Having mistakenly read the 15th book in David Donachie's excellent John Pearce series before reading #14, I put off going back for a while so I could forget what I already knew was going to happen. Of course, in the meantime I learned of Donachie's death in December 2023, which was sad news indeed; I've read more than two dozen of his nautical-themed novels and have long counted him among the best living authors in the genre. He will be missed.

Pearce, of course, is still at odds with the British Royal Navy that employs him, a mutual enmity that dates back to his illegal impressment at the hands of a cruel captain, his subsequent rise in rank due to a mixture of natural talent and dumb luck, and his eventual affair with his former captain's wife. Of course, having earned his promotion to the rank of lieutenant from His Majesty himself, the naval officers who bear Pearce ill will can't do too much about it ... but they certainly don't have to make things easy on him, either.

On a Particular Service begins with Pearce en route to England from a spell in the Mediterranean. He's on a chartered ship, rather than a naval vessel, and he's accompanied by his paramour Emily Barclay, their infant son Adam (who is believed in general society to be the son of the late Captain Barclay), as well as his three trusted friends and shipmates, Michael O'Hagan, Rufus Dommet and Charlie Taverner.

Although not officially the ship's master, it falls to Pearce to save the ship from an Algerian warship, which has pirate-like notions toward them, and a British frigate, which hopes to press a number of the ship's hands despite protections that should forestall his efforts. (I say Pearce, but let's be honest, Emily Barclay has a pretty important role to play in both encounters.) That said, Emily remains staunchly opposed to any public acknowledgement of her relationship to Pearce or the paternity of their child, and their romance continues to fracture because of it.

Back in England, Pearce spends much of his time trying to obtain passes -- through both legal and illegal means -- to protect his three friends from being shipped back to sea against their will. He also seeks further employment from the navy, although he vigorously insults the men of authority from whom he asks favors. It doesn't seem to be going well for him -- until a very prominent public official asks him to undertake a secret mission to France.

I am sad to say I have just three novels remaining to read in the series. I don't always agree with Pearce's decisions or manner, and I'm not sure I have much hope for his romance, but Donachie is a fine writer, with a strong handle on character development and an amazing grasp of plotting. He will, as I said, be missed, and I am thankful for the library he left behind.