Dynamite read!

Lords of the Nile: An epic Napoleonic adventure of invasion and espionage (William John Hazzard #2) by Jonathan Spencer         

*****

William Hazzard continues his quest to search for Admiral Nelson and Napoleon's fleet, for Sarah-Louise Chapel--the woman he's always loved, and the mysterious missing Admiralty agent. All becomes enmeshed in Napoleon Bonaparte's plans for Egypt and the restoration of the Suez Canal. Bonaparte is searching for an entrée into the theatre of India. Only it seems no-one in power in England, the diplomatic channels  or the relevant nations around the Mediterranean, including Malta, understand or comprehends Napoleon's long game. Their lack of credence becomes their downfall.

This next part of the Hazzard saga begins in June 1978 and sweeps from Malta to Egypt with Citizen Jules-Yves Derrien, known as Citizen Croquemort –the Mortician, Bonaparte's spymaster, still dogging his steps. Or is Hazzard dogging Derriens? Derrien is totally obsessed by his role and as he sees it, importance to the French Republic. He sees all as accountable to him as an officer of the Republic, even Bonaparte. He's a depraved heartless slave to his role in a repressed sexual way. When he meets any person he can transfer that obsession to its definitely unpleasant. Both Hazzard and Sarah become objects of that focus.

Hazzard has moments of being more a Lawrence of Arabia type figure as Spencer deftly weaves his role with his fellow arms men, the Unknowns Extraordinary and those who would listen to him…but then I guess that's what Hazzard does--even as he loathes the role and the contemptuous behaviour of the Admiralty. His orders were ‘to engage the enemy independently by any means possible.’ That is where Hazzard's intuitive brilliance comes to the fore.

Sarah continues to need Hazzard's help and is a primary part of the action that swallows him up with necessity and rage. He displays an ever resourceful creative mind, supported by a band of men who cleave to him out of an earned loyalty, an understanding that he cares for them and would never ask of them anything he wouldn't do himself, and dare I say it, a brotherhood of love forged in battle.

Once again I was swept away with the action and couldn't stop to sleep until I'd finished, transfixed as I was by Hazzards exploits and Spencer's superb writing--a blend of fact and fiction that slayed me with its raw power.

A Canelo ARC via NetGalley