The previous book in the Cutler family saga was a bit slow, dealing with personal matters and the slow-turning gears that are a precursor to war. No Sacrifice Too Great more than makes up for it, packing the book with action on several fronts as the War of 1812 plays out between the mighty British armies and navies and the fledgling American military.

The series has truly become a family saga, as the original protagonist Richard Cutler has aged out of the spotlight; he and his brother Caleb now play more supporting roles as the next generation takes center stage. And, with branches of the family on both sides of the Atlantic, the family is able to give readers a perspective into both sides of the conflict, since Cutlers are serving on American and British ships.

Will and Jamie Cutler, both Richard's sons, are officers in the U.S. Navy; Will spends much of the book on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, where decisive battles take place that determine the British forces' ability to maintain a vital supply chain to its troops, while Jamie serves in key conflicts closer to the U.S. capital. Meanwhile, their English cousin Seth Cutler is part of the force that attacks Baltimore.

Richard also plays his part, sailing to the Louisiana area to persuade the pirate Jean Lafitte to come into the war on America's side. Richard also finds himself participating in the Battle of New Orleans.

The book also gives readers a closeup view on major naval battles between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere as well as USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon. Without giving too much away, it should be noted that some members of the Cutler family pay the ultimate price for their service.

William C. Hammond's series, now up to six books, has become one of my favorites, and with the focus of the novels changing as the Cutler family grows and expands, there's no reason the series has to end any time soon. Hammond has a fine command of history and is a deft hand at weaving his characters into the action.

I've enjoyed every book in the series so far, but No Sacrifice Too Great is the best one to date.