What do you think?
Rate this book
Alan Lewrie #20
The King's Marauder
The year 1807 starts out badly for Captain Alan Lewrie, Royal Navy. His frigate HMS Reliant has a new captain, he’s living at his father’s estate at Anglesgreen and he’s recovering from a wound suffered in the South Atlantic. At last, there’s a bright spot. When fit, Admiralty awards him a new commission; not a frigate but a clumsy, slow two-decker Fourth Rate 50. Are his frigate days over for good?
Lewrie’s ordered to Gibraltar, but Foreign Office Secret Branch’s spies and manipulators have use for him, again! HMS Sapphire is the wrong ship for the task, raising chaos and mayhem along the Spanish coasts, and servicing agents and informers. And, what he’s ordered to do needs soldiers, landing craft, and a transport ship, all of which he doesn’t have, and must find a way to finagle it all.
He could beg off and say that it’s asking too much, but . . . Alan Lewrie is not a man to admit failure and defeat, and his quest might prove the most daunting of his long naval career.
Number twenty in The Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures, The King's Marauder is perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Julian Stockwin and C.S. Forester.
‘You could get addicted to this series. Easily’ New York Times Book Review
'The best naval series since C. S. Forester… Recommended’ Library Journal
‘Fast-moving… A hugely likeable hero, a huge cast of sharply drawn supporting there's nothing missing. Wonderful stuff’ Kirkus Reviews
Lewrie’s ordered to Gibraltar, but Foreign Office Secret Branch’s spies and manipulators have use for him, again! HMS Sapphire is the wrong ship for the task, raising chaos and mayhem along the Spanish coasts, and servicing agents and informers. And, what he’s ordered to do needs soldiers, landing craft, and a transport ship, all of which he doesn’t have, and must find a way to finagle it all.
He could beg off and say that it’s asking too much, but . . . Alan Lewrie is not a man to admit failure and defeat, and his quest might prove the most daunting of his long naval career.
Number twenty in The Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures, The King's Marauder is perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Julian Stockwin and C.S. Forester.
‘You could get addicted to this series. Easily’ New York Times Book Review
'The best naval series since C. S. Forester… Recommended’ Library Journal
‘Fast-moving… A hugely likeable hero, a huge cast of sharply drawn supporting there's nothing missing. Wonderful stuff’ Kirkus Reviews
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
76 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Dewey Lambdin
70 books278 followersDewey Lambdin (1945-2021 ) was an American nautical historical novelist. He was best known for his Alan Lewrie naval adventure series, set during the Napoleonic Wars. Besides the Alan Lewrie series, he was also the author of What Lies Buried: a novel of Old Cape Fear.
A self-proclaimed "Navy Brat," Lambdin spent a good deal of his early days on both coasts of the U.S.A., and overseas duty stations, with his father. His father enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1930, was "mustanged" from the lower deck (from Yeoman chief Petty Officer) at Notre Dame in '42, and was career Navy until May of 1954, when he was killed at sea aboard the USS Bennington CVA-20 (see below), on which he served as Administrative Officer, 5th in line-of-command (posthumous Lieutenant Commander).
Lambdin himself attended Castle Heights Military Academy, graduated in 1962, and was destined to be the family's first "ring-knocker" from the U.S. Naval Academy, "... until he realised that physics, calculus, and counting higher than ten were bigger than he was."[1] He studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Liberal arts and Theatre, where he was published in The Theme Vault in 1963, also reprinted in a national textbook, which whetted his appetite for writing. However, he failed his degree. He finally graduated with a degree in Film & TV Production from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1969. This was considered at the time to be the McHale's Navy of the academic set, so the nautical influence was still at work. He has worked for a network affiliate TV station as a producer/director for twelve years, an independent station as production manager and senior director/writer/ producer for three years, all in Memphis, and as a writer/producer with a Nashville advertising/production facility, or in free-lance camera, lighting and writing.
He has been a sailor since 1976 and spends his free time working and sailing on his beloved sloop Wind Dancer, with a special taste for cruising the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Lambdin has thus far resisted the temptation to trade his beloved typewriter for a computer. He lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, a Friend of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England; Cousteau Society; the former American Film Institute; and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
-Wikipedia
Mr Lambdin passed away on July 26, 2021 at the age of 76.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/deweyl...
A self-proclaimed "Navy Brat," Lambdin spent a good deal of his early days on both coasts of the U.S.A., and overseas duty stations, with his father. His father enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1930, was "mustanged" from the lower deck (from Yeoman chief Petty Officer) at Notre Dame in '42, and was career Navy until May of 1954, when he was killed at sea aboard the USS Bennington CVA-20 (see below), on which he served as Administrative Officer, 5th in line-of-command (posthumous Lieutenant Commander).
Lambdin himself attended Castle Heights Military Academy, graduated in 1962, and was destined to be the family's first "ring-knocker" from the U.S. Naval Academy, "... until he realised that physics, calculus, and counting higher than ten were bigger than he was."[1] He studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Liberal arts and Theatre, where he was published in The Theme Vault in 1963, also reprinted in a national textbook, which whetted his appetite for writing. However, he failed his degree. He finally graduated with a degree in Film & TV Production from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1969. This was considered at the time to be the McHale's Navy of the academic set, so the nautical influence was still at work. He has worked for a network affiliate TV station as a producer/director for twelve years, an independent station as production manager and senior director/writer/ producer for three years, all in Memphis, and as a writer/producer with a Nashville advertising/production facility, or in free-lance camera, lighting and writing.
He has been a sailor since 1976 and spends his free time working and sailing on his beloved sloop Wind Dancer, with a special taste for cruising the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Lambdin has thus far resisted the temptation to trade his beloved typewriter for a computer. He lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
He was a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, a Friend of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England; Cousteau Society; the former American Film Institute; and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
-Wikipedia
Mr Lambdin passed away on July 26, 2021 at the age of 76.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/deweyl...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 22, 2014
The King's Marauder begins with Captain Alan Lewrie recovering from his wounds (and cooling his heels) in his family estates in quiet, secluded Anglesgreen. He is, of course, miserable. His daughter wants nothing to do with him and his relatives and neighbors all find his, at best, vaguely disreputable. Worse yet, his long time mistress abandons him.
Fortunately for Alan (and the reader), he is saved from more pastoral special moments by an assignment to a new ship. And what a ship! After nearly twenty years at sea, Lewrie finds himself Captain of a Fourth-rate 50, the Sapphire. This is a big, powerful ship - two gun-decks, hundreds of sailors and marines - and I knew that it was only a matter of time before Lewrie and the Sapphire saw action. Sure enough, the Sapphire is assigned to Gibraltar and Alan and his crew are in the thick of it - fierce naval battles and marine raids against Spanish targets.
I really like these Lewrie books - a lot. Cracking open one of these books is like being reunited with an old friend. After twenty books following his life - from being (virtually) press ganged into the navy in the 1780s, through his marriage and the death of his wife, into and out of all sorts of scrapes, I feel as if I know the man. And I can't help but liking the man. He enjoys life, loves his family and fiends, he's smart, fearless and charming. He's also not perfect. He makes mistakes and feels guilt and remorse.
The perspective of these books is pretty cool as well. The Lewrie books are the naval equivalent of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books. It's the British navy at sea instead of the British army on land. If you like the Sharpe books and the period, you'll most likely enjoy the series. Lewrie is somewhat like Sharpe on the whole.
Finally, the action is a blast. When Lewrie (invariably) goes broadside to broadside with the French or the Dutch, or the Spanish, or Pirates, or the Americams, I can literally feel the reverberations of shot striking the ship and smell the gunsmoke.
Four and a half stars rounded down to four. Readers of the Lewrie series will enjoy this book immensely but I'm not sure that someone could pick this one up on its own and fully appreciate it.
Fortunately for Alan (and the reader), he is saved from more pastoral special moments by an assignment to a new ship. And what a ship! After nearly twenty years at sea, Lewrie finds himself Captain of a Fourth-rate 50, the Sapphire. This is a big, powerful ship - two gun-decks, hundreds of sailors and marines - and I knew that it was only a matter of time before Lewrie and the Sapphire saw action. Sure enough, the Sapphire is assigned to Gibraltar and Alan and his crew are in the thick of it - fierce naval battles and marine raids against Spanish targets.
I really like these Lewrie books - a lot. Cracking open one of these books is like being reunited with an old friend. After twenty books following his life - from being (virtually) press ganged into the navy in the 1780s, through his marriage and the death of his wife, into and out of all sorts of scrapes, I feel as if I know the man. And I can't help but liking the man. He enjoys life, loves his family and fiends, he's smart, fearless and charming. He's also not perfect. He makes mistakes and feels guilt and remorse.
The perspective of these books is pretty cool as well. The Lewrie books are the naval equivalent of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books. It's the British navy at sea instead of the British army on land. If you like the Sharpe books and the period, you'll most likely enjoy the series. Lewrie is somewhat like Sharpe on the whole.
Finally, the action is a blast. When Lewrie (invariably) goes broadside to broadside with the French or the Dutch, or the Spanish, or Pirates, or the Americams, I can literally feel the reverberations of shot striking the ship and smell the gunsmoke.
Four and a half stars rounded down to four. Readers of the Lewrie series will enjoy this book immensely but I'm not sure that someone could pick this one up on its own and fully appreciate it.
February 14, 2014
Always a great time when you can read the new installment of Captain Sir Alan Lewrie, RN, Baronet. This is the 20th novel in this series that never disappoints and this one is terrific. A scene in the book is when Lewrie takes over a new two decker, big and slow but he tells his new crew that not to let their hope be dashed for they will fight and they will earning prize money. True to his word the crew is happy and especially the reader. All hail the pride of the British Navy. Waiting for number twenty-one.
December 25, 2021
Giod story line with plenty of action. And this continued to show the more refined style first evident in the last book. There is still the annoying need to recount large chunks of the plot history of preceeding books in the series at every opportunity but I accept that not everyone will be reading the series in order.
Overall I enjoyed it.
Overall I enjoyed it.
May 24, 2014
One of the things I've liked about this series is how the main character grows from book to book. This one didn't seem to have a character arc. Instead, Alan is doing what he's always done--with a new ship and a new mistress, but other than that mostly the same group of people. I can't figure out if this is Alan becoming a set-in-his-ways middle-aged man, or if the author is running out of ideas.
December 21, 2013
Another book that has entangled me into its world. Imagine, this was number twenty in a series. The torture of not having discovered the series before I won this by the author. Action built mystery and determination. Love it.
January 4, 2022
King’s Marauder
At his father’s farm Sir Alan is crippled and recovering from the musket ball shot to his leg in the battle that ended the last book. With the help of his old coxswain Will Comey, who now runs a pub in Anglesgreen, Alan walks daily along with his old friend who was retired out of the navy after losing a foot. Will Comey rehabbed himself by walking and after several months of hard work Sir Alan feels well enough to go to London and petition the Admiralty for a new ship. In the Admiralty waiting room he runs into his First Lieutenant from Reliant, Jeffrey Wescott and they quickly renew their relationship. Lewrie is very soon called to the Secretary’s office and is given a ship, a frigate. He asks for Jeffrey to be his first and both are soon on their way to their new ship which, disappointedly, turns out to be a two decker rather than a slashingly quick one deck frigate. They are given special orders to convoy some troop ships to Gibraltar and then assigned to assist Mr. Mountjoy, who was once Lewrie’s clerk before succumbing to the romance of the secret branch formerly run by Mr. Twigg. Mountjoy had been involved in Lewrie’s frantic chase of the evil Chaundas who Lewrie shot from a distance of 200 yards. Mr. Peel of the secret branch, also on that chase, recruited Mountjoy who is now ensconced in Gibraltar and and attempting to convince Spain to not join forces with Napoleon. What follows is somewhat of a training procedural as Mountjoy and Lewrie get organized to become proficient in amphibious landings. Their intent is to harass Spanish semaphore stations and fortresses along the coast of Spain hopefully forcing them to reinforce these spots and reducing the possibility that Gibraltar will be put under siege. A Captain Hughes has been assigned to lead army troops loaned to Mountjoy and Lewrie. Hughes, Lewrie has noticed has a lovely young Portuguese mistress and when Hughes disappears on a mission Lewrie makes his move to take over the protection of 23 year old Magdalena. More detailed sex scenes ensue. The amphibious missions are somewhat successful but the climax of the book involves Lewrie defeating two Spanish frigates. Mountjoy and Lewrie lose their mission as the soldiers are taken from them and Lewrie learns that Hughes is alive and paroled in Spain waiting exchange. That won’t make any difference to Lewrie and Magdalena as she has moved on from the stingy Capt. Hughes.
At his father’s farm Sir Alan is crippled and recovering from the musket ball shot to his leg in the battle that ended the last book. With the help of his old coxswain Will Comey, who now runs a pub in Anglesgreen, Alan walks daily along with his old friend who was retired out of the navy after losing a foot. Will Comey rehabbed himself by walking and after several months of hard work Sir Alan feels well enough to go to London and petition the Admiralty for a new ship. In the Admiralty waiting room he runs into his First Lieutenant from Reliant, Jeffrey Wescott and they quickly renew their relationship. Lewrie is very soon called to the Secretary’s office and is given a ship, a frigate. He asks for Jeffrey to be his first and both are soon on their way to their new ship which, disappointedly, turns out to be a two decker rather than a slashingly quick one deck frigate. They are given special orders to convoy some troop ships to Gibraltar and then assigned to assist Mr. Mountjoy, who was once Lewrie’s clerk before succumbing to the romance of the secret branch formerly run by Mr. Twigg. Mountjoy had been involved in Lewrie’s frantic chase of the evil Chaundas who Lewrie shot from a distance of 200 yards. Mr. Peel of the secret branch, also on that chase, recruited Mountjoy who is now ensconced in Gibraltar and and attempting to convince Spain to not join forces with Napoleon. What follows is somewhat of a training procedural as Mountjoy and Lewrie get organized to become proficient in amphibious landings. Their intent is to harass Spanish semaphore stations and fortresses along the coast of Spain hopefully forcing them to reinforce these spots and reducing the possibility that Gibraltar will be put under siege. A Captain Hughes has been assigned to lead army troops loaned to Mountjoy and Lewrie. Hughes, Lewrie has noticed has a lovely young Portuguese mistress and when Hughes disappears on a mission Lewrie makes his move to take over the protection of 23 year old Magdalena. More detailed sex scenes ensue. The amphibious missions are somewhat successful but the climax of the book involves Lewrie defeating two Spanish frigates. Mountjoy and Lewrie lose their mission as the soldiers are taken from them and Lewrie learns that Hughes is alive and paroled in Spain waiting exchange. That won’t make any difference to Lewrie and Magdalena as she has moved on from the stingy Capt. Hughes.
March 29, 2023
I jumped into this series at book #20, attracted to the era and author Bernard Cornwell's endorsement (I like his series about the Napoleonic wars featuring British soldier Richard Sharpe), so I read the book absent any of the background that author Lambdin has created in the previous nineteen books. Nevertheless, there was enough narrative provided by protagonist Alan Lewrie to establish enough backstory to set the scene. I imagine Lewrie to be in the mold of Jack Aubrie (of Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander series), and I have a boatload of those books too, unread, but I didn't want to begin that series yet. So, that's the set-up. I awarded the four-star rating because the book entertained and informed me, and that's all I was looking for.
After Captain Lewrie recovered from injuries previously suffered, he needs a new command. One of the aspects of the book that captured my attention was the minutia of details, often drawn-out and perhaps mundane, that I neither knew anything about nor expected. Far from a book of endless sea battles, author Lambdin takes the reader to the time on the country estate where Lewrie recovered, to his banker where he negotiated for funds to win a posting, to times in London where he met with an espionage master, some other friends from prior voyages, and the place where seamen are similarly hustling for a ship. This unexpected narrative enhanced my understanding of the little things that made the man, and the times.
Thereafter, Lambdin shows the reader how Lewrie took a less-than-favorable situation regarding his boat, his mission, and his men and gets this boat to Gibraltar. Again, rather than strike out onto the high seas and sea battles, the reader gets another dose of reality: tedious garrison life, and the reality of being that British outpost on the tip of adversary Spain, with its attendant intrigues and imminent invasion of Iberia by Napoleon's troops.
When Lewrie finally gets his orders, they take him away from his experience as a sea warrior and into supervision of a land assault (with a haughty braggard of a co-leader) -- and amphibious landing. One wonders when that term first came into usage -- Lambdin would have us believe that it was now.
After a land skirmish that Lewrie observes from his ship, the action concludes with two sea battles. It will be interesting to compare the treatments of these by Lambdin and, say, O'Brian.
I look forward to other books in this series.
After Captain Lewrie recovered from injuries previously suffered, he needs a new command. One of the aspects of the book that captured my attention was the minutia of details, often drawn-out and perhaps mundane, that I neither knew anything about nor expected. Far from a book of endless sea battles, author Lambdin takes the reader to the time on the country estate where Lewrie recovered, to his banker where he negotiated for funds to win a posting, to times in London where he met with an espionage master, some other friends from prior voyages, and the place where seamen are similarly hustling for a ship. This unexpected narrative enhanced my understanding of the little things that made the man, and the times.
Thereafter, Lambdin shows the reader how Lewrie took a less-than-favorable situation regarding his boat, his mission, and his men and gets this boat to Gibraltar. Again, rather than strike out onto the high seas and sea battles, the reader gets another dose of reality: tedious garrison life, and the reality of being that British outpost on the tip of adversary Spain, with its attendant intrigues and imminent invasion of Iberia by Napoleon's troops.
When Lewrie finally gets his orders, they take him away from his experience as a sea warrior and into supervision of a land assault (with a haughty braggard of a co-leader) -- and amphibious landing. One wonders when that term first came into usage -- Lambdin would have us believe that it was now.
After a land skirmish that Lewrie observes from his ship, the action concludes with two sea battles. It will be interesting to compare the treatments of these by Lambdin and, say, O'Brian.
I look forward to other books in this series.
March 21, 2023
Well now this was another rip roaring yarn on the high seas by Dewey Lambdin. Set during the Napoleonic wars this series takes the reader on a journey involving Naval hi-jinx with English Captain Alan Lewrie who has the nick name "ram-cat" because he likes to kick enemy ass, has a fondness for cats, and often finds himself in trouble with the fairer sex. This entry finds Lewrie working again for "special branch" of the English secret service; think James Bond on the high seas. Lewrie's mission is to initially escort a convoy to the Rock (no not Alcatraz, the original Rock--Gibraltar). Once at Gibraltar Lewrie meets with a secret agent and is tasked with kicking some Spanish ass up and down the coast of the Mediterranean. Well Lewrie does such a fine job of smashing Spanish fishing boats and causing havoc with land raids from his ships that the Spanish send out a pair of heavy frigates to engage him. The action is sharp, festive, and bloody. Which is just how we like a Lewrie naval adventure. Lewrie even manages to pull a George from Seinfeld and bed a Portuguese "waitress." I highly recommend this series and book to anyone who loves a great naval adventure.
January 14, 2023
Another entry in the usually action-packed Alan Lewrie series set in the British navy in the Napoleonic wars. In this one, the intense sea battles we have grown to expect have been reduced to just one set piece.
this is apparently a not surprising trend that seems to accompany the rise of Lewrie in the Royal Navy hierarchy. He spends much more time and effort in planning and organizing more strategic activities now. Still the story is a good one as Lewrie is detached to support clandestine activities aimed at getting Spain to break off from supporting Bonaparte and France. The book takes place just as France is starting an attack on Portugal on land, through Spanish territory. This book is much more concerned with the geopolitics of the war and the approaches the British develop in their pursuit to defeat France. A very good book, but a bit short on swashbuckling naval ship-to-ship battles compared to early books in the series.
this is apparently a not surprising trend that seems to accompany the rise of Lewrie in the Royal Navy hierarchy. He spends much more time and effort in planning and organizing more strategic activities now. Still the story is a good one as Lewrie is detached to support clandestine activities aimed at getting Spain to break off from supporting Bonaparte and France. The book takes place just as France is starting an attack on Portugal on land, through Spanish territory. This book is much more concerned with the geopolitics of the war and the approaches the British develop in their pursuit to defeat France. A very good book, but a bit short on swashbuckling naval ship-to-ship battles compared to early books in the series.
March 1, 2017
This book is very well researched and written, down to the speaking style and spelling. It can. It can to read though, as there are many words who are not the same as modern English, as well as the boat vocabulary. I do recommend it, but I have also read many other similar British marines books, which helped me understand the ship. All in all, good pg-13 rated book.
February 23, 2020
Page turning excitement
A new ship and further skullduggerry with the secret branch await you in this further book about Alan Lewrie. Few pages are wasted on the mundane in this latest book and the battle scenes are tremendous and explained in a way any "lubber" could understand. A page turned the only let down is that we don't know if there's more!!
A new ship and further skullduggerry with the secret branch await you in this further book about Alan Lewrie. Few pages are wasted on the mundane in this latest book and the battle scenes are tremendous and explained in a way any "lubber" could understand. A page turned the only let down is that we don't know if there's more!!
March 29, 2020
Very readable addition to the series
Enjoyable. Very good read.
A strong addition to the series that lets us find out much more about the hero, Captain Sir Alan Lewrie, as he has now become. We learn more of how he thinks and how he is perceived by his men and others.
Enjoyable. Very good read.
A strong addition to the series that lets us find out much more about the hero, Captain Sir Alan Lewrie, as he has now become. We learn more of how he thinks and how he is perceived by his men and others.
September 26, 2021
Another cracking yarn
Lewrie carries on his travels,always finding an enemy to vanquish or a filly to seduce. A good read,now onwards to see what he gets up to in the next instalment.
Lewrie carries on his travels,always finding an enemy to vanquish or a filly to seduce. A good read,now onwards to see what he gets up to in the next instalment.
July 10, 2022
The story continues. Captain Sir Alan Lewrie is given a new command, a much bigger and slower ship with more guns. He escorts a convoy to Gibralter where he is again ensnared by the British Intelligence service to work with them. New job, new love. Good story again.
May 18, 2019
A good tale with plenty of sea action. Lewrie finds a new romantic interest in Gibraltar.
June 26, 2020
Typical of the series (and genre), but I really enjoyed this.
July 14, 2021
Another cracker
Top naval fiction ,I've nearly read them all and I've enjoyed all of them I feel I know Alan lewrie.
Top naval fiction ,I've nearly read them all and I've enjoyed all of them I feel I know Alan lewrie.
August 30, 2021
Slow start, but then great fun as usual. Alan is very relatable in a vicariously participatory way. Perfect fodder for escapism. Have I really read 20 of these?!?
March 30, 2022
Alan is happy with his love life, once again, and unhappy with his orders from the Navy.
September 15, 2023
Marvelous - a terrific ending!
October 11, 2024
A new mission, a new mistress, a new ship. After his usual complaints (generally legitimate), Captain Sir Alan Lewrie is happy with life.
July 30, 2014
It's always fun to set sail with Captain Alan Lewry where ever he may be sailing off to. This time he is stationed at Gibraltar and he's been assigned to a fourth rate! Two gun decks with seventy-four guns and the lower deck is twenty-four pounders. Alas, he sorely misses the maneuverability of the fifth rate Frigates he has become accustomed to, especially when he is assigned to the special office and is charged with creating chaos and mayhem along the Spanish coast. What he has gained in fire power he has lost in nimbleness. It is 1807 (just past the battle of Trafalgar) and Spain is still aligned with Napoleon even after the lose of their great fleet.The emperor has bled the country's treasury dry and poverty and unemployment have taken their toll on the Spanish people and the embargo against trading with England has finally given the men at Whitehall reason to believe that Spain will soon be backing away from France and if not switching to England's side, at least becoming neutral in the present war. This is where our hero comes in, to give the Spanish government the push it needs to see Napoleon for what he is and tip the scales in England's favor. Lewry is great,as always and the sea battles are stupendously told, Dewey Lambdin is so good at describing a battle at sea you can almost taste the salt in the air, hear the roar of the cannon and smell the gunpowder. Another excellent adventure.
June 29, 2015
This is the 20th adventure of Ram Cat Lewrie. We have a few action scenes, and some off camera because our hero has been at his trade for awhile and like most Captains who become Senior, have to take note of their own capabilities as their bodies age as well as the need for younger men to show their capabilities and advance. Lewrie must begin to learn what it is like to send the away team in, whilst he continues to command from the ship.
Still, we see some of Lewrie's life ashore, and how now he has an entire entourage of ship's people to accompany him about. He is a successful Captain. And like many of the time, he was in and out of ships, and there was time in between. Many other writers of this genre would never comment on the time between, but Lambdin takes extra care to do so and to create a plausible reason for Lewrie to be leading a ship on adventure during the time of the blockade of France and Spain.
A time when their might be no adventure, though Hornblower did find himself in one escaping from a French prison.
All in all, a pretty good continuation of the series and worthy of its being reread when the entire series is tackled once more.
Still, we see some of Lewrie's life ashore, and how now he has an entire entourage of ship's people to accompany him about. He is a successful Captain. And like many of the time, he was in and out of ships, and there was time in between. Many other writers of this genre would never comment on the time between, but Lambdin takes extra care to do so and to create a plausible reason for Lewrie to be leading a ship on adventure during the time of the blockade of France and Spain.
A time when their might be no adventure, though Hornblower did find himself in one escaping from a French prison.
All in all, a pretty good continuation of the series and worthy of its being reread when the entire series is tackled once more.
August 3, 2016
Dewey is a good writer but he's forgotten to put a story in this book. The plot is so thin as to be almost invisible. The final naval battle of the book seemed a forgone conclusion. Too much of the story is just Lewrie being cute or another character telling us how great Lewrie is. Don't tell me how great Lewrie is - write a story that shows me! This book didn't do that. Nor did the last book. Dewey needs to get back to writing stories that make me want to turn the next page. This book left me bored.
March 1, 2014
Another good Alan Lewrie from Dewey Lambdin. Lambdin is better than most authors of this genre in giving us a word picture of life during the times of the Napoleonic wars, in this case, rural England and Gibraltar. This books is a bit unique in that the action takes place not on a frigate, but on a fifth-rate, two-deck warship.
July 1, 2014
A very good series about life in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Times. This latest book in the series is very much like the others but continues to follow the career of Captain Sir Alan "Ram-Cat" Lewrie!
December 11, 2015
Outstanding read. Fast paced and engaging.
Regretted having to put the book down to sleep. Lewrie at his sneaky, ardent and combative best. All in fast rapid fire to keep the reader in eager anticipation.
Regretted having to put the book down to sleep. Lewrie at his sneaky, ardent and combative best. All in fast rapid fire to keep the reader in eager anticipation.
December 28, 2015
Great book!
January 7, 2014
Now this is my kind of book. A tightly planned, beautifully written, perfectly paced naval adventure. I'll read the rest of this series and I hope there are several more to come.
April 1, 2014
Not quite as good as some of the Lewrie books it seemed to be a bit short on plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews