"The Telegraph" called "The Yellow Admiral" "an interim novel" with the best bits in the relations between Aubrey and his wife. Prior novels in this series with portions of the story on land are better when "animated by Maturin's intelligence work." "The Telegraph" finds the topic of protecting his local common from inclosure "by a scheming neighbour is pedestrian in comparison." Even Maturin's wife Diana seems flat in this novel. Aboard ship, the plot revives, "the death of a midshipman has the authentic O'Brian tang of shocking maritime violence mingled with tenderness."