Take, Burn or Destroy Hardcover - 2013

Praise for TAKE, BURN OR DESTROY

“[Russell is] incredibly skilled at crafting these seafaring adventures. Hayden makes for a rich character whose internal turmoil lends credence to his role as master and commander, while his crew is as varied and interesting as any of Patrick O’Brien’s lot.  Another vivid adventure with a tumultuous historical backdrop—not to be missed by fans of pirates and naval strategy or by history buffs.”—Kirkus

Praise for the Charles Hayden novels by S. Thomas Russell:

"Russell's encyclopedic command of nautical lore, joined to his rare ability to spin a ripping yarn, places the reader right in the middle of the action, of which there is plenty.  He loves this stuff, and he makes us love it, but does us the courtesy never to oversimplify, never to gloss over the flaws of the officers, the seamen, the politicians, and their navy.  Out of that ruthlessly clear-eyed vision, he creates characters and situations that stay in the reader's memory even as memories of broadsides and cutlass duels fade."--Neal Stephenson, New York Times-bestselling author of Anathem and The Baroque Cycle

"Fans of Patrick O'Brian's works and other novels in the naval adventure genre will enjoy [Under Enemy Colors] . . . A fast-paced and eventful narrative . . . The novel benefits from thorough research and a mastery of the technical details of sailing in the 1790s."--Library Journal

"A colorful account of duty and honor, punctuated by the cannonade of naval warfare."--Kirkus

"Russell's first-rate debut features taut plotting, liberal action, and . . . a complex, sympathetic hero."--Publishers Weekly

"[Under Enemy Colors] grips the audience with its insightful look at war at sea.  Charles is a fantastic protagonist who keeps the exciting story line together . . . Historical readers will cherish this strong naval saga with vivid sea battles, strong characterizations, and a deep sense of time and place."--Midwest Book Review

"Vivid and evocative, especially about what Mr. Russell knows best, the sea and sailing."--The Wall Street Journal

"Late 18th-century naval warfare and the threat of mutiny take center stage in this seagoing thriller reminiscent of Patrick O'Brian."--The Sacramento Bee