Upon the Malabar Coast, the ninth book of Philip K. Allan's Alexander Clay series, begins with the fragile peace between Britain and France beginning to fray. It's 1803, and the officers and crew of the frigate Griffin are leading quieter lives ashore, reuniting with their families (or making new ones), some working as fishermen, others generally enjoying their time on land. But it doesn't last, as Clay is summoned to rejoin and refit his ship and call back his crew for a mission to South Asia.

Once again acting in cooperation with the diplomat Nicholas Vansittart, Clay has been ordered on a swift mission in pursuit of a small French squadron bound for India. Their mission is to ascertain the squadron's purpose and, if counter to British interests there, do his best to foil it.

As expected, war is again declared between England and France as they are en route. Also on their way are several side adventures, including the kidnapping of newly married coxswain Able Sedgewick by Portuguese slavers and his rescue by outraged shipmates, as well as a desperate storm in the south Atlantic.

But things heat up in India, where Clay and Vansittart must navigate the delicate alliances, particularly one where a long-standing friendship with Britain seems to be pivoting towards France. Before things are settled, Clay will be called on to destroy a nascent shipbuilding operation being established in a secret site on the Malabar Coast, and to protect a rich but vulnerable merchant fleet bound for England from China.

As usual in this series, there is quite a lot going on. I absolutely love Allan's command of plot and character, and this series remains among my very favorites. I am sad to say that only one book remains before I am completely caught up with Clay's adventures, after which I remain at the mercy of Allan's ability to write and publish enough books to keep me sated.

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