Jack Aubrey Need Not Worry
582555
I did enjoy the book despite the ponderous writing style.  The author is obviously quite knowledgeable in early British naval history, but I much prefer the Jack Aubrey series concentration on actually being at sea on an early sailing ship.

I found it hard to believe that noble men were appointed to be Captains of His Majesty's war ships with out any background or experience.  The author's historical review at the end of the book says that such is the case.

The book required a lot of concentration, and the lack of action caused me to take over two weeks to get it read.  Usually, a good story will last me no longer that a day or two.
1343760
I found the book to be very enjoyable but, maybe I have read too many Robin Cook novels, because I found it very predictable.  If you have read Chromosome 6, you will be able to guess who will end up saving Jack.  This book just did not surprise me like the others had, but still very much  worth reading.
4831484
Jake and Laura have taken the big step and are on their honeymoon in Hawaii. Pre-Pearl Harbor, white sand beaches, and their friend Amelia Earhardt is slated to make her attempt to fly from Hawaii to Los Angeles. You can imagine everyones dismay when one of the prominent local businessmen backing the flight with prize money is found shot dead in Amelias hangar. Is his murder personal or is there a more sinister reason for his death.

The third in the Jake and Laura series finds our sweethearts newly married and enjoying the beaches and sights of Hawaii. When a man is shot to death in Amelias hangar she immediately calls on her friend Laura for help. Of course Laura includes Jake and George Putnam, Amelias husband, ensures Jakes services are put to use on Amelias behalf.
Poor Jake, caught between a rock and a hard place when hes threatened with the loss of his career if he doesnt assist the police, whether they want it or not.

There aren't as many cameo appearances from historical figures or names dropped but when you have Hawaii and Amelia Earhart front and center they're superfluous.

Jake and Laura run into old acquaintances, one of which has Jake a tad green; who manage to assist and cause more trouble for our reluctant detective newlyweds. Granted, the whodunnit of the mystery won't tax your grey cells but theres a wicked twist and one heck of a climactic fight scene. That being said, its always enjoyable to spend a few hours with my favorite historical sleuthing couple, regardless.
Anticipating Jake and Lauras next adventure and celebrity encounters when they return to the mainland.
Reviewed for Miss Ivys Book Nook, Manic Readers, and Novels Alive TV
4267374
It's Jack, what more needs to be said.  However, this Jack is taking some getting used to.  He's not as self assured as I am used to seeing.  He's not coming up with a plan as fast as he will.  So, I will always enjoy my Jack books but I am looking forward to him coming into his own.  Looking forward to next installment.

Lanmanjs
1770728
Long fan of Alexander Kent's Bolitho Series - there is not one that I would highly recommend.  Kent has a way of deeply drawing you into the hero and sidekick characters of this wonderful series.  While I am not a sailor, so I am not hugely excited by the background technical details of wooden decked and sailing ships, (and this detail is entirely supportive of the story, not overwhelming), the interaction of the characters, their inner needs, thoughts, fears, hopes, are brought alive by Kent's writing.  If anyone would wants to test and think about the trials and challenges of small and larger organizational leadership, then this is the series.  Very much in the tradition of C.S. Forrester and Hornblower, and definitely in the class of Patrick O'Brien and the Aubrey/Maturin series.
68228
Knowing that I am retired Navy Captain (and a reader of ALL the Harry Potter books, Moby Dick, and anything by J.R.R. Tolkien), a friend suggested I might like Bloody Jack. I loved it and am now nearing the end of the second book in the series. You can sometimes see the next move coming (no matter, you might guess what's going to happen but you can't wait to turn the page to see it happen). These books are hard to put down. And Jack just can't keep out of mischief.  Like my friend, I am likely to read the entire series (7 or 8 books?) Highly recommended.
290445
This early novel by Patrick OBrian is a warm-up for his later triumph in the Aubrey-Maturin series beginning with Master and Commander and set in the same time period. Fans of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin will recognize seeds in this early work which matured later.  The oddly-assorted friendship between the young hero, Philip Palafox, and Peregrine Fitzgerald, Philips  fellow midshipman on board the Centurion, , is an example.  Philip is the son of an Irish parson, inclined to be accomodating, and something of a natural seaman, while FitzGerald is a younger son of a younger son of an improverished aristocratic family, and cursed with a hair-trigger temper,a fear of  heights, and susceptibility to seasickness.

The charm of The Golden Ocean stems, I think, from the relative youthfulness of its author. Fifteen years separate the publication of The Golden Ocean and Master and Commander.  There is much humor in the story, as Philip is at first the butt of pranks from older shipmates, and later becomes a prankster himself.  This book was supposedly aimed at a younger audience, so perhaps OBrian made a point of lightening the episodes of hardship, sickness, and danger (though he cut his readers no slack when it comes to naval jargon and sentences that ramble on for a half-page).

Like the Aubrey-Maturin series, The Golden Ocean and its sequel (which I have not yet read) The Unknown Shore are based on historical events.  The greatest tribute to the author is my interest now in finding out more about the globe-circling voyage of the Centurion under the command of George Anson, later First Lord of the Admiralty.
417137
How did I ever leave this book sitting on a shelf since 1995? This book is a great place to start reading Patrick O'Brian's sea novels. This story of a minor ship in Anson's expedition to "trouble the Spanish" in the Pacific (see O'Brian's GOLDEN OCEAN, following the other ships of the squadron, for the broader, parallel picture of that remarkable voyage) not only precedes the commencement of O'Brian's famous Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series (set during the Napoleonic wars 60 years later), but develops two characters that have uncanny similarities to the later heartiness of Jack and the erudite innocence of Stephen. The relationship here between Jack Byron, helpful friend and midshipman, and Tobias, the surgeon's mate, anticipates in so many ways the characteristics of the famous Aubrey/Maturin duo.
Not only was O'Brian full of youthful enthusiasm when he wrote this story, but he often explains his customary obscure references to the ancient ways of the sailor, making hilarious use of the lubberly landsman, Tobias-hilarious, that is, in a restrained British way and perhaps only recognizable once you've learned enough to catch the meaning of the ever-present nautical slang. Unique to this book, O'Brian inserts from time to time his own editorial comments on the action, again helping to explain antique situations to the modern reader.  My only knock on this story is that it eventually drags during the endlessly grinding struggle for survival along the wild and desolate unknown shore, and then wraps up too quickly. The same struggles against surf and hunger are repeated at least three times, although most artfully written without repeating the same phrases.
I highly recommend you read this story soon after beginning to read O'Brian's sea novels, for it is really a glimpse into what the earlier careers of Aubrey and Maturin could have been before we first meet them already well-advanced in MASTER AND COMMANDER. As always in the Norton editon, Geoff Hunt's cover art is precise, detailed, and relevant to the story. The joyousness of the writing and antics in this story remind me of Capt. Marryat's less believable book, MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY.
2452480
Patrick O'Brian's masterwork, the Aubrey-Maturin series, treat readers to the best elements of historical fiction, immersing them in an intricately textured environment. The author's love of world history, naval warfare, mesh seamlessly with his sense of society, language, science and politics.
Post Captain, the second and longest book in the series, spends a great deal more time ashore, as Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin focus on their romantic pursuits. It's a lot like a Jane Austen piece, but with a great deal more blood, guns and swearing.
3251459
There will be no spoilers in this review.

Let me start off by saying that Richard Russo is one of my very favorite authors. I love the way he writes, and I love the fact that he cares so much about his characters, because in doing so, he makes us care about them too. This book is no exception.

Jack Griffin (referred to as "Griffin") has parent issues, which is putting it lightly. He is the child of two college professors, both eccentric and fairly narcissistic, and both very smart. He has grown up full of resentment towards them and it is this resentment that becomes so important to this story.

When the book starts out, Jack has just finished teaching his own college class, and he is heading towards  Cape Cod for his daughter Laura's best friend's wedding. Jack's wife Joy will meet him there the next day. But Jack is not alone, for he has his father's ashes in the trunk of his car. He has intended to put those ashes in the ocean at the Cape, but hasn't done so yet.

Jack had been a a semi-successful screenwriter in Los Angeles, but he and Joy had always planned to move back to the east coast. And they did. It seemed as if everything seemed to be going according to plan, and indeed it was. But the past has a way of intruding into our lives and if we don't learn to deal with it and see if for what it is, then there will be a price to pay.

I really enjoyed this book and really cared about Jack, Joy, and all the other assorted eccentric characters. And as to be expected from Richard Russo, it's very witty and funny and expect to giggle out loud.

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is difficult to state without a spoiler, but I will try. I had problems with the plausibility of the story itself, and I felt that Jack and Joy's response to their conflicts felt a bit forced and I just didn't buy it.  There were certain scenes that threw me out of the story and that has never happened to me in a Russo book before.

Still, I enjoyed this book a lot, and do highly recommend it. Although I don't think this book is as good as Empire Falls or Bridge of Sighs, it's still a great read and full of heart and humor.
4727793
I like Tom Cruise to start with. this is another adventure where an ex-secret something or other comes to the scene. he is requested by an captured ex sniper to prove the sniper guilty of a crime. Jack starts out to do that but eventually proves the sniper innocent. Robert DeVaul (sp) is Robert DeVaul and plays great Cameo part.
3008365
And, unfortunately, PWS is just a bit longer than it needed to be.  It's much like Jack Aubrey repeating his favorite puns until everyone wants to slap him.  A good effort, but -- too much of it.
4317902
A few years ago, I happened to be traveling in Kazhakstan, and met up with a fellow westerner.  We struck up a friendly conversation when I noticed he was reading an Aubrey-Maturin novel.  "Oh yes, I love them." he said, "But  I've got only two more to go.  And when I finish, I don't know what I'll  do."  I knew exactly what he meant; at least back then we could look ahead  to the indefatigable Patrick O'Brian's ongoing output.
 But now we're  done for.  I read "Blue at the Mizzen" two weeks after the sad news of  O'Brian's death.  As I closed in on the ending, the lump in my throat had  nothing to do with the resolution of the plot.  And it wasn't really for  the drying-up of this amazing flow of dialog and description.  Like all  great literature, the books will be there forever, to be re-read with  pleasure and recommended to friends and family.  No, it was for poor Jack  and Stephen.  Because by now I know well how long it takes to sail around  the Horn and I could tell by the number of pages remaining that the tale  would end-with the usual flurry of action-but that the two particular  friends would still be standing out to sea, far from England.  Like Capt.  Cook, the great navigator the stories owe so much too, Aubrey and Maturin  are triumphant and ever hopeful, but their bones can never rest at home.
 If you are a reader of the series, there is no question that you are  going to read this book.  The only worry is the details.  Buy now, or wait  for the paperback edition?  I say, go for it.  And be assured that O'Brian  went out at the top of his form. "The Hundred Days" seemed hackneyed and  tired, but  "Blue at the Mizzen" has all the dialog, the detail and  intrigue, all the warmth of the best of the series.  It isn't quite the  masterpiece some of the earlier books were, but that's just because the  characterizations are so familiar that it can't stand on its own.  I  definitely wouldn't recommend a reader new to the series begin here.
 It  starts in the Mediterranean, returns to England by way of Madeira, and then  sails for South America to do some urgent meddling in Chilean politics at  the behest of Sir Joseph Banks.  Along the way, we get familiar notes from  Jack and Stephen and a set of bit characters, deftly drawn, and that  glorious sense of being contained in a little world on the great ocean.  Finally, we get to Chile and find things are quite muddled.  It will take  all of Maturin's cunning and all of Aubrey's dash to sort the matter out,  which of course they do.  But then it ends.  And, if you're like me, you'll  sit for awhile and think of all the times you've been transported by Jack  and Stephen-and all the Surprises.  You can go back, but you can't go on.  It's a fine thing, but a sad thing.
2720791
I don't find the more senior Kydd to be as believable or as competent as the earlier Kydd. I also don't find him to be loyal or likable. That could be a good twist but unless Im mistaken, I think Kydd is intended to be a likable and competent character. With language and attitude that Mr. Stockwin assigns to Kydd I get the impression Kydd is one of those captains that most of the other writers in this genre would use as the respected by authority but totally incapable in practice characters that is only in the way of the storys hero. I congratulate Mr. Stockwin on having published so many books. Mr. Stockwin may be using such an accurate picture of the gentleman of the era that I just don't understand him well with my American sensibilities or my 3 decades of U.S. Navy experience. I never encountered a sailor, British or U.S., with such a concern over self who wasn't considered the pathetic exception to the fighting spirit of their force. Although there are hundreds of men who apparently respected Kydd for his rise through the ranks and are still roaming HM Navy, somehow Kydd is in mortal fear of anyone else discovering his humble beginnings. On the scale of death and destruction normally encountered in this genre it seems trivial to me as a reader that this secret is so important to a character who is already a well-positioned post captain and likely to be an admiral should he live long enough. Again, I probably just don't understand why the hero would be so timid and hide what he must inevitably face, probably on a regular basis, considering the weight Mr. Stockwin assigns it as an anchor around Kydds neck and career. While I don't get it, I hope Mr. Stockwin does well with his intended audience, those who find such a character acceptable in this genre. I absolutely appreciate how the books in the beginning of the series went until the last few. Thanks for those great earlier stories Mr. Stockwin and I wish you the best.
4313021
John Ringo creates characters you can really care about and puts them in harms way. His heroes don't suffer fools gladly and I am pretty sure that he doesn't either.
3693389
In "Treason's Harbour" Lucky Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin continue their adventures in the Mediterranean; only this time Jack's well-known luck fails him.  The story picks up where "The Ionian Mission" left off, and CPT Jack Aubrey is dealing with the refit of both the Worcester and the Surprise.  In the shipyards of the 1800's - Malta in particular - corruption is rife and while Aubrey deals with the frustrations of naval command's less glamorous details Stephen Maturin finds Malta to be a den of spies, loose lips and competing intelligence agencies.  Here Patrick O'Brian continues to expand and excel with Maturin's espionage activities.  Significant to this novel is the introduction of a villain who spans more than one volume.  I will not spoil the surprise, but he has been previously encountered to those familiar with O'Brian's series.  This quality makes "Treason's Harbour" a great read from the intelligence perspective: the reader is given Maturin's knowledge and the Villain's knowledge, and can see the interaction of their various skills and chance, and how this plays out into reality.

Stephen Maturin runs counter intelligence in Malta, attempting to use and save a woman who is being manipulated by deadly French agents, and due to leaks within one of England's compartmentalized and competing intelligence agencies, is at a severe disadvantage that he can only suspect.  Needless to say, O'Brian's forte in writing includes both naval action and tense espionage.

Soon the Surprise is dispatched on a mission to Arabia, where CPT Aubrey is ordered to attempt another minor coup similar to what he performed in the Ionian: take a small but strategic island, and through the use of subtle and well plied political intrigue and military maneuver, oust the French and their agents, ensure the installation of a ruler friendly to the interests of His Majesty's Empire and confound Bonaparte's minions to boot.  Well, as you will see, all that is easily stated in war plans is not so easily executed on the ground, and the crew of the Surprise are soon terrified by evil Jin spirits in the Arabian deserts and fighting an enemy completely outside of their element.

Following the conclusion of their attempt in Arabia, Jack is dispatched once more to deal with a small potentate along the Barbary Coast, who has been playing both sides in England and France's struggle for dominion.  The conclusion of the book will leave you at the brink, wanting more, and racing to the library or the bookshop to get the next adventure.  "Treason's Harbour" is a great book by any standards, and excels even by the elevated expectations that O'Brian continues to set.
3867872
C.S. Forester, Dudley Pope, Patrick O'Brien all wrote stirring tales of adventure on the high seas in the days of Nelson's Navy. Hornblower, Ramage, and Aubrey were heroes: their nautical contemporary Jacob Fletcher definately is not.

As far as he knows, Fletcher was born an orphan, but by a measure of hard work he has won a position as an apprentice clerk. As such he should have been legally exempt from conscription into the navy, but unfortunately the press gang he runs into is not in the least interested in what the law says. So he finds himself forced to sign on as a seaman on the frigate HMS Phiandra.

Known to the reader but not, at this stage to Fletcher himself, he is really the illegimate son of a rich gentleman, Mr Coignwood, who has just died. In his will, Coignwood, disgusted at the vile habits of his wife and legitimate sons, has disinherited them and left all his wealth to Fletcher. And the disinherited heirs are determined to murder Fletcher so as to get their fortune back ...

Although the plot and characters are those of a comedy bordering on farce, it is set in a well researched and portrayed 18th century world, incorporating in the plot more than a little of real historical events and many accurate details about the 18th century Royal Navy, from gunnery to organisation.

Entertaining and original. There is a sequel, "Fletcher's Glorious FIrst of June (partly set in America) and there are hints that these may be the first two books of a series.