Golden Legacy

A woman's rumored relation to an infamous pirate puts her on a hunt for treasure as menacing thieves pursue her in Glider's (Golden Conspiracy, 2009) adventure sequel. Dr. Abigail Hathaway-Chance's celebration of the end of her surgical residency in Miami is cut short when she gets the devastating news of the death of her mother, Victoria. In Charlottesville, Virginia, her mother's lawyer privately gives Abigail a letter from the late 18th century, which Victoria had discovered years before. The missive, written by Abigail's reputed ancestor--a female buccaneer whom many believe stashed her stolen treasure somewhere in the Caribbean--leads Abigail to a strongbox containing the pirate's diary and a map. But Abigail and her beloved sister-in-law, Roni, will need help finding the island to which it leads. The doctor turns to treasure-hunter Jacsen Kidd, who was best friends with Abigail's late husband, Reg Chance. Unfortunately, the creepy Rev. Kincaid is also interested in the pirate treasure and in league with a shady, Mafia-associated businessman, Remy Austin. Jac gathers a team including his father, Mandrago Kidd, and a chef friend, Peri Schmoond, and soon, they're on the run from Kincaid, Remy, and a murderous gang of thugs. Glider loads his narrative with characters but does so craftily, generally introducing them one at a time and then connecting them to others; pirate-expert Chauncey Rutherford, for instance, is revealed to have both a secret and an irate, clearly villainous son, James. The story maintains a steady pace, especially after the hunt begins, and intriguing connections to real-life figures, including pirates. Jac and company dodge bad guys more often than they search for potential clues; indeed, tracking down the loot turns out to be relatively easy. However, Remy and company are unrelenting, vicious, and sometimes outright terrifying adversaries, even after they inevitably turn on one another. The ending also leaves plenty of room for a follow-up. High stakes and fierce villains ramp up the action and ultimately overshadow the mystery.

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