Sharpe's Prey

1807. Sharpe is broke: the family of the late Lady Grace has seized his money. After taking revenge on Jem Hocking, who tormented him as a child, he's assigned to guard Captain John Lavisser on a secret mission to Copenhagen. The plan is to bribe the Danish crown prince into handing the fleet to Britain before Napoleon gets it. In the city, Sharpe contacts the spy Ole Skovgaard and falls for his daughter, Astrid. Lavisser is secretly working for the French, betrays the mission and tortures Skovgaard for the names of British agents. During the bombardment of Copenhagen, Sharpe guards the ships from fire, rescues Skovgaard and kills Lavisser. The fleet is taken intact, and Astrid ends things with him.

1. CameoA big Irishman

   Patrick Harper, who becomes central to the series, makes a brief first appearance here in story order.

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2. ReferenceSettling a childhood score

   Before leaving for Denmark, Sharpe takes revenge on Jem Hocking, who tormented him as a boy at the Wapping foundling home.

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