Book 22 in the Richard Bolitho series by Alexander Kent

I love Sharpe-esque novels (including Sharpe, Hornblower, Aubrey & Maturin et al), and I’m always on the lookout for new characters I can follow through similar adventures.

I came across this Alexander Kent book featuring his naval commander – Richard Bolitho. So Hornblower / Aubrey type character. Perhaps unfairly, I am starting with book 22, because it was the one I picked up. But I think these stories should stand alone, and a reader should be encouraged into the series from any of the books.

So onto a Book Review The Darkening Sea by Alexander Kent.

From the Book

Soon after taking part in the dramatic capture of Martinique in the Caribbean, Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho is next despatched to the African coast to gather a flotilla and stop French attacks on British trade routes. But Bolitho must contend with more than Britain’s old enemy. He must also face the hatred of his flag captain and betrayal by a man he once counted on as his friend.

Review

Richard Bolitho is now an Admiral in the Royal Navy and waiting for a ship and orders from the Admiralty. This allows him to spend some time on land with his mistress – Lady Catherine Somervell. (That is mistress in the technical sense of the time, not today). Lady Somervell is widowed and so can’t marry Bolitho, but they are in love.

Eventually he is given a new mission – in the deep Indian Ocean – and he must travel there with a small fleet. A political appointee as his flag lieutenant. A despot as the Captain of his ship. He has to navigate the difficult political issues that arise from him being in command of the fleet. But not his own flagship.

There is the expected climatic battle, but it is difficult to follow the action, as the author tries to include too many ships. It would have been better if there had been a map of this bit of the action.

Will Bolitho survive to return home to Lady Catherine? Or will be die as so many of his predecessors and contemporaries are?

Verdict

Unfortunately, the book had a lot of prior knowledge required and expected and was difficult to get into. The first half of the book seemed to be just ‘fallout’ for the characters on the outcome of Book 21. Which seemed to be a shipwreck and/or a mutiny – I couldn’t really work it out. This meant also that the book spent a lot of time on land. I was hoping for more action at sea.

I may try a second entry in the series in the future. But for now I won’t be binge-reading the rest of the series.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore