After taking a break from The Dorset Boy series and its practically superhuman protagonist, Martin Stockley -- a former child miner turned naval officer, spy, saboteur, accomplished duelist, fabulously wealthy merchant, husband, father and lord -- I returned for book 4, In Dangerous Company, which again pits the young man, barely in his 20s, against immeasurable odds.

Of course, he always rises to the occasion, besting each adversary and overcoming each pitfall without breaking a sweat.

This novel takes Marty from India to England to France, back to England and to the Caribbean. And of course he continues to master new skills with aplomb. In this book, we can add detective, ship designer, executioner, privateer and expert sling shot to Marty's endless list of abilities. He also plays a key role in devising new military technology and strategies, some of which are well ahead of their time.

I genuinely like Marty, but I wish he faced at least some challenges that he didn't immediately solve with little to no cost or consequence. Even his one failed mission in this book comes at no fault of his own, due to a bout of unprecedented weather rather than his own poor judgment. And, again, there are no real repercussions; the Navy makes a show of a court-martial but it's simply a pretense before rewarding him with yet another plum assignment.

It also remains true that the author, Christopher C Tubbs, needs to find a strict editor who fixes his flow, grammar and punctuation. Tubbs' writing, though colorful and certainly enthusiastic -- and without some small knowledge of his subject, let's be honest -- needs a steady hand at the helm to keep him on course.

[ visit Christopher C Tubbs online ]