The start of this latest adventure for Captain Sir Alan Lewrie sees the frigate Reliant and his squadron of small vessels putting to sea from Nassau to face an unknown enemy, possibly the powerful French squadron they have heard about. After this dramatic start Lewrie has to haul down his broad pendant and sail back to England with a ship badly in need of a refit.
Reliant is nearing the end of her commission and when Lewrie visits the Admiralty he is soon intriguing to get his ship back to sea rather than face unemployment. As a result he finds himself on a voyage to join the squadron of Sir Home Popham.
Under this colourful officer he takes part in the action to seize Cape Town from the Dutch and is then part of the ill fated adventure where Popham heads off to Buenos Aires.
The first two chapters of this book really grab your attention and thereafter it is hard to put down. As usual the narrative explores the martial side of lewrie's character but also portrays the private man, someone who takes his pets to sea with him and is somewhat of a rogue in his pursuit of Lydia Stangbourne. There is a lot in the depiction of Lewrie that makes him stand out from the work of other authors of similar series and coupled with his depictions of life at sea makes Lamdin's work something I want to read more of.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it.
Description of: Hostile Shores
Author: Dewey Lambdin