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The Coward of Grimsby Kindle Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 71 ratings

In the final years of the Victorian era, a French fisherman and an English aristocrat team up on a harrowing adventure that brings forth an epic battle of greed, survival, and redemption.

In the port city of Grimsby, England, a down on his luck French fisherman named Georges DuFort meets Cornelius Braddock, a widowed aristocrat searching for a reason to live. Georges tells him the tale of a long-lost ship loaded with Spanish gold that disappeared off the African coast while on the run from the conquering armies of Napoleon Bonaparte. After Georges shares the treasure's secret location, the two men form a quick bond and begin to plan for the voyage of a lifetime. Things then take a turn for the worse when Georges mysteriously disappears on the eve of the journey and forces Braddock to embark on the treasure hunt without him.

After many months and thought to be lost at sea, Braddock washes up on the shores of France half-dead with a tragic tale of bloodlust and mutiny. Since he returns home without the ship or its crew, he is thrown into prison and blamed for their disappearance. Unable to convince the authorities of what really happened, Braddock is labeled a coward and a criminal for saving only himself and abandoning his crew to the harsh fate of the ocean.

Now, only Georges may hold the key to what truly happened on that fateful voyage and if the stories of the Spanish treasure were true after all. Will he find redemption for Braddock, or will the truth remain buried at sea? Find out in this gripping tale of a long-lost treasure and the lives it forever changed.

"Eric Daniel Ryan succeeds in
The Coward of Grimsby...taking readers off-guard by disguising an emotional story of loss and new beginnings within an epic, adventurous tale." –The Independent Book Review

★★★★ A stunning and tightly told work of historical fiction...a swashbuckling, time-jumping story that you won't want to put down til it's over...this novelette twists readers' expectations through a cleverly deconstructed plot that achieves a delightful level of suspense." –SPR

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A riveting tale that celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit." -Kirkus Reviews

"Eric Daniel Ryan succeeds in
The Coward of Grimsby...taking readers off-guard by disguising an emotional story of loss and new beginnings within an epic, adventurous tale." -The Independent Book Review

"A stunning and tightly told work of historical fiction...a swashbuckling, time-jumping story that you won't want to put down til it's over...this novelette twists readers' expectations through a cleverly deconstructed plot that achieves a delightful level of suspense." -SPR

About the Author

Eric Daniel Ryan and his family live north of Boston in the shadows of Old Salem Village, the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, and Lovecraft's Arkham Asylum. After studying screenwriting and film production at the School of Visual Arts, he served three years in the US Army and is a combat veteran of the war in Iraq. In 2005 Eric became a Boston Firefighter and, in 2017, opened a business selling and collecting rare, original movie posters. Each night, after tucking the little ones into bed, he settles down in his two-hundred-year-old home to finish his first novel. His short story, "The Orchid," was previously published in the anthology "Portraits of the Pen" by City Limits Publishing. He is also the winner of the Gold Medal for Short Story Fiction and Silver Medal for Historical Fiction at the 2022 eLit Book Awards for his novella "The Coward of Grimsby."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09JLJQVCX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (November 2, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 2, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1510 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 37 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 71 ratings

About the author

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Eric Daniel Ryan
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Eric Daniel Ryan is an award-winning author who lives with his family just north of Boston in the shadows of Old Salem Village, the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, and Lovecraft’s Arkham Asylum. After studying screenwriting and film production at the School of Visual Arts, he served three years in the US Army and is a combat veteran of the war in Iraq. In 2005 Eric became a Boston Firefighter and, in 2017, opened a business selling and collecting rare, original movie posters called, Vintage Film Art. Each night, after tucking the little ones into bed, he settles down in his two-hundred-year-old home to finish his first novel.

He is the recipient of the 2022 eLit Book Awards Gold Medal for Short Story Fiction and Silver Medal for Historical Fiction. He was a Finalist for the 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards - Novella and a Silver Medal Winner in the Short Story/Novella category at the 2022 Readers’ Favorites International Book Awards.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
71 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story captivating and interesting. They praise the writing quality as descriptive, well-written, and easy to read. Readers appreciate the character development and setting descriptions. The book is described as a short, well-crafted read that feels like a full novel.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

11 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the captivating and detailed storyline. They find the book an immersive read that feels like a full novel. The writing style and storytelling create an engaging plot that is thrilling and adventurous. Overall, customers describe the book as a great read.

"The seas are a deep and mysterious place that holds the secrets of sunken ships and pirates of all kinds...." Read more

"...It has been a long time since I read such a marvelous short story, and this is why I give it five stars and I recommend it to both teenage and adult..." Read more

"Author Eric Daniel Ryan tells the adventurous old tale of a voyage at sea in his novelette ‘The Coward of Grimsby.’..." Read more

"...There are endless adventures throughout that will make you keep turning the pages. And the ending is so satisfying and wraps everything so nicely...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the writing descriptive and well-crafted. The language is used effectively to immerse the reader in the time and place. It's a fun, short read with an easy flow.

"The Coward of Grimsby by Eric Daniel Ryan is a very short but very well written novella about treasure and tragedy...." Read more

"...His writing is very descriptive, and I felt like I was right in the action. Overall, it’s a great novelette and I would recommend it!" Read more

"...I was surprised at the quality of the writing and how immersive the reading experience was in The Coward of Grimsby...." Read more

"...The writing is very descriptive—I felt cold when out at sea, and warm within the safety of a bakery—and it is an interesting study of wealth, worth,..." Read more

4 customers mention "Page length"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's short length. They find the story engaging and well-written in a limited number of pages.

"...However, not everything goes as planned. It’s a fun, short and easy read...." Read more

"What a fascinating and compelling read in such a short amount of pages!..." Read more

"...Will he be able to convince others if his innocence? Short, yet full of adventure, this was certainly a good book to read...." Read more

"A short and well-written story..." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed with room for interpretation. They appreciate the excellent descriptions of settings and characters that contribute to a thrilling plot.

"...The characters are developed well, but there is enough open for interpretation that you can let your imagination run wild...." Read more

"...The characters are great, multi-layered, and with great interactions...." Read more

"...The description of settings and characters is excellent and it contributes to form a plot that is thrilling and fascinating...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2021
    The Coward of Grimsby by Eric Daniel Ryan is a very short but very well written novella about treasure and tragedy. Cornelius Braddock has recently lost his wife and is searching for meaning to his life. Georges DuFort comes along with a tale of a Spanish ship that was filled with gold that sank, leaving the gold ready to be claimed by anyone who finds it. Braddock and DuFort agree to go after the gold together, but on the day of departure DuFort is nowhere to be found. Months later, Braddock is found washed ashore with all his crew and ship lost to the sea. He is branded a coward and a murderer. But his old partner DuFort is back and may prove to be his salvation.
    It is amazing how much of a story the author was able to pack into such a short read. The story moves at an incredible pace and by the time you really get into what is happening, the story has reached its conclusion. I think this could have been fleshed out more, but I also really like just how concise this is. The characters are developed well, but there is enough open for interpretation that you can let your imagination run wild. Fans of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy this read and the questions that it raises to the readers.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021
    The seas are a deep and mysterious place that holds the secrets of sunken ships and pirates of all kinds. The Coward of Grimsby is a short read but packed with adventure, disappointments, and hope. Braddock has nothing left, so taking on a guarded quest was the only stimulating thing he had felt since his wife died. George holds the map of a sunken ship, and teaming up with Braddock was a marvel. Can anything good come out of a trip of disaster?

    Eric Daniel Ryan pulls his readers into the lives of George and Braddock as the bizarre trip they intend to embark on. But nothing turns out as planned. When they put their guard down they are both put at a disadvantage, George at the beginning of the trip and Braddock at the end. A fascinating short read that felt like a full novel.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2021
    “The Coward of Grimsby” is a wonderful short story, great for reading in one sitting. Written by Eric Daniel Ryan, the story is set in England during the Victorian Era. Survival - no matter at what cost- is the main idea that makes the characters of the story -a French fisherman and an English aristocrat- to keep on.

    With plenty of mysteries to be solved, the story kept me at the edge of my seat and I could feel my heart beating with passion and curiosity.

    It has been a long time since I read such a marvelous short story, and this is why I give it five stars and I recommend it to both teenage and adult readers.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2021
    Author Eric Daniel Ryan tells the adventurous old tale of a voyage at sea in his novelette ‘The Coward of Grimsby.’ Beginning in the seaside port city of Grimsby, England in the 1800’s, this book follows the self-proclaimed coward Cornelius Braddock and French fisherman Georges Dufort and their plans to journey out to sea. However, not everything goes as planned. It’s a fun, short and easy read. In just 37 pages, Eric Daniel Ryan managed to craft a captivating and detailed storyline that I thoroughly enjoyed. His writing is very descriptive, and I felt like I was right in the action. Overall, it’s a great novelette and I would recommend it!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2022
    What a fascinating and compelling read in such a short amount of pages! I was surprised at the quality of the writing and how immersive the reading experience was in The Coward of Grimsby. The characters are great, multi-layered, and with great interactions. There are endless adventures throughout that will make you keep turning the pages. And the ending is so satisfying and wraps everything so nicely. A really great read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021
    Author Eric Daniel Ryan has crafted a wonderful tale of mystery, suspense and adventure. The Coward of Grimsby introduces Georges DuFort and Cornelius Braddock, two unlikely partners who join forces in the search for a long-lost ship loaded with Spanish gold. In order to find this treasure, they have to travel to the coast of Africa but things won’t be easy. Georges mysteriously disappears leaving the aristocrat to embark on his own. Months will go by until Braddock returns to France describing a terrible story of shipwrecks, greed, blood and death. He is deemed a coward and a criminal and now only Georges holds the key to find the truth about this gripping adventure.
    The description of settings and characters is excellent and it contributes to form a plot that is thrilling and fascinating. I really enjoyed this book and I strongly recommend it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2021
    Aristocrat Braddock gets sucked in by the Tale of the sunken and forgotten Spanish gold, told to him by fisherman DuFont. Striking out to find this ship and gold becomes Braddock’s newest mission. Countless tragedies befall him and the crew along the way, but only he makes it back. Will he be able to convince others if his innocence?
    Short, yet full of adventure, this was certainly a good book to read. The story was compelling and interesting and not anything I have read before. The pacing was quick and the plot sound. Great conclusion in the end.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021
    The Coward of Grimsby by Eric Daniel Ryan is a wonderfully written tale of adventure—featuring the so-called coward of Grimsby, Cornelius Braddock. From sailor Georges DuFort, widower Braddock learns DuFort’s family tale of treasure lost at sea. Together the two plan a search, and find a crew, but twist of fate has Braddock braving the journey—and later the blame and title of coward—by himself.
    The end is bittersweet, but overall, the story of a man with nothing to live for living more than most ever do was great. The writing is very descriptive—I felt cold when out at sea, and warm within the safety of a bakery—and it is an interesting study of wealth, worth, and greed.
    One person found this helpful
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