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Carlisle & Holbrooke Naval Adventures #8
Niagara Squadron
Fort Niagara is the key to the American continent. Whoever owns that lonely outpost at the edge of civilisation controls the entire Great Lakes region.
Pitt’s grand strategy for 1759 is to launch a three-pronged attack on Canada. One army would move north from Lake Champlain, a second would sail up the St Lawrence to capture Quebec, and a third force would strike across the wilderness to Lake Ontario and French-held Fort Niagara.
Commander George Holbrooke is seconded to command the six hundred boats to carry the army through the rivers and across Lake Ontario. That’s the easy part; he also has to deal with two powerful brigs that guarantee French naval superiority on the lake.
Holbrooke knows time is running out to be posted as captain before the war ends and promotions dry up; his rank is the stumbling block to his marriage to Ann, waiting for him in his hometown of Wickham Hampshire.
Niagara Squadron is the eighth Carlisle and Holbrooke novel. The series follows Carlisle and his protégé Holbrooke through the Seven Years War and into the period of turbulent relations between Britain and her American colonies in the 1760’s.
Pitt’s grand strategy for 1759 is to launch a three-pronged attack on Canada. One army would move north from Lake Champlain, a second would sail up the St Lawrence to capture Quebec, and a third force would strike across the wilderness to Lake Ontario and French-held Fort Niagara.
Commander George Holbrooke is seconded to command the six hundred boats to carry the army through the rivers and across Lake Ontario. That’s the easy part; he also has to deal with two powerful brigs that guarantee French naval superiority on the lake.
Holbrooke knows time is running out to be posted as captain before the war ends and promotions dry up; his rank is the stumbling block to his marriage to Ann, waiting for him in his hometown of Wickham Hampshire.
Niagara Squadron is the eighth Carlisle and Holbrooke novel. The series follows Carlisle and his protégé Holbrooke through the Seven Years War and into the period of turbulent relations between Britain and her American colonies in the 1760’s.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2020
About the author
Chris Durbin
15 books70 followersChris Durbin grew up in the seaside town of Porthcawl in South Wales. His first experience of sailing was as a sea cadet in the treacherous tideway of the Bristol Channel, and at the age of sixteen, he spent a week in a topsail schooner in the Southwest Approaches. He was a crew member on the Porthcawl lifeboat before joining the navy.
Chris spent twenty-four years as a warfare officer in the Royal Navy, serving in all classes of ship from aircraft carriers through destroyers and frigates to the smallest minesweepers. He took part in operational campaigns in the Falkland Islands, the Middle East and the Adriatic. As a personnel exchange officer, he spent two years teaching tactics at a US Navy training centre in San Diego.
On his retirement from the Royal Navy, Chris joined a large American company and spent eighteen years in the aerospace, defence and security industry, including two years on the design team for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
Chris is a graduate of the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, the British Army Command and Staff College, the United States Navy War College (where he gained a postgraduate diploma in national security decision-making) and Cambridge University (where he was awarded an MPhil in International Relations).
With a lifelong interest in naval history and a long-standing ambition to write historical fiction, Chris has embarked upon creating the Carlisle & Holbrooke series, in which a colonial Virginian commands a British navy frigate during the middle years of the eighteenth century.
The series will follow its principal characters through the Seven Years War and into the period of turbulent relations between Britain and her American Colonies in the 1760s. They’ll negotiate some thought-provoking loyalty issues when British policy and colonial restlessness lead inexorably to the American Revolution.
Chris now lives on the south coast of England, surrounded by hundreds of years of naval history. His three children are all busy growing their own families and careers while Chris and his wife (US Navy, retired) of thirty-seven years enjoy sailing their classic dayboat.
Chris spent twenty-four years as a warfare officer in the Royal Navy, serving in all classes of ship from aircraft carriers through destroyers and frigates to the smallest minesweepers. He took part in operational campaigns in the Falkland Islands, the Middle East and the Adriatic. As a personnel exchange officer, he spent two years teaching tactics at a US Navy training centre in San Diego.
On his retirement from the Royal Navy, Chris joined a large American company and spent eighteen years in the aerospace, defence and security industry, including two years on the design team for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
Chris is a graduate of the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, the British Army Command and Staff College, the United States Navy War College (where he gained a postgraduate diploma in national security decision-making) and Cambridge University (where he was awarded an MPhil in International Relations).
With a lifelong interest in naval history and a long-standing ambition to write historical fiction, Chris has embarked upon creating the Carlisle & Holbrooke series, in which a colonial Virginian commands a British navy frigate during the middle years of the eighteenth century.
The series will follow its principal characters through the Seven Years War and into the period of turbulent relations between Britain and her American Colonies in the 1760s. They’ll negotiate some thought-provoking loyalty issues when British policy and colonial restlessness lead inexorably to the American Revolution.
Chris now lives on the south coast of England, surrounded by hundreds of years of naval history. His three children are all busy growing their own families and careers while Chris and his wife (US Navy, retired) of thirty-seven years enjoy sailing their classic dayboat.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 18, 2021
Ships coming close to land must be careful, as underwater rocks and shoals may lurk invisibly in what seems like a clear path to harbor. Authors who write naval fiction sometimes find themselves in similar situations, as their sure hand at nautical terminology and narrative deserts them when their cast goes ashore and they founder faster than a broached longboat.
Chris Durbin manages to keep his story afloat in Niagara Squadron even while he sends one of his two heroes, Commander George Holbrooke, overland with the British Army's 1759 Niagara Expedition to dislodge the French from Ontario and capture access to Canada. It's unfamiliar territory to Holbrooke, who has been distinguishing himself at sea in this campaign during what's sometimes called the Seven Years War but is now an a very different element. The goal of the campaign is to attack French holdings on Lake Ontario by coming via river and overland to both assault Fort Niagara and provide naval support for the attack.
Although Durbin has offered up a goodly amount of history as he's navigated his heroes on their journeys, Niagara Squadron offers more than just about any volume in the series so far. He follows the actual journey to the lake and the eventual battle fairly closely, exploiting a few gaps in the historical record as places where Holbrooke and his crew can shine and carry the day. He does a good job of outlining some of the early inter-service rivalry between army and navy and shows how the tactics of land movement with sea support were still very much in development.
He also highlights how the cultural gap between the European combatants, both French and English, and their native allies meant that the Europeans never really understood how the different native tribal nations related to each other or chose the side to fight on that they did. Holbrooke is given a development arc of gradually accepting friendship of the Mohawk warrior Kanatase and recognizing him as a man of honor and good character instead of just a "savage." The chapters relating the detached expedition of Holbrooke's first lieutenant, Charles Lynton, offer a neat kind of mirror of seeing how Holbrooke now handles being on the other side of the superior/subordinate relationship, having begun the series as subordinate to its other hero, Edward Carlisle. And the whole story provides a domestic reason for Holbrooke to mature, as he must convince Martin Featherstone that he is a worthy suitor for his daughter Ann.
All of the Carlisle and Holbrooke stories have been excellent reads for the naval fiction fan, all the better for passing over the well-trodden path of the Napoleonic wars for the earlier mid-18th century conflict. But Niagara Squadron's many virtues give it the edge so far if one's looking to crown the top entry of the series.
Chris Durbin manages to keep his story afloat in Niagara Squadron even while he sends one of his two heroes, Commander George Holbrooke, overland with the British Army's 1759 Niagara Expedition to dislodge the French from Ontario and capture access to Canada. It's unfamiliar territory to Holbrooke, who has been distinguishing himself at sea in this campaign during what's sometimes called the Seven Years War but is now an a very different element. The goal of the campaign is to attack French holdings on Lake Ontario by coming via river and overland to both assault Fort Niagara and provide naval support for the attack.
Although Durbin has offered up a goodly amount of history as he's navigated his heroes on their journeys, Niagara Squadron offers more than just about any volume in the series so far. He follows the actual journey to the lake and the eventual battle fairly closely, exploiting a few gaps in the historical record as places where Holbrooke and his crew can shine and carry the day. He does a good job of outlining some of the early inter-service rivalry between army and navy and shows how the tactics of land movement with sea support were still very much in development.
He also highlights how the cultural gap between the European combatants, both French and English, and their native allies meant that the Europeans never really understood how the different native tribal nations related to each other or chose the side to fight on that they did. Holbrooke is given a development arc of gradually accepting friendship of the Mohawk warrior Kanatase and recognizing him as a man of honor and good character instead of just a "savage." The chapters relating the detached expedition of Holbrooke's first lieutenant, Charles Lynton, offer a neat kind of mirror of seeing how Holbrooke now handles being on the other side of the superior/subordinate relationship, having begun the series as subordinate to its other hero, Edward Carlisle. And the whole story provides a domestic reason for Holbrooke to mature, as he must convince Martin Featherstone that he is a worthy suitor for his daughter Ann.
All of the Carlisle and Holbrooke stories have been excellent reads for the naval fiction fan, all the better for passing over the well-trodden path of the Napoleonic wars for the earlier mid-18th century conflict. But Niagara Squadron's many virtues give it the edge so far if one's looking to crown the top entry of the series.
January 15, 2021
Over the River and Through the Woods...
But CDR Holbrook isn’t going to visit his grandmother. He’s assigned to an Army general as a naval liaison officer on an expedition going through the New York woods to Lake Ontario to capture Fort Niagara. The French have 3 small warships on the Lake and the British have none. It looks like it’s a tall order to accomplish this mission but Holbrook and his subordinate, Lieut. Lynton, are up to the challenge.
This book continues the run of good naval fiction based closely on history. While the story begins with a quite long sequence of dragging boats and guns through the woods, reminding me of a similar novel from a long time ago set in the American frontier, this one eventually gathers speed and interest for the naval reader when they reach the lake.
A good read and I begin to wonder that I missed the fort, which is apparently preserved and can be visited, according to the historical notes at the back. Well worth your time and you’ll come away with a better understanding of the situation on land during the French and Indian War.
But CDR Holbrook isn’t going to visit his grandmother. He’s assigned to an Army general as a naval liaison officer on an expedition going through the New York woods to Lake Ontario to capture Fort Niagara. The French have 3 small warships on the Lake and the British have none. It looks like it’s a tall order to accomplish this mission but Holbrook and his subordinate, Lieut. Lynton, are up to the challenge.
This book continues the run of good naval fiction based closely on history. While the story begins with a quite long sequence of dragging boats and guns through the woods, reminding me of a similar novel from a long time ago set in the American frontier, this one eventually gathers speed and interest for the naval reader when they reach the lake.
A good read and I begin to wonder that I missed the fort, which is apparently preserved and can be visited, according to the historical notes at the back. Well worth your time and you’ll come away with a better understanding of the situation on land during the French and Indian War.
May 26, 2023
This starts a bit slow, with heavy exposition explaining the setting and background, and politics behind the scenes. Honestly while its interesting from a historical perspective, almost none of it really was necessary and to me at least would have been much more interesting if it were revealed in conversations between characters.
The story picks up about a third of the way through and is pretty good after that, revealing more information about the largely forgotten French and Indian wars in the Americas. This story is about conquering Niagra fort which was a French stronghold, taking place about the same time as when General Wolf captured Quebec.
Holbrooke is the main character this time, and he's kind of out of his depth doing river and land missions primarily, but some work on the lake. Holbrooke himself is more of a commander here and not a fighter, and there are several stumbles where things go badly, but overall finally our hero succeeds.
The story picks up about a third of the way through and is pretty good after that, revealing more information about the largely forgotten French and Indian wars in the Americas. This story is about conquering Niagra fort which was a French stronghold, taking place about the same time as when General Wolf captured Quebec.
Holbrooke is the main character this time, and he's kind of out of his depth doing river and land missions primarily, but some work on the lake. Holbrooke himself is more of a commander here and not a fighter, and there are several stumbles where things go badly, but overall finally our hero succeeds.
January 9, 2021
France versus England in battle for North America and control of Lake Ontario
Lots of historical facts and a small group of fictional navy personel are combined to produce an exciting story of the fall of Fort Niagara during the French and Indian War, also known as The Seven Years War. Chris Durbin's detailed descriptions helps one understand both navy and army protocols and procedures of the era. Honor,discipline, organization, loyalty combine with proper prior planning to give an historic win for England. Hate to see this series end, but it ends well and I really appreciated the serendipity written into the final paragraph.
Lots of historical facts and a small group of fictional navy personel are combined to produce an exciting story of the fall of Fort Niagara during the French and Indian War, also known as The Seven Years War. Chris Durbin's detailed descriptions helps one understand both navy and army protocols and procedures of the era. Honor,discipline, organization, loyalty combine with proper prior planning to give an historic win for England. Hate to see this series end, but it ends well and I really appreciated the serendipity written into the final paragraph.
October 19, 2020
Great chary
I love the age of sail and have read all the authors - I think. This author takes me to a little explored period and the Navy’s role in it. I expected to be bored by these land battles (tho I really enjoyed Sharpe) but find I’m fascinated. I love his main characters and enjoy switching back and forth between them. Fun to see a sailor thrive in concert with the army. Great series!
I love the age of sail and have read all the authors - I think. This author takes me to a little explored period and the Navy’s role in it. I expected to be bored by these land battles (tho I really enjoyed Sharpe) but find I’m fascinated. I love his main characters and enjoy switching back and forth between them. Fun to see a sailor thrive in concert with the army. Great series!
November 3, 2020
A great read in the series
Well done, and a grand adventure on the shores of Lake Ontario, the frontier of the 7 years war. Holbrook is sent to the very edge of the English colonies to organize a naval component , and offset French naval strength on the lake.
Great writing gives a picture of the forest, transporting boats across wilderness, and the Native American allies and enemies .
Looking forward to the next chapters in this series.
Well done, and a grand adventure on the shores of Lake Ontario, the frontier of the 7 years war. Holbrook is sent to the very edge of the English colonies to organize a naval component , and offset French naval strength on the lake.
Great writing gives a picture of the forest, transporting boats across wilderness, and the Native American allies and enemies .
Looking forward to the next chapters in this series.
December 7, 2020
Let's call it 4½ stars, because I was pleasantly surprised
The quality of the prose in this installment was a marked improvement over some of its predecessors. Only the occasional typo, and some truly well-written passages. A few character arcs were less than perfect, but overall a well designed story.
The quality of the prose in this installment was a marked improvement over some of its predecessors. Only the occasional typo, and some truly well-written passages. A few character arcs were less than perfect, but overall a well designed story.
September 24, 2022
Well written and engaging
As I wander through the series the characters (and their back stories) have grown on me. Durbin has certainly intertwined Holbrook and Carlisle well and the later books, that feature bits about both, work better, rather than the book being, virtually, just about one of them, alternating In the next release.
As I wander through the series the characters (and their back stories) have grown on me. Durbin has certainly intertwined Holbrook and Carlisle well and the later books, that feature bits about both, work better, rather than the book being, virtually, just about one of them, alternating In the next release.
November 21, 2023
Highly Enjoyable
Another highly enjoyable, thrilling tale by Chris Durbin. This, largely GEorge Holbrook tale. It's always interesting to compare the historical reality to the novel. Durbin is a skilled writer who weaves his fictional threads amongst the historical threads.Hard to put down, speedy and exciting. Recommended
Another highly enjoyable, thrilling tale by Chris Durbin. This, largely GEorge Holbrook tale. It's always interesting to compare the historical reality to the novel. Durbin is a skilled writer who weaves his fictional threads amongst the historical threads.Hard to put down, speedy and exciting. Recommended
December 5, 2020
Great series of books
I really enjoyed the 8 books,well written and just enough technical seamanship to help its authenticity.
Yes I would recommend the stories.
Hope there is more to follow.
I really enjoyed the 8 books,well written and just enough technical seamanship to help its authenticity.
Yes I would recommend the stories.
Hope there is more to follow.
December 8, 2020
What a great way to learn history.
I really enjoy this series. Written so that the reader gets a real feeling of the period and in this book a little insight to the workings of the army..
I really enjoy this series. Written so that the reader gets a real feeling of the period and in this book a little insight to the workings of the army..
May 5, 2021
Very well written naval historical fiction. I have r e ally enjoyed reading this series and looking forward to reading the next book.
I enjoy books from this period about the hardships of being a crew on this ships. A great read and very interesting.
I enjoy books from this period about the hardships of being a crew on this ships. A great read and very interesting.
June 17, 2021
A fort and area of familiarity
My family as scleroderma a week visiting and enjoying the first and subsequent battles. This novel brought back many pleasant memories and was quite close to what we heard and saw.
My family as scleroderma a week visiting and enjoying the first and subsequent battles. This novel brought back many pleasant memories and was quite close to what we heard and saw.
February 12, 2024
Another enjoyable read!
It is always a pleasure to see Holbrooke and Carlisle at their work. Durbin has done a very good job bringing the period to life. I am looking forward to #9.
It is always a pleasure to see Holbrooke and Carlisle at their work. Durbin has done a very good job bringing the period to life. I am looking forward to #9.
March 8, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the history lesson
The history of the French and British was crucial in the forming of the United States and subsequent expansion. thank you for a great story and history lesson on subjects I was not aware of.
R
The history of the French and British was crucial in the forming of the United States and subsequent expansion. thank you for a great story and history lesson on subjects I was not aware of.
R
January 20, 2021
Another great read.
Another great read. I couldn’t put it down. Too soon read and now wait with eager anticipation for the next episode. Not too long to wait, I hope.
Another great read. I couldn’t put it down. Too soon read and now wait with eager anticipation for the next episode. Not too long to wait, I hope.
January 29, 2021
This series gets better and better
An excellent addition to the series moving Holbrooke’s story towards and painting a vivid picture of a little known campaign
An excellent addition to the series moving Holbrooke’s story towards and painting a vivid picture of a little known campaign
June 26, 2021
The adventure continues!
Finally Captain Holbrook gets his commission as a post captain and his future is secure. He is finally good enough to marry sweet Ann...
Finally Captain Holbrook gets his commission as a post captain and his future is secure. He is finally good enough to marry sweet Ann...
August 10, 2021
The battle for North America
Interesting take on how the British Navy worked with the British Army and first nations tribes to drive the French out of North America.
Interesting take on how the British Navy worked with the British Army and first nations tribes to drive the French out of North America.
November 30, 2021
Normal Durbin. I wish they'd spend moretime asea than lubbering.
June 13, 2023
Good Series....very good stories...well told.
Getting ready to start number nine in this series of tales. Great entertainment. And fiction mixed with history, yet true to both.
Getting ready to start number nine in this series of tales. Great entertainment. And fiction mixed with history, yet true to both.
January 12, 2025
again Durban filled another gap in my knowledge
Having knowledge of the lakes area on NY the story explores a gap in the taking of Fort Niagara. The rest as they say is history.
Having knowledge of the lakes area on NY the story explores a gap in the taking of Fort Niagara. The rest as they say is history.
July 29, 2022
A Pretty Good Look at a Moment in America’s Founding
The technical aspects of the naval action is very detailed. There is no doubt that a reader who has read the Carlisle - Holbrooke series up to this point, is getting quite familiar with the terms and actions taken on board ship. It’s good to read about the support the navy forces (in the UK or US) give to the army, to the point of making the difference between winning and losing.
Durbin mentions this supporting aspect the navy provides so the puffed up army can claim 99% of the credit.
But naval support and primary actions with ground forces have been with us for millennia. Certainly in the period of Greco-Persian war periods. This is exhibited in later times as well, such as during Roman ascendancy and the interregnum of the Middle Ages up to the colonial period.
It’s also good to see the author spend at least a little time on relationships between professionals as well as the few women in their lives.
The technical aspects of the naval action is very detailed. There is no doubt that a reader who has read the Carlisle - Holbrooke series up to this point, is getting quite familiar with the terms and actions taken on board ship. It’s good to read about the support the navy forces (in the UK or US) give to the army, to the point of making the difference between winning and losing.
Durbin mentions this supporting aspect the navy provides so the puffed up army can claim 99% of the credit.
But naval support and primary actions with ground forces have been with us for millennia. Certainly in the period of Greco-Persian war periods. This is exhibited in later times as well, such as during Roman ascendancy and the interregnum of the Middle Ages up to the colonial period.
It’s also good to see the author spend at least a little time on relationships between professionals as well as the few women in their lives.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews