Dear Bernard, I’ve just finished “A Crowning Mercy” – what a cracking yarn! I have to admit that, mysoginist as I am (but please don’t tell my wife that I am or she’ll hit me!), I had at first been put off by the book having a female hero (your first?), and that it was co-authored. I’m glad that I was wrong on both counts, and even broke in to my re-reading of the Patrick O’Brian “Master & Commander” series to read it. My only quibble with “A Crowning Mercy” was that I was looking forward to reading your historical notes at the end of the book – and there were none! Thanks again for so many hours of reading pleasure, Warm regards, David Coates, Hong Kong.