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Secrets of the Fearless
At 12 years old, John Barr is cruelly separated from his father and pressganged into the Navy. Now a powder monkey onboard the mighty HMS Fearless, John has his first taste of bloody sea battle and soon learns that the ship hides many secrets.
His new knowledge thrusts John into a shadowy world of naval espionage, right to the centre of a covert operation. Accompanied only by fellow shipmate, Kit, he must go ashore into hostile territory and outwit a nest of French spies. But when disaster strikes, the friends find themselves abandoned behind enemy lines...
His new knowledge thrusts John into a shadowy world of naval espionage, right to the centre of a covert operation. Accompanied only by fellow shipmate, Kit, he must go ashore into hostile territory and outwit a nest of French spies. But when disaster strikes, the friends find themselves abandoned behind enemy lines...
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Laird
214 books196 followersLaird was born in New Zealand in 1943, the fourth of five children. Her father was a ship's surgeon; both he and Laird's mother were Scottish. In 1945, Laird and her family returned to Britain and she grew up in South London, where she was educated at Croydon High School.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 16, 2022
Set during the Napoleonic War, when twelve-year-old John Barr and his father are falsely accused of murder they are forced to run for their lives through the streets of Edinburgh. At Leith harbour they are pressed into the Navy and posted to different ships. John is sent to join HMS Fearless where a chance discovery thrusts him and his shipmate Kit into the shadowy world of secrets, spies and adventure.
Now I should point out that I'm at least 40 years past the true target audience for this book but a friend who knows I'm a sucker for naval yarns sent it to me saying that I should give it a try. I wasn't disappointed. It's a quick read with a plot that rattles along at a decent pace and whilst it requires a bit of a leap of imagination it is at least credible; John and Kit's characters are reasonably developed; the historical details are interesting without being too detailed as are the on-ship elements. So, whilst this book probably won't live that long in the memory it did provide me with a decent piece of escapism, that I can imagine younger readers enjoying.
Now I should point out that I'm at least 40 years past the true target audience for this book but a friend who knows I'm a sucker for naval yarns sent it to me saying that I should give it a try. I wasn't disappointed. It's a quick read with a plot that rattles along at a decent pace and whilst it requires a bit of a leap of imagination it is at least credible; John and Kit's characters are reasonably developed; the historical details are interesting without being too detailed as are the on-ship elements. So, whilst this book probably won't live that long in the memory it did provide me with a decent piece of escapism, that I can imagine younger readers enjoying.
January 29, 2010
Elizabeth Laird is a most gifted writer, and I would recommend any book by her. When I get the time I will review some more. Her book is superb on several levels. This story is about young John Barr who is pressed into the Navy during the Napoleonic wars, after he and his father have been defrauded of all their Edinburgh property. The crooked lawyers responsible for this are also involved in spying for France. John, together with his shipmate Kit, embark on a series of breathtaking adventures to bring them to justice.. Extraordinary coincidences and conveniently overheard conversations abound, but the book’s believability and readability somehow never falters. Laird’s powerful imagination makes the smells, sounds and sensations of life aboard seem amazingly real, almost like watching a film, and every character is clearly and sharply delineated. It’s wonderful to discover a piece of really masterly storytelling like this.
August 14, 2012
A fantastic book, a page turner, a fight sleep and get to the last chapter book. I'd never read anything of Elizabeth Laird's before and now I can't wait to read some more.
Twelve year old John Barr and his father lose their Edinburgh house to swindlers, are accused of murder and press ganged into the Navy while Britain is at war with Napoleon. They are sent to different ships and John finds himself aboard the Fearless. The descriptions of life at sea are stunning: the fetid, crowded quarters, the sound of the creaking boards, the terror of John's first climb into the masts. Elizabeth Laird totally convinces you of every nautical term and sailor slang, in such a way that you feel you know what she's talking about. The plot has plenty of twists and turns, danger and tension and when John sojourns on shore for a while, like him, you feel the visceral longing to return to the ocean waves.
If you've never read this book and love a rip roaring adventure, read it now.
Twelve year old John Barr and his father lose their Edinburgh house to swindlers, are accused of murder and press ganged into the Navy while Britain is at war with Napoleon. They are sent to different ships and John finds himself aboard the Fearless. The descriptions of life at sea are stunning: the fetid, crowded quarters, the sound of the creaking boards, the terror of John's first climb into the masts. Elizabeth Laird totally convinces you of every nautical term and sailor slang, in such a way that you feel you know what she's talking about. The plot has plenty of twists and turns, danger and tension and when John sojourns on shore for a while, like him, you feel the visceral longing to return to the ocean waves.
If you've never read this book and love a rip roaring adventure, read it now.
September 16, 2014
Although presented in 6 parts, for me there were two. The first half of the book was terrific. A great opening chapter and then the story unfolded apace and, as I know from my own maritime research, the descriptions of life on board warships of the era were pretty accurate and convincing. My expectations grew but I felt of all the directions the story could have gone, it seemed to lose its way (for me). A shame because this could have been up there among my favourites.
February 13, 2012
A good, light read - well-researched with authentic and clear writing. In some places it's a pleasure to read but it's cringe-worthy in others, and at times predictable, but it would be an excellent read for younger teenagers who like adventure, sailing, spies, history and/or a dash of romance.
December 7, 2020
Fast passed, kept me on the end of my seat
December 11, 2021
Okay so I read this book as a CHILD and again when I was 18 but I'm in a nostalgy spiral and trying to remember all the books I read and loved as a child. This? one of them. I don't care what you say. It's so good.
July 9, 2017
I thought that this book was a fantastic example of a historical fiction novel. It is evidently well researched and all of that research was well incorporated. I literally couldn't put the book down, and had to keep reading until I finished. Each chapter left me wanting to know what happened next, and the tempo built with each passing page. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or any other genre for that matter, because it incorporates so many different aspects to create a truely outstanding novel.
February 25, 2023
I read Secrets of the Fearless under a hot sun on the beach in Egypt. Did I mention this is an adventure book about pirates??? My sand and sea sun-bed really did morph into the world Elizabeth Laird created.
I can't express just how much I loved this book. The characters were complex and realistic. There were twists and turns in every chapter, and its a story about pirates, plots, sacrifices and bravery. What's not to love?
I can't express just how much I loved this book. The characters were complex and realistic. There were twists and turns in every chapter, and its a story about pirates, plots, sacrifices and bravery. What's not to love?
August 5, 2011
Young John Barr is forced into the British navy just after he and his father are cheated out of their Scottish home and unjustly accused of a murder in the street. John becomes a powder monkey and through a peculiar set of circumstances he and a shipmate are recruited to be spies for the British against the Napoleonic armies.
September 26, 2008
Napoleoni wars, action, intruge and spying what more can a 14 year old boy do? read to find out!
March 27, 2011
i loved this book, its full of adventures the twists and knots never end!!!
this author knows how to write so well, i wanna read more of her books!
this author knows how to write so well, i wanna read more of her books!
July 5, 2012
Fun! Quite the adventure!
November 9, 2012
Amazing adventure set on the high seas during the Napoleonic wars.
August 6, 2016
Extremely shocked that Kit turns out to be a french girl...
But why was she to be betrothed to her cousin at only 13 years of age?
But why was she to be betrothed to her cousin at only 13 years of age?
March 29, 2014
Loved it though I was disappointed when I found out it wasn't actually about faeries :( and the start was a bit confusing but overall great!!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews