A Deadly Silver Sea

I have become a big fan of Bob Morris and his Zach Chasteen mysteries. They are all fun and intriguing reads that capture the sense of place they are set. In A Deadly Silver Sea, Morris moves the action from one particular island to a cruise ship sailing the Caribbean Sea, and once again, Morris has captured the atmosphere perfectly. His descriptions are spot on and the "technical workings" of the ship are believable. As always, the characters are hilarious and well-rounded. Both Zach and Morris are growing into this character and his actions. Through the series, Zach has become a hero with just enough shade to be interesting. I couldn't put this book down and stayed up through the wee hours of the morning to finish just one more chapter. I finished it last night and am looking forward to starting Baja Florida, book five, tonight.

Wisecracking Zack Chasteen and his new wife travel editor Barbara Pickering decide to take a cruise on the Royal Star before their baby's born. The Royal Star is supposedly the greenest ship ever built, even having its own water treatment plant on board. But the boat is greener than Zack or any of the other passengers could have imagined, however it's a green of a different kind, the green of laundered money, beaucoup de bucks, stashed below. But it seems somebody knows about all that loot, because some of the crew take over the ship, separating the men from the women. Separated from Zack, Barbara is about to go into labor, meanwhile Zack organizes some of the passenger to fight back and winds up going overboard, fortunately he sees a boat off in the distance. Can he swim to it? Will they help? Can he save his wife? An awful lot of "Can hes" and there's more in this Swashbuckling thriller that may be a little over the top, but it's a awful lot of fun.

I'm a recent convert to Morris and have enjoyed his previous works but this book takes it to a whole new level, demonstrating growth by the writer. The humor and wit is still there but the storyline has grown more complex and the action much better paced. I'm hoping he becomes a more prolific writer and doesn't start turning out publisher mandated tripe.

Two things stand out for me about Bob Morris' A DEADLY SILVER SEA: What a hoot it is to go along for this adventure with Zack Chasteen, and how interesting and impeccably researched the details in this book are. Infused with both South Florida and Carribean culture, this story yanks us out of our regular lives and takes us on an adventure vacation in what for most will be unfamiliar but intriguing surroundings. The author crafts excellent tension with a group of villains willing to rob, terrorize and kill for reasons both venal and, to one villain's mind, sacrosanct. The character Glenroy Patterson, a low-ranking crew member most passengers would never notice, makes a nuanced villain. Morris terrifies us by taking us inside his madness, letting us see how he not only feels justified but compelled to kill thousands of people. It's interesting that we see some of those targets as innocents, while we may share Glenroy's contempt for others who are unsympathetic, shallow, self-centered rich folks. Kurt Vonnegut, in the introduction to a collection of his short stories, gave this piece of advice for writing compelling fiction: "Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of." Morris follows this directive and stretches his hero, Zack Chasteen, nearly past his limits. As Chasteen handles these challenges, we get to know him as an outlaw who's a profoundly good guy. And we share dozens of grim laughs at Chasteen's cynical musings and snappy dialogue along the way. Morris taught me so many fascinating things in the course of this story, most of which I'll omit because they might spoil the read for you. Suffice to say, whether Morris has you on a cruise liner or a sailboat or strapped between two floating computer boxes, you'll learn about each device, how it works and what can go wrong with it in satisfying detail. Go ahead; hop on board. The captain knows how to sail this ship. Bryan Gilmer, author, Felonious Jazz

Bob Morris' latest gem, A Deadly Silver Sea, requires the reader to bring some elements to the adventure: Required items: Willing suspension of disbelief as is required of all decent pieces of literature. Everything that happens to Zack Chasteen is possible. The likelihood that it could happen as it unfolds in Silver Sea is virtually zero. However, the narrative grabs the reader and will not let go. I read the book in one sitting this afternoon. It helped to know that Bob has already begun work on the fifth in this series. After all, Zack has to survive Silver Sea if there is to be a fifth adventure. A profound and disturbing acceptance of the reality that there are countless other psychopaths such as those who engineered the World Trade Center Bombing, the USS Cole explosion and the horror of 9/11. Accepting this reality means that we must support all efforts of vigilance against these terrorists. A celebration of the glory of the genuine love and commitment of Zack and Barbara, and the wonder of their nearly born child. Suggested, but not required: Tongue planted firmly in cheek at the ridiculous occurences caused by the greed, arrogance and stupidity of the human animal. A modicum of literacy to appreciate how Morris establishes the delicate psychological balance of the relationship between a gang of terrorists, including the chronicle of the disintegration of the alliance. Appreciation of the care with which Morris has constructed the story. Since I read the book in one sitting, I marveled at the careful structure. Understanding of the amazing capabilities of twenty first century technology and respect for Bob Morris' meticulous research into subjects ranging from shipbuilding to bomb construction to the mysteries of voudan culture. Whatever one brings to the reading of this novel, one is impressed by the thorough preparation and the consistent telling of the story. My review is intended to help the reader decide whether or not this story may merit his interest. One gets no book reports from me. One does get a recommendation: It is a terrific read.