The spirit of Richard Bolitho, who was the protagonist of Alexander Kent's series for 23 books until his death at the end of Sword of Honour, still lingers through the narrative of Relentless Pursuit, the 25th novel in the series.

But his specter is fading. And Adam Bolitho, his nephew, is finally the undisputed star of the book. Sure, there are still references to past sorrows, particularly those involving Richard's former shipmates and mistress, but they no longer dominate the text ... and the pervasive sense of melancholy is lifting.

With the long wars with France finally over, Adam Bolitho and his frigate, HMS Unrivalled, is first sent to patrol the Atlantic for slavers violating Britain's new ban on the trade. He has some success -- what he finds on one captured ship is especially horrific -- but is then recalled to England before joining Admiral Edward Pellew, a notable historical figure, in the 1816 bombardment of Algiers to free more than a thousand Christian slaves.

As always, Kent handles sea battles with exceptional acumen, and readers will experience the fighting with a heady rush of adrenaline from the comfort of their own homes. Bolitho, although still preoccupied with his uncle's legacy, his father's treason and his own troublesome wounds, is a bold and likable captain with a good and seasoned crew. Kent populates the ship with a varied bunch of seamen who provide interesting side stories to the action.

In this book, that includes Adam's devoted servant, a murdered midshipman, a loyal coxswain, and an assortment of lieutenants, midshipmen and warrant officers who man the Unrivalled's quarterdeck. Also, during his brief time ashore, Adam manages to meet and fall for an artist's model with her own tragic past; it's a refreshing change from his usual romantic interests, who are usually married to someone else.

Kent's series is among my favorite collections, but the last few books have been a dreary experience. Now, Kent seems to have recovered his focus, and Adam Bolitho benefits greatly from it. I am again looking forward to the last several books in the series.