A Divided Command

John Pearce #10

by David Donachie

1794: The Mediterranean is proving to be dangerous waters for John Pearce and his Pelicans. Having left his lover, Emily, the wife of his mortal enemy Ralph Barclay, in the Tuscan port of Leghorn, Pearce is detained in Naples. When he unknowingly delivers a letter promoting the shady and incompetent Admiral Hotham, Pearce finds himself entangled in a political plot that soon puts those closest to him at peril. When reunited with Emily, John Pearce faces a losing battle to maintain her reputation. Emily sees no future for herself with Pearce and leaves while he is conveying private letters for Horatio Nelson to the British ambassador, Sir William Hamilton. Learning of her departure, Pearce sets off in pursuit. At the same time, he takes on a superior Barbary corsairs force that has targeted the merchant ship on which Emily is traveling, the Sandown Castle. Outgunned by a barbaric opponent, John Pearce’s chances of survival—and those of Emily and Pearce’s crew—are dubious. And even if they can win this fierce battle, another threat looms on the horizon, as Pearce is not the only one chasing Emily. Ralph Barclay has learned of his wife’s desertion and is on his way to recapture her.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

318 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2013

About the author

aka Tom Connery, Johnny 'Two Combs' Howard, Jack Ludlow, Jack Cole.

David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which he drew upon for the many novels he has set in that period. The author of a number of bestselling books, he lived in Deal with his wife, fellow A&B author Sarah Grazebrook.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the end of the last book Pearce left Emily in the Tuscan port of Leghorn and sailed on to fleet command Mediterranean headquarters to deliver a letter from the Admiralty to Admiral Hotham. Unfortunately it was a letter of promotion for the Admiral. Pearce gets tangled in a political plot that puts him and his friends in danger. Pearce fights a duel against a British Army officer which makes Emily upset.

Emily sees no future with Pearce and leaves when he is conveying letters from Horatio Nelson to the British Ambassador. Pearce set off in pursuit and takes on a superior force of Barbary Corsairs who have targeted the merchant ship Emily is on. The book provides sea battles and lots of swashbuckling action and suspense.

Donachie has spent half the book rehashing the prior installments. The series has been dragged out about as far as it can. Let’s end the series. Donachie, it is time to start a new series. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Peter Wickham narrated the story.

[CJ Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another good book in this series.
If you want all naval action, like Hornblower, then "bear away". However, please "lay along side"

This series brings to life characters from many walks of life in the early Napoleonic era, and gives great insight from people before the mast, to politicians at the highest order.
The story is all told through a range of believable characters of the time, without resorting to inane stereotypes.

There is enough action to please those thirsting for that (like John Pearce), however you can add romance (also John Pearce), politics (a reluctant John Peace), and history (as seen by a contemporary)

What is not to enjoy?

[David Flett · Rating 2 out of 5]

man delivers letter. skirmish at sea. a poor sea faring novel. only the last 10 pages give an impression of being at sea and even then.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

good