Whether on land or at sea, can Jack Aubrey stay one step ahead of his enemies?

With the Treaty of Amiens, England is at peace. At least for now. . .

Accompanied by his friend, ship's surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin, Captain Jack Aubrey has returned home to England and the life of a country gentleman. But their comfortable experience is cut short when Jack is made a pauper overnight. He flees to the continent, narrowly escaping debtor's prison, only to find himself a hunted fugitive from Napoleon's regime as, yet again, war looms.

'Outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance.'

KATIE FFORDE

'The Aubrey-Maturin novels, by Patrick O'Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.'

LOUISE ERDRICH