H.M.S. SURPRISE

There's a pivotal sea battle against a French captain in the third Aubrey-Maturin adventure, which finds Jack Aubrey's H.M.S. SURPRISE on a course for India to take on the French fleet, but romance is the steam that keeps this novel moving. Jack Aubrey's financial difficulties hamper his pursuit of the lovely Sophie, while Stephen Maturin finds conflict after his marriage proposal to Diana. John Lee reads with a fine ear for dialogue, making the verbal sparring between the two friends delectable and savoring every morsel of period and geographic detail. This series' most devoted fans know the outcome already, but Lee's reading and Patrick O'Brian's well-researched portrait of sea life make listening worthwhile. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]