Customer Reviews

The Devil's Own Luck

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I purchased this novel anticipating some amount of naval action. While it does contain some action, the author's knowledge of the subject seems to be lacking in some respects. He speaks of cannon being run out, loaded, and run back in, and of bar shot consisting of two bars connected by a chain (I can't imagine anyone trying to fire that mess from a cannon - bar shot was two half spheres connected by a short bar).

The main story concerns the feud between two officers, and the murder of an officer aboard a Royal Navy ship. Much of the action seems unlikely, but officers could become tyrants aboard their own ships. A captain commiting piracy by taking supplies from a British ship and then sinking the ship would almost certainly end his career (especially an officer without influence).

The story becomes a matter of intrigue aboard the ship, with various factions, secret routes, a hidden compartment, etc. The plot is based on some of the more evil aspects of Royal Navy service.

Hard to miss with this combination mystery/detective story/nautical yarn. Harry Ludlow is an ex-Royal Navy officer now operating his own vessel as a privateer. His ship is destroyed, and he and his crew are taken on board the Magnanime, commanded by one of Harry's old enemies, Oliver Carter. James, Harry's brother, who had also been on Harry's ship, and is hardly a seaman, is discovered standing over the body of a murdered Magnanime officer. Harry must find the real killer in order to clear his brother.
Using his knowledge of the sea and ships, Harry worms his way into the good graces of some of the other officers and sailors. A raft of dark secrets soon emerges, including a secret space where several of the men and officers, would gather to conduct unmentionable activities.
I would rank Donachie somewhere between O'Brian and Forester. The addition of the mystery adds a nice twist to what would otherwise be a very credible naval series.

This story begins with a bang and a shocking betrayal. Following a clever chase by privateer Capt. Harry Ludlow of a Frenchie in the Channel, the initial battle scene has a devastating twist for Harry and his brother James when the Royal Navy comes to his aid. Thrown into a hostile situation rank with dread, the two are soon struggling to survive. This story is far from the upbeat, sunny adventures of Pope's Ramage series, and beyond Woodman's Drinkwater series in bleakness.

Unless you already know your way around an old ship-of-the-line, this story takes you into many nooks and crannies that are otherwise incomprehensible. But you don't really have to know much about square-rigged sailing or arcane nautical jargon (unlike the O'Brian books), because Donachie's emphasis is on the detection and exposure of desperate dark crimes, rather than on the thrilling high seas sailing maneuvers and encounters of most naval fiction. Sleuthing aboard ship is an unusual concept, but given sharp sense here because the accused killer is James, Harry's brother, so Harry is duty-bound to investigate. He must move stealthily, for Harry himself is already in danger from shadowy forces that swirl around an old nemesis, Capt. Carter, who commands the 3rd-rate which rescued the Ludlows but is a man scarcely 10th-rate in honor, with a crew to match.

The English author modestly states that he has had more jobs than birthdays in his 60 years, and evidently none of them spent in ships. With 7 books in the series since 1991, perhaps he's found his calling. His inexperience may account for some of the dense writing and nautical errors here. Sometimes I found it hard to know who was speaking the lines of dialogue, and it took me an awful long time to match the officers with their names, to keep track of who was doing what to whom.

This was my first book by David Donachie. I have been looking for a new book by Tom Connery (David Donachie pseudo) & tried this book hoping He would be able to write naval fiction as enjoyable as his "Markham of the Royal Marines" series. Though the writing is a little easier to read than say Patrick O'Brian, David doesn't seem to have a grasp of naval style or knowledge to pull this off. He should stick to subjects He has proven He knows about.

Devil's Own Luck is the first volume in the author's projected 'Privateersman Mystery' series and is a recommended pick for any who appreciate swashbuckling action, the high seas, and a good mystery. Take Forester and O'Brien and add intrigue and you have the makings of this novel, which blends a whodunit with naval experiences.