Blast that Tears the Skies, The Matthew Quinton Journals

Part of an “excellent series” of nautical sagas, a Royal Navy captain commands a challenging warship as England enters the Anglo-Dutch wars” (Publishers Weekly).

1665: plague stalks the streets of London, the country is at war, and conspiracies against King Charles II are rife. When given command of a vast and ancient Man-of-War, Captain Matthew Quinton finds himself thrust unexpectedly into the midst of the deadliest of these plots . . .

Grappling with scheming ministers and a rebellious crew, Quinton must sail his “cursed” ship against the might of the Dutch fleet. Embroiled in the epic Battle of Lowestoft, one of the greatest conflicts fought at sea, he must pull his crew together, and fight for his life.

But in a shattering conclusion, he must face a terrible family secret that will push him to the limits . . .

The Blast that Tears the Skies is the riveting third book in the Matthew Quinton Journals nautical adventures.

Praise for the writing of J. D. Davies:

“Hornblower, Aubrey and Quinton—a pantheon of the best adventures at sea!” —Conn Iggulden, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Conqueror and War of the Roses series

“A hero worth rooting for.” —Publishers Weekly

“Utterly impossible to put down . . . Finely-shaded characters, excellent plotting, gut-clenching action and immaculate attention to period detail . . . Superb.” —Angus Donald, author of The Outlaw Chronicles series

“Destined to be a classic of nautical adventure series.” —Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan and Fur, Fortune, and Empire

“A naval adventure that goes well beyond the usual outlines of the genre to paint a lively portrait of England in the 1600s.” —Kirkus Reviews