Invasion

Stockwin's by-the-numbers 10th Kydd sea adventure opens as commander Thomas Kydd reclaims the helm of his sloop-of-war, Teazer , bringing along old friend and confidant Nicholas Renzi. Kydd, a former “rakish corsair,” is assigned to join in the coastal defenses of Britain against the invasion by Napoleon's forces, but after engaging in some heavy sea action, Kydd chafes under his new post as “nursemaid” to the Sea Fencibles, the ragtag local defenses. Meanwhile, scholarly former spy Renzi is dispatched to Paris to secretly meet with American inventor Robert Fulton, who has designed and built a submarine for Napoleon. His mission, to bribe Fulton into switching his allegiances, steals the show as Kydd mucks around with the maritime amateurs. Stockwin doesn't stray from his successful formula in this outing; series readers should be pleased. (Oct.)