Treason's Harbour

All of Patrick O'Brian's strengths are on parade in this novel of action and intrigue, set partly in Malta, partly in the treacherous, pirate-infested waters of the Red Sea. While Captain Aubrey worries about repairs to his ship, Stephen Maturin assumes the center stage; for the dockyards and salons of Malta are alive with Napolean's agents, and the admirality's intelligence network is compromised. Marturin's cunning is the sole bulwark against sabatage of Aubrey's daring mission.