** A WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH **** AN INSTANT TIMES BESTSELLER **** A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR **** SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER AWARD **** LONGLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR **''A TRULY GRIPPING READ'' - GUARDIAN''FABULOUS, A DELIGHT'' - S.G. MACLEAN''A FINE ADVENTURE REMINISCENT OF PATRICK O''BRIAN'' - SUNDAY TIMESThis is the secret report of Laurence Jago. Unwilling spy. Reluctant sailor. Accidental detective. New Year 1795, and Laurence Jago is aboard the Tankerville mail ship, en route to Philadelphia. Laurence is travelling undercover, supposedly as a journalist''s assistant. But his real mission is to protect a civil servant, en route to Congress with a vital treaty t