The Bermuda Privateer
by William Westbrook
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Pub Date Sep 01 2017 | Archive Date Oct 31 2017
McBooks Press, Inc. | McBooks Press
Description
Nicholas Fallon is captain of the schooner Sea Dog, a privateer that is fast, beautiful and deadly. Unbound by Royal Navy tradition, Fallon enjoys total independence in where he goes, how he fights, and whom he takes as crew. Beauty McFarland—a woman—is even his first lieutenant.
It’s 1796, and Sea Dog’s owner, Ezra Somers, employs Fallon to protect his Caribbean salt trade from French privateers and pirates. One of these is especially ruthless—Wicked Jak Clayton. When the two meet just off the Bahamas, even Fallon’s cunning can’t overcome their mismatch in firepower and desertion by a cowardly ally.
Back in Bermuda, Fallon is enlisted by the Royal Navy to intercept a Spanish flotilla carrying gold and silver to France. But a massive hurricane halts the British attack on the Spanish transports and drives several ships, including Fallon’s, onto the Florida shore. Held by Spanish soldiers, Fallon and the surviving crew turn enemies into friends. Once free, there remains only one mission before Fallon can return home. Wicked Jak Clayton must die!
The Bermuda Privateer is an action-filled sea story with layered storylines and a modern storyteller’s voice.
Advance Praise
"All sea stories should tell you something new and The Bermuda Privateer meets that criterion in spades. Fast paced and covering an area new to me, I was enthralled by the author's encyclopedic knowledge of the Caribbean. There are battles and conspiracies galore, with engaging characters and thrilling actions…".
—David Donachie, author of the John Pearce novels and the Privateersman Mysteries.
"William Westbrook hooks you from the first page with accurate detail, a fast-paced plot, intriguing characters, and a genuine understanding of sailors and the sea."
—Robert N. Macomber, award-winning author of the Honor series of naval thrillers
"Well done. An exciting tale."
—James L. Nelson, author of the Norsemen Saga, the Revolution at Sea, and more
"William Westbrook is not afraid of action ... blood, history or politics. This is only the first book of a series about Bermuda-born Nico Fallon, who becomes embroiled with a ruthless pirate, a Spanish bullion flota, and a … hurricane and mass shipwreck. [Westbrook demonstrates] … a truly impressive expertise. A great maiden voyage!"
—Jan Needle, author of the William Bentley Sea Novels
"An action-packed insight into one of the most fascinating, deadly and captivating predators of the seas—the privateer."
—Paul Bryers (Seth Hunter), award-winning director and author of The Nathan Peake novels
" . .. treachery on land and blazing cannons at sea."
—Michael Aye, author of the Pyrate Trilogy and the Fighting Anthonys series
" . .. leaves readers gripping the edge of their seats ... Nicholas Fallon and his crew of misfits battle a maniacal pirate and traitorous allies, while forging friendships in unlikely places."
—Cindy Vallar, Editor of Pirates and Privateers.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781590137444 |
| PRICE | $22.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 352 |
Featured Reviews
Andrew E, Reviewer
Westbrook's first novel in a projected series in the vein of Forester and O'Brian is a winner--mixing the right amount of nautical detail with drama and politics on land. I will be interested to see how this series develops.
Reviewer 223873
A thoroughly rousing tall ship tale centered around the Caribbean. Westerbrook thoroughly knows his tall ships, artillery, points of sail, strategy, and tactics. The ship battles are thrilling, the villains despicable, the various captains given personality, motive, and maneuverability of their own.
I also enjoyed the female characters, who are given plenty of agency; I expect that "Beauty", Captain Fallon's first mate and later captain on her own, would not have been given as much respect as she is here, but this is a sea-faring adventure yarn, so I'm perfectly willing to go with it. Especially as Beauty is not Captain Fallon's love interest, who is a terrific character on her own.
The twists and turns of the story kept me guessing. The butcher's bill is high, as you'd expect in ship to ship warfare, especially with pirates, and the slippery French playing havoc with their putative Spanish allies.
The people of color in this story also get treated with far more respect than was historically accurate, and again I am totally willing to go with it.
Westbrook writes with dashing verve, offering plenty of historical detail about famous ports and pirate haunts as well as the ships that sailed in and out of him. I look forward to more tall ship action stories from his pen.
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