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Richard Bolitho #9
Passage to Mutiny
October 1789, and war clouds thunder over Europe when Richard Bolitho steers the Tempest into the perilous waters of the Great South Sea. To protect vulnerable English shipping lanes from her seagoing enemies, he must face the hazards of fickle winds, pirates, and savage islanders.
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
About the author
Alexander Kent
235 books207 followersA pseudonym used by Douglas Reeman.
Series:
* Richard Bolitho
* Adam Bolitho
Series:
* Richard Bolitho
* Adam Bolitho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 17, 2020
Esta vez la acción se traslada a las islas del pacífico donde a parte de la típica acción marinera esta vez contra piratas, franceses e isleños, a nuestro capitán se le romperá el corazón.
April 10, 2022
🌊 I’ve been reading books and stories about the sea since I was very young. I suppose my first were Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Crusoe. I remember reading The Dove and watching the film just before I and a friend set out to travel the world at 20. I began reading sea fiction and nonfiction, especially what I’ll call naval fiction (primarily set in the years when the tall ships ruled the waves) when I learned to sail at 21. I continue to enjoy naval fiction to this day to relax with just as some others go to romance, Amish fiction or murder mysteries.
🌊 This is a well-written work of 360 pages. After a hiatus where I had to spend a good amount of time reading westerns when I helped judge a literary comp, I was grateful that in this volume the author too seemed to be returning from his own hiatus, and took pains to reintroduce the characters and the time period. The story is set in the South Pacific but meanwhile in Europe the French Revolution has erupted. There is romance, treachery, sword play at sea and on land, there is courage and heartbreak. A brave tale at the time of Nelson’s Navy. Recommended for romancers of the sea 🐚 Of which I am one. Which is what Murray/Mhoireach means in the olde tongue 🌊 ⚓️
🌊 This is a well-written work of 360 pages. After a hiatus where I had to spend a good amount of time reading westerns when I helped judge a literary comp, I was grateful that in this volume the author too seemed to be returning from his own hiatus, and took pains to reintroduce the characters and the time period. The story is set in the South Pacific but meanwhile in Europe the French Revolution has erupted. There is romance, treachery, sword play at sea and on land, there is courage and heartbreak. A brave tale at the time of Nelson’s Navy. Recommended for romancers of the sea 🐚 Of which I am one. Which is what Murray/Mhoireach means in the olde tongue 🌊 ⚓️
September 29, 2021
Spoilers ahead:
Bolitho is in the Java Sea area (as best as I can make it) and he transports his old nemesis Raymond to the Levu Islands where he's supposed to set up a base and settlement. A pirate Tuke is trying to destroy the settlement. A French frigate Narval is also around, in part to capture a French fugitive who is on the pirate ship.
The basic summary of the plot is that the pirate is smart and active, capturing several of the smaller transports and schooners while Bolitho is trying to stop him and Tuke is trying to capture Bolitho's ship so he can control the area. The French Revolution happens around this time and the French ship's crew overthrow and kill the officers and Tuke gains control of it so in the end Bolitho has to destroy the Narval.
The main reason why I gave this book such a low rating is because I dislike the Bolitho romance plot line. First of all, I think Kent is bad at writing romance. The whole narrative of Bolitho meeting Viola and them falling for each other felt unrealistic and wooden. It honestly felt just like an arranged marriage, except in this case it was an arranged affair arranged by the author to create drama.
Furthermore, this stilted plot line that ran through the book felt gratuitous and unnecessary. If I were one of the crew or officers I would have felt totally pissed that the captain was causing danger to everyone because of his own selfish needs. And this is a captain who is supposed to be good to his crew. Instead he endangers everyone in the plot line to satisfy his own sexual urges. He put his benis before duty, his crew and his principles.
But mainly I'm annoyed because the author didn't do a good job of making the romance realistic or natural or even the woman real enough for the crew to be charmed or attached to to her. So basically everything about this plot line was badly written and cringy. It's not just a bad plot line but a badly written one.
Enough said.
Bolitho is in the Java Sea area (as best as I can make it) and he transports his old nemesis Raymond to the Levu Islands where he's supposed to set up a base and settlement. A pirate Tuke is trying to destroy the settlement. A French frigate Narval is also around, in part to capture a French fugitive who is on the pirate ship.
The basic summary of the plot is that the pirate is smart and active, capturing several of the smaller transports and schooners while Bolitho is trying to stop him and Tuke is trying to capture Bolitho's ship so he can control the area. The French Revolution happens around this time and the French ship's crew overthrow and kill the officers and Tuke gains control of it so in the end Bolitho has to destroy the Narval.
The main reason why I gave this book such a low rating is because I dislike the Bolitho romance plot line. First of all, I think Kent is bad at writing romance. The whole narrative of Bolitho meeting Viola and them falling for each other felt unrealistic and wooden. It honestly felt just like an arranged marriage, except in this case it was an arranged affair arranged by the author to create drama.
Furthermore, this stilted plot line that ran through the book felt gratuitous and unnecessary. If I were one of the crew or officers I would have felt totally pissed that the captain was causing danger to everyone because of his own selfish needs. And this is a captain who is supposed to be good to his crew. Instead he endangers everyone in the plot line to satisfy his own sexual urges. He put his benis before duty, his crew and his principles.
But mainly I'm annoyed because the author didn't do a good job of making the romance realistic or natural or even the woman real enough for the crew to be charmed or attached to to her. So basically everything about this plot line was badly written and cringy. It's not just a bad plot line but a badly written one.
Enough said.
July 11, 2017
Had to give this one 5 stars just for the action in it. Bolitho is still in the Great South Sea. He and his ship have to face pirates, a sadist Frenchman, and a man, who hates Bolitho for personal reasons and is supposed to be on Bolitho's side. But with the bad comes the good in the form of Viola Raymond the woman loved by Bolitho. I wish I could say that there is a totally happy end, but I can't. To find out what happens I suggest you read this book and judge for yourself if it is more than enough adventure for anyone.
June 10, 2019
Richard Bolitho and The Tempest are in the South Seas and Botany Bay, facing pirates, the French, and James Raymond, as well as the spectre of mutiny in the aftermath of The Bounty, but as his coxswain John Allday says, there are squals ahead with his affair with Viola Raymond.
Definitely one of the better of the Bolitho books, and Michael Jayston's narration is excellent.
Definitely one of the better of the Bolitho books, and Michael Jayston's narration is excellent.
July 10, 2023
Another rousing adventure but mixed with some sadness this time.
June 17, 2015
This is the latest book in my re-reading of this series. Always a good adventure read about life at sea in the Royal Navy in the late 1700's. This book took place in the South Pacific shortly after the mutiny on the Bounty and just as the French Revolution began.
February 21, 2024
This interesting book is the sixth in this series and covers an adventure of Richard Bolitho commanding a ship in the Royal Navy. The war with the American colonies is over, a mutiny on the Bounty has recently occurred and France is tearing herself apart in revolution. War with revolutionary France has not yet started however, France and Spain are both vying to take over trade in the Great South Sea. Bolitho and HMS Tempest have arrived in Sydney and are expecting to go home. However, the Commodore is expecting a ship carrying the wife of the Governor of a remote collection of small islands and orders Bolitho to try to find her.
Five years ago, Bolitho and the then bureaucrat’s wife, Viola formed an intimate bond. Bolitho and the Tempest find and rescue the missing ship, the Eurotas and some of its crew and passengers including Viola. The rest of the crew and passengers have been killed by the very nasty pirate, Tute. He only kills slowly but he and many of his crew escape in other ships. The bureaucrat is now a Governor and carries a grudge. Bolitho and his ship are ordered to kill or capture the pirate but given restrictions that make the orders almost impossible, Viola is always withheld from his presence.
Bolitho and the Tempest are lured into a trap. They escape the trap but take casualties and damages. The relationship between the British and the natives is interesting, but Bolitho needs to form a more positive relationship. He is also ordered to not challenge the French but to work with them against Tute.
The Governor refuses to build proper defenses. He thinks that neither the French nor the pirate will attempt to take his islands even when evidence shows that the French ship has been captured and its Captain killed. Bolitho tries to lure Tute into single ship battle with no other ships present but he does not have near enough men.
Kent tells a good story, and this book is no different. The love story between the Governor’s wife and Bolitho would be very rare during this time and in the British Navy. While it is unheard of, a divorce would destroy the reputations of all three players and possibly the careers of both men. Despite that, their story is carefully handled, and the result is acceptable.
This is a good story, with lots of action and well told. Four stars.
Five years ago, Bolitho and the then bureaucrat’s wife, Viola formed an intimate bond. Bolitho and the Tempest find and rescue the missing ship, the Eurotas and some of its crew and passengers including Viola. The rest of the crew and passengers have been killed by the very nasty pirate, Tute. He only kills slowly but he and many of his crew escape in other ships. The bureaucrat is now a Governor and carries a grudge. Bolitho and his ship are ordered to kill or capture the pirate but given restrictions that make the orders almost impossible, Viola is always withheld from his presence.
Bolitho and the Tempest are lured into a trap. They escape the trap but take casualties and damages. The relationship between the British and the natives is interesting, but Bolitho needs to form a more positive relationship. He is also ordered to not challenge the French but to work with them against Tute.
The Governor refuses to build proper defenses. He thinks that neither the French nor the pirate will attempt to take his islands even when evidence shows that the French ship has been captured and its Captain killed. Bolitho tries to lure Tute into single ship battle with no other ships present but he does not have near enough men.
Kent tells a good story, and this book is no different. The love story between the Governor’s wife and Bolitho would be very rare during this time and in the British Navy. While it is unheard of, a divorce would destroy the reputations of all three players and possibly the careers of both men. Despite that, their story is carefully handled, and the result is acceptable.
This is a good story, with lots of action and well told. Four stars.
April 9, 2023
As I go through the Bolitho series, more and more it seems to me that Kent lacks imagination. Brought up on Hornblower and other Forester novels, Kent offers (for me) a poor imitation of the quality of writing and storytelling of the author who is clearly his writing template. Again and again I see similar stories and events to those described much better in Forester. Ho hum...
Despite the above, I've generally been enjoying working through the Bolitho series in chronological order. But Passage to Mutiny was a downward lurch in my enjoyment. Slow to get going, turgid and uninspiring writing, too much introspection and self-deprecation by Bolitho, too many shallow observations by other characters. The writing in short and often unconnected paragraphs, too little development of the thoughts being expressed in each, lack of clarity in meaning and content, frequent repetitions of phrases and descriptions in previous books....
I feel Kent is trying to emulate the characterisation and psychology of leadership so masterfully expressed by Forester in Hornblower, The Good Shepherd, The Gun etc, but he's nowhere near that benchmark. However, I'm hoping that as I get to the earlier-written Bolitho books later in the chronology, the quality will return. We'll wait and see!
Despite the above, I've generally been enjoying working through the Bolitho series in chronological order. But Passage to Mutiny was a downward lurch in my enjoyment. Slow to get going, turgid and uninspiring writing, too much introspection and self-deprecation by Bolitho, too many shallow observations by other characters. The writing in short and often unconnected paragraphs, too little development of the thoughts being expressed in each, lack of clarity in meaning and content, frequent repetitions of phrases and descriptions in previous books....
I feel Kent is trying to emulate the characterisation and psychology of leadership so masterfully expressed by Forester in Hornblower, The Good Shepherd, The Gun etc, but he's nowhere near that benchmark. However, I'm hoping that as I get to the earlier-written Bolitho books later in the chronology, the quality will return. We'll wait and see!
October 11, 2026
Inglesada histórica, es un libro de piratas, de navegación, marítimo, está guapo, un poco maquillado de mas, épico, al puro estilo inglés, ignorando la potencia mundial que suponía España en aquella época como si el dominio de los mares estuviera repartido entre ingleses y franceses.
A parte de eso está muy guay, usa mucha terminología específica que en muchos casos me he limitado a leer sin pararme a tratar de entender que significaba, muchos nombres de muchos personajes. Es entretenido y está bien escrito, 3,75/5.
Me lo empecé a leer en el aeropuerto de Málaga, esperando el avión que me llevara a Mallorca donde junto con Tita despediríamos su mes de trabajo allí. Me lo termino un par de semanas después en Tahal, después de comer codillo al horno y choto frito que ha cocinado la buena de mi madre.
Este también es de nuestra fuente (descubrimiento conjunto con mi hermano) por ahora inagotable de libros baratos de segunda mano, 2€.
A parte de eso está muy guay, usa mucha terminología específica que en muchos casos me he limitado a leer sin pararme a tratar de entender que significaba, muchos nombres de muchos personajes. Es entretenido y está bien escrito, 3,75/5.
Me lo empecé a leer en el aeropuerto de Málaga, esperando el avión que me llevara a Mallorca donde junto con Tita despediríamos su mes de trabajo allí. Me lo termino un par de semanas después en Tahal, después de comer codillo al horno y choto frito que ha cocinado la buena de mi madre.
Este también es de nuestra fuente (descubrimiento conjunto con mi hermano) por ahora inagotable de libros baratos de segunda mano, 2€.
April 23, 2023
Part of a long series I intend to read end to end. There seems to be no end of my interest and enjoyment of the genre .... 18th Century British Navy seen through the eyes of a single hero and his cast of followers from ship to ship. I have read all of Obrian and some others and am finding that I am not bored here or muttering to myself over past ground covered again. Kent writes in a vivid style and the action is quite a bit bloodier than in the others. Cannon balls here do nasty work as do the naked savages so infrequently seen in other novels. To that extent these are a bit more scary and suspenseful. The unpredictability of alien people has its own power over the reader. That's me. The reader.
November 18, 2021
Bit confusing
I have read a lot of these books and enjoy them but this one for me was a bit too confusing. I found the characters and particularly the places vague. At times I wondered where they were in relation to where they had been or were going. The positions of the ships guns land or sea confused me. Sorry to labour the point . I still enjoyed the book was left wishing it had Been more "joined up".
I have read a lot of these books and enjoy them but this one for me was a bit too confusing. I found the characters and particularly the places vague. At times I wondered where they were in relation to where they had been or were going. The positions of the ships guns land or sea confused me. Sorry to labour the point . I still enjoyed the book was left wishing it had Been more "joined up".
June 13, 2022
Not one of my favourites of the series, but extremely readable for all that. Bolitho is in the South Seas, engaging in colonial relations with the natives. Kent focuses on Bolitho's relationship with other British officials more than anything else, so misses some interesting opportunities to examine the colonial dynamic in the South Seas and with the emerging Revolutionary forces, but it's still an engaging read.
December 21, 2019
To me the weakest of the Bolitho books with the exception of the earlier ones, I’m reading chronologically. Bolitho is still in the South Pacific we are in between the wars, American Revolution and Napoleonic. He finds himself fighting against Bureaucrats and pirates in an effort to save his crew and his career.
July 4, 2020
One of the weaker books in this series. You may find boring the very long chapter of Bolitho, Viola, and crew as they row two small boats 500 miles in the South Pacific. I thought so. But, by the end of that chapter, you'll have tears in your eyes, and you'll forever more want a glass of water near you.
Read
July 15, 2023Against All Odds
I love reading this series, even though it's my second time. The stories are so detailed you feel like you are there with the roar of the cannons and the falling rigging. The fear of a tiny ship being tossed and turned in a raging storms, and the courage of the sailor that manned them.
I love reading this series, even though it's my second time. The stories are so detailed you feel like you are there with the roar of the cannons and the falling rigging. The fear of a tiny ship being tossed and turned in a raging storms, and the courage of the sailor that manned them.
March 28, 2023
Mr Reeman(Alexander Kent) should stick with his sea going tales and leave out all the attempts at romance. It seriously detracts from the overall story line. Novel definitely fills in some of the gaps in the story line. That being said it is worth the read,,,
August 24, 2017
So close . . .
The best so far, really got your attention. I felt for Richard BOLITHO, to come "So Close" to suffer - yet triump over all these obstacles . I had a great read.
The best so far, really got your attention. I felt for Richard BOLITHO, to come "So Close" to suffer - yet triump over all these obstacles . I had a great read.
September 21, 2019
Much internal and yearning.
February 19, 2020
Another fine read. Always an adventure.
April 18, 2020
More action-packed and tense than all of the prior ‘Richard Bolitho’ novels to date - marvellous!
May 3, 2020
360 pages
December 13, 2020
So much action, so much vivid description, so much heartbreak
September 15, 2022
I like a good nautical story and this one filled the spot - enjoyed this on Bolinda!
July 16, 2025
Six-word Review: South Pacific adventure, a little syrupy.
Longer Review later:
Longer Review later:
December 30, 2025
Solid read with everything you would expect from this series.
March 24, 2026
A passage to mutiny.
A good read, fast and furious, the only criticism. To many spaces, a few months later, ect.
But all in all a good suspense story
A good read, fast and furious, the only criticism. To many spaces, a few months later, ect.
But all in all a good suspense story
October 11, 2026
Passage to Mutiny
Alexander Kent
t his best, exciting from start to finish Bolitho gets more action that seems possible. It enacts the period brilliantly
Alexander Kent
t his best, exciting from start to finish Bolitho gets more action that seems possible. It enacts the period brilliantly
October 18, 2026
Very hard times but the worst of it is the idiots in charge of the colonies and islands. Great book again and what a hard life even for the officers.
December 30, 2020
Exiting book to read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews