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Thrillers #3
Crackdown
Honour and drugs don't always mix in the Caribbean . . . Nick Breakspear thinks he's opted for the easy life, but acting as nursemaid for the idle rich aboard the luxury yacht Wavebreaker in the Bahamas does have its downside. Especially when you come across a bullet-ridden boat not far from the infamous drug baron's hideaway island of Murder Cay. Most people would turn a blind eye. But Nick Breakspear isn't most people. Before long, Nick and the crew of Wavebreaker find themselves caught in the middle of a drug war between two equally matched and just as deadly forces. And neither side is taking prisoners . . .
Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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About the author
Bernard Cornwell
537 books19.2k followersCornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother, who was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his birth mother's maiden name, Cornwell.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 29, 2009
I found this to be up there with Cornwell's other sailing-related books. If it weren't his name on the cover, I wouldn't bother even picking it up, but he never fails to deliver a good story. This one is set in the 80s, and the story revolves around the drug trade, specifically cocaine, and is set in the Bermudas. Aside from some cultural references, it has aged rather well, and you are able (mercifully) to pretend it takes place in another era, when people had smaller hairstyles and wore less pastels and shoulder pads. The sad part is, I only have a few Cornwell books left to read...
May 14, 2025
Crackdown is a suspenseful tale of drug runners and gunplay in the Caribbean. Written early in Cornwell's career, the book is unpolished compared to the writer's later historical works.
Essentially, Crackdown is an episode of Magnum P.I. or Hawaii Five-O put into novel form. A good book to take on holiday for some fun poolside reading. Repetitive and a bit silly, however.
Essentially, Crackdown is an episode of Magnum P.I. or Hawaii Five-O put into novel form. A good book to take on holiday for some fun poolside reading. Repetitive and a bit silly, however.
July 10, 2016
Sailing thrillers have a long history as a genre, including classics like The Riddle of the Sands and Dead Calm. The amazingly prolific Bernard Cornwell has managed to squeeze a few nautical yarns in between volumes of his Sharpe military adventures and other historical novels. In this one, an ex-Royal Marine British yacht skipper ferrying rich tourists around the Bahamas is asked to baby-sit a U.S. senator's drug-addicted son and daughter on what is supposed to be a drying-out cruise. It turns out... well, no spoilers; suffice it to say that they run afoul of drug smugglers, crooked Bahamian cops, an expat Ulsterman gangster pimping to the wealthy, and other shady types. The powerful presence of U.S. law enforcement and military prosecuting the drug war looms over all. It's a pretty good yarn, with lots of sailing lore, gunplay, sneering villains and damsels in distress. Cornwell's prose is a bit breathless at times and the action calculated to be cinematic, but if he is not the greatest prose stylist in the language, he always delivers an entertaining read.
December 16, 2023
entertaining and a fast read, not the most wow of his novels but a good bedtime read.
May 23, 2009
I decided to break new ground by trying this contemporary thriller out, wondering if Cornwell would be as good with modern-day thrills and excitement as he is with historical stuff. The answer’s that he is!
This is the kind of book that reminds me of DEAD CALM, an isolated thriller with plenty of evocative description in the Caribbean locales. The story moves slowly at first but, because this is a short book, it soon builds up into an engaging thriller full of suspense and sustained tension.
While things end up with an island invasion that reminded me of COMMANDO, before then we get great little snippets of action – the exploding dog is etched in my mind – lots of arguments, debate, drugs and another likeable, everyman hero. A nice, concerted effort.
This is the kind of book that reminds me of DEAD CALM, an isolated thriller with plenty of evocative description in the Caribbean locales. The story moves slowly at first but, because this is a short book, it soon builds up into an engaging thriller full of suspense and sustained tension.
While things end up with an island invasion that reminded me of COMMANDO, before then we get great little snippets of action – the exploding dog is etched in my mind – lots of arguments, debate, drugs and another likeable, everyman hero. A nice, concerted effort.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2011
The second reading was better than the first. The senator convinces Hawkspeare to take his coke addicted twins for a real boatride that is dangerous and action packed. The plot was not as sound as I would expect of Mr. Cornwell. The senator's son was slick. Perhaps too slick to be believable. He 'set up' the crew and his twin, and I despaired they would ever get out the drug dealer' hands. In fact some did nceot.
September 4, 2018
Excellent as always
Bernard Cornwell has the ability to bring characters to life like no one else. From the reticent former marine to the coke addicts to the senator and all the others. He brings the action to life and it's easy to get lost and not stop reading.
Bernard Cornwell has the ability to bring characters to life like no one else. From the reticent former marine to the coke addicts to the senator and all the others. He brings the action to life and it's easy to get lost and not stop reading.
April 16, 2019
Excellent!
It's Bernard Cornwell. What more can be said? He is a master with words and stories no matter if it's historical or more modern. My favourite author.
It's Bernard Cornwell. What more can be said? He is a master with words and stories no matter if it's historical or more modern. My favourite author.
April 13, 2021
Nick Breakspear is an ex-marine, and now a sailor who is looking for the quiet life. Desperate to escape the claustrophobic influence of his famous father, Nick is a charter captain aboard Wavebreaker, a luxury yacht that sails the idyllic waters of the Bahamas with anyone who can afford the tens of thousands it costs to charter. Nick’s dream is to sail the Pacific with his friend and fellow crew member Ellen in his own boat, which he is in the process of repairing.
However, when Nick comes across a sinking boat his crew want him to ignore it but being the man he is Nick insists on checking there are no people aboard. There aren’t, but he finds shell casing scattered around the boat - this is clearly no accident. Given they are just a few miles from Murder Cay, a notorious drug dealers private island, it is obvious to most what happened. And that it best to not make waves.
But Nick is not most people. He reports the find and is greeted on his return to shore by a vindictive local policeman who wants him to forget what happened. His blatant threats to Nick eventually mean he acquiesces. Meanwhile his boss is pressuring him to accept a final, lucrative charter of the season – it is money Nick ‘s crew are keen to accept, but he has reservations, until a former client persuades him otherwise, against his better judgement.
The charter is a disaster, and Nick finds himself caught up with lethal Colombian drug traffickers. With the help of his friend ‘The Maggot’, a hard charging ex-NFL star and pilot, Nick allows himself to be pulled deeper into the drug war.
This is my first Bernard Cornwell book, and the cover image enticed me to take a chance as this was in one of Amazon’s many Kindle sails. It is set in the nineties, so a bit of nostalgia, and a lack of computers and cell phones offers a slower pace that more modern thrillers. The book starts slowly, and we are introduced to the characters – Nick is reasonably well developed, as is the Maggot, but one or two of the others are slight clichés, especially the lead villain. However, the tension builds nicely from the slow start slowly and the climax is as one might expect. Not bad and I’ll probably try another of these older books from this author.
However, when Nick comes across a sinking boat his crew want him to ignore it but being the man he is Nick insists on checking there are no people aboard. There aren’t, but he finds shell casing scattered around the boat - this is clearly no accident. Given they are just a few miles from Murder Cay, a notorious drug dealers private island, it is obvious to most what happened. And that it best to not make waves.
But Nick is not most people. He reports the find and is greeted on his return to shore by a vindictive local policeman who wants him to forget what happened. His blatant threats to Nick eventually mean he acquiesces. Meanwhile his boss is pressuring him to accept a final, lucrative charter of the season – it is money Nick ‘s crew are keen to accept, but he has reservations, until a former client persuades him otherwise, against his better judgement.
The charter is a disaster, and Nick finds himself caught up with lethal Colombian drug traffickers. With the help of his friend ‘The Maggot’, a hard charging ex-NFL star and pilot, Nick allows himself to be pulled deeper into the drug war.
This is my first Bernard Cornwell book, and the cover image enticed me to take a chance as this was in one of Amazon’s many Kindle sails. It is set in the nineties, so a bit of nostalgia, and a lack of computers and cell phones offers a slower pace that more modern thrillers. The book starts slowly, and we are introduced to the characters – Nick is reasonably well developed, as is the Maggot, but one or two of the others are slight clichés, especially the lead villain. However, the tension builds nicely from the slow start slowly and the climax is as one might expect. Not bad and I’ll probably try another of these older books from this author.
November 16, 2021
Familiar with Cornwell’s historical novels, I turned to this contemporary novel more out of curiosity than anything else. It was a pleasant, if not overwhelming, diversion from my usual reads. If you know anything about sailing or cocaine, this will be a popular favorite with you. Cornwell takes us through his paces as a sailor from prow to stern. Perhaps more detail than is necessary for enjoying the novel, but certainly fun for Cornwell to write, since he is an amateur sailor. The plot is basically simple: Nick, the son of a famous actor, Tom Breakspear (!), is a commercial sailor, taking various folks on various cruises for recreation and whatever else they may want from a cruise. He gets a demand from his boss to take two young adult twins on a cure cruise—they are both cocaine addicts. They are also the spawn of a US Senator who has figured out that a cruise is the best way to isolate the kids from their habits. Reaching Murder Cay, things begin to go haywire, starting with the boy twin, Rickie, who has a stash of coke on board. From there on, events spiral out of control and Nick’s boat is wrecked, he is isolated with various of his friends and crew (including the luscious Ellen, a redhead who is destined to be his lover) and all are under fire from automatic weapons, mortars and all imaginable weapons and technical tools for assassination. Plot twists involving changing plans and changing loyalties mount up as Nick searches the island for Ellen and a way back to the mainland and safety. I found the plotting a bit too clever and the details on cocaine use and sailing both repetitive, but that’s me. For a good, casual thriller, this will fill the bill.
June 11, 2019
It's Bernard Cornwall. He only writes good books. No matter what he's writing about.
But whilst this one isn't bad - it's not one of his best.
This is a supposed thriller that's a little short on thrills, a mystery that's not that mysterious and a potboiler which never quite reaches shimmering point.
It's interesting enough fare - the ex-Marine son of a famous Shakespearean actor gets involved in some dodgy, drug related goings on in the Caribbean Sea, there is a woman involved, some politicians, some thoroughly despicable characters and some boats and some guns. The characters as with all of Bernard Cornwell's are fully formed and suitably flawed, the prose flows and action moves along art a decent lick.
But though all of the constituent parts are there, and it's certainly not a tough read, this never quite reaches the heights that most Bernard Cornwell novels do. I'm not quite sure why, but it just felt that it never really got going, and that some of the plot twists that could have developed simply didn't, leaving it all a bit like a jam sandwich without the jam, the butter and the crusts on the bread. Decent enough, but not really what you hoped for.
But whilst this one isn't bad - it's not one of his best.
This is a supposed thriller that's a little short on thrills, a mystery that's not that mysterious and a potboiler which never quite reaches shimmering point.
It's interesting enough fare - the ex-Marine son of a famous Shakespearean actor gets involved in some dodgy, drug related goings on in the Caribbean Sea, there is a woman involved, some politicians, some thoroughly despicable characters and some boats and some guns. The characters as with all of Bernard Cornwell's are fully formed and suitably flawed, the prose flows and action moves along art a decent lick.
But though all of the constituent parts are there, and it's certainly not a tough read, this never quite reaches the heights that most Bernard Cornwell novels do. I'm not quite sure why, but it just felt that it never really got going, and that some of the plot twists that could have developed simply didn't, leaving it all a bit like a jam sandwich without the jam, the butter and the crusts on the bread. Decent enough, but not really what you hoped for.
March 6, 2022
Spoilers ahead:
One of Cornwell's sailboat series. This one was ok. It's basically a sailboat oriented light thriller. An ex-British marine works on Caribbean sailboat charters for the rich. An American senator hires him and his crew to detox his 2 kids with an ocean voyage away from land and drugs.
However the son has planned beforehand for his supplier to "kidnap" him and take him to a secluded island with a huge drug stash. But the kidnapping turns deadly when the kidnappers and the charter crew get into a firefight. The book ends with the protagonist "rescuing" the senator's kids.
This book is par for the course for Cornwell's modern thrillers. They are similar to Wilbur Smith's stand alone sea book but much less complex. Here you get your good guy and crew and the villains and crew. There's often some back story to the good guy plus female company. And as usual the bad guys win first and hurt the good guy then he wins in the end. The general idea is all the same, just different settings.
Not a bad book and a quick read. I finished it in a few hours spread over a couple of days.
One of Cornwell's sailboat series. This one was ok. It's basically a sailboat oriented light thriller. An ex-British marine works on Caribbean sailboat charters for the rich. An American senator hires him and his crew to detox his 2 kids with an ocean voyage away from land and drugs.
However the son has planned beforehand for his supplier to "kidnap" him and take him to a secluded island with a huge drug stash. But the kidnapping turns deadly when the kidnappers and the charter crew get into a firefight. The book ends with the protagonist "rescuing" the senator's kids.
This book is par for the course for Cornwell's modern thrillers. They are similar to Wilbur Smith's stand alone sea book but much less complex. Here you get your good guy and crew and the villains and crew. There's often some back story to the good guy plus female company. And as usual the bad guys win first and hurt the good guy then he wins in the end. The general idea is all the same, just different settings.
Not a bad book and a quick read. I finished it in a few hours spread over a couple of days.
September 20, 2021
This is 1990 Cornwell......an adventure novel with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
Kind of preachy in places about the evils of cocaine (which is a nasty thing to get hooked on) which, while not distracting from the plot, did get tiresome after a while.
In brief - sea-faring adventure where a US Senator's kids are hooked, go on a supposed sea adventure as a form of rehab, the kids are kidnapped by drug dealers and the search for them, with everything culminating in a shootout definitely worthy of a Hollywood shoot-em-up. However, things - and people are not always as they seem - and that gets the reader wondering if the good guys are really the good guys and who are the bad guys?
Entertaining, but not Cornwell's best. However, 30 years ago he was just starting out as a writer and you've got to start somewhere. If you enjoy Cornwell's novels and haven't read this series of sea-faring adventures (there's 4 or 5 altogether), you'll want to pick this one up.
Kind of preachy in places about the evils of cocaine (which is a nasty thing to get hooked on) which, while not distracting from the plot, did get tiresome after a while.
In brief - sea-faring adventure where a US Senator's kids are hooked, go on a supposed sea adventure as a form of rehab, the kids are kidnapped by drug dealers and the search for them, with everything culminating in a shootout definitely worthy of a Hollywood shoot-em-up. However, things - and people are not always as they seem - and that gets the reader wondering if the good guys are really the good guys and who are the bad guys?
Entertaining, but not Cornwell's best. However, 30 years ago he was just starting out as a writer and you've got to start somewhere. If you enjoy Cornwell's novels and haven't read this series of sea-faring adventures (there's 4 or 5 altogether), you'll want to pick this one up.
August 30, 2025
In the vein of other thrillers, this is a standalone novel by Bernard Cornwell. It describes the story of Nicholas (Nick) Breakspeare who, in rebellion against his shallow movie hero father, rejects the career chosen for him and decides to be, first, a marine and then the skipper of a sea skiff.
A senator begs him to save his drug addled children by dint of a sea voyage where Nick can keep an eye on his kids. The senator likes him because he was a client in his previous voyage with Nick. Nick is first reluctant but then agrees, charmed by the Senator's honest plea.
Then starts a twisty story, a cat and mouse game, betrayals galore, the one love of his life, the beautiful Ellen, not giving him the time of the day even though she professes to like him as a person, and action galore. The book accelerates and does not let go until the very end, where multiple surprises and twists abound.
A wonderful read! Want more including plot details? Consult this page..
-- Krishna
A senator begs him to save his drug addled children by dint of a sea voyage where Nick can keep an eye on his kids. The senator likes him because he was a client in his previous voyage with Nick. Nick is first reluctant but then agrees, charmed by the Senator's honest plea.
Then starts a twisty story, a cat and mouse game, betrayals galore, the one love of his life, the beautiful Ellen, not giving him the time of the day even though she professes to like him as a person, and action galore. The book accelerates and does not let go until the very end, where multiple surprises and twists abound.
A wonderful read! Want more including plot details? Consult this page..
-- Krishna
April 29, 2023
Former Royal Marine Nick Breakspear is hoping for a quiet life when he takes a job skippering a charter schooner in the Caribbean. But when he agrees to take the children of a US senator on a cruise to help them quit drugs he finds himself fighting for survival in a conflict with violent drug runners and corrupt cops.
If you’re familiar with Cornwell’s historical novels this one, with a more contemporary setting, is rather different. You sometimes hear it said that warfare is long periods of boredom interspersed with short periods of terror. That’s a bit like reading this book, you get long passages of introspection and loving descriptions of sailing interspersed with bouts of extreme – but equally lovingly described - violence.
It’s well written and provides a decent enough read but the plot feels a little lacking in places. If you’re looking for undemanding entertainment this will do the job though it’s not one of Cornwell’s best.
If you’re familiar with Cornwell’s historical novels this one, with a more contemporary setting, is rather different. You sometimes hear it said that warfare is long periods of boredom interspersed with short periods of terror. That’s a bit like reading this book, you get long passages of introspection and loving descriptions of sailing interspersed with bouts of extreme – but equally lovingly described - violence.
It’s well written and provides a decent enough read but the plot feels a little lacking in places. If you’re looking for undemanding entertainment this will do the job though it’s not one of Cornwell’s best.
November 17, 2018
This was an exciting story that included all the elements of a Cornwell novel. The reader could experience the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and textures of a struggle against the drug trade in the Bahamas. Nick Breakspear was a reluctant hero who was dragged into complex web that included an ambitious senator, his cocaine addicted twins, a corrupt police force and a girlfriend. Of all the many Cornwell books I have read, this is one that gives the most positive look at the Christian faith. One of the supporting characters was a devout Christian and the descriptions of his activities shows a deep insight into the faith. Even Nick displayed some Christian attitudes. This was a fairly fast-moving story that produced some unexpected turns and some surprises at the end. I don’t give many fives but this book deserved one.
October 19, 2021
This has been sitting in my to read pile for quite a while from a long ago library book sale, and I decided after a bit of reader's block and getting stuck for a bit, I'd give it a shot since it had no expectations.
This is alot different than Cromwell's historical fiction, but it still shows that he's a skilled writer. About 1/2 way through the book I was howling to myself about plot holes, and the ending filled them in nicely... some of the bits were not a surprise, but one was, and it made alot of difference.
It's nice to have a book that has a solid ending, rather than the usual deal with modern writers where they build great characters, a nice world, or both, but can't 'stick' the ending.
This isn't going to be anyone's favorite (it's far too preachy for that, though I suspect that was the point of it's existing), but it's a solid thriller by an excellent writer.
This is alot different than Cromwell's historical fiction, but it still shows that he's a skilled writer. About 1/2 way through the book I was howling to myself about plot holes, and the ending filled them in nicely... some of the bits were not a surprise, but one was, and it made alot of difference.
It's nice to have a book that has a solid ending, rather than the usual deal with modern writers where they build great characters, a nice world, or both, but can't 'stick' the ending.
This isn't going to be anyone's favorite (it's far too preachy for that, though I suspect that was the point of it's existing), but it's a solid thriller by an excellent writer.
March 24, 2024
The story revolves around Nicholas Breakspear, an ex-Royal Marine. He is working as the captain on a boat for sailboat charters in the Bahamas. He stumbles across an abandoned sailboat where it looks like the crew has been "disappeared". He reports it and it leads to dealing with drug cartels. In the midst, a US Senator with plans to run for President, hires him to take his drug addicted children on a cruise until they sober up. But the cartel kidnaps the children (teenagers), kills one of the crew and almost kills the others, but they manage to escape. Then the rest of the book involves avoiding the cartel, trying to find the kids, and dealing with the cartel. Of course, there are a few corrupt Bahamian politicians along the way for good measure. It was a fun book.
April 22, 2024
Nicholas Breakspear, son of a famous British actor, determined early in life that he would not follow his father into the theatre. Instead, he became a marine - a dig at his father who hates guns and fighting.
Now Nick is a sailor who is looking forward to repairing his own boat and sailing to wherever he chooses. Unfortunately, his plans are foiled by a senator's request to care for his adult twin children who are both hooked on cocaine. As part of the deal, he and his crew will be paid handsomely and his boat will be repaired.
A harried journey filled with attempts on his life, kidnapping, and murder make him regret his decision many times over.
A good read to while away the hours.
Now Nick is a sailor who is looking forward to repairing his own boat and sailing to wherever he chooses. Unfortunately, his plans are foiled by a senator's request to care for his adult twin children who are both hooked on cocaine. As part of the deal, he and his crew will be paid handsomely and his boat will be repaired.
A harried journey filled with attempts on his life, kidnapping, and murder make him regret his decision many times over.
A good read to while away the hours.
October 8, 2017
This one was a new experience for me. I am a Bernard Cornwell fan but I am familiar with him as a historian writing about medieval life and particularly battles and wars. The closest Mr. Cornwell came to contemporary work was a story about the American revolution. This is a story taking place in the 1990s Bahamas starring a young British charter sail boat captain. The owner of his boat accepts a charter from an American Senator for a three month trip to help his son and daughter withdraw from cocaine addiction. The story gets complicated from there. There are some unlikely scenarios but an interesting read.
September 15, 2021
This book confirms that whilst Bernard Cornwell is a great historical novelist, he is pretty average with modern day thrillers. This feels a slightly overlong book which has very few moments of tension or suspense.
Throughout the book there is a high level of sexism with the female characters being either damsels in distress or simply characterised by how they look. We also get a bit of racism and homophobic dialogue as well. Although it is good to know that this book probably wouldn't have been written today, I'm not sure if this makes this acceptable.
Think I'll stick to his historical work.
Throughout the book there is a high level of sexism with the female characters being either damsels in distress or simply characterised by how they look. We also get a bit of racism and homophobic dialogue as well. Although it is good to know that this book probably wouldn't have been written today, I'm not sure if this makes this acceptable.
Think I'll stick to his historical work.
June 16, 2023
Having enjoyed Bernard's historical novels, I thought I'd try a modern one as it was 99p on Kindle.
Set in 1980s in the Bahamas, the story is about Nick who takes wealthy patrons for cruises around the islands on a luxury yacht. He inadvertently gets mixed up with drug barons, the US senator and undercover DEA men. Cocaine, guns and killing feature heavily - and of course all the females are beautiful.
It was similar to watching a Bond film, although our hero wasn't quite so smug. Enjoyable enough, but not really my thing. The Kindle version could have done with more editing - I spotted a few errors along the way.
Think I'll stick with his historical works.
Set in 1980s in the Bahamas, the story is about Nick who takes wealthy patrons for cruises around the islands on a luxury yacht. He inadvertently gets mixed up with drug barons, the US senator and undercover DEA men. Cocaine, guns and killing feature heavily - and of course all the females are beautiful.
It was similar to watching a Bond film, although our hero wasn't quite so smug. Enjoyable enough, but not really my thing. The Kindle version could have done with more editing - I spotted a few errors along the way.
Think I'll stick with his historical works.
August 6, 2023
Great yarn of that almost believable type appealing to the boy in all men - think Biggles, Dan Dare, James Bond, Star Trek, Spooks, 24... The invincible hero advances against overwhelming odds and after overcoming (and killing) them all, makes off with the woman of his dreams. Schoolboy stuff and I enjoyed it immensely.
Some of these reviews suggest that the characterisation is full, with characters that could really be your next door neighbour. Not a bit of it, the characters do have enough detail to perceive them as actors in the plot, but they aren't people. It doesn't matter. This is the sort of action fantasy that I have enjoyed for more than 40 years. Enjoy it. I did.
Some of these reviews suggest that the characterisation is full, with characters that could really be your next door neighbour. Not a bit of it, the characters do have enough detail to perceive them as actors in the plot, but they aren't people. It doesn't matter. This is the sort of action fantasy that I have enjoyed for more than 40 years. Enjoy it. I did.
March 29, 2020
This was my least favorite of his stand alone novels. Cornwell obviously loves sailing as the parts of his books about sailing are vivid and descriptive. Most of his characters are excellent, but some appear to have come straight from a bad action movie, much like the plot of this novel. That being said I will continue to work my way through the rest of his books. I am looking forward to getting back to his historical novels. With all the libraries closed I am worried about running out of books to read. I don't like relying on ebooks, but beggars can't be choosers.
July 7, 2022
A constant read!
I loved the whole book, just as a scenario was settling and you felt you were in a safe place to put the book down, the whole thing just opened up to mayhem!
I loved all the good guys, but never once thought of Maggot as anything but who he was
portrayed as, until the end of course. Nick was to die for and I was envious of Ellen sailing away with him. As for the twins well?
Bernard Cornell never fails.
I loved the whole book, just as a scenario was settling and you felt you were in a safe place to put the book down, the whole thing just opened up to mayhem!
I loved all the good guys, but never once thought of Maggot as anything but who he was
portrayed as, until the end of course. Nick was to die for and I was envious of Ellen sailing away with him. As for the twins well?
Bernard Cornell never fails.
April 12, 2021
Nick Breakspear is given the job of being a charter captain aboard Wavebreaker, and to take a senator's teenagers out on a cruise away from the temptation of drugs in an attempt to break them of a drug habit. But not is all as it seems with the teenagers and what looked like easy money Nick soon turns into a dangerous journey. This is an exciting read.
August 24, 2023
This is modern day skullduggery on the open seas, complete with hijacked kids. 3/10 mainly due to Cornwell writing style which carries this story along. It doesn't help that I don't like any of the characters or care about their fates.
Scoring: 0 bad; 1-3 poor; 4-6 average; 7-9 good; 10 excellent.
Scoring: 0 bad; 1-3 poor; 4-6 average; 7-9 good; 10 excellent.
January 17, 2026
Another fast action story by Mr. Cornwell. He knows how to keep a reader interested with a plot that is constantly moving forward and characters that are well developed. This book had several characters with more of a “sailors mouth” than he typically writes. Other than that, it was a pretty good story.
June 23, 2020
I found this book a decent read but not up to my anticipation having read many BC books previously. The climax was easy to anticipate and the twists in the plot transparent. However as ever it was well written and descriptive.
October 5, 2021
Too many words
I will never understand why a great writer pens trash. Cornwell 's Saxon series and Sharpe series are both excellent. So why did he write his sailing series? They are beneath him and waste his talent. They are nothing but cheap, predictable pot boilers.
I will never understand why a great writer pens trash. Cornwell 's Saxon series and Sharpe series are both excellent. So why did he write his sailing series? They are beneath him and waste his talent. They are nothing but cheap, predictable pot boilers.
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