Lady Fielding's son, Tom, has just arrived home from the sea. Young Jeremy
Proctor is unsure what to make of him. Judge Fielding is asked to sit
on a court-martial of an officer from the ship that his stepson, Tom
served on. To begin Fielding and Jeremy visit the ship in question with
an admiral to begin questioning two of the men involved.
Fielding and the admiral must also question the ship's surgeon, but he
has transferred down to Portsmouth. Therefore they travel there, and on
the way are ambushed by highwaymen. Fortunately the admiral is able to
shoot one with his pistol. In Portsmouth, Jeremy is captured by a
press gang, but fortunately the lieutenant that had travelled with them
just happened to come by and secure his release.
Later, Jeremy and Tom, while looking for a potential witness, come
across the drowned body of a lieutenant from Tom's ship. However, upon
inspection of the body, they discover that the back of his skull has
been crushed. After a second witness is murdered, information that
could besmirch the reputation of the Royal Navy comes to light. Sir
John Fielding is sure that the case is worse than first perceived.
Author Bruce Alexander sets about ensuring justice will be done in this
murder mystery. Many twists and turns are involved on the road to the
final conclusion with a surprise at the end. A very good read.
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