Pirate Code

Helen Hollick



(Discovered Authors Diamond)

ISBN: 1-905108-176

Pirate Code, the second voyage of Captain Jesamiah Acorne

~ Synopsis ~

Ex pirate, Captain Jesamiah Acorne, is in trouble. Big trouble. All he wants is to marry his girl, Tiola Oldstagh, and live contentedly aboard his ship, Sea Witch. But her husband refuses to grant a divorce unless Jesamiah agrees to retrieve some barrels of indigo and smuggle them out of the Spanish-held Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The Governor of Nassau wants Jesamiah to go there too, to help incite a rebellion, and Captain Henry Jennings wants him to find a lost spy. To cap it all, Commodore Vernon of the Royal Navy wants to expand his fleet and craves the Sea Witch for himself.

As Jesamiah's hopes for a quiet life tumble about him, the onset of war with Spain scuppers everyone's plans. Hispaniola is governed by a tyrant who has promised to hang, draw and quarter Jesamiah if ever he sets foot there again, while the lovely widow, Señora Francesca Escudero, would prefer to seduce him.

What is so important about these sixteen barrels and ninety seven kegs of indigo? Why is everyone being so secretive? And just who is the mysterious woman in grey, who doesn't mind the rain and seems to be watching Jesamiah?

Intrigue, fights, betrayals and romantic passion follow Captain Acorne like a ship's wake - not the ingredients for a quiet life; and not Jesamiah's idea of the rules of the Pirate Code!

Pirate Code contains all the traditional ingredients of a good adult, pirate novel - fights, rum, wenching, intrigue, storms at sea and men being tossed overboard. It has adventure, romance and heroism, all intermingled with a touch of fantasy. A dashing rogue of a pirate captain, a white witch and Helen Hollick's master ability at story-telling - what better ingredients for a wonderful read!

Praise for  Pirate Code

"In keeping with the themes found in the first book (Sea Witch), Helen Hollick has continued the sweeping saga of that sexy scoundrel Captain Acorne. True to the roots of an Adult Pirate Novel, she continues the adventures of the cast she first created. It's fascinating to watch Jes grow more into understanding of his own life. Secrets from his past, come hauntingly to the present, as information leads in one direction and then another. It will be interesting to see how the third book in the series continues on and how many of the characters he has passed in this book will show up again in the future. A wonderful romp, and great fun all around. I am eager to pass this latest treasure on to my dearest of friends."

"Helen Hollick has done it again, capturing hearts and minds in her creative writing style. I couldn't put Pirate Code down it is truly an adventurous and exciting read. I am really looking forward to more books from the Sea Witch Series from Ms Hollick."

"Having fallen head over heels for that charming rogue of a pirate captain in the first novel of the series, Sea Witch, I was delighted to get another fix of Jesamiah Acorne in the next book, Pirate Code! As always Helen Hollick brings her considerable skills as one of Britain's top historical writers to her pirate tales for an adult audience. The same wonderful characterisation, vivid description and rattling good story lines keeps the reader turning the pages and yearning for yet more adventures. Roll on book three, and four and......"

"There are no other good pirate books out there and there are no more pirate movies being made and I need my fix!"