THE BALTIC PRIZE, by Julian Stockwyn

Number 19 in the Thomas Kydd series. While this could stand alone, it makes little sense to skip the first 18 seafaring novels of this great series. If you liked Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Mathurin series, you should love these as well.
The impetuous, ambitious but supremely talented Kydd, now Captain Sir Kydd of the Tyger, is sent to be part of the Baltic Fleet, and never a more thankless job has he ever had. Shackled by competing monarchies, Admiral Saumarez finds his hands tied by one recalcitrant British Army officer who feuds with the flighty, autocratic Swedish king.
The fleet is hopelessly trapped in a Swedish harbor and cannot depart to challenge the Russian navy without the King's leave, which he will not give until he gets his way. The fact that Russia has declared war and their fleet will leave St. Petersburg any day does not seem to excite the monarch.
Kydd is sent on individual sorties to gather information and, in typical fashion, winds up destroying a Danish fleet of small boats intent on revenge. This feat does not endear him to many of his fellow captains, some of whom feel Kydd is a grandstanding lightweight.
But further feats are coming as Kydd is dispatched on another mission. From page to page, this book fairly bristles with action of one sort or another. Stockwyn is a sailor and for many years was in the Royal Australian Navy (among many other things). The authenticity of both naval life and maneuvers, and historical events and situations, is enthrealling for a reder like me who adores history.
Read the set in order. From the firsgt to the present book you'll ahve a great time. The series is a 5, right up there with Patrick O'Brien.