Strode Venturer

Hammond Innes in good form with exotic location and a book populated with interesting characters. Board room intrigues contrast with storms at sea and deserted islands. A great read and shows littel sign of being dated other than the subdued love interest

You could be forgiven for thinking that this is yet another formulaic adventure story in the style of Alastair Maclean, Jack Higgins, Desmond Bagley, et al. Surprisingly however, Mr Innes has crafted a gripping tale of family honour, double-cross, exploration, romance and a terrific boardroom climax. The story sweeps from the stock markets of London to the remote reaches of the South China Sea, from dusty lawyer's offices in Threadneedle Street to the reeking cabin of a disgraced ship's captain on a broken down hulk. Through it all, Mr Innes writes with flair and originality and the result is an adventure story with a much broader sweep than the usual fare. The characters are complex and finely drawn. The hero is not an infallible man; he has doubts and fears like all of us, and the villains are made villainous, not by their evil intentions but through their all too human frailties. Sad to see this book is out of print but second-hand copies should be easy to find.