It's autumn 1643, and the war is grinding England to dust. Captain Stryker rides out of Oxford with new orders: travel to the storm-lashed Scilly Isles and recover a treasure vital to the Royalist cause. But the islands offer no sanctuary. A formidable Parliamentarian agent, Tainton, has got there first. He's feared by ally and enemy alike, and driven by a hatred for Stryker that runs deeper than politics.The quest for the gold pulls Stryker and his men south, across savage seas, through enemy territory, and into the walls of Basing House, where one of the great sieges of the Civil War is about to begin. And where Stryker will face the most dangerous reckoning of his life...A gritty and authentic historical civil war adventure, perfect for fans of David Gilman, Giles Kristian and Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe.Reviewers love Michael Arnold!‘A thumping good read... every last part of this book oozes authenticity.’ Ben Kane ‘I loved Sharpe. I am going to be equally at home with Captain Stryker.’ Historical Novels Review ‘You can smell the gunpowder and hear the cannon fire’ Robyn Young ‘A dark-hued romp, livid with the scents, sounds and colours of a country on the brink of implosion.’ Daily Express 'Rollicking action and proper history... a cracking series.' Anthony Riches ‘This is masterfully done.’ The TimesAnd so do readers:‘One of the best historical authors out there today. 10/10’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A revelation – I was gripped from the very first page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of the best pieces of war writing I have read from any era.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would put Michael Arnold up there with with Cornwell, Kane and Scarrow’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The battle scenes will leave you blood-spattered.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐