On one of her quasi-annual trading voyage to a nearby island, James Balfour's wife Kate is caught with goods issued as a trap by the troops of Jamaica governor William Jagger, who needs to cover up that the man he executed as Blackbeard was merely a Teach lookalike. When she doesn't return, the Commodore realizes she'll be tortured to betray Santa Compana's whereabouts and orders it evacuated. Charlie Rider hates being left behind to make sure Teach's agoraphobic companion Selima, who refuses to leave, doesn't fall into British hands, but instead of striking tells her his bitter story, gets stabbed and makes love with her. Lowe risks joining uninvited Blackbeard's fast rescue ship, which is already too late to prevent Kate being captured but engages in a battle of trickery with Jagger's superior war ship, determined to return her to James if the pirate island isn't located yet.
—KGF Vissers