The Sugar Secret
Since childhood, this reviewer has been in love with Napoleonic naval tales. This one, Book 7 of the Evan Ross series, is set in the post-Trafalgar Caribbean, as France all but abandons its island colonies for the more pressing demands of the European theater. British Navy officer and spy, Evan Ross, is sent to investigate the rumor that a new French leader has turned up to re-engage the defending forces there. But along with signs of his presence on Martinique, trouble seems to be popping up on British islands—concentrated, surprisingly, on distant St Kitts. Because of the dual point of view, the reader knows that this is the work of Rémy Bernard, a French spy, who is not only stirring up problems for the British but pursuing his own ends as a faithful knight of the Order of Malta, seeking a treasure of the Order buried somewhere on St. Kitts by a former prefect.
A competitive treasure chase ensues, spiced with murder and romantic entanglements. I found this a so-so example of the genre, mostly because of the fact that the double point of view drains it of all suspense. The dialogue is also stilted, and the finding of the treasure actually takes place in an epilogue (that is, outside the book!). But there are some enjoyable sea battles (or rather, harbor battles) with things blowing up, and I suppose this is what many readers are looking for.
