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The Straits of Treachery
September 1810. Raids across the Straits of Messina to disrupt preparations for the French invasion of the island have been repulsed with heavy casualties. George Warne, a bright young British officer, suspects treachery back in Messina, and is ordered to investigate. Warne uncovers a shadowy underworld of spies, traitors and informers where nothing is quite as it seems and where danger lurks around every corner. If the long-threatened French invasion erupts will Sicily's defenders be prepared?
352 pages, Hardcover
Published April 23, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 4, 2020
The events in the book unfold over the course of September 1810 with each chapter representing a day and moving frequently between various characters, but principally focussing on Captain George Warne. The setting is Sicily with the British forces facing the French under the command of Joachim Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon, across the Straits of Messina. Such is the proximity of the opposing forces that each side can observe the other. It’s a waiting game for the British with a French invasion expected at any time.
Ordered to investigate when it becomes apparent there is the possibility of a spy within the British command giving vital information to the enemy, George enlists the help of his mistress, Carlotta. She is a very merry widow who, it has to be said chiefly provides him with assistance of a more intimate nature. There are no shortage of suspects including a local lawyer with high-placed friends and fingers in many pies and a suspiciously helpful member of the nobility.
The book has a generous number of secondary characters and subsidiary storylines. For example, the rivalry between two officers for the affections of a young lady arrived from England to visit her soldier brother which has dramatic consequences.
The author’s background as a historian is evident in the meticulous descriptions of weaponry, uniforms, and military and naval assets. The action scenes, both at sea and on land, are vividly depicted. I also liked the way the author conjured up the bustling piazzas and thoroughfares of Messina.
“The street itself was a seething flood of city life: pedestrians, men on horseback, carts, mules and donkeys uncomplaining under spreading loads, the occasional carriage, its whip-flicking driver impatiently clearing a passage through the crowd, a sedan chair making its stately way among the throng, the odd mangey dog, an aged priest bent over his walking stick, a couple of chickens pecking sneakily in the gutter, men labouring under weighty parcels, a peasant pushing a small handcart laden with lemons, a prim posse of nuns, a pair of young boys rolling a barrel.”
I enjoyed the setting of the book, the period detail and the exciting action scenes, however I’ll confess to being a little disappointed by how the book ended. (It would have been 4* but for this.) It seemed to fizzle out with the results of Warne’s investigation wrapped up rather rapidly and some storylines left unresolved. However, perhaps the author is saving those for the planned sequel. But I did like the clever touch of having the ending of the book mirror the opening with George gazing out across the Straits of Messina towards Calabria and the French forces gathered there.
The Straits of Treachery will definitely appeal to fans of historical fiction with a strong naval or military element.
Ordered to investigate when it becomes apparent there is the possibility of a spy within the British command giving vital information to the enemy, George enlists the help of his mistress, Carlotta. She is a very merry widow who, it has to be said chiefly provides him with assistance of a more intimate nature. There are no shortage of suspects including a local lawyer with high-placed friends and fingers in many pies and a suspiciously helpful member of the nobility.
The book has a generous number of secondary characters and subsidiary storylines. For example, the rivalry between two officers for the affections of a young lady arrived from England to visit her soldier brother which has dramatic consequences.
The author’s background as a historian is evident in the meticulous descriptions of weaponry, uniforms, and military and naval assets. The action scenes, both at sea and on land, are vividly depicted. I also liked the way the author conjured up the bustling piazzas and thoroughfares of Messina.
“The street itself was a seething flood of city life: pedestrians, men on horseback, carts, mules and donkeys uncomplaining under spreading loads, the occasional carriage, its whip-flicking driver impatiently clearing a passage through the crowd, a sedan chair making its stately way among the throng, the odd mangey dog, an aged priest bent over his walking stick, a couple of chickens pecking sneakily in the gutter, men labouring under weighty parcels, a peasant pushing a small handcart laden with lemons, a prim posse of nuns, a pair of young boys rolling a barrel.”
I enjoyed the setting of the book, the period detail and the exciting action scenes, however I’ll confess to being a little disappointed by how the book ended. (It would have been 4* but for this.) It seemed to fizzle out with the results of Warne’s investigation wrapped up rather rapidly and some storylines left unresolved. However, perhaps the author is saving those for the planned sequel. But I did like the clever touch of having the ending of the book mirror the opening with George gazing out across the Straits of Messina towards Calabria and the French forces gathered there.
The Straits of Treachery will definitely appeal to fans of historical fiction with a strong naval or military element.
March 7, 2022
As a boy of ten, I started to read historical novels written by male writers for male readers, with male characters involved in past periods of history. Ronald Welch was my favourite; he chose periods of history - the Crusades of 13th century, the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War, the American War of Independence, & best of all the Revolutionary & Napoleonic Wars, featuring generations of the Carey family. I was fascinated by the accurate, historical details as much as by the exciting derring-do & military actions of realistic MALE heroes & villains and the wonderful inclusion of real events that actually happened!
I moved on to the great C.S.Forester - who attended my school as a boy before the Great War - with both his brilliant 'Hornblower' naval novels & other classic adventure stories set in various historical eras, full of detail & action, ideal for a voracious adolescent male reader like me! tired of the usual fare handed to children to read with fairies, ghosts & soppiness.
There were other such commited, male writers, like Leon Garfield & Conan Doyle, who captured my imagination until my 'A' levels & degree course in yes...Modern History at L.S.E.
This novel from Richard Hopton was like a nostalgic visit to the days of my reading youth; a wonderful tale of British soldiers & naval officers in Sicily in the late summer of 1810, with the French forces under Murat attempting to attack the island from the mainland & add some power to his reputation as second only to Bonaparte himself! The main protagonist is George Warne, a modest English hero who moves through this entertaining & detailed adventure with all kinds of intrigues...& unlike the boy's books, he actually has a mistress who he shares a bed with on many occasions! If only the earlier examples I gave of historical novels for males had been so graphic with female characters...rather than the Bennet-like sisters of that period. I would have been an avid reader of Flashman novels too!
I look forward to a sequel...as Georgr Warne seems to have a charmed life, particularly with Carlotta in Messina!
I moved on to the great C.S.Forester - who attended my school as a boy before the Great War - with both his brilliant 'Hornblower' naval novels & other classic adventure stories set in various historical eras, full of detail & action, ideal for a voracious adolescent male reader like me! tired of the usual fare handed to children to read with fairies, ghosts & soppiness.
There were other such commited, male writers, like Leon Garfield & Conan Doyle, who captured my imagination until my 'A' levels & degree course in yes...Modern History at L.S.E.
This novel from Richard Hopton was like a nostalgic visit to the days of my reading youth; a wonderful tale of British soldiers & naval officers in Sicily in the late summer of 1810, with the French forces under Murat attempting to attack the island from the mainland & add some power to his reputation as second only to Bonaparte himself! The main protagonist is George Warne, a modest English hero who moves through this entertaining & detailed adventure with all kinds of intrigues...& unlike the boy's books, he actually has a mistress who he shares a bed with on many occasions! If only the earlier examples I gave of historical novels for males had been so graphic with female characters...rather than the Bennet-like sisters of that period. I would have been an avid reader of Flashman novels too!
I look forward to a sequel...as Georgr Warne seems to have a charmed life, particularly with Carlotta in Messina!
April 26, 2020
It is 1810 on the Straits of Messina. British Officer George Warne suspects treachery is afoot when a secret plot to cabotage French ships is ambushed. He is charged to investigate and discovers there are traitors on almost every corner.
I had high hopes for this one. The premise was promising: a young officer being charged to find traitors on the island. And I think if the story had been more focused on Warne, I would have found it more interesting. As it was, there are a lot of characters to keep track of and the transition between them was always jarring. There were several plot points for a few of the characters that seemed to go nowhere and distracted from the main story.
The detail of the time and era both make and break the story. It helps add to the atmosphere of the story and were interesting. At times, though, the action was bogged down by the same details, making the narrative tedious. The story also just ends with some points left unresolved. This may be to set up for another book, but it took me offgaurd. I don't like when a book does that.
I also did not care for the language. Although it may be authentic to the time, I found it distasteful. Coupled with the instances of Warne in bed with his mistress made this a book I won't return to.
I recieved a free copy frmo NetGalley and am reviewing of my own free will. All opinions expressed are my own.
I had high hopes for this one. The premise was promising: a young officer being charged to find traitors on the island. And I think if the story had been more focused on Warne, I would have found it more interesting. As it was, there are a lot of characters to keep track of and the transition between them was always jarring. There were several plot points for a few of the characters that seemed to go nowhere and distracted from the main story.
The detail of the time and era both make and break the story. It helps add to the atmosphere of the story and were interesting. At times, though, the action was bogged down by the same details, making the narrative tedious. The story also just ends with some points left unresolved. This may be to set up for another book, but it took me offgaurd. I don't like when a book does that.
I also did not care for the language. Although it may be authentic to the time, I found it distasteful. Coupled with the instances of Warne in bed with his mistress made this a book I won't return to.
I recieved a free copy frmo NetGalley and am reviewing of my own free will. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 23, 2020
As this exciting story unfolds, one is drawn compulsively into the world of the British army defence against a potential attack of Sicily by Napoleon, along with the spy networks on both sides of the Straits of Messina. As well as very interesting descriptions of Messina and it's environs in the early nineteenth century, the characters, real and imaginary spring to life along with their faults and foibles in this thrilling story. Can't wait for more adventures that George Warne gets involved in.
April 23, 2020
An engrossing and entertaining historical fiction that kept me hooked till the end.
I was fascinated by the well researched historical background as it is vivid and it made me learn more about Napoleonic wars in Sicily.
The cast of characters is well thought, the plot well crafted and flows.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I was fascinated by the well researched historical background as it is vivid and it made me learn more about Napoleonic wars in Sicily.
The cast of characters is well thought, the plot well crafted and flows.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
October 21, 2020
Having read Hopton's non fiction I had high hopes for this foray into new territory, and I was not disappointed. George Warne is very much a likeable character, nothing flashy or overly dramatic. The setting is not one of the usual Napoleonic choices but Hopton's obviously well researched and accurate descriptions bring it all vividly to life. I look forward to meeting George Warne again, the sooner the better.
July 10, 2024
I never finished this book as the author spent too much time describing everything around the key character rather than concentrating on developing George's character. The dialouge was poor and didn't feel natural to me. If the author won the Sahr prize for military fiction it wasn't with this novel. Not recommended.
April 3, 2023
Some good plot lines but quite slow and plodding.Not a page turner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2020
This story closely follows Captain George Warne of her Majesty’s 27th foot while he is stationed in the straits of Messina in Sicily. The story pretty unfolds over a week in September 1810 leading up to a major battle. One major question you encounter throughout the book is did someone give internal information to enemy forces? For me this story was fairly well paced and gives way to many interesting events leading up to the main plot. While I loved this book there was one thing particularly did not like and that was the not so smooth transition of the characters throughout the story. Overall though I would recommend this book to history buffs as it captures the heart of the Napoleonic war through a foot soldiers life.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews