Company Of Spears: (The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 8): A gripping and heart-stopping military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson that will keep you on the edge of your seat

The eighth novel in the acclaimed and bestselling series finds Hervey on his way to South Africa where he is preparing to form a new body of cavalry, the Cape Mounted Rifles. All looks set fair for Major Matthew Hervey: news of a handsome legacy should allow him to purchase command of his beloved regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons. He is resolved to marry, and rather to his surprise, the object of his affections the widow of the late Sir Ivo Lankester has readily consented. But he has reckoned without the opportunism of a fellow officer with ready cash to hand; and before too long, he is on the lookout for a new posting. However, Hervey has always been well-served by old and loyal friends, and Eyre Somervile comes to his aid with the means of promotion: there is need of a man to help reorganize the local forces at the Cape Colony, and in particular to form a new body of horse. At the Cape, Hervey is at once thrown into frontier skirmishes with the Xhosa and Bushmen, but it is Eyre Somerviles instruction to range deep across the frontier, into the territory of the Zulus, that is his greatest test. Accompanied by the charming, cultured, but dissipated Edward Fairbrother, a black captain from the disbanded Royal African Corps and bastard son of a Jamaican planter, he makes contact with the legendary King Shaka, and thereafter warns Somervile of the danger that the expanding Zulu nation poses to the Cape Colony. The climax of the novel is the battle of Umtata River (August 1828), in which Hervey has to fight as he has never fought before, and in so doing saves the life of the nephew of one of the Duke of Wellingtons closest friends. From the Hardcover edition. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson brings us another adrenalin-fuelled, absorbing adventure featuring Matthew Hervey. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, you will love this! "Captain Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an author's pen" — THE TIMES "A damn fine, rip-roaring read" — LITERARY REVIEW "The heir to Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester" — OBSERVER "Outstanding storytelling!" — ***** Reader review "Fab read" — ***** Reader review ********************************************************* 1827: Matthew Hervey is on the look-out for a new posting. He soon finds one in the Cape Colonies , where there is need of a man to re-organise the local forces, and in particular to form a new company of horse. Accompanied by a captain from the disbanded Royal African Corps , Hervey heads out into the great South African plains and towards the territory of the Zulu and their legendary leader, King Shaka . But it is not till he nears the Umtata River that his fiercest battle really begins. For the Zulus fight like no army he has encountered before. As Hervey and his troops are plunged into battle, death is only a heartbeat away... Company of Spears is the eighth book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in Man of War . Have you read his previous adventures A Close Run Thing, The Nizam's Daughters , A Regimental Affair, A Call to Arms, The Sabre's Edge , Rumours of War and An Act of Courage ? It's 1827, and Matthew Hervey is on the look out for a new posting. He soon finds one in the Cape Colonies, where there is need of a man to re-organise the local forces, and to form a new company of horse. Hervey heads out into the great South African plains and towards the territory of the Zulu and their legendary leader, King Shaka. It is 1827, and Matthew Hervey is on the look out for a new posting. He soon finds one in the Cape Colonies, where there is need of a man to re-organise the local forces, and in particular to form a new company of horse. As Hervey and his greenhorn troops are plunged into a battle, death is only a heartbeat away.