HMS Expedient [Hardcover]

Peter Smalley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2005

1786: Captain William Rennie is on the beach and on half pay. Things weren't always so bad for him. Four years earlier Admiral Rodney had singled him out for his part in the glorious Battle of the Saints, but since then he has found himself ignored by the Admiralty, and his career has all but gone by the board. With so many officers in the same position in the peace, with most of them having greater hope of preferment, Rennie is amazed when he's given a prime commission: HMS Expedient is a 36 gun frigate; she is to be sent to the South Seas on a scientific expedition. For Lieutenant James Hayter, in Dorsetshire, whose career had barely begun when the peace came, his own commission in Expedient out of the blue is equally surprising and exciting. Leaving his home and his sweetheart for at least a year is a small price to pay for this heaven sent opportunity to get to sea again. But for these two sea officers there is something odd and disturbing about the nature of their task. They sense that they are not being told the whole truth about the forthcoming expedition, and the shady, powerful figure of Sir Robert Greer is always at their backs. There is trouble at the dockyards - delays and disputes - and vexing difficulty over scientific instruments. There are clashes of personality, and unwelcome additions to the ship's complement just as she is about to leave harbour. Then a long series of mysterious accidents and setbacks as Expedient sails south. Is someone trying to sabotage their mission? Why is their progress dogged by a mysterious man of war? And what are the secret orders locked in Rennie's cabin which may only be opened once they round the Cape of Good Horn? The answers lies on a beautiful uncharted island, in the remotest corner of the Pacific immensity, to which the storm-battered Expedient limps for desperately needed repairs. Soon the dangers of the voyage will pale in comparison with what they discover there, across the limpid waters of the lagoon...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Smalley was born in Melbourne, Australia, and hails from a seafaring family. After an early career in advertising he became a screenwriter, broadcaster, and novelist. He lives in London with his wife, Clytie.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Century Hutchinson; First Edition edition (May 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844136833
• ISBN-13: 978-1844136834
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,238,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Book review for HMS Expedient, January 26, 2008

By 

Karen Thompson (Mountain Home, ID) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: HMS Expedient (Hardcover)

I had high hopes for this book and series. It is the only book in the series that I have read.
I've read Age of Sail genre for years and this book didn't hold up to my expectations.
I am confused as to who this series is supposed to be about. The Captain or his first Lt.
I felt like the captain had a bad case of multiple personality disorder and would not listen to common sense and then waited for his first Lt. to bail him out of situations he created. I am not used to this type of writing. I'm used to the captain having an understanding of sailing and the sailors who work for him and the ship and I can't figure out how this yahoo ever got a commission in the first place.
The captain character was either blowing hot or cold through out the book and this was very annoying. I kept waiting to see if the book would turn into another "Mutiny on the Bounty" story.
I had high hopes for this series and am now sad by the first book and my first impressions.

4.0 out of 5 stars Nicely done !, July 22, 2008

By 

Carola Marberry (Liberty, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: HMS Expedient (Hardcover)

This book in the new Rennie-Hayter series, set in 1786 kept me entertained throughout the whole book.

I am a big fan of nautical fiction set in the age-of-sail - and I was not disappointed.

Rennie, a kind of hot-headed Captain and his more sensible and "calm" 1st Lt. Hayter make a great team, as officers and as friends on their dreadful journey into the Pacific.

I already bought the next 2 books in the series and I will also purchase the the 4th book ("The Hawk").

Recommended !