Showing results for "David Donachie" in Historical

Pressed into King George's Navy for the second time in a month, John Pearce finds himself working aboard HMS Griffin, sailing the Channel in search of the numerous French privateers preying on English merchant ships. Pearce, however, has other things on his mind. He must find a way off the ship in order to rescue his ailing father from the dangers of revolutionary Paris.

John Pearce, having negotiated the highly questionable sale of the two French prizes taken in The Devil to Pay, has left HMS Flirt, as well as the crew and the wounded Henry Digby in Brindisi, and is headed for Naples to see his lover. In an uncomfortable journey, he seeks to work out a way to best both Admiral Sir William Hotham and Captain Ralph Barclay, men who are his sworn enemies. All his calculations are thrown into turmoil when he discovers that Emily is pregnant.

It is 1795. As war spreads across the globe, Harry Ludlow joins the struggle for the richest trade in the world. When half his crew is illegally pressed into the Royal Navy by the vicious Captain Toner, Harry sets off in pursuit. Toner's ship reaches the West Indies with Harry close behind, and they sail into a maelstrom of piracy, corruption, and murder, stirred up by a French privateer. Soon, the British officer in charge of the station calls upon each man to help as best he can.

Unbeknown to John Pearce, the private letter he is delivering on behalf of the prime minister carries the dismissal of the very man he is sailing to see. The need for a government majority to pursue the war with France means John Pearce must step down as Britain’s best sailor, regretfully relinquishing the position to the incompetent Admiral Hotham. Hotham is equally less than pleased about John Pearce, as he is the one person who knows the truth about his dishonest naval career.

Lieutenant John Pearce is in London seeking protection for his friends, the Pelicans, from a reluctant Admiralty. Sitting in the tavern where they were first press ganged, Pearce considers his future. Lacking the evidence of perjury he once had to bring Captain Ralph Barclay to justice, his prospects are not promising. Ralph Barclay’s young wife, Emily, is refusing to live under the same roof as him and she has the means to get her own way: the evidence Pearce believes was lost at sea.

Winter 1795. Lieutenant John Pearce, reckoning to have finally ditched his old enemy, Admiral Hotham, has found a new one in Henry Digby, previously a friend. Meanwhile, Pearce's pregnant and recently widowed lover is adamant they cannot be seen together for the sake of their unborn child as she seeks respectability in society. Aboard HMS Flirt as part of the squadron led by Horatio Nelson, Pearce and his Pelicans soon join them on a reconnaissance which results in the destruction of a key French battery.

1787. Captain Edward Brazier is on a mission: recently paid off from his frigate and comfortably off with prize money, he is headed to Deal to propose marriage to the young and lovely widow Betsey Langridge. He must navigate the bustle of the town's narrow streets that are busy with legal, illicit and depraved business flowing from and around the ships at dock. But all does not go well; between Betsey's brother and guardian, Henry Tulkington, prohibiting the match and Brazier marked out for trouble by a local smuggling gang, his plans are in disarray.

1794. Lieutenant John Pearce is caught between a feuding trio of admirals. One puts him in a position of danger while another asks him to undertake a hazardous commission in order to protect his friends, the Pelicans. Meanwhile, Pearce is also trying to construct a perjury case against Admiral Ralph Barclay.

Firebrand John Pearce has been promoted to lieutenant and is in a position of command on board HMS Faron when he returns to Toulon from his successful mission in Corsica.

1799: Having evacuated the King and Queen of Naples ahead of Napoleon’s advancing army, Nelson must now await developments in Sicily. In the meantime, he and Emma savour their passionate affair, and when Nelson travels back to Britain with the Hamiltons, he finds he is the toast of Europe. To the British elite, however, Nelson is a dangerous upstart, and his love for Emma is his weakness. With rising resentment, Nelson and Emma are forced to keep up appearances. As the war with Napoleon drags on, Nelson engages the Danish fleet at Copenhagen with stunning results.

The year is 1794. Free from jail, John Pearce is not free from the smugglers whose boat he stole. While lying low, Pearce soon has other pressing concerns on his mind. Granted a commission by William Pitt, John Pearce evades his pursuers by undertaking a dangerous mission in France. As rebellious ambition turns to bloody disaster, Pearce must try to re-join Admiral Howe. Also serving with Howe is Ralph Barclay - who has somehow contrived to yet again press Pearce’s friends into his crew.

The French Revolution is turning in on itself even as the war with the English drags on. As the armies move towards Italy, George Markham and his Marines find themselves assigned to the sloop Sylphide under the impetuous Captain Germain. Set ashore in the midst of the French army, Markham is charged with escorting a group of loyalists on a secret mission and is soon wishing he was back in the thick of it at sea.

New Orleans, 1795. The discovery of an abandoned Spanish merchant ship off the coast of America plunges the Ludlows into a far-reaching conspiracy fuelled by jealousy, ambition and nationalistic fervour. The Bucephalas lies trapped under the gaping muzzles of the 32-punder Spanish guns of New Orleans’ harbour fort. It quickly becomes clear that the corridors of the governor’s residence are just as busy with treachery, double-dealing, and murder as the back alleys of the sweltering city outside.

Die französische Küste im Jahre 1795. Während die Feuer des Krieges sich auf dem Festland immer weiter ausbreiten, tobt auch auf See ein Kampf um die Vorherrschaft. Doch nicht alle kämpfen mit so fairen Mitteln wie der ehrenhafte Freibeuter Harry Ludlow und sein Bruder James: Als der skrupellose Kapitän Toner von der Royal Navy ihn unrechtmäßig zwingt, ihm die Hälfte seiner Crew zu überlassen, schwört Harry, seine Männer zu retten – und nimmt allen Widrigkeiten zum Trotz die Verfolgung von dessen Fregatte auf.

Der Golf von Mexiko im Jahre 1795. Als sie vor der Küste ein verlassenes spanisches Handelsschiff entdecken, wittern der Freibeuter Harry Ludlow und sein Bruder James leichte Beute. Doch was eine einfache Kaperung werden sollte, entpuppt sich schon bald als raffinierte Falle: Angeheizt von Machtgier und Patriotismus wird ihr Schiff, die stolze "Bucephalas", vor dem spanischen Fort von New Orleans festgesetzt. Schnell wird klar, dass der erfahrene Seemann keine Hilfe vom hiesigen Gouverneur zu erwarten hat.

Der mitreißende dritte Teil der Serie um die Freibeuter-Brüder, die niemals zur Ruhe kommen. Während im Jahre 1794 die Schrecken der französischen Revolution ganz Europa in Brand zu stecken drohen, spitzt sich auch auf See die Situation zu: Im Ärmelkanal geraten der erfahrende Freibeuter Harry Ludlow und seine Mannschaft in den erbitterten Kampf zwischen rivalisierenden Schmugglern. Zwar gelingt es ihnen, sich in Sicherheit zu bringen, doch die ist trügerisch: Hinter der Fassade der idyllischen Hafenstadt Deal herrschen Korruption und Gewalt.

Der zweite Teil der "Harry Ludlow"-Reihe – fesselnd und voller Intrigen. Die ligurische Küste im Jahre 1794: Eigentlich sollte es ein einfacher Botendienst werden – doch als Harry Ludlow, der sich als "Detektiv der Meere" einen Namen gemacht hat, und sein Bruder James, der als Künstler zu Ansehen gekommen ist, im schmutzigen Hafen von Genua ankommen, sind schon bald ihre ungleichen Fähigkeiten gefragt: Der gewaltsame Tod eines britischen Kapitäns hat die Stadt in Aufruhr versetzt, die Stimmung ist zum Zerreißen gespannt.

Der Ärmelkanal im Jahre 1796. Nach zwei Jahren auf hoher See und vielen geschlagenen Schlachten will Harry Ludlow, der "Detektiv der Meere", mit seiner stolzen Fregatte "Bucephalas" wieder im sicheren Heimathafen einlaufen. Doch bevor der erfahrene Kapitän die Cinque Ports erreichen kann, werden sie im Englischen Kanal in eine tödliche Falle gelockt: Als die Freibeuter inmitten des dichten Nebels das Donnern von Kanonen vernehmen, können sie nicht anders, als diesem Lockruf zu folgen. Doch was als Jagd nach einer letzten Beute beginnt, wird bald zu einem erbitterten Kampf auf Leben und Tod.

Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts: Harry Ludlow wurde einst aus der Royal Navy geworfen. Nun zieht er zusammen mit seinem jüngeren Bruder James als Freibeuter über die Meere. Doch statt Jagd auf fette Beute zu machen, stolpern die Ludlows regelmäßig in tödliche Intrigen. Gerade als die Brüder sich an Bord eines britischen Kriegsschiffs befinden, geschieht dort ein Mord. James wird über der Leiche gefunden und verdächtigt. Kann Harry die Unschuld seines Bruders zu beweisen? Dies ist der spannende Auftakt der Reihe um Kaperkapitän Harry Ludlow und seine Gefährten.