The Devil's Shilling

The year is 1691. Jack is an intellectually gifted sixteen-year-old with a natural talent for languages and a prodigious memory. Peter Bevan, his church's curate, agrees with Jack's father that he should pursue a career in the church.

Jack sets out to begin his new life in the church.

A detour on their journey to Exeter brings Jack and Peter into the path of Ahmet Yildirim, a Barbary Corsair, resulting in their capture and imprisonment.

Weeks go by with them held captive in the ship's belly, until, one day, short of crew, the captain puts Jack to work around the ship. Every day Jack has to endure hardship and physical abuse from the crew.

Stopping at a port in Spain for supplies, Jack is taken ashore as an interpreter and becomes aware of a rich prize sailing toward them. The ship is carrying the son and daughter of a French aristocrat and a fortune in gold.

They capture the ship and Jack is given the task of looking after these high-value prisoners. He and Sophie, the aristocrat's daughter, develop a friendship that, over many weeks, turns into love.

During the voyage back to Africa, Yildirim must defend his prizes from rival pirates and a mutiny among his own crew.

Jack becomes embroiled in the mutiny when Sophie is used as a shield and he attacks the mutineer holding her.

Who, if anyone, will come away with his life?