Here we meet again Horatio Hornblower by the new author, John Mahon, in a new adventure approved by the sons of CSForester. The stirring action begins where the unfinished last Hornblower adventure (Hornblower During the Crisis) written by C.S.Forester ends. Hornblower travels as a spy disguised as a servant through Spain attempting to carry out the orders of the First Lord of the Admiralty. After a short spell in Portugal where newly invented spinnaker sails are fitted to his ship, he's off to Jamaica to protect the island against a possible French invasion by four ships loaded with Napoleon's soldiers. Several attractive women interfere with his conscience as he carries out his duty; his wife has an interlude with Lord Nelson. All the intricacies of the plot click together in this very good read about Hornblower, while keeping his history and character intact.