The Devil to Pay (Nightingale & Courtney, 2)
In the summer of 1802, shortly after the cessation of hostilities in the French Revolutionary wars, we find the main character, Lieutenant Arthur Courtney, on leave from the Royal Navy. Artie has endured many challenging conflicts in the preceding years, and whilst he is wary of people’s attitudes to him, he values two companions especially – his sister Jane and his close friend, Hiram Nightingale. The expectation of settling into his little cottage for the long summer days, spending valued time with his confidant Hiram, is quickly rent apart by Courtney’s recall to the Navy for a secret mission aboard HMS Lysander, whose crew have been tasked with locating the missing frigate HMS Loyal. The latter had embarked on a journey to Malta, carrying British and French diplomats, namely Sir William Haywood and Hugo Baptiste, but the ship and all who sailed on her have gone missing in mysterious circumstances.
Supporting the British ship, the Lysander has a rendezvous with a French vessel, the Fantôme, north of Brittany as they set out to search the Mediterranean for news of the Loyal’s whereabouts. Lieutenant Courtney is unusual amongst the officers in the Navy at that time, having risen through the ranks from a common rating in his 15-plus years of service to the Crown. As a result of his humble origins, he has a rapport with other seamen that those from more privileged backgrounds don’t, while also harbouring various insecurities.
Initially, as a reader new to sailing terminology, it was a struggle to feel totally engaged with the story, but as the characters developed and were brought to life, this was inconsequential to the main aspects of the book. This is a hugely enjoyable and dramatic first adventure for what is set to become a popular series involving Courtney and Nightingale in future volumes.
