China, 1841.

The British Empire is at war in the Far East, and HMS Repulse has been sent into the dangerous waters of the Pearl River as Britain fights to force open the ports of China.

For David Osborne, the campaign promises everything a young naval officer could desire: action, promotion, and glory. Steam-powered warships are transforming naval warfare, and Repulse stands at the cutting edge of this deadly new era.

As British forces advance towards Canton, the Royal Navy smashes through river defences, attacks fortified strongholds, and carries the war deep into enemy territory.

Yet beneath the confidence of British victory, something aboard Repulse is badly wrong.

Her captain remains distant and secretive, strange orders are given without explanation, and rumours begin to spread among the crew. As tensions rise and danger closes in from every side, David finds himself caught in a web of suspicion where loyalty can no longer be taken for granted.

Packed with naval action, atmospheric detail, and deadly intrigue, The Canton Betrayal is a gripping historical adventure set during the First Opium War and the dawn of steam-powered warfare at sea.

This work was previously published as Repulse Bay by Richard Nigel Stembridge.