Review Halfhyde at the Bight of Benin

"Beware, beware the Bight of Benin, for few come out though many go in"

I just finished the reading of the adventures of Saint Vincent Halfhyde. A Royal Navy officer novel by Philip McCutchan and the first one of a fifteen books serie. I look for it because I was a little bored of readings about nautical Napoleonic books so this gave me the opportunity to goes into the Queen Victoria era and look for steam and rivets ships.

Halfhyde is a half pay Lieutenant returned to sea duties due to his knowledge of the african waters and specifically the dangerous ones of the Guinea Gulf. The adage mentioned before who gave title to the book refers to an advice for the sailor about the dangers of the currents and shoals of this waters but specially because this place was full of slave tradery during many centuries. 

Halfhyde must obtain information about a new Zarist settlement and why the russians are interested in this remote place. The mission is full of dangers, the landing in a difficult coast under strong russian surveillance and specially the presence of the Prince Gorsinski, the zarist commander. Gorsinski have to settle accounts with Halfhyde that some years before escaped from him after a mission in Sevastopol.

The book is full of action,  covert infitration, a mutiny, fort assaults, boarding and naval engagements... A very light reading to obtain inspiration for new colonial and pulp adventures. So it's the perfect ocassion for go to Bob Murch webpage, Pulp Figures, and buy the Count Casimir Trans-Siberian Renegades and Copplestone Casting British Officers blisters to recreate this amazing confrontation. 

But be alerted, "Beware, beware the Bight of Benin..."