Customer Reviews

The First to Land (Charnwood Library)

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Douglas Reeman is a master of his genre. No he does not provide the historical oratory of Cromwell and does not let you hear the shrill of the bosun pipe or the smack of unfurling sail like an O'Brien but he tells a very human tale in exciting circumstances. His characters are as you would find them in a real military context.
If you have ever been in or exposed to a military life, his books will resonate. They are of the right size to truly be a "pocket book". You will find his novels in many back pockets or otherwise disposed by those who are "on watch" or "on leave". Each installment comes to a satisfactory conclusion and takes you along for a quick military venture. In other words, entertainment.
In "First to Land" he continues from "Badge of Glory" with the story of the Royal Marines of Great Britain, through the annals of the Family Blackwood, steeped in the grand fashion of British Military Traditions. This time Captain David Blackwood learns of the death of Brother Neil in South Africa and we get snippets of discontent for the manner in which the British are maintaining their Crimean tactics in a new Guerilla War with South African Farmers of Dutch descent. The main plot however finds Captain Blackwood and a small company of RMLI in China on a mission to escort a German Countess to the International holdings of Shanghai but become embroiled in the opening salvos of the "Boxer Rebellion". Other commenters are correct in saying that there is precious little political background here but then that is not the style of Reeman Novels. He writes as a soldier would write. A soldier does not spend a lot of time pondering the politics of the world. Their world is limited to their immediate group and their ultimate survival in whatever it is they are engaged in. Not healthy questioning orders, no matter what rank you hold. You do your duty
That's a Reeman novel. Heavy on duty and honour and a good dose of people you could easily like or remind you of someone very clearly defined on the pages.
If you read one and don't like it, don't buy another one because they all fit the mold. I for one, always have a Reeman novel ready to be read for when I need a break from heavy Tomes and dreary politics. When I just want to stretch out, be lazy and enjoy a good simple, straight forward but exciting yarn, then a Douglas Reeman Novel fits the bill, every time. Try one and let me know. Would love to hear from you.

Whether it is as Alexander Kent or Douglas Reeman the books are sure to please but I have to admit in this one the usually well done "love interest" was way over the top. It appeared so often at at such length It became an unwelcome distraction rather then a part of the main story.

Enjoyed reading the book. Reminded me of one my favorite movies "55 Days in Peking" With Charlston Heston.

I much enjoyed the book, it is very well written and about a subject which I know little, the British Royal Marines. This is the second in the series. I liked the first two so much that I have ordered the next three.

The plot was very shallow with little detail given to support the flow of the fictional content or the historical background of the story. Movement from one event to another was often bumpy. Character development, in most cases, was weak. The book was a disappointment considering the excitment of the historical backdrop.