The Sapphire Sea

I found this book in a used-book store, and I'm glad I did. This is a great adventure, and I got thoroughly lost in it. Buy a copy with the airplane flying through the jungle--a great cover and a great story. The hero buys a world-class emerald from a native on Zanzibar, and soon everyone and his dog tries to steal it, including corrupt officials. So his life isn't worth a dime, and he must escape. I won't tell anymore of the plot. Just read the book. You'll like it. This novel has probably slipped past many lovers of adventure. Don't miss this overlooked classic. Here are two other highly recommendationed African Adventures: "Cry Wolf," by Wilbur Smith: Cry Wolf And, "Sands of Kalahari," by William Mulvihill The Sands of Kalahari

First off this book was not quite what I expected. The packaging of the novel and the blurbs on the inside front jacket lead me to believe that this was an action-adventure novel set around jewel smuggling. What this novel really is, is an adventure set in the wilderness of Madagascar and one persons quest on an adventure of self-realization and discovery. The book centers around the exploits of Lonny Cushman whose family is heavily into the jewel business especially sapphires. Lonny has recently undergone a traumatic divorce and because of his family's money and his ex-wife's celebrity has immersed himself in the wilds of Madagascar in an attempt to re-start his life. One day while riding his motorcycle through the farmlands, he happens upon a native who has just discovered a sapphire of immense beauty, size and clarity. As his family is in the jewelery business, Lonny immidiatley recognizes the value of this precious gem-and the lengths other people will go to in order to separtate him from it. Lonny purchases the sapphire from the farmer and is instantly pursued by every other power broker on the island who covets this precious sapphire. The rest of the novel deals with Lonny's attempts to leave the island and find his way back to civilization-which is incredibly more difficult than you would think. Along the way Lonny undergoes many difficult physical and mental obstacles which lead him to reassess what is really important in his life. Told from the author's obvious first-hand experience of the area and the the buying and selling of precious jems, this book is a rare, first hand look into the South African provinces and the industry surrounding the buying and selling of rare gems. John B.Robinson has written a book from his heart, and his knowledge and experience show through. Although not truly a thriller this is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

The intelligent thriller genre book requires three elements in addition to being thrilling and suspenseful: 1. It should be rational and believable. 2. You should learn something from it. 3. It should have a chase, a quest. This book meets the requirements and in addition has a good sex scene. Lonny Cushman is a gemologist who finds the perfect sapphire. He is in the backwater island of Madagascar. Everybody wants to take the sapphire from him. He is a lonely and troubled guy. His wealthy father has abandoned him. He in turn has abandoned his wife and daughter. He is an interesting but flawed protagonist. Things heat up, as those who want the sapphire will kill him to get it. He has to get off the island to sell the sapphire and reunite with his child. After a harrowing escape and the sale of the sapphire for 100 million dollars, his wishes are fulfilled. We learn a lot from this book about many things that are unknown to most people-gems, the history, geography and customs of the natives of Madagascar, different languages. It is much like a travelogue in this regard. The writing is poetic and descriptive. There's a good sex scene. It has a great start that bogs somewhat in the middle. The chase is exciting, if somewhat unbelievable. The ending is satisfying. Lonny is a nice guy, able to communicate with the common people. The author spent a year in Africa and Madagascar paid for by the Institute of Current World Affairs (wish I could get a gig like that). He is also a professional gemologist so you know that you are getting top-notch information. All in all, I liked it and you will too. It's a good first novel. I hope that institute sends him on another venture.

Mr. Robinson has hit the ground running hard with an intriguing principal character who is riding with the throttle wide open for all 250+ pages. Its the sort of book that draws you in almost immediately and keeps you turning the pages with dedication. In the end the story left me satisfied, ready for a break and very curious to discover where Lonny's next adventure will take him. The characters are all well-crafted and set with gifted prose in the lurid scene of Madagascar's political intrigue and corruption and social disorder and chaos.Most telling of this author's readiness for primetime is his ability to develop a character so nuanced that you feel as if you are reading about a person you have known for years. Throughout the well-timed and tightly woven mayhem and adventure, the elements driving the author's not-yet-ready-for-redemption main character, Lonny, are greater than his mere survival. He has the yearning of a great hero who is driven by desires that are common to us all: resolution of his issues with a parent, reconnection with an estranged daughter and contrition for the errors of his ways. The author brings this character to the edge several times in the story and keeps the reader vacillating, never quite sure what unlikely fate best suits Lonny.All in all a real treat that will appeal to adventure lovers, readers who enjoy political intrigue, travel readers and just anybody who likes a good book with many of the hasllmarks of a great writer. I definitely plan to keep a sharp lookout for the next offering Mr. Robinson crafts for us. There may good stuff to look forward to in the theater as well because it won't be long before someone translates this vibrant tale to the big screen. This book reminded me of the following other fine titles: The Quiet American, A Burnt-Out Case, Travels with My Aunt, Fletch, Carioca Fletch, The Firm, The Crossing, Blood Meridian

Witty, lyrical and exotic, with just the right touch of ribaldness, John Robinson's The Sapphire Sea will take you on a ride you won't soon forget. Robinson is a compelling stylist who never forgets his obligations as a storyteller -- his gifts of place and character are very fine -- which makes him a wonderful discovery for the reader with standards.