It is December 1825 and financial turmoil is afflicting the country. Many provincial banks are failing, and the Bank of England itself faces imminent insolvency after the run on private banks has cleaned out all its cash reserves. With only a very few days left before national panic sets in, the bankruptcy of the Bank sure to bring down the government, Captain Patrick O'Connor is called back to duty, his first mission being to rescue the country from the looming catastrophe.
Afflicted by ghastly nightmares, tormented by disturbing memories of the bloodshed and horrors experienced whilst fighting the Turk oppressors, the stalwarts of the barky struggle to summon the courage and determination to return once more to the fray as the Admiralty tasks them with delivering vital supplies to succour the starving population of the besieged Greek town of Messalonghi. The great guns come roaring back into action in another exciting tale of the continuing voyages of HMS Surprise!