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Honourable Duncan Morant #4
The Vortex
In the final book of the Duncan Morant series, one man risks it all in war to win the heart of a woman.
When he is seriously wounded in an engagement in the Channel, Jamie Goring is hospitalised for several months. He falls in love with one of his nurses, Emma Broughton – but Emma is from a different social class and a different world. Although she reciprocates Jamie’s love, her parents will not countenance her marriage to a man of inferior means.
Hoping to overcome this opposition, Jamie and Commander Lord Duncan Eversham undertake the most hazardous operation of their careers; a bid to rescue a French Resistance leader from under the very noses of the Nazis.
But, just as it seems Emma’s parents may change their minds, the morning of 6 June 1944 dawns. It is a time for heroism, and for sacrifice …
The Vortex is an epic, gripping tale of heroism and love. A must-read for all fans of the Duncan Morant series, it will also please those who enjoy romantic sagas and historical fiction.
Christopher Nicole (who originally published this book under the pseudonym Alan Savage) is a British author who has written more than 200 novels and non-fiction works under his own name and several pseudonyms, including Leslie Arlen and Alison York.
When he is seriously wounded in an engagement in the Channel, Jamie Goring is hospitalised for several months. He falls in love with one of his nurses, Emma Broughton – but Emma is from a different social class and a different world. Although she reciprocates Jamie’s love, her parents will not countenance her marriage to a man of inferior means.
Hoping to overcome this opposition, Jamie and Commander Lord Duncan Eversham undertake the most hazardous operation of their careers; a bid to rescue a French Resistance leader from under the very noses of the Nazis.
But, just as it seems Emma’s parents may change their minds, the morning of 6 June 1944 dawns. It is a time for heroism, and for sacrifice …
The Vortex is an epic, gripping tale of heroism and love. A must-read for all fans of the Duncan Morant series, it will also please those who enjoy romantic sagas and historical fiction.
Christopher Nicole (who originally published this book under the pseudonym Alan Savage) is a British author who has written more than 200 novels and non-fiction works under his own name and several pseudonyms, including Leslie Arlen and Alison York.
- GenresHistorical
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2009
274 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Alan Savage
51 books15 followersChristopher Robin Nicole was born on 7 December 1930 in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana), where he was raised. He is the son of Jean Dorothy (Logan) and Jack Nicole, a police officer, both Scottish. He studied at Queen's College in Guyana and at Harrison College in Barbados. He was a fellow at the Canadian Bankers Association and a clerk for the Royal Bank of Canada in Georgetown and Nassau from 1947 to 1956. In 1957, he moved to Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom, where he currently lives, but he also has a domicile in Spain.
On 31 March 1951, he married his first wife, Jean Regina Amelia Barnett, with whom he had two sons, Bruce and Jack, and two daughters, Julie and Ursula, they divorced. On 8 May 1982 he married for the second time with fellow writer Diana Bachmann.
As a romantic and passionate of history, Nicole has been published since 1957, when he published a book about West Indian Cricket. He published his first novel in 1959 with his first stories set in his native Caribbean. Later he wrote many historical novels set mostly in tumultuous periods like World War I, World War II and the Cold War, and depict places in Europe, Asia and Africa. He also wrote classic romance novels. He specialized in Series and Sagas, and continues to write into the 21st century with no intention of retiring.
He signs his books as Christopher Nicole and uses several pseudonyms, some of them female. Pseudonyms used include: Peter Grange, Andrew York, Robin Cade, Mark Logan, Christina Nicholson, Alison York, Leslie Arlen, Robin Nicholson, C. R. Nicholson, Daniel Adams, Simon McKay, Caroline Gray and Alan Savage. He wrote disaster thrillers in collaboration with his wife, Diana Bachmann, under the penname Max Marlow. Under his different pseudonyms he has worked with many publishing houses: Jarrolds, Hutchinson, Simon & Schuster, Coward-McCann & Geoghegan, Jove, Michael Joseph, Mills & Boon, and Severn House.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christop... and
http://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1009...
On 31 March 1951, he married his first wife, Jean Regina Amelia Barnett, with whom he had two sons, Bruce and Jack, and two daughters, Julie and Ursula, they divorced. On 8 May 1982 he married for the second time with fellow writer Diana Bachmann.
As a romantic and passionate of history, Nicole has been published since 1957, when he published a book about West Indian Cricket. He published his first novel in 1959 with his first stories set in his native Caribbean. Later he wrote many historical novels set mostly in tumultuous periods like World War I, World War II and the Cold War, and depict places in Europe, Asia and Africa. He also wrote classic romance novels. He specialized in Series and Sagas, and continues to write into the 21st century with no intention of retiring.
He signs his books as Christopher Nicole and uses several pseudonyms, some of them female. Pseudonyms used include: Peter Grange, Andrew York, Robin Cade, Mark Logan, Christina Nicholson, Alison York, Leslie Arlen, Robin Nicholson, C. R. Nicholson, Daniel Adams, Simon McKay, Caroline Gray and Alan Savage. He wrote disaster thrillers in collaboration with his wife, Diana Bachmann, under the penname Max Marlow. Under his different pseudonyms he has worked with many publishing houses: Jarrolds, Hutchinson, Simon & Schuster, Coward-McCann & Geoghegan, Jove, Michael Joseph, Mills & Boon, and Severn House.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christop... and
http://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1009...
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 10, 2023
So good!
I’ve enjoyed the entire series. This last one jumped forward a bit faster than I’d hoped, but everything was layered nicely. Outstanding storytelling on a topic not well covered in recent history. So much was told of the US PT boats but this really helped fill in gaps for me regarding battles. I feel the true measure of any historical novel is how many times I stop to conduct outside research on battles, people, and equipment. Bravo Zulu!
I’ve enjoyed the entire series. This last one jumped forward a bit faster than I’d hoped, but everything was layered nicely. Outstanding storytelling on a topic not well covered in recent history. So much was told of the US PT boats but this really helped fill in gaps for me regarding battles. I feel the true measure of any historical novel is how many times I stop to conduct outside research on battles, people, and equipment. Bravo Zulu!
July 31, 2022
Boy's Own stuff and quite entertaining in it's way, with a bit of sex thrown in and then kill off (spoiler alert!) one of the main characters at the end. If I was 16 years old, i'd love it but as I am somewhat older than 16, for me it lacked realism and authenticity. For instance, there were no German heavy units left to come down channel on D day.
May 26, 2025
This review covers all four books in this series. They are all, in many ways, similar in plot. When I first began reading this bargain series I bought through BookBub in Kindle format, I thought it was a load of tripe and i was glad I hadn't paid more than a couple of dollars for the series. However, as I kept reading I quite enjoyed the stories, even though it was bordering on a "Boy's Own" description of action sequences and resultant heroism. In another way it was far from that, brimming with overt sexuality and downright vulgarity. Close but not too close to inappropriateness. This actually distracted somewhat from an otherwise pretty good series of novels. I'm not sure Savage, who never served in the Royal Navy, was drawing on any expertise when he wrote of the MTBs but it all sounds genuine. Most of the descriptions are accurate as far as my history goes, but some liberty is taken with ship's names and the place of MTBs in specific actions. But the whole thing ended on a very sour note and I was very unhappy with that. The author could have gone either way at the end but he chose the path the reader likes the least. Too bad. It turned a five-star series into a four-star. Alan Savage is long dead so this will not get back to him!
July 16, 2023
MPG
In this fourth and final book of the series, Captain Lord Eversham (known as the Hon. Duncan Morant before his father’s death at Dunkirk) has risen to command the torpedo motor boat squadron. The risks will be extreme when MI6 comes looking for an MBP for a special mission— the extraction of a French Resistance leader from under the nose of the Gestapo, on a French island under German control. It’s an island whose access is known only to those who have sailed those waters, meaning it will be up to Petty Officer Jamie Goring to plot their course— if the mission is even possible. Still, if they get the Resistance leader out, it will make a difference towards what will eventually be named the D-Day invasion.
Meanwhile, Jamie’s personal life has undergone some major changes. After being shot and laid up in hospital, Jamie has begun dating a Nursing Sister, and their relationship is serious. There are, though, class issues, as Emma’s father is an upper class knighted physician, while Jamie, despite having been awarded the Victoria Cross (equivalent to the American Medal of Honor), is the son of a garage owner.
Recommended, if series is read in order.
In this fourth and final book of the series, Captain Lord Eversham (known as the Hon. Duncan Morant before his father’s death at Dunkirk) has risen to command the torpedo motor boat squadron. The risks will be extreme when MI6 comes looking for an MBP for a special mission— the extraction of a French Resistance leader from under the nose of the Gestapo, on a French island under German control. It’s an island whose access is known only to those who have sailed those waters, meaning it will be up to Petty Officer Jamie Goring to plot their course— if the mission is even possible. Still, if they get the Resistance leader out, it will make a difference towards what will eventually be named the D-Day invasion.
Meanwhile, Jamie’s personal life has undergone some major changes. After being shot and laid up in hospital, Jamie has begun dating a Nursing Sister, and their relationship is serious. There are, though, class issues, as Emma’s father is an upper class knighted physician, while Jamie, despite having been awarded the Victoria Cross (equivalent to the American Medal of Honor), is the son of a garage owner.
Recommended, if series is read in order.
June 23, 2023
I enjoyed the series ... having read Robert Bulkley's USN historical "At Close Quarters". Gave it 3 stars.
Some excellent story telling of the highly hazardous small boat missions. Good character development by the author.
Found the repetitive presentation of prior minute details of family members very annoying. I spun through page after page after page of this nausea to get back to the main story line.
Some excellent story telling of the highly hazardous small boat missions. Good character development by the author.
Found the repetitive presentation of prior minute details of family members very annoying. I spun through page after page after page of this nausea to get back to the main story line.
April 16, 2024
This is a great ending to this series. Focusing more on Jamie is follows his romance with a nurse, the usual secession of dangerous missions up to D-day. This has been an very entertaining boys own type series with great characters, exciting stories with lots of action, with a little wartime romance.
May 22, 2022
A stonking good read
Its over, and I for one am sad, its was a superb read. Don't be fooled by the cover or the silly forward its up there with , Wareham, McClean and Kent.
I couldn't put it down read all four books in rapid succession.....
Its over, and I for one am sad, its was a superb read. Don't be fooled by the cover or the silly forward its up there with , Wareham, McClean and Kent.
I couldn't put it down read all four books in rapid succession.....
January 12, 2023
Very much in naval tradition
Being an old navy gunner, I really enjoyed reading this novel. Didn't read the others in the saga but a good read as a stand alone novel. I did however consider the ending rather abrupt and odd
Being an old navy gunner, I really enjoyed reading this novel. Didn't read the others in the saga but a good read as a stand alone novel. I did however consider the ending rather abrupt and odd
January 22, 2023
up to and including the Normandy Invasion
A very enjoyable series of MTB’s from the beginning of the Second World War.
A good deal more of Hospital recoveries and new challenges , new relationships with thoughts of the future.
A very enjoyable series of MTB’s from the beginning of the Second World War.
A good deal more of Hospital recoveries and new challenges , new relationships with thoughts of the future.
June 29, 2023
WW Two naval action
I do like naval action novels and have followed this series. This one combines action with a group of characters progressing throughout the story. It also touches on the strain of complexities of the British class system
I do like naval action novels and have followed this series. This one combines action with a group of characters progressing throughout the story. It also touches on the strain of complexities of the British class system
September 11, 2023
Great Read
Story covering Naval small boat command & action leading up to the D-DAY INVASION. Interesting coverage of overall command decisions, but also some great characters & romance.
Story covering Naval small boat command & action leading up to the D-DAY INVASION. Interesting coverage of overall command decisions, but also some great characters & romance.
December 30, 2023
Coastal navy at it's best.
The last in the series involving Jamie Goring does not disappoint. A full throated navy extravaganza which contains thrills and emotions on every page and at every level.. A most enjoyable read!
The last in the series involving Jamie Goring does not disappoint. A full throated navy extravaganza which contains thrills and emotions on every page and at every level.. A most enjoyable read!
August 9, 2024
Exciting
Another exciting story from Mr. Savage and strong character development. The recapping of the previous books got real boring and the ending was Telegraphed in the last third of the book. An apology would have been nice. I enjoyed all four books.
Another exciting story from Mr. Savage and strong character development. The recapping of the previous books got real boring and the ending was Telegraphed in the last third of the book. An apology would have been nice. I enjoyed all four books.
December 1, 2024
The books have become a domestic drama/soap opera, with a few bits of naval adventure thrown in. I nearly gave up a third of the way through and to be honest I wish I had.
Well before the end it became clear how the series might finish, unless the author turned out to be better than I thought. Unfortunately he couldn’t resist the clichéd finale and ended the series on a depressing note.
Well before the end it became clear how the series might finish, unless the author turned out to be better than I thought. Unfortunately he couldn’t resist the clichéd finale and ended the series on a depressing note.
May 22, 2022
started this series and thought was reading a boys own story from the 60s but i grew into it as the storyline grew up. a great page turner sorry to finish
June 14, 2022
Excellent sequence of books.Main characters very well presented.What started as a 'Boy's owmn',became much broader.Thoroughly enjoyed them.
January 27, 2023
Wild West at Sea
Reading this is like reading a cowboy story: lots of shooting, some boy- meets- girl and the good guys usually win. More boy-girl than is necessay to the story.
Reading this is like reading a cowboy story: lots of shooting, some boy- meets- girl and the good guys usually win. More boy-girl than is necessay to the story.
May 16, 2023
Very enjoyable!
I always enjoy these types of books, and look forward to reading more of them. Noticed only 2 typos. Cingratulations.
I always enjoy these types of books, and look forward to reading more of them. Noticed only 2 typos. Cingratulations.
June 6, 2023
A fitting end to the series...
Another great story encompassing the D-Day invasion. Hopefully this is not the end of the author's efforts with regards to the series.
Another great story encompassing the D-Day invasion. Hopefully this is not the end of the author's efforts with regards to the series.
August 5, 2023
Great action for the final book but didn’t like the ending.
August 16, 2023
Brilliant, pure escapism, realistic story, great characters.
A great series
A great series
November 13, 2023
History comes to life with great characters
Love the continuing personal and wartime stories. I got invested in the characters and will finish the series. Like our old PT boats !
Love the continuing personal and wartime stories. I got invested in the characters and will finish the series. Like our old PT boats !
November 14, 2023
Good Blend of Naval War and Life.
4th book and probably the best. Lots of action on and off the boat with a combination of the realities of war and life of royalty status.
4th book and probably the best. Lots of action on and off the boat with a combination of the realities of war and life of royalty status.
December 12, 2023
Absolutely first class
Having purchased the box set of 4 and having to repeat myself I enjoyed them all immensely,for me the series is ranked amongst Forester and Reeman .
Having purchased the box set of 4 and having to repeat myself I enjoyed them all immensely,for me the series is ranked amongst Forester and Reeman .
April 16, 2024
I
I enjoyed this book. Novels set in the World War II era are my favourite . Stories written from the British prospective are especially interesting to m.
I enjoyed this book. Novels set in the World War II era are my favourite . Stories written from the British prospective are especially interesting to m.
July 29, 2024
Duncan Morant
It is an exciting story of small patrols doing what bigger ships can't do I hope you enjoy this series of four books as much as I have
It is an exciting story of small patrols doing what bigger ships can't do I hope you enjoy this series of four books as much as I have
January 20, 2026
great read
Another great book from the series, really enjoyed reading these books, love naval fiction and some good detail. Similar to Renan books
Another great book from the series, really enjoyed reading these books, love naval fiction and some good detail. Similar to Renan books
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews