The Barbed Crown: An Ethan Gage Adventure

Set in 1804, Dietrich’s exuberant sixth Ethan Gage adventure finds Gage back in Europe, after his frantic search for Montezuma’s treasure in 2012’s The Emerald Storm, spying for the British on his sometime friend and usual nemesis, Napoleon Bonaparte, on the eve of the French leader’s coronation. The plot twists one way then another, in wildly uproarious fashion, as Gage—assisted by his Greek-Egyptian wife, Astiza—works his way out of several tight spots and does his best to foil Napoleon’s ambitions to invade England. As usual, the action builds to a dramatic climax, this one set during the Battle of Trafalgar, which Gage observes from the crow’s nest of a French warship. Along the way, readers will be treated to Dietrich’s fascinating touches of historical detail and Gage’s infectious personality, one part humble global servant and two parts self-directed opportunist who simply has to be where the action is. Agent: Andrew Stuart, the Stuart Agency. (May)