The book opens at the end of the 17th century with teenage Tom Courtney up to mischief, sneaking into the chapel of his father's great estate with his twin brother Guy to meet with a serving girl for sex, making his half brother Dorian look out. Dorian sounds the alarm as their older brother, the brutal William, approaches and they all flee. Tom and Dorian are caught by William and Dorian is only saved from being strangled by his father Hal, a powerful man who has built up his massive estate through his exploits at sea fighting the Dutch in South Africa and bringing trade goods back from India, Africa and the Far East.
Hal has been tasked by the East India Company to rid them of the pirate Jangiri who has been preying on their ships as they sail from England to India and Africa. The strangling of Dorian makes it clear to him he cannot leave any of his three younger sons in the care of his eldest, and he takes them with him.
What follows is an epic swashbuckling adventure, Smith's plot is fast and compelling and his characters beautifully executed and convincing, but Monsoon is much more than that. Every aspect of 17th century England, Africa and Arabia are cinematically rendered in exquisite detail, customs, dress, armaments, shipping, language and landscape. A great read.
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