Under False Colours

by Richard Woodman Book 10 in the Nathaniel Drinkwater series.

First published 1991

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4.2(74)

Captain Nathaniel Drinkwater is sent into the Baltic under a concealed identity while Britain’s relationship with Russia remains uncertain. His mission requires him to move through neutral and hostile waters, interpret unreliable intelligence and protect a ship whose true purpose cannot be disclosed even to everyone aboard.

Deception complicates every command decision as Drinkwater confronts agents, shifting alliances and the risk that exposure will turn a covert operation into a diplomatic disaster. The novel places espionage inside the practical constraints of sailing warfare, where secrecy is only useful if the ship survives long enough to act on it.