Inferno
During the Napoleonic Wars, Britain learns that Napoleon has made peace with Russia and Prussia, thereby creating trading arrangements with allies on the continent. To prevent an attack from the North (via the Baltic Sea), the King of England agrees to capture and hold the Danish fleet in Copenhagen and stop a possible alliance between Denmark and France. Denmark is a neutral country, and sending a naval fleet and army to force Denmark to capitulate creates a moral dilemma. Captain Sir Thomas Kydd, on board the Tyger, is part of the armada heading to Denmark. He is unaware that his friend Renzi, along with his wife, Kydd’s sister, has been sent to Denmark to negotiate the release of the Danish fleet into British hands.
Francis Maynard, ensign of the British 52nd Regiment of Foot, is part of the army that lands in Denmark. Its goal is to surround the land portion of Copenhagen to assist the armada in forcing Denmark to hand over its fleet. However, Danish Crown Prince Frederik has issued orders to the elderly Peymann to command Copenhagen’s defenses and protect the city at all costs.
In this eighteenth in the Kydd Sea Adventure series, less than half of the content is related to Kydd’s story, which is a little unusual. The balance covers Francis Maynard and the attack of the British army. I’ve read most of the novels in the series and enjoyed this one just as much. Stockwin is one of the preeminent writers of this genre. His knowledge of sailing and the Napoleonic Wars is “up to speed.” I look forward to the next entry.
