Feb 19, 2007 – In this entertaining sequel to No Quarter, the debut installment of Campbell's Matty Graves series of historical novels, the intrepid nautical hero, newly promoted to acting lieutenant aboard the navy schooner Rattle-Snake, finds himself out of his depth on terra firma. It's 1826, and Commodore Cyrus Gaswell, a family friend and patron to the 17-year-old Graves, dispatches the lieutenant to San Domingo to investigate a rumored plot by Toussaint L'Ouverture to expand his successful slave rebellion to the United States. Once on shore, Graves hooks up with a colorful cast of shady characters: Alonzo Connor, "a gentleman of color" who claims to represent the U.S. War Department; Connor's black secretary, George Franklin; the Parson, a shadowy figure identified with "the White Hand," a racist society committed to removing all nonwhites from America; and Juge, a soldier in Toussaint's army who serves as Graves's guide. None are whom they claim, and they're all soon caught up in a deadly local struggle the War of Knives. With only a bare-bones historical foundation, Campbell constructs an elaborate swashbuckling tale that will appeal especially to fans of high historical adventure.

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