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Sea Officer William Bentley #2
The Wicked Trade
Young William Bentley, survivor of the bloody Welfare mutiny, reluctantly resumes his naval career as an officer on the press tender Biter. When the Biter is reassigned to combat the wicked trade of smuggling, Bentley is caught up in the investigation of the murder of two customs officers.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
34 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Jan Needle
72 books32 followersJan Needle has written more than forty books, including novels for adults and children and literary criticism. He also writes plays for stage, TV and radio, including serials and series like Grange Hill, The Bill and Brookside. His first novel, Wild Wood, is a retelling of The Wind in the Willows with Toad, Rat, Mole and Co as the ‘villains’ - a sort of undeserving rural squirearchy – and the stoats and weasels as heroes. A new version was brought out recently by Golden Duck, with the original wonderful illustrations by the late Willie Rushton.
Although he is currently working on a film of perhaps his most celebrated children’s book, My Mate Shofiq, Jan has recently been concentrating on historical novels about his first and most enduring love, the sea, and a series of extremely gritty thrillers. His aim has always been to transcend standard genre writing, which has sometimes brought him disapproval. The ‘hero’ of his first naval fiction, A Fine Boy for Killing, is a borderline sadist, and life on the frigate Welfare undermines almost every heroic myth popularized by earlier writers. Loved or hated, his novels refuse to be ignored.
His thrillers are also firmly in the ‘noir’ spectrum. The most recent is The Bonus Boys, which features a hard-as-nails investigator called Andrew Forbes and his Scottish lover Rosanna ‘the Mouse’ Nixon, who first appeared in Kicking Off, a chilling warning about the fissile state of Britain’s crumbling prisons. More are in the pipeline, as are additions to a series of novellas about crime, the 18th century navy, and the secret world of spies and spying. Even the possibility that Napoleon escaped from his exile on St Helena is examined. Like many ‘mere conspiracy theories’ it uncovers some extraordinary possibilities.
Jan also attempts, in conjunction with Walker Books, to widen the readership for certain classic novels. They include so far Moby Dick, Dracula, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Woman in White, all aimed at a young adult audience . In his spare time, he sails boats and plays a variety of musical instruments.
Although he is currently working on a film of perhaps his most celebrated children’s book, My Mate Shofiq, Jan has recently been concentrating on historical novels about his first and most enduring love, the sea, and a series of extremely gritty thrillers. His aim has always been to transcend standard genre writing, which has sometimes brought him disapproval. The ‘hero’ of his first naval fiction, A Fine Boy for Killing, is a borderline sadist, and life on the frigate Welfare undermines almost every heroic myth popularized by earlier writers. Loved or hated, his novels refuse to be ignored.
His thrillers are also firmly in the ‘noir’ spectrum. The most recent is The Bonus Boys, which features a hard-as-nails investigator called Andrew Forbes and his Scottish lover Rosanna ‘the Mouse’ Nixon, who first appeared in Kicking Off, a chilling warning about the fissile state of Britain’s crumbling prisons. More are in the pipeline, as are additions to a series of novellas about crime, the 18th century navy, and the secret world of spies and spying. Even the possibility that Napoleon escaped from his exile on St Helena is examined. Like many ‘mere conspiracy theories’ it uncovers some extraordinary possibilities.
Jan also attempts, in conjunction with Walker Books, to widen the readership for certain classic novels. They include so far Moby Dick, Dracula, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Woman in White, all aimed at a young adult audience . In his spare time, he sails boats and plays a variety of musical instruments.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 16, 2023
As with the first book in the series, this tale seems more real to life than other British naval stories. That makes for a lot of high and low emotions while reading it. This also makes it harder to read at times. Nevertheless, the story moves at a good pace and is overall an enjoyable read.
February 2, 2017
A must read
This is a must read if like Fictional historical stories. I like the many twists and turns in this story. How that William Bentley comes too see the truth of how the world and the people have to do just to survive. Learning that some people aren't what they seem to be. Learning the hard way who he can trust, and whom he can't trust. Well written and keeping keeping my attention.
This is a must read if like Fictional historical stories. I like the many twists and turns in this story. How that William Bentley comes too see the truth of how the world and the people have to do just to survive. Learning that some people aren't what they seem to be. Learning the hard way who he can trust, and whom he can't trust. Well written and keeping keeping my attention.
November 29, 2015
Well-written Story
While this novel was only partly a "sea story" it had an interesting plot and an accurate picture of the early 1800s in England. There were few errors, unlike many Kindle books. The author did a good job with descriptions and characters.
While this novel was only partly a "sea story" it had an interesting plot and an accurate picture of the early 1800s in England. There were few errors, unlike many Kindle books. The author did a good job with descriptions and characters.
September 25, 2015
This book is published by Endeavour Press
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews