The Truelove

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Tim Pigott-Smith

The 15th installment in the Aubrey/Maturin series.

This splendid installment in Patrick O'Brian's widely acclaimed series of Aubrey/Maturin novels is in equal parts mystery, adventure, and psychological drama. A British whaler has been captured by an ambitious chief in the Friendly Isles (Tonga) at French instigation, and Captain Aubrey, R.N., is dispatched with the Surprise to restore order. But stowed away in the cabletier is an escaped female convict. To the officers, Clarissa Harvill is an object of awkward courtliness and dangerous jealousies. Aubrey himself is won over and indeed strongly attracted to this woman who will not speak of her past. But only Aubrey's friend, Dr. Stephen Maturin, can fathom Clarissa's secrets: her crime, her personality, and a clue identifying a hightly placed English spy in the pay of Napoleon's intelligence service.

In a thrilling finale, Patrick O'Brian delivers all the excitement his many readers expect: Aubrey and the crew of the Surprise impose a brutal pax Britannica on the islanders in a pitched battle against a band of headhunting cannibals©1992 Patrick O'Brian; (P)2001 Random House, Inc.; Random House Audio, a Division of Random House, Inc.

Should not be sold as is

I purchased this because it was the only version available in Canada as of July, 2009. Not only is the narrator absolutely terrible at pronouncing nautical words but it is quite a severe abridgment. Cut scenes include the entire last battle for which the book has received excellent reviews in print! Until Audible gets its act together and offers book 15 to 21 in Canada I will vote with my dollar and abstain from Audiobooks! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!