Reviews

JD Davies writes with surging lyricism and surprisingly witty insight about a subject that he clearly knows through and through: the Royal Navy of the 17th century. A time of political turmoil after the Restoration of Charles II, Davies' maritime world of "tarpaulins" and "gentlemen" echoes the deep divisions in society, of class and religion, after the bloody slaughter of the English Civil War. Davies' hero, the impoverished aristocrat Matthew Quinton, a sea captain with precious little experience of the sea, is a likeable, honorable, brave and occasionally deadly protagonist – and a man whose company the reader will certainly relish. The books are, in turn, funny, moving and fascinating – as well as being utterly impossible to put down. Inevitable comparisons will be made with the peerless Aubrey/Maturin series, set a century and a half in the future, and indeed I felt that the ghost of Patrick O'Brian was looking over my shoulder as I swiftly turned the pages. But I think Mr O'Brian would have heartily approved of the finely shaded characters, excellent plotting, gut-clenching action and immaculate attention to period naval detail that Davies supplies. These are superb books and I look forward eagerly to reading more of them.

- Angus Donald, author of The Outlaw Chronicles

For other reviews of the individual books, including my non-fiction titles, go to the drop-down menu.