The Corsair Conundrum and the Pirates of Algiers
Ambushed at sea while on a vital diplomatic mission, Thomas Pennywhistle vows war against the Barbary pirates who specialize in enslaving Europeans. Joining with Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, England's greatest living sailor, he becomes part of the British fleet dispatched to mete out justice to the cruel Dey Omar of Algiers, ruler of the one outlaw state that refuses to make peace. Entrusted with a daring rescue mission, he faces fierce janissaries, deadly sandstorms, and a traitor in his midst. He becomes a key player during the bombardment of Algiers, carrying out a dangerous raid behind the lines as the fleet's guns blast the Dey's city and ships. His diplomatic skills are challenged when he is tasked with liberating slaves and conducting them to safety. Along the way, he will encounter harem girls, a dwarf jester, Congreve rockets, and a fugitive with a story that almost gets him killed. The pirates of Algiers represent a deadly anachronism that will not go quietly into the night, and it will take all of Pennywhistle's intelligence, ingenuity, and resourcefulness to speed them on their way.