Straits of Anián: The Eighteenth Carlisle & Holbrooke Naval Adventure

Embark on a thrilling maritime quest in the eighteenth installment of the Carlisle & Holbrooke series. This novel finds hero George Holbrooke navigating a world seemingly at peace, yet still fraught with danger as he commands the frigate Orion to the far reaches of the globe in search of the legendary Straits of Anián—a passage that has eluded explorers since the time of Sir Francis Drake.

The wealth of the world has historically flowed through narrow straits like Gibraltar and Magellan. Now, the focus shifts to the elusive Straits of Anián, reputed to be an ice-free shortcut connecting the Pacific Ocean to Hudson Bay, offering a route to the riches of the Orient that bypasses Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch strongholds.

George Holbrooke is surprised to receive command of a ship during peacetime, only to be astonished by orders sending him on this monumental search. While this is the first novel in the series where the hero experiences a world without war, conflict remains imminent when a British frigate dares to sail in Spain’s own ocean.

• Series Position: Book 18 in the Carlisle and Holbrooke Naval Adventures series.
• Setting: A search for the mythical, ice-free passage known as the Straits of Anián.
• Protagonist: George Holbrooke, commanding the frigate Orion.
• Unique Element: The first novel in the series set primarily in a world without war, though danger persists.

• Author: Chris Durbin
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 327 pages
• Publication Date: May 6, 2026
• Dimensions: 127 x 203mm (Approx. 5 x 8 inches)
• Weight: 327g
• ISBN 13: 979-8195791193

This title ranks highly among adventure and fiction readers, placing #3,799 in Adventure Stories & Action and #1,588 in War Story Fiction.

Dive into this epic naval adventure as Holbrooke chases a legend across the high seas in search of the fabled Straits of Anián.