The Wicked Trade

This is the second book in the Sea Officer William Bentley series, but I am going at it backwards. I first read and thoroughly enjoyed #3 The Spithead Nymph, then #1 A Fine Boy for Killing, which wasn't quite as satisfying. I almost gave up on The Wicked Trade 100 pages into it, but I'm glad I kept with it. It is extremely well written, has a complicated, well-crafted plot, and presents a detailed and realistic portrait of life at the time. But there were too many dark turns -terrible murders, torture, kidnapping, the selling and transplanting of teeth, highwaymen, brothels, the press gangs, smuggling, and the corruption of officials, officers and "gentlemen." I hope life really wasn't all so bleak back then, but I fear it was. Definitely not "escape fiction." More a sociological study of the times than an adventure story - perhaps Hornblower as Sinclair Lewis would have written it. Don't start the series with this one!

Read my review of "A Fine Boy for Killing," as the comments all apply to this work as well. This is the second novel in the William Bentley naval fiction series, though on an entirely different tack. As in the first novel of the series, Jan Needle has presented us with a dark, brooding, (sometimes revolting) mystery. The setting is mid-18th century England. The land and sea settings are drafted with excellent visual imagery. The protagonist is still William Bentley, albeit now a somewhat older (but not too worldly) midshipman. His uncle, a sadistic cynical Captain lurks in the wings, occasionally sticking his oar in to terrify and ensnare William in his disreputable schemes. Were (and are) people really like this? Unfortunately, yes, they are our fellow man. "We have met the enemy, and they is us...." Definitely not in the style of the lightweight fantasy "Hornblower" series. As intellectual as Patrick O'Brien, but without the niceguys and heroics. If you like historical novels which require some gray matter, and which contain a strong element of psychological drama, this is your sea biscuit. Like O'Brien and David Donachie, a great find for those who enjoy a cut above the average, "grapple and board" type of naval novel. Prepare to be horrified at times, like when you read about the sale of Cicely's entire mouthful of teeth! If you like the genre, you will like this book. Full of the socio-cultural backdrop of 18th century England. Not too much dialect, so one can comprehend the characters' language. Highly readable, though one has to pay close attention--not a skim read. Don't bring it to the beach--this is for bedtime after your spouse has fallen asleep. Of course the first book in every series tends to win the toss-up, but this second book is so unlike the first it does not disappoint. Good writer, interesting subjects. Jan Needle will eventually be as collectable as Woodman, Lambdin, Pope or Donachie, (probably not the tremendously popular god of sea novels Patrick O'Brien though), once he becomes more widely known. I bought the second book in the series when I got half-way through his first. Since Donachie is not as prolific as we would hope, and Pope and O'Brien are now deceased, Needle is all the more welcome. Hope he doesn't return to children's books and screenplays!

This is the continuing story of William Bentley and his ongoing process of personal disillusion and embitterment.Set in the early 19th century, The Wicked Trade is about smuggling, press gangs, and really nasty amateur dentistry. It's an outstanding book, though not a perfect one, and is not for the weak of stomach.I characterized Needle's writing in his previous book, A Fine Boy for Killing, as a blunt instrument. Here, he's refined it to a stiletto. Dialogue in particular shines, even evoking Shakespeare in its rhythmic qualities. His action scenes are still a little static and there's too much exposition -- one annoying habit he's picked up is to add an expositional paragraph before an action sequence, wrecking the suspense by telling the reader what's going to happen.For the most part, characters are strong, vivid and well drawn. I particularly appreciate Needle's ability to create female characters who, while believable for the period, are individuals.The plot, while exciting, doesn't have the gripping quality of the first book in the series. I think the author tries to do too much. Perhaps focusing on either the press or the smuggling, with the dental horrors as a subplot, would have been stronger. More detail on either of those would have been appreciated. As it is, there are fascinating themes here, but I felt the lack of a dramatic climax, and there are times when the plot bogs down. Readers should be warned that some of the teeth scenes are beyond disgusting.The finale is ambiguous, leaving the door open for, I hope, a third installment.