G1161 Book Review of The bloody black flag by Steve GOBLE
Author: Steve Goble
ISBN: 978-1-63388-359-8
Publisher: Seventh Street Books
Part of a Series: Spider John Mysteries
Type of book: pirates, sea life, murder, mystery, 1722, cursed ship, witch blood, superstition,
Year it was published: 2017
Summary:
Agatha Christie meets Patrick O'Brian in the first book in a new series of swashbuckling historical mysteries featuring Spider John Rush, a most reluctant pirate. 1722--aboard a pirate ship off the American Colonial Coast. Spider John Rush never wanted to be a pirate, but it had happened and he'd learned to survive in the world of cut and thrust, fight or die. He and his friend Ezra knew that death could come at any moment, from grapeshot or storm winds or the end of a noose. But when Ezra is murdered in cold blood by a shipmate, Spider vows revenge. On a ship where every man is a killer many times over, how can Spider find the man who killed his friend? There is no law here, so if justice is to be done, he must do it. He will have to solve the crime and exact revenge himself. One wrong step will lead to certain death, but Spider is determined to look into the dying eyes of the man who killed his friend, even if it means his own death.
Characters:
Main character includes Spider John Rush, a twenty something year old male who has a goal in life to get back to his beloved Em and a son he had never met. Little of Spider JOHNS separation from Em is revealed in the novel. Spider John is a good and loyal friend to his longtime friend Ezra who was possibly killed. Spider John is attentive, secretive and very determined to avenge his friend. There is also Hob, a teen pirate who often gets overlooked but knows a lot more than he is given credit for. He sort of becomes like a son or a little brother for Spider John. There is also Captain Barlow who rules with an iron fist and isn't afraid of terrorizing his crew and fancies himself like Captain Blackbeard, but is very gentle with a slave woman. There is also Addison, the first mate who is fearless when it comes to Captain Barlows temper. There are other memorable men in the tale, but it's more fun to discover them through reading.
Theme:
Who knows what lies underneath the heart?
Plot:
The tale is in third person narrative from Spider Johns point of view, and it's a linear tale that focuses more on the mystery rather than the character's backgrounds. The story is definitely filled with tension, engaging characters that the reader learns a little about and fascinating pirate facts. While I enjoyed the story very thoroughly, I was not happy that the ending felt unfinished. I think I expected a lot more in the ending. Other than that, a wonderful and satisfying read.
Author Information:
(From the book)
Steve Goble is a career journalist, working for USA Today Network-Ohio. Before he started writing about murder on the high seas, he worte a weekly craft beer column called Brewologist. He lives in rural Ohio with his lovely and patient wife, a suprmely sarcastic teenager, and two occasionally well-behaved dogs. Learn more at SteveGoble.com
Opinion:
While I read the books out of order, I have to admit that this is truly a thrilling and compulsively readable mystery where I wanted to pick up a sheet of paper and see if I could figure out the mystery before Spider John could. For me, there is plenty to love about THE BLOODY BLACK FLAG BY STEVE GOBLE from the engaging characters that demand you pay attention to the unusual setting and pirates life without the romanticization but still breathtaking as well as the tension in the story as Spider John tries to figure out the killer and his purpose in killing Ezra in a boat full of men who have killed countless times. Could it have been witchcraft or something more sinister?
This was given for a review
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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