Privateer

Hector Lynch #4

by Tim Severin

Hector Lynch and his companions are in the Caribbean, diving to plunder a wreck on the notorious Vipers reef, when they are spotted by a passing Spanish ship. To prevent news of their activities getting out, they cripple the Spanish vessel by burning her sails - an act of piracy - and then head for their base in Tortuga. There Hector's wife Maria awaits, for she and Hector are planning a better life for themselves - this time on the right side of the law.

But a chance encounter at sea means that Hector and his comrades run afoul of Laurens de Graff - renowned swashbuckling mercenary captain - now in command of a royal French frigate. Slipping from de Graff's clutches, Hector and his friends are cast away on the tiny desert island, Salt Tortuga.

Hector tries desperately to make his way back to Maria, meanwhile she has decided to undertake the hazardous journey to find him. Hector's adventures and Maria's tenacity lead them towards Port Royal in Jamaica - known as the wickedest city on earth. And Hector, accused of piracy, once more enters a world he had sworn to leave behind.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Historical, Fiction, Pirates

341 pages, Nook

First published August 1, 2014

About the author

Tim Severin was a British explorer, historian and writer. Severin is noted for his work in retracing the legendary journeys of historical figures. Severin was awarded both the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the Livingstone Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He received the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award for his 1982 book The Sindbad Voyage.

He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India in 1940. Severin attended Tonbridge School and studied geography and history at Keble College, Oxford.

Severin has also written historical fiction along with non fiction. The Viking Series, first published in 2005, concerns a young Viking adventurer who travels the world. In 2007 he published The Adventures of Hector Lynch series set in the late 17th century about a 17-year-old Corsair.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**

Read this book in 2014, and its the 4th volume of the exciting "Pirate" series.

In this tale Hector and friends are in the Caribbean when diving for plunder a wreck when they are spotted by a Spanish ship.

To hide their activity they cripple this Spanish ship, an act of piracy, and so set sail to their base at Tortuga, and fort Hector to be reunited with his wife Maria.

But a chance encounter with Laurens de Graff, in command of a royal French frigate, will make Hector and friends decide to turn instead to the island of, Salt Tortuga.

While Hector wants to get to Maria, and Maria wants to do the same, their tenacious adventures will finally end when they will meet by chance in Port Royal in Jamaica, the wickedest city on earth.

Over there Hector's is accused of piracy, he, Maria and their friends must somehow seem to survive and flee this place and find a safe place of their own where they can live on the right side of the law.

What is to follow is a very exciting historical pirate adventure, which is told by the author in his own remarkable way and brought to us in a splendid and entertaining fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is another great addition to this remarkable series, and that's why i like to call this episode: "A Thrilling Privateer"!

[Raymond Just · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been quite the admirer of Severin's work over the years, having devoured the Viking series, as well as the previous installments in Hector Lynch's adventures. But here I think, unfortunately, lively story-telling has given way to dry, historical recitation. There is really no character development in the offing for Hector or his mates. They are predictably noble and good throughout, as his Hector's love, Marie. The plots antagonists are equally selfish and evil and generally bad. Ironically, it is Hector's nemesis, De Graff who's character is most well fleshed out, but we spend too little time with him to enjoy it. The plot is all rather predictable and plodding, and feels constrained by Severin's desire to match up his story with historical incident. And though the ending is once again based on an historical event, it nevertheless somehow feels a contrivance of Deus Ex Machina proportions.

[Tedd Kónya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a good book but the ability for Hector to always get out of death threats gets a bit tired by this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'est une belle fin d'aventure pour Hector et ses compagnons. Dire qu'il aura fallu une catastrophe naturelle pour permettre à Hector d'enterrer son passé de pirate à jamais.

[John Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, and enjoyable.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an alright read perhaps if I read the series from the beginning I might have enjoyed the book more. I had enjoyed reading his book about Genghis Khan and I look forward to the others.

[Cockneylen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent read, with enough to keep me interested throughout. Pretty open ended conclusion to the series, so I guess there may be a book 5 to follow at some time.

[Alexander]

Couldn't finish this one. My expectations were higher than they should've been.

[San Diego Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Melanie Dillon for San Diego Book Review

In "Pirate; Privateer" a man by the name of Hector Lynch is trying to make enough money to support himself and his wife while avoiding the looming life of piracy. He charters a ship belonging to the heathen Kergonan siblings to fish for treasure left behind by a wrecked Spanish galleon, but adventure begins as things go awry upon the arrival of another ship.

You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.