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MWSA Review
Author Thomas Wing has given us an exciting story in his book In Harm's Way. Set during the Revolutionary War, Jonas Hawke, our protagonist, has his commercial ship carrying legal cargo seized by the British Royal Navy. Although not originally disloyal to the king and unwilling to join the rebellion, the British seizure of his ship, brutal treatment of his men, and the British Navy’s subsequent firing cannons into the town where he lives pushes him to join the rebellion. His only skill is that of a ship's captain, so Hawke soon finds himself a privateer in the open seas. Despite the lack of any combat experience, his skill as a ship's captain soon enables him to become effective in capturing British ships and seizing both the ships and their cargo. The British take notice and send warships to safeguard British trade routes.
This is a good start for a soon-to-be series. Anyone with an interest in Revolutionary War sea battles should like this book. Those who enjoy a good adventure with a little suspense should find this book appealing, too.
Review by Bob Doerr (May 2025)
Author's Synopsis
The man who fights for his family is far more dangerous than the one who fights for his king.
Colonial sea captain Jonas Hawke returns home to Norfolk after a year-long voyage only to have his ship and its valuable cargo seized by the British Royal Navy. As the royal governor further tightens the noose on trade, Jonas is thrust into the chaos of a growing rebellion. Desperate to support his family, he sets out to find work. When he is denied a commission with the newly formed Continental Navy, he outfits his own vessel as a private ship-of-war and voyages to the Caribbean in search of enemy merchant ships he can capture and friends he can trust.
But dangers multiply on the unforgiving sea. The Royal Navy reacts mercilessly to the threat posed by privateers like Jonas. How will Jonas fare now that he has boldly defied the king of Britain to preserve his family? And what will happen to his loved ones while he is away, engulfed in a war to oppose tyranny in the name of freedom?
Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 324
Word Count: 95000