Readers who devoured The Wreckers (1998), Lawrence's first ripping yarn of adventure, mystery, and derring-do on the Cornish coast 200 years ago, will be eager to dig into this seafaring sequel. Now 16 years old, narrator John Spencer takes responsibility for bringing his father's ship, the Dragon from Kent to London with a cargo of wool. Dependent on the unscrupulous and perhaps mad captain appointed by his father, John is alarmed by hints of smuggling, warnings of evil, portents of death, all of which erupt in violence and murder as the journey nears its end. Along the way, John tries to sort out what to believe, whom to trust, and how to prove himself worthy of his father's belief in him. John makes a stalwart, sympathetic Everyman, surrounded by a cast of memorable and wildly colorful characters: the one-armed boatman who has a rude remark for every occasion; the blind woman who has waited 30 years for her seafaring husband's return; the sailor who fears drowning so much that he wears a jerkin sewn with layers and layers of corks; and the sailor's alter ego, a red-cloaked highwayman who has so many firearms in his belt, hands, and bandolier that he's said to bristle with pistols. A well-written period adventure, with the door left open for more to come. (Reviewed April 1, 1999)

Although discreet references to The Wreckers suggest a sequel, this continuation of John Spencer's adventures can stand alone as a corking good nautical tale. The pace never slackens, and there's enough gore and mayhem to satisfy devotees of the genre. But what places the book in the first rank of pirate-adventure yarns is the author's ability to create memorable characters.

In this companion to The Wreckers (1998), Lawrence provides more adventures on the high seas. When John Spencer's father buys the mysterious black schooner, the Dragon, the 16-year-old boy is excited until he learns that he must make the ship's maiden voyage without his father. Among the bad omens: Mr. Spencer survives a shooting, and later, the captain they've hired is killed. Mr. Spencer is convinced that their affairs are looking better when he hires the colorful Captain Crowe to assume command of the vessel. No sooner does the schooner sail out of harbor than Crowe changes course unexpectedly, claiming that he has new orders. Crowe, of course, is a pirate, as are the scalawags he's hired, and in no time, John is trapped with the scurrilous crew. When it seems that John will be fed to the fish by Crowe, he escapes and lives to see the cur hanged on his beloved Dragon. The storytelling is broad but the details are fine: Lawrence has packed his tale full of vivid descriptions that are swarming with historical detail, painting as honest a picture of piracy as readers are likely to encounter. (Fiction. 9-14)

Gr 5-9Another adventure from the author of The Wreckers (Delacorte, 1998), featuring the same sturdy hero, John Spencer. As the 19th century begins in England, the 16-year-old is an able assistant in his fathers business. He still loves the sea, and is thrilled to be selected as the firms representative on a voyage bringing goods to London aboard the Dragon. This seemingly mundane venture turns sinister almost immediately. A stranger warns the Spencers about the beautiful schooners past as a smugglers vessel and her reputation as a death ship. Suddenly violence and close calls beset merchant and son, and John finds himself at sea, isolated from communication with his father, and accompanied by a less-than-trustworthy captain and crew. Soon they sail into dangerous waters, literally and figuratively, and John needs all of his strength and wits to overcome deadly threats from powerful enemies, find answers to old mysteries, and bring the Dragon home safely. As in its companion novel, the books nonstop action, fast-paced plot, and picturesque characters make for a real page-turner.Starr E. Smith, Marymount University Library, Arlington, VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.