Golden Lion: A Novel of Heroes in a Time of War    by Wilbur Smith & Giles Kristian Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2016 (2016) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch Wilbur Smith resumes his very popular Courtney family series set in East Africa in the 17th century with this latest swashbuckling, action packed adventure. Set in the three decades between Birds of Prey and Monsoon, two earlier novels that chart Henry 'Hal' Courtney's progress from a young seaman under his father's tutelage to an accomplish mariner, Golden Lion finds Hal the captain of his own ship. Having seen his father executed during the Anglo-Dutch naval conflict, Hal has spent his young life, thus far, avenging his father's death. Now with his own family to provide for, the young man captains his ship, The Golden Bough, through the still precarious waters that stretch from the slave markets of Zanzibar to pirate infested waters on the Indian Ocean. Of more immediate concern for Hal, though, is saving his wife and unborn child, who have been kidnapped by an old nemeses. The stakes have never been higher but the intrepid adventurer is up to the challenge and will do whatever it takes to save his loved ones. Smith explains this (the first novel he has worked with a co-author) was the answer to the pressure to revisit his family of characters which was so great that he couldn't keep up with the demand; hence, a little assistance was deemed necessary. Smith notes, 'Giles Kristian (co-author) writes with imagination and has helped me bring some of my beloved characters back to life.' Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews