Shark Island

August 8, 2005
Maritime historian Druett's rousing second historical (after 2004's Watery Grave
) set aboard the U.S. South Seas Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 (the subject of Nathaniel Philbrick's Sea of Glory
) offers rich nautical detail and an engaging and highly unusual protagonist: Wiki Coffin, the half-caste son of a Polynesian woman and a respected Salem shipmaster. Coffin, who's serving on the brig Swallow
as both a "linguister" (or translator) and a sheriff's agent authorized to act at sea, gets involved in an investigation of two ships foundering in the shoals of Shark Island off the South American coast. A vulnerable captain, his beautiful young wife, a thuggish crew, a valuable and missing cargo and murder provide a stern test of Coffin's deductive abilities and his diplomatic skills. Druett should win plaudits from both mystery fans and aficionados of naval adventures. Agent, Laura Langlie.

October 1, 2005
Druett weaves another riveting seafaring adventure featuring the inimitable Wiki Coffin, the half-breed son of a New Zealand Maori and a New England sea captain. As the civilian linguist hired by the U.S. government to assist the members of the U.S. South Seas Naval Exploring Expedition of 1838, Coffin once again becomes involved in more than translating a multitude of obscure Pacific Island languages. When Wiki and company are assigned to investigate a suspected pirate hideout, they instead stumble upon a disabled sealing vessel run up on the beach of a small island off the northeast coast of Brazil. After the captain of the wrecked ship is found murdered, the chief suspect is Wiki's old nemesis, the arrogantly brutal Lieutenant Forsythe. Unfortunately, Wiki does not believe Forsythe is guilty and must conduct his own investigation to absolve his sworn enemy. Echoing the novels of Patrick O'Brien, this supremely salty series also sports an intimate buddy relationship to rival that of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)