Sea Hunter

Rating:
Summary: Sea Hunter
Review: I love finding a new author I can add to my library list. The cover was what hooked me in the first place. I personally enjoyed every page of this novel and didn't want to put it down. I've shared it with friends and family and the overall review is excellent. The story line was unique and captivating with a little of everything from a budding romance to adventure on the high sea. The highest compliment I can pay to this author is to now go buy his other books, which is what I plan to do right now.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't follow through
Review: The premise behind Sea Hunter was great. A sea captain with a chip on his shoulder, a pushy documentary film maker, a killer dolphin hybrid that is threatening submarines from around the world: what went wrong? The biggest problem this book had was that nothing ever happened. As an avid reader of adventure fiction, I kept wanting more adventure. More romance. More danger. More anything. I could go on for days with the could haves, should haves or might haves. This one just didn't deliver.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't follow through
Review: The premise behind Sea Hunter was great. A sea captain with a chip on his shoulder, a pushy documentary film maker, a killer dolphin hybrid that is threatening submarines from around the world: what went wrong? The biggest problem this book had was that nothing ever happened. As an avid reader of adventure fiction, I kept wanting more adventure. More romance. More danger. More anything. I could go on for days with the could haves, should haves or might haves. This one just didn't deliver.

Rating:
Summary: There is something out there: Sea Hunter by Paul Garrison
Review: Those familiar with Paul Garrison's earlier novels such as "Fire and Ice" and "Red Sky at Morning" are aware that technology (often state of the art or beyond) plays a major role in his novels. It certainly is true in this novel and that aspect will not be addressed in this review as to do so would reveal most if not all of this very enjoyable novel.

Donald Hope is the captain of the charter boat Oona, operating out of the British Virgin Islands. His twin-hulled catamaran needs expensive work and he needs to get one last charter done before having at least some of the work done. To do so, he needs to get to port fast to pick up his last set of clients. He is running behind because he had to disperse the ashes of his lover and friend Barbara who finally succumbed to a yearlong coma. Then his race to port is further interrupted by a near disastrous collision with the USS Vermont, a nuclear attack submarine that suffers total computer failure. After being checked out by the very upset navy crewmen who initially believe he may have been involved with their problems, he proceeds to port arriving hours after he was scheduled. Upon arrival, he discovers that his trip was for nothing as his charter has cancelled due to their being hospitalized for food poisoning.

While trying to figure out how to salvage what is left of his business as well as his boat, he meets Sally Moffitt in a bar. She comes with a laundry list of her own problems as well as plenty of attitude and he does not really want anything to do with her. But, she would be a paying client if he accepts her charter job so that she can work on a nature film documentary. With great reluctance, he finally agrees and after she steals her gear back from her soon to be ex-husband, they flee on board Oona.

Within hours of leaving the port, they spot a strange sea creature dancing off their port bow. Part Dolphin, part something else, the creature whatever it is, behaves nothing like they have ever seen before and seems to be attracted to the twin hulled catamaran. As the creature allows them glimpses of it and its strange behavior, Sally becomes convinced that this is the subject for her film and something that no one has ever seen before. Sally is sure that if she can capture enough footage it will allow her to make her mark in the world of expensive nature documentaries and bring her the fame and fortune she needs to make the films she wants to do as well as putting it in her soon to be ex-husband's face.

As they follow the creature northward, they are intercepted by the Star of Alabama, a five masted sailing ship in the mode of old but thoroughly modern from stem to stern. Under the command of William Tree, this floating research vessel cost millions and as a member of one of America's most powerful and wealth families, power and control is everything. While beguiling Sally with various offers to fund her work if a suitable subject is found, he is not so able to blind David Hope.

David knows something sinister is up with Tree and begins to wonder if Tree and the strange sea creature are somehow linked. As the creature continues to lead them north, both ships follow and slowly David and Sally begin to figure out the puzzle. As man and nature try to stop them, David and Sally try not only to survive but also document the strange creature.

This is a very enjoyable fast paced novel featuring intriguing characters and an interesting premise. While most of the action involves chasing the creature and sailing the boats involved, it is not overly filled with technical sailing jargon. This novel is a faster read than some of his earlier works, but filled with the usual hallmarks of action, technology and strong writing. Paul Garrison continues to deliver a good read and this book continues that tradition.