The Guardship, by James L. Nelson

This is the first book in the Brethren of the Coast-series. We meet an interesting character named Thomas Marlowe. A rich man, a plantation owner. And an interesting man – a man who has set his slaves free, and hires them as free laborers, and who seemingly treats them as his equals. Obviously also a smart man, and a man in the process of establishing himself in “society” in Virginia. He has recently arrived in the colony, and many things about his future are a bit unclear. However, we gradually learn that he has a past as a pirate!

The book is set in 1701, in Virginia. Thomas Marlowe kills the favorite son of the colony’s most powerful tobacco family, the Wilkensons, in a duel. In doing so, he incurs the wrath of the entire clan. And soon after that, he is given command of the colony’s guardship Plymouth Prize; to a large extent due to the fact that his friend, the governor, thinks that he has previously been captain of a privateer.

Now things start to happen very fast and along several plot lines. Marlowe falls in love with the beautiful widow Elizabeth Tinling. Also he must deal with the Wilkensons’ vendetta and several intrigues set in motion by them, partly directly against him, partly seeking to hurt him indirectly using the woman he loves. And, in addition, as Captain of the guardship, he is faced with the daunting task of making the run down ship and her decrepit and inept crew fit for fight.

The action in The Guardship is fast and furious, and soon Marlowe finds himself up against the only man he really fears in this world, the terrible, half-mad and cruel pirate captain and current leader of the Brethren, Jean-Pierre LeRois. Thomas Marlowe must choose – to run away or to fight and most likely lose his life…

James L. Nelson’s book is well plotted, well researched and rich in historical detail. It is also well written and well paced. I found it very exciting. My main complaint is that it is far too short. I spent a happy evening reading it, and all too soon I arrived at the last page. The best part of this book was the action scenes. As Alexander Kent and C.S. Forrester, James L. Nelson writes excellent action scenes! The Guardship is a book I do not hesitate to recommend for people who like historical fiction, especially nautical fiction.

Links to books by James L. Nelson at amazon US, amazon US, and amazon CAN.

Tagged as: book review, James L. Nelson, Nautical fiction