cutter, British from the look of her, beating eastward beyond Vandyke's. She kept the island betwixt herself and thee, and sailed on into yon flat ugly yellow clouds.' He nodded to the east.
I got a crawly feeling between my shoulders, like I'd been hunting a panther and discovered it had been hunting me. 'Well, then,' I said, 'I guess I'd best be shoving off.'
'Tomorrow is the first of October. There have been no hurricanes yet this season worth mentioning, but a noteworthy one approaches now, thou mustn't doubt. Do not cling too tightly to ephemeral notions and worldly things, Brother, lest thou lose what thou most values.' He whistled an old Shaker hymn that was popular among the Brethren:
'Tis a gift to be simple,
'Tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down
Where we ought to be...
I knocked on the railing, annoyed with myself for my superstitiousness but angrier with Assembly for baiting me. 'Of all the infernal meanness,' I said. 'Don't whistle for a wind in hurricane season!'
'Oh, as for that,' he said, the corners of his naked lip turning up just a little bit, 'God watches out for sailors and the wicked, is't not what sailors say? And the wicked, too, I doubt not.'"
'Aye. Two evenings hence, for instance, I noted thy schooner passing westward. I also saw a cutter at the same time, a low and black-hulled cutter, British from the look of her, beating eastward beyond Vandyke's. She kept the island betwixt herself and thee, and sailed on into yon flat ugly yellow clouds.' He nodded to the east.
I got a crawly feeling between my shoulders, like I'd been hunting a panther and discovered it had been hunting me. 'Well, then,' I said, 'I guess I'd best be shoving off.'
'Tomorrow is the first of October. There have been no hurricanes yet this season worth mentioning, but a noteworthy one approaches now, thou mustn't doubt. Do not cling too tightly to ephemeral notions and worldly things, Brother, lest thou lose what thou most values.' He whistled an old Shaker hymn that was popular among the Brethren:
'Tis a gift to be simple,
'Tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down
Where we ought to be...
I knocked on the railing, annoyed with myself for my superstitiousness but angrier with Assembly for baiting me. 'Of all the infernal meanness,' I said. 'Don't whistle for a wind in hurricane season!'
'Oh, as for that,' he said, the corners of his naked lip turning up just a little bit, 'God watches out for sailors and the wicked, is't not what sailors say? And the wicked, too, I doubt not.'"
August 21, 2015
3.5 stars
I really like these books and the characters in them. I found (for me) the prose difficult to follow. After the first two books, I was able to follow the author's style a little better. There are times when the characters come to life and a later in the book just go flat. Some parts seem over contrived when (I don't think) needed to be so.
For example, in this tale, Matty Graves is stripped of his lieutenant's rank and is given the chance to hunt down Peter Wickett who seems to have become a pirate of sorts. If he accomplishes this task, he can be reinstated as to lieutenant rank. Why? It doesn't really seem to add to the story. Some romantic interests are quashed early on in the story. Maybe this is how the fledgling US Navy worked back in the post revolutionary era.
In spite of these complaints, I enjoyed this story very much. Hope to see more in the future.
I really like these books and the characters in them. I found (for me) the prose difficult to follow. After the first two books, I was able to follow the author's style a little better. There are times when the characters come to life and a later in the book just go flat. Some parts seem over contrived when (I don't think) needed to be so.
For example, in this tale, Matty Graves is stripped of his lieutenant's rank and is given the chance to hunt down Peter Wickett who seems to have become a pirate of sorts. If he accomplishes this task, he can be reinstated as to lieutenant rank. Why? It doesn't really seem to add to the story. Some romantic interests are quashed early on in the story. Maybe this is how the fledgling US Navy worked back in the post revolutionary era.
In spite of these complaints, I enjoyed this story very much. Hope to see more in the future.
January 31, 2011
Broos Campbell is pitch perfect in his story telling, and Matty Graves is a fantastic character, flaws and all.
If you like historic novels, or have even a bit of sailor in you, you'll find this a book you can't put down. And if you are a Patrick O'Brian fan, you'll wonder why you haven't heard of Matty before and read all three books in the series in quick succession.
Well done and well worth the read.
If you like historic novels, or have even a bit of sailor in you, you'll find this a book you can't put down. And if you are a Patrick O'Brian fan, you'll wonder why you haven't heard of Matty before and read all three books in the series in quick succession.
Well done and well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews