This is the sequel to Black Drop, Leonora Nattrass’ 2021 debut novel which introduced us to the character of Laurence Jago. Most of the book is a supposed account of the main character to his former employer in London, but it doesn’t read all that much as a report more like regular prose with some report-like wordings here and there. Trapped on the ship with a strange assortment of travellers including two penniless French aristocrats, an Irish actress and a dancing bear, Laurence must hunt down both the lost treaty and the murderer, before he has a tragic 'accident' himself. For those that haven’t read “Black Drop” there’s a helpful cast of characters (which is always a help regardless) but this can easily be read as a stand-alone with the crux of the story being about an important document and it’s essential need to reach America. This time, Jago, a disgraced Foreign Office clerk, is working undercover for Lord Grenville, the current Foreign Secretary.

Leonora Nattrass studied eighteenth-century literature and politics, and spent ten years lecturing in English and publishing works on William Cobbett. And so begins a captivating locked-room mystery that introduces the reader to an interesting cast of characters from French fugitives to an American plantation owner to an Irish dancer with her performing bear cub (Bruin the bear is such an endearing character in the book!To all intents and purposes travelling as assistant to the exuberant journalist William Philpott, Jago's real mission is to aid the civil servant carrying a vital treaty – one that will prevent the Americans from joining with the French in the war against Britain – to Congress.

Not only was this a very exciting opening but it also cleverly gave the reader an introduction to life on the sea and the dangers people faced.

Following the events in ‘Black Drop’, Jago is travelling on the mail ship Tankerville en route to Philadelphia. Her historical note served to place the novel in context as well as providing fascinating details of the Jay Treaty, which was so vital to the plot and what is known of the Tankerville’s 1794-75 voyage.

This sense of imminent threat is a recurring motif throughout Blue Water and mirrors that which Laurence Jago faces on board, although admittedly he’s far less alert to the risk posed to him than the Captain and crew of the Tankerville and his attempts to outrun it are certainly less skilful than theirs. It’s available from 20th October as an audiobook, ebook and in hardback with the paperback due out next year.The style of writing took a little while to get used to but I think helped to add to the story as it helped draw the reader into the period more.