Packed with exciting incident worthy of wide appeal to those who love thrilling nautical encounters and the sea.

– Nautical Magazine

The ninth adventure of Capt. Nathaniel Drinkwater—but only the second (In Distant Waters) published here—places the middle-aged, phlegmatic skipper of H.M. frigate Patrician in the South China Sea in 1808 under secret Admiralty orders to thwart the new Franco-Russian alliance. Guiding ships of the East India Company (practically a power in itself) from Canton to Penang, he must be wary of pirates, the Hong in Canton, the emperor in Peking and a shipload of Russian prisoners. Drinkwater is duped into giving passage to his archenemy Morris, along with the man's fortune in silver and his catamite. The crafty Morris, his Navy career cut short by scandal, plots a private revenge that will ruin Drinkwater and may even let Morris have his heinous way with the Captain. The climax is a bang-up battle between Borneo's fierce Dyaks (of poison dart fame) and Patrician 's beleaguered crew. Drinkwater is a true-blue, if stolid, hero, but shipboard life, including its below-decks stink, is vividly drawn.

– Publishers Weekly

In this latest Nathaniel Drinkwater novel the intrepid captain commands his majesty's frigate Patrician on the China station after a cruise halfway around the world. As convoy commander for merchantmen sailing to Penang, Drinkwater deals with pirates, French and Dutch men-of-war, and an unexpected and threatening passenger from his past. Rich in detail, historically accurate, and displaying a masterly knowledge of the technical aspects of ships under sail, Woodman's novel is comparable to sea fiction by masters such as C.S. Forester and Alexander Kent in its evocation of the past age of wooden ships and iron men. Highly recommended for public libraries.

– Library Journal

In the aftermath of a typhoon, Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater brings the HMS frigate Patrician into the shelter of the Pearl River in China, to refit. He is unwittingly entangled in the bizarre events that followed the British occupation of Macao and the attack on the Canton. Well written and exciting.

– Latitudes & Attitudes

There is no doubt that Nathaniel Drinkwater rates up there with the best of the nautical world.

– Midwest Book Review

Woodman knows his ships and the sea and is a craftsman of great ability.

– Guernsey Evening Press

Brilliantly told . . . the characters are real and lively, the language similar; but above all it is a convincing and compulsive seafaring story.

– Oxford Times

Action to the bone, no romantic bilge-water.

– Observer

. . . for all who like to read about naval action in the 19th century, told with gusto and bravura.

– Publishing News