Treachery

Tom Kydd's ship Teazer has returned to Plymouth after a successful voyage.  Unfortunately Tom's heart and mind are not in it because while he was at sea, his love, Rosalynd died.  It isn't long before the ship is assigned the Channel Islands patrol.  Added to the crew before departure were a number of Royal Marines.  Due to his grief, and moroseness, the crew begins to grumble.

The first task assigned for Teazer by Admiral Saumarez is to check on Napoleon's invasion fleet being prepared at Granville.  Taking Teazer in close was nigh on impossible due to shoals, so Kydd, Renzi and Stirk used a small fishing smack to do just that.  In the end, it was a neat run thing.  It is decided to bomb the port from sea.  However, things aboard Teazer do not improve.  Renzi tells him the men are on the verge of mutiny.  When a second man warns him, Kydd's eyes are opened and his attitude changes.

Following that, Kydd was given a secret mission to pick up a package on the French coast.  He couldn't even let his crew know about it.  When the ship returns to Guernsey, Kydd is taken to the admiral and accused of using the ship for his own personal use.  He is relieved of his command.

Kydd decides to stay on Guernsey to try and clear his name.  His friend, Renzi decides to stay with him.  However, due to their financial situation, Renzi decides to move to St. Helier on Jersey while Kydd stays in St. Peter Port.  Renzi finds work with the squadron commander on Jersey while Kydd finds work with a drama group.  Each will provide interesting play.

Author Julian Stockwin has plenty of exciting action awaiting Kydd and Renzi in the remaining pages.  A thoroughly enjoyable read, which was very hard to put down.  I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.