Turtle Cay, set in 1722, tells the story of eighteen year old Charlie who has been apprenticed to Ted, the local blacksmith/carpenter for the last ten years. One fine September morning he takes the stage wagon from his home village, Starbeck, to Portsmouth on what should be a simple half-day errand. Circumstances lead Charlie to the Blue Boar tavern on the notorious Spice Island waterfront. He finds a coin in the bottom of his empty tankard. Too late, he realises the significance of this apparent acceptance of the King's shilling - is attacked and knocked unconscious by a ruthless pressgang - and awakes on a Royal Navy frigate bound for Africa and the Caribbean. So begins a hazardous journey lasting three long years, during which he experiences many challenging and perilous encounters before finally returning home to Starbeck...but what will await him there?