Desolation Island - Patrick O'Brian

The best in the series so far

Despite being based around the now familiar journey to the southern seas, O'Brain manages to hold one's attention on every page. The writing is endlessly colouful and, as usual, packed with period detail and the fruits of what must have been extensive research. There is now too an extra effortlessness and enthusiasm in the writing style, helping to make this novel the best in the series so far. Distinctive features of the book include an exploration of the lower decks of the ship, the intrigue surrounding the onboard spy surveyed by Dr Maturin, an inter-crew murder, an onboard plague and an unintentional visit to the eponymous antarctic island. The narration involving a skirmish with an antagonistic Dutchman is, too, breathtaking. For those who like that kind of thing, there is also some of the customary naked jaunting out in the jolly boat, with Jack getting somewhat caught-short on his return to the ship by the onboard spy.

one of the best in the series

This is easily one of the best books inthe Aubrey/Maturin series of O'Brian - set a few years after "Mauritius Command" it sends Captain Aubrey and faithful Dr. Maturin back into the landless, vast and eternally stormy seas of the southern Indian Ocean - in an old tired frigate of ill-repute, stuffed with a plague ridden crew, convicts for the Australian colony and a beautiful spy in the hold, as well as rotten timbers, a quarrelling set of officers and a tireless foe on their heels. More than enough to keep both the captain and the doctor/spy busy and on their toes, the dialogue loaded in the typical "low-key" way and the reader glued to the pages.

The running battle with the Dutchman is easily one of the best (and most remarkable deadly ) actions in the entire series.

Oh, and the readers get treated to some wrecking and life-boat frollicking, too. No more could be asked for.

"Not So Lucky" Jack Aubrey!

A turning point in the series! After the success' Aubrey has in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean in the early novels in 'Desolation Island' O'Brian shows another side of Jack Aubreys luck as he faces disease, storms, enemy chases in treacherous seas and is nearly ship-wrecked! The intelligence world of Maturin is delved into in more depth as he spins his webs of deception around an on board enemy spy. It is hard to find a great book in a fantastic series but for me this one stands out just that little bit more. If Amazon would let me I would give it 6 stars!

The best of the series

The peak book in the Aubrey Maturin series, where the pace and humour balances perfectly.

Breathtaking

I've read all the classic and contemporary authors. This is the best Novel of all. Loathe though I am to pick a favourite O'Brian (surely the only decent writer alive) this just edges the others in the series.