A KING'S RANSOM

by Victor Suthren ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 9, 1981

In 1746 Lt. Paul Gallant, 25, captain of the French corvette Echo, is sent to the New World to retrieve the magnificent missing statue of Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion from the lost Spanish ship Santa Maria de la Vela (which had been carrying the King of Spain's glorious gift to the King of France). Meanwhile, Lt. Anthony Robinson sets forth in his fast gunboat Salamander to get the treasure and return it to England (but he's sailing into an enormous French fleet at Louisbourg). Gallant quickly finds the Spanish ship run aground, attacks a nearby British frigate--but finds that the Spanish ship was looted earlier by pirates. So Gallant, in disguise as a trapper, goes ashore with his mate to see what's up in English-held Louisbourg. He rescues a typhus-stricken Indian maid from three English soldiers, is captured, is saved by Indians (his maid dies protecting him)--and eventually Gallant and Robinson combine forces to fight the pirates who have the loot. Lots of nautical chases and shootouts, then, but only undemanding fans of period action will be willing to overlook the padding throughout and the hokum characters (that Indian maiden especially).

Pub Date: Feb. 9, 1981

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1981

Categories: FICTION