Strickland and Fuller (the Wishbone Mysteries) join forces for Pirate Hunter, a historical series set at sea. In this debut adventure, the recently orphaned Davy Shea arrives in Jamaica in the summer of 1687 in search of his uncle. Within a few hours, he's swindled, beaten and robbed, and his uncle Dr. Patrick "Patch" Shea is less than delighted to see him. However, Patch soon takes Davy on as surgeon's apprentice, and the two eventually ship aboard the HMS Retribution. When his uncle is caught up in an attempted mutiny and sentenced to hang, however, Davy's world is rocked again. Worse, his uncle escapes and appears to turn pirate. But is he? After a series of deadly escapades, Davy learns it was all an elaborate ruse to trap the pirate Jack Steele, and the tale ends with the surety that Davy and his uncle will cross swords with the villain in the future. Larded with colorful characters and historical and nautical detail (including a look at life in the British navy), the story includes enough scrapes to keep the pot boiling. An abundance of clichés (e.g., Davy and his uncle, Irishmen both, sport red hair, tempers and dialogue that runs heavily to such expostulations as, "Faith, is there not a schoolmaster about?") slightly mar the fun, but if this rip-roaring adventure is any indication, it looks like smooth sailing ahead for an enjoyable new series. The next episode, The Guns of Tortuga, is scheduled to release next March. Ages 8-12. (Nov.)
