Pirates & Privateers: James Boschert's Books

Still hunted by his beloved’s brother, Master of the Assassini, and a sultan thwarted from marrying Rav’an, Talon de Gilles takes her and his newly-met son, Rostam, to Oman. There lives a man Talon once saved from an executioner’s sword, one who may be able to help the fugitives resettle in a new land. Accompanying them on this journey is Reza, Talon’s brother-in-arms and fellow fugitive from the Assassini, as well as another woman rescued from the sultan’s harem.

The day Talon arrives in Oman, Allam al Mardini celebrates his victory against an arch rival. His camel, Jasmine, has won the most prestigious race of the year. He welcomes Talon into his home, even though five months have passed since they were imprisoned together. He knows well that although Talon claims to be a merchant, his friend is far more than that. Talon soon discovers that he and Allam’s family have similar interests: merchant ships and a good game of Chogan. Talon is invited to play, but one of their opponents is the man bested in the camel race. After a failed attempt to inflict a fatal injury and a second loss to Allam’s family, Nejem al Khulood vows vengeance – a pledge that necessitates Talon’s and Reza’s intervention after Jasmine disappears.

Knowing of Talon’s interest in his family’s ships and journeys, Allam intercedes with his brothers and father and they provide their new friend with guidance in purchasing a new vessel and in journeying to Africa, Al Hind, and China. Such voyages are rarely without perils, as Talon, Reza, and their families soon discover. A sick woman in their first port of call soon leads to mobs trying to flee rumors of plague. When illness sweeps through the brothers’ ships, Talon must continue onward into unknown waters. The sighting of three sails announces the arrival of pirates too numerous to defeat in hand-to-hand combat; surprise is Talon’s only option, yet it offers a slim chance of survival.

In the midst of a vicious storm a foundering ship, showing signs of a fire and no crew, demands a daring rescue to save the four people still aboard. The gamble pays off in unexpected ways, since one of those saved is Lord Meng Hsü who is returning home from a mission to India on behalf of Guangzhou’s governor. Talon is intrigued by his guest and his country, but as tantalizing as a visit to China might seem, it must wait for another day . . . until a cruel and dictatorial ruler on an island off the Malay peninsula attempts to maneuver Talon into selling his cargo at a loss. But China is a land of strange customs and political maneuverings, where death is but a whisper away.

The Dragon’s Breath is the sixth entry in the Book of Talon series, and it is rife with roller-coaster adventure, exotic locales, and breathtaking jeopardy. Boschert spins a compelling tale with subplots intricately interwoven to create the finest silken tapestry. His knowledge and research of the various cultures transport readers back to the 12th century, where the intoxicating allure and inevitable reality place readers in the midst of ambition, intrigue, jealousy, espionage, greed, betrayal, and survival. Talon and Reza come close to meeting their match when they tangle with eastern pirates, as well as a new and formidable group of assassins, the Ninja. There is even a quest to find a dragon, which matches the serpentine curves of that legendary creature and inserts a bit of levity into a story where it’s difficult to determine just who can be trusted. Whether new to Talon and his journeys or a longtime fan, readers will find The Dragon’s Breath rewarding, spellbinding, and an excursion not to be missed.

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Read reviews of other books in the series

Assassins of Alamut Knight Assassin Assassination in Al Qahira Greek Fire

A Falcon Flies Assassins of Kantara Storms of Retribution A Congress of Kings

Force 12 in German Bight
By James Boschert
Penmore Press, 2014, print ISBN 978-1-942756-00-2, US $17.50
Also available in e-book format

After an apparent suicide at Paddington Station, Detective Inspector Steven Greenfield of the London Metropolitan Police discovers the victim may actually have been murdered. That makes it a case for Scotland Yard, but he’s intrigued enough to continue investigating. As he tracks down the killer, another man dies and the trail leads to a former Royal Marine who is on his way to Denmark.

Patrick McFarlane is an electronics engineer aboard an aging dredging barge 100 miles off the Danish coast in German Bight, an area of the North Sea. Returning from vacation, he finds a party in his cabin where drinking and smoking pot are the main entertainment. He’d rather be elsewhere, but the pay is too good. Although there is another engineer on board, Pat is the one with the knack for jury-rigging fixes that keep the worn-out generators and radio working. During one inspection tour of the machinery, he comes across the body of an American rigger and, from the look of the wound, Pat knows the man has been murdered. He goes to get help, but when he returns, the victim has been moved and Pat thinks he saw someone leaving the room.

Danish Detective Inspector Erland Knudson and Assistant Detective Hedi Iverson arrive on board the barge to investigate. Knudson orders the barge to head for Denmark, and then retires to his cabin to drink. The only female aboard the barge, Hedi suspects there is more to the murder, but everyone, including Pat McFarlane, is not telling all they know.

On his rounds Pat discovers a delivery being made in the middle of the night. That’s unusual, but even more so are the four armed men who also come aboard. His previous military training puts him on high alert. When Hedi comes upon him while he’s watching, he realizes he must keep her safe too. There is at least one, and probably more, traitors aboard, making it difficult to know whom he and Hedi can trust. If pirates with automatic weapons and a second murder aren’t dangerous enough, Mother Nature unleashes a force 12 storm with severe winds and waves at least sixty-five feet high.

Set during the 1980s, the majority of the story takes place in one of the world’s most dangerous and unpredictable seas. The well-drawn characters, many of whom are salty, hard-drinking men, draw you into the isolated world in which they live and work. Readers experience the gale-force winds, the rough seas, and the harrowing danger Pat and Hedi endure. Boschert vividly spins separate threads into an intricate web of spine-tingling, hair-raising adventure. This tale is so gripping it defies the reader’s ability to read for just a short time. If you dare open the cover of Force 12 in German Bight, be prepared to stay for the long haul. It is a journey as powerful as the perfect storm.

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