Inferno: Thomas Kydd 17 Hardcover – 6 Oct. 2016

If you are a fan of Kydd and love the high adventure of previous novels in the series you may be deeply disappointed with this latest offering. It feels as if Stockwin was inspired to write about the siege of Copenhagen but then felt compelled to include Kydd and Renzi for little more than commercial reasons. Their involvement seems both slightly forced and rather unnecessary. I'm sure I will read any future Kydd novels as he is a character I love and Stockwin's writing is wonderful, but I do long to the style and action of earlier works.

I have never given a Thomas Kydd novel less than 4 stars and most frequently 5. I have read every book, most more than once, and always look forward with anticipation to the next installment of Kydd's career. However this is not the usual Kydd good read. Nothing wrong with the writing it is just not about Kydd. While the political situation faced by the then government and the decisions faced were extremely difficult, if you already understand the background, then sections of the book become tedious, for once I skipped parts. Others have already mentioned the almost walk on part played by Kydd, which, when you are expecting a rollicking sea yarn centered on this character, is disappointing. The only other Kydd book I did not really enjoy, and have not read twice, was "The Admirals Daughter" but this was worse than that for me.

I'm not sure about this one. Kydd is his usual self but I feel hardly in this book to any great value. It feels more a piecemeal of short stories to fill an obligation rather than the usual excellent well paced novels.I've given it four because I like the series and as I'm Hebridean I loved having it mentioned. Copenhagen was interesting as well especially as I've just listened to an audible book (Sharpes Prey) on the subject. It's interesting to see different takes on such an event - "battle" at Korg for instance - and its peaked an interest in finding more about this siege and the events around it.Kydd being taken & the eventual escape etc just didn't feel right at all - rushed and seemingly squashed in to fill out the story. Also what about Popham and Kydd towards the end a quick flick of the pen to bring them together and gone. Then there's Renzi & Cecilia's story again disjointed with what feels like parts cut away.This really feels like a poor imitation of a Kydd novel and I really hope Mr Stockwin is back in form with his next book in the series Persephone.

The latest in Julian Stockwin's engrossing naval fiction series was fresh and in many ways quite different to previous novels.The story ranges from the despair Sir Thomas Kydd feels during his enforced period ashore following perhaps one of his most challenging periods in the Royal Navy, to a fascinating diversion for Kydd in the Hebrides where he is beguiled into searching for sunken treasure with "infernal machines" in the company of his old shipmate Tobias Stirk.The story then shifts back to Scandinavia where Kydd had such a testing time in Tyger and where Bonaparte continues to threaten Britain's trade with the Baltic.Nicholas Renzi now Lord Farndon and married to Kydd's sister Cecilia is once again involved with dangerous diplomacy concerning the neutral country of Denmark so important because of its magnificent fleet and its strategic position between France and Russia.We are frustratingly treated to rather short glimpses of favourites such as Bowden while Stockwin recounts the interplay between the great fleet assembled for an expedition to Copenhagen and the Army with General Wellesley at their head by the correspondence between Kydd's Masters Mate David Maynard on Tyger and his brother Francis an Ensign in the "new" Light Infantry.As always in Stockwin's novels historical accuracy is combined with startling clarity so that momentous moments in history are seen through the eyes of those close to events. In addition Stockwin always manages to include a likeable female character or two and Frow Rosen who bravely assists Nicholas and Cecilia and Marie-Therese d'Angouleme a spirited member of the French royal family are fine examples of this natural storytellers art. Their cameo roles are matched by descriptions of personal bravery and intransigence amongst the Danish forces.To describe more would be to risk spoiling the story and I finish this review by saying that I can't wait for Sir Thomas Kydd to return to sea in the next part of this extraordinary naval chronicle.

I have been an avid fan of Kydd from the very start. I was particularly disappointed and bored with all the political chit chat that took up most of the book! Not setting foot on a Man o War till well past 100 pages and the first shots and most shots fired in anger was by the Army! I also didn't need an in depth history of Denmark. What I hoped for and paid for was fictions, exciting adventure on the high seas in a British fighting Ship with the taste of salt on my lips and smell of gunpowder in my nose! But ended up with political debate and Maneuvering! Please lets get back to sea Mr Stockwith, don't want to abandon the series etc this point.