Though merely the 12th in a series that eventually became 20 books, this may be the most satisfying of the lot. Aubrey and Maturin are up to their old tricks. After a success in the Azores, they go by separate means to the Baltic, where Maturin, attempting to find Diana to make things right, is essentially rescued by Aubrey. There's more after this one, but it doesn't get any better.  (ATL20, $14.95)