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Tom Chatto #2
Second Mate
Tom Chatto is back...
And the turn of the twentieth century – the era of the great steamships – signals a new dawn.
Now with his Master’s Certificate in hand, Tom Chatto has set his sights on becoming second officer on the Omega, a British liner bound for Valparaiso, Chile.
But among the 800 passengers on board is an unwelcome face from Tom’s past. Someone who is determined to exact revenge at any cost…
Adding to Tom’s troubles are the attempts of wealthy widow Grace Handley to seduce him. But with Tom already in love with the daughter of a wealthy Argentinian cattle rancher, will he be able to resist Grace Handley’s charms?
Things come to a head when, around the Cape Horn, the Omega is blocked by a foundering windjammer in a blistering storm.
With the lives of everyone on board in danger, Tom must use every skill and ounce of courage he has to overcome his biggest challenge yet and save the lives of all on board.
A thrilling, seafaring adventure, Second Mate is the follow-up to Philip McCutchan’s Apprentice to the Sea, featuring plucky protagonist, Tom Chatto.
Praise for The Tom Chatto series
‘Another fine sea story from a master’ – Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Philip McCutchan
‘A first rate adventure series.’ — Publishers Weekly
‘A nautical war buff's feast...[McCutchan] keeps an authoritative hand on the wheel and his descriptions of battles at sea ring with laconic truth.’ — The New York Times Book Review
‘His character conflicts are well organised.’ — Daily Telegraph
Philip McCutchan grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest of his, resulting in several fiction books about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years. He served throughout WWII in a variety of ships, including the cruiser Vindictive, the ocean boarding vessel Largs, and the escort carrier Ravager, ending the war as a lieutenant, RNVR. He is also the author of Drums Along the Khyber.
And the turn of the twentieth century – the era of the great steamships – signals a new dawn.
Now with his Master’s Certificate in hand, Tom Chatto has set his sights on becoming second officer on the Omega, a British liner bound for Valparaiso, Chile.
But among the 800 passengers on board is an unwelcome face from Tom’s past. Someone who is determined to exact revenge at any cost…
Adding to Tom’s troubles are the attempts of wealthy widow Grace Handley to seduce him. But with Tom already in love with the daughter of a wealthy Argentinian cattle rancher, will he be able to resist Grace Handley’s charms?
Things come to a head when, around the Cape Horn, the Omega is blocked by a foundering windjammer in a blistering storm.
With the lives of everyone on board in danger, Tom must use every skill and ounce of courage he has to overcome his biggest challenge yet and save the lives of all on board.
A thrilling, seafaring adventure, Second Mate is the follow-up to Philip McCutchan’s Apprentice to the Sea, featuring plucky protagonist, Tom Chatto.
Praise for The Tom Chatto series
‘Another fine sea story from a master’ – Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Philip McCutchan
‘A first rate adventure series.’ — Publishers Weekly
‘A nautical war buff's feast...[McCutchan] keeps an authoritative hand on the wheel and his descriptions of battles at sea ring with laconic truth.’ — The New York Times Book Review
‘His character conflicts are well organised.’ — Daily Telegraph
Philip McCutchan grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest of his, resulting in several fiction books about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years. He served throughout WWII in a variety of ships, including the cruiser Vindictive, the ocean boarding vessel Largs, and the escort carrier Ravager, ending the war as a lieutenant, RNVR. He is also the author of Drums Along the Khyber.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1996
About the author
Philip McCutchan
143 books31 followersaka Robert Conington Galway, Duncan MacNeil
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2018
pretty good seafaring tale
By Charles van Buren on August 29, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
I enjoyed this second volume of Tom Chatto's seafaring adventures more than I did the first, APPRENTICE TO THE SEA. In that first volume a large part of the story focussed on murder. The second volume focuses on Chatto, his fellow officers and crew as they are pitted against the sea, the weather and mechanical problems with the ship. The ship's engines break down often and at some of the most inconvenient and dangerous times. The passengers are even more troublesome, if not as dangerous, as the engines. This volume addresses adult relationships between men and women more than did the first volume making it, to my mind, less suitable for YA readers, though there is nothing explicit and the prose continues to be largely on that level.
The major problems with the novel mirror those of the first volume. The publisher or author continues to call this series a naval adventure which is misleading as the story deals with the merchant service and a passenger liner in the early 1900's. Just as in the first volume there is not a real conclusion. The book just stops. It did resolve some of the unfinished business from volume one. Perhaps volume three will do the same for this novel.
SPOILERS: A thing which bothered me was that a good bit of the effort and sacrifice was for nothing. That trend begins when the liner's captain stops to rescue a lifeboat at some risk to ship and crew. Once they get the lifeboat aboard the liner, only two of the fifteen men in the boat are alive. Not quite useless effort and risk. Two of fifteen is certainly better than none but this is merely a harbinger of what is to come. The liner proceeds on its journey to round Cape Horn but the sailing ship from which the lifeboat came is sighted. The two survivors of that boat had reported that the captain, his steward and two apprentices had remained aboard the wreck of the sailing ship. With considerable effort and major risk Chatto and a small party go aboard the wreck and attach a towline. Despite heroic efforts and the loss of one rescuer, none of the crew left aboard the sailing ship survive nor does the ship itself. This takes up a significant part of the book but results in basically nothing. No rescued survivors. No salvage. The only plus was the removal of the potentially dangerous wreck from the shipping lanes. Life is sometimes like that but I prefer a bit rosier outcome in light fiction.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
By Charles van Buren on August 29, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
I enjoyed this second volume of Tom Chatto's seafaring adventures more than I did the first, APPRENTICE TO THE SEA. In that first volume a large part of the story focussed on murder. The second volume focuses on Chatto, his fellow officers and crew as they are pitted against the sea, the weather and mechanical problems with the ship. The ship's engines break down often and at some of the most inconvenient and dangerous times. The passengers are even more troublesome, if not as dangerous, as the engines. This volume addresses adult relationships between men and women more than did the first volume making it, to my mind, less suitable for YA readers, though there is nothing explicit and the prose continues to be largely on that level.
The major problems with the novel mirror those of the first volume. The publisher or author continues to call this series a naval adventure which is misleading as the story deals with the merchant service and a passenger liner in the early 1900's. Just as in the first volume there is not a real conclusion. The book just stops. It did resolve some of the unfinished business from volume one. Perhaps volume three will do the same for this novel.
SPOILERS: A thing which bothered me was that a good bit of the effort and sacrifice was for nothing. That trend begins when the liner's captain stops to rescue a lifeboat at some risk to ship and crew. Once they get the lifeboat aboard the liner, only two of the fifteen men in the boat are alive. Not quite useless effort and risk. Two of fifteen is certainly better than none but this is merely a harbinger of what is to come. The liner proceeds on its journey to round Cape Horn but the sailing ship from which the lifeboat came is sighted. The two survivors of that boat had reported that the captain, his steward and two apprentices had remained aboard the wreck of the sailing ship. With considerable effort and major risk Chatto and a small party go aboard the wreck and attach a towline. Despite heroic efforts and the loss of one rescuer, none of the crew left aboard the sailing ship survive nor does the ship itself. This takes up a significant part of the book but results in basically nothing. No rescued survivors. No salvage. The only plus was the removal of the potentially dangerous wreck from the shipping lanes. Life is sometimes like that but I prefer a bit rosier outcome in light fiction.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2019
Looking back at my review for the first book in this series, I see I was "taken aback" by the abruptness of the ending. Now I know why - this second book leads directly from the first, in terms of the character himself. Like the end of the first the beginning of the second covers some years in a page or two, leaving the reader with a mildly dissatisfied feeling. However, that all goes away as the tale unfolds. And what a tale! Really well written and clearly with a detailed knowledge (through research I presume) of turn-of-the-century steamships. Mr Chatto has matured somewhat, or perhaps simply gained experience of a considerable nature. The voyage is fraught with all manner of mishaps and adventures (I have to be careful not to spoil too much) that are more or less dealt with by Tom, his Captain, crew and passengers (the new wild card in steamship sailing). I read it in a couple of days and thoroughly enjoyed it all, except perhaps the summary-like beginning (now that I think of it, doing so would allow the author - sadly deceased years ago - to go back and "fill in" the story Hornblower-like at a later time). A really good book!
April 26, 2019
A wonderful book of high sea adventure, mishap and......
What can I say that the 5 STARS couldn’t? Absolutely nothing ! But let me say that this author continues to write at an exceptional level and is a true story teller where everything is interwoven and exciting. Such a knowledge of the Sailing ships of yore combined with incredible knowledge of those early ships of steam, this book has authenticity, realism, and much much more ! 😊
What can I say that the 5 STARS couldn’t? Absolutely nothing ! But let me say that this author continues to write at an exceptional level and is a true story teller where everything is interwoven and exciting. Such a knowledge of the Sailing ships of yore combined with incredible knowledge of those early ships of steam, this book has authenticity, realism, and much much more ! 😊
December 14, 2021
Having read the first book (An Apprentice to the Sea) in this seafaring trilogy, I had no hesitation in buying the second. Once again it proved to be an enjoyable, fast moving, easy read although character development, apart from the main figure, was limited. My only other criticism is that the book seems to have been rushed at the end with a number of loose ends remaining somewhat loose when I had finished reading! That however will not stop me from buying the next one.
October 4, 2020
Original material
The difficult trip around the Horn has been written many times. The transition from the death of sail and the triumph of steam was well written in this book. Seems to be entirely original and the intensity of wind, wave, and cold caused me to add blankets to my night time reading. Good book.
The difficult trip around the Horn has been written many times. The transition from the death of sail and the triumph of steam was well written in this book. Seems to be entirely original and the intensity of wind, wave, and cold caused me to add blankets to my night time reading. Good book.
March 18, 2017
A captivating seafaring adventure, fraught with peril, where a captain's decisions affect many lives. Tom Chatto, the second mate, has made the move from sailing ships to steamer ships and is on board a journey from England to Valparaiso, Chile. Multiple problems plague the ship and the crew is faced with engine trouble, fire, influenza, and bad weather. Chatto has his hands full doing the right thing - he's definitely hero material. I found the descriptions of the officer's duties and of the ship very interesting.
While Chatto was the most interesting character, I also liked the way others were developed. Patience was an unsavory character, but we saw another side of him under crisis. I liked Captain Fulton, with a moral character that guided him toward the best decisions.
I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys adventure novels, especially sea adventures.
While Chatto was the most interesting character, I also liked the way others were developed. Patience was an unsavory character, but we saw another side of him under crisis. I liked Captain Fulton, with a moral character that guided him toward the best decisions.
I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys adventure novels, especially sea adventures.
June 11, 2017
Great story...
...makes me want to follow Tom through his career. Following the merchant marine makes a nice change from royal navy escapades.
...makes me want to follow Tom through his career. Following the merchant marine makes a nice change from royal navy escapades.
January 3, 2018
A good read
Following young Chatto this far has been a pleasure, although some of the naval terms need to be understood and explained fully.
Following young Chatto this far has been a pleasure, although some of the naval terms need to be understood and explained fully.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews