April 1798 and Commander Devenish is unexpectedly ordered away on a mission to the French Brittany coast, to rescue a British agent from tenuously held rebel territory. They are accompanied by a detachment of army scouts, but their commanding officer gives cause for concern and his son places the whole expedition in jeopardy. Meanwhile Devenish discovers that he is being shadowed by a former smuggling colleague, intent on a mission of his own.
Cover illustration by Colin M. Baxter.
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Perilous Beginnings
By Kester Bathgate
September 1797, during the ’Year of Peril’ and set against the background of the French Revolutionary War, Thomas Devenish takes command of His Majesty’s Revenue Cutter ’Diligence’. However she is an unhappy vessel and besides having to gain the trust of her demoralised crew he discovers that, as a former smuggler, he is under scrutiny. Whilst investigating the murder of one of his men, he also finds he is pitted against a scheming adversary. In addition, his family past returns to haunt him and the ongoing conflict with France brings a threat of its own. In the midst of it all he finds companionship and perhaps love.
Cover illustration by Colin M. Baxter.
Buy this book from Amazon. Available in UK, US, DE, AU, SE and many other countries.
There's a murder mystery, spying, a love story and other exciting turns. The characters are likeable and authentic. Even though the book was written recently, it has a feel of an old classic. I highly recommend.
An
astonishing engineering feat, dug entirely by hand by 58 000 men and stretching
from coast to coast across Sweden. Once vital for trade and defence, now
attracting thousands of holiday makers, the Göta Canal is still a wonder.
