ALLAN MALLINSON

It is 1827, and Matthew Hervey is on the look out for a new posting. He soon finds one in the Cape Colonies, where there is need of a man to re-organise the local forces, and in particular to form a new company of horse. As Hervey and his greenhorn troops are plunged into a battle, death is only a heartbeat away.

Hailed as "the heir to Patrick O'Brian" (The Observer), Allan Mallinson has thrilled readers with...

Captain Sir Laughton Peto, engaged to Matthew Hervey's sister, Elizabeth, has just taken command of HMS Prince Rupert, the only three-deck line-of-battle ship in commission. But his passage to the Ionian - where Admiral Codrington is assembling an Anglo-Russian-French fleet to evict the Turks from Greek waters - will not be smooth sailing.