Even as Captain Edward Carlisle assists in the conquest of the French stronghold of Quebec in Rocks & Shoals, his former protege, Commander George Holbrooke, leads the navy contingent on a military assault on French-held Fort Niagara.

The mission, although primarily an army campaign, relies heavily on the navy to transport men and materials in small boats across the lakes and rivers of New France, evading a tiny fleet of French brigs and sloops, and depositing them safely on a remote corner of Lake Ontario. During the extended siege that follows, Holbrooke works as a navy adviser to army commanders, providing much-needed support in the endeavor.

Holbrooke, who is more comfortable on the deck of a warship than he is bivouacked in the North American wilderness, finds his footing as he strives to do his duty -- with only a handful of experienced seamen among his followers -- and earn his much-coveted promotion to post-captain.

Fans of nautical fiction will have already seen that author Chris Durbin takes a far different tack than most writers in the field. The Seven Years War -- or, as it's known now in the United States, the French & Indian War -- is not the usual fare in this genre, but Durbin has unearthed some fascinating and little-known campaigns that spotlight the importance of the British navy even then. Far from the ocean, Holbrooke must put his knowledge to the test as he navigates the contested American territories, befriending soldiers along the way and even getting to know some of Britain's Iroquois allies.

The conclusion of Niagara Squadron signals a change in Holbrooke's fortunes, and I expect his story will be very different the next time we catch up with his adventures. Some familiar characters may not be with him by then, so we can expect some new faces to appear in the prose.

However, as is Durbin's custom, the next book will focus on Carlisle's part in the war, and I'm eager to see where he goes next. I have been pleasantly surprised at how much I have enjoyed this series, and I'm happy that Durbin is producing books at a rapid clip. I strongly recommend Carlisle & Holbrooke to our readers.

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