HALFHYDE'S ISLAND

Second installment in the Lt. Halfhyde British naval series launched with Beware, Beware the Bight of Benin (p. 196). As ever, Lt. St. Vincent Halfhyde is in hot water and on half pay for his dizzy hotheadedness. A volcanic island has risen off Japan and Halfhyde, under the command of Captain Bassinghorn, is sent to plant the flag for the navy. Racing them to the island is his old enemy Admiral Gorsinski, with his Russian cruisers. A boiler explosion slows down Halfhyde, but even the Japanese fleet's appearance and the island's new eruptions are not enough to keep him from winning the day--though full pay still eludes him. Lively adventure spume but not quite up to Forrester.