Beyond the Reef

My wife picked this up for me used, which explains why it's the first book by Kent I've read. The back cover, at the bottom, says 'the Bolitho novels: 19' Which explains a lot. As a standalone novel, it had threads that were difficult to follow, as they clearly depended upon earlier books. In this novel, Sir Richard is a Vice-Admiral, and he has to preside over a court-martial of one of his friends who survives almost certain conviction due to political scheming on the part of others. After that, Sir Richard is shipwrecked and presumed lost (incorrectly) and then he is sent to fight the French in the Caribbean with insufficient forces, mirroring the events leading to his friend's court-martial. But, due to timely reinforcements, the show more British win anyway. It was OK as a standalone, but I'm sure I'd have liked it much better if I'd read the preceding 18 novels! show less

Couldn't get through it

In March 1808 war is spreading through Europe as Napoleon holds Portugal and threatens his old ally, Spain. Vice Admiral Bolitho is ordered once more to the Cape of Good Hope, to establish a permanent naval force there.