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Aristotle Socarides #2
Neptune's Eye
Book by Paul Kemprecos
307 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1991
39 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Paul Kemprecos
51 books102 followersMy fiction-writing career owes it start to the bad navigation of an 18th century pirate. For it was in 1717 that a ship, the Whydah went aground, reportedly carrying a fabulous treasure. In the 1980s, three salvage groups went head-to-head, competing to find the wreck. The controversy over the salvage got hot at times and I thought there might be a book in their story. I was working for a newspaper at the time.
I developed my own detective, an ex-cop, diver, fisherman, and PI named Aristotle “Soc” Socarides. He was more philosophical than hard-boiled. Making his first appearance in “Cool Blue Tomb,” the book won the Shamus award for Best Paperback novel. After many years in the newspaper business, I turned to writing fiction and churned out five more books in the series.
Clive Cussler blurbed: “There can be no better mystery writer in America than Paul Kemprecos.”
Despite the accolades, the Soc series lingered in mid-list hell. By the time I finished my last book, I was thinking about another career that might make me more money, like working in a 7-11.
Several months after the release of “Bluefin Blues,” Clive called and said a spin-off from the Dirk Pitt series was in the works. It would be called the NUMA Files and he wondered if I would be interested in tackling the job.
I took on the writing of “Serpent” which brought into being Kurt Austin and the NUMA Special Assignments Team. Austin had some carry-over from Soc, and another team member, Paul Trout, had been born on Cape Cod. The book made The New York Times bestseller list, as did every one of seven NUMA Files that followed, including “Polar Shift,” which bumped “The DaVinci Code” for first place.
After eight NUMA Files I went back to writing solo. I wrote an adventure book entitled, The Emerald Scepter, which introduced a new hero, Matinicus “Matt” Hawkins. I have been working on the re-release of my Soc series in digital and print, and in 2013, responding to numerous requests, I brought Soc back again in a seventh Socarides book entitled, Grey Lady. My wife Christi and I live on Cape Cod where she works as a financial advisor. We live in a circa 1865 farmhouse with two cats. We have three children and seven granddaughters.
To learn more about Paul Kemprecos, check out his website at http://www.paulkemprecos.com.
I developed my own detective, an ex-cop, diver, fisherman, and PI named Aristotle “Soc” Socarides. He was more philosophical than hard-boiled. Making his first appearance in “Cool Blue Tomb,” the book won the Shamus award for Best Paperback novel. After many years in the newspaper business, I turned to writing fiction and churned out five more books in the series.
Clive Cussler blurbed: “There can be no better mystery writer in America than Paul Kemprecos.”
Despite the accolades, the Soc series lingered in mid-list hell. By the time I finished my last book, I was thinking about another career that might make me more money, like working in a 7-11.
Several months after the release of “Bluefin Blues,” Clive called and said a spin-off from the Dirk Pitt series was in the works. It would be called the NUMA Files and he wondered if I would be interested in tackling the job.
I took on the writing of “Serpent” which brought into being Kurt Austin and the NUMA Special Assignments Team. Austin had some carry-over from Soc, and another team member, Paul Trout, had been born on Cape Cod. The book made The New York Times bestseller list, as did every one of seven NUMA Files that followed, including “Polar Shift,” which bumped “The DaVinci Code” for first place.
After eight NUMA Files I went back to writing solo. I wrote an adventure book entitled, The Emerald Scepter, which introduced a new hero, Matinicus “Matt” Hawkins. I have been working on the re-release of my Soc series in digital and print, and in 2013, responding to numerous requests, I brought Soc back again in a seventh Socarides book entitled, Grey Lady. My wife Christi and I live on Cape Cod where she works as a financial advisor. We live in a circa 1865 farmhouse with two cats. We have three children and seven granddaughters.
To learn more about Paul Kemprecos, check out his website at http://www.paulkemprecos.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 25, 2015
Diving in the waters off Cape Cod features largely in this private eye story. This is the second in a series about an American man of ethnic Greek origin who fishes and works a few cases, and I had not read the first but found it easy to jump in to the setting.
Underwater roving submersibles, wreck diving, a rumoured lost German submarine and the tensions and money behind marine equipment laboratory research fill the pages. This is a tightly plotted tale which starts as a missing person hunt and quickly expands to contain a few murders. As ever in male PI tales there is at least one lovely woman keen to jump into bed with the narrator, but why does this never happen the other way around with female PI stories? Seems like the fishermen tell tall tales.
Mainly the lesson I was taking from this book - from quite an early stage, oft repeated - was that it's unwise to keep making appointments with suspects at late hours for quiet chats, and especially unwise to keep going places and meeting suspects without any backup whatsoever. Our narrator deserved to be dead a few times over, and didn't even know who was trustworthy in town. Or underwater.
If you enjoyed this book you'll like Randy Wayne White's thriller stories about a Florida based marine biologist.
Underwater roving submersibles, wreck diving, a rumoured lost German submarine and the tensions and money behind marine equipment laboratory research fill the pages. This is a tightly plotted tale which starts as a missing person hunt and quickly expands to contain a few murders. As ever in male PI tales there is at least one lovely woman keen to jump into bed with the narrator, but why does this never happen the other way around with female PI stories? Seems like the fishermen tell tall tales.
Mainly the lesson I was taking from this book - from quite an early stage, oft repeated - was that it's unwise to keep making appointments with suspects at late hours for quiet chats, and especially unwise to keep going places and meeting suspects without any backup whatsoever. Our narrator deserved to be dead a few times over, and didn't even know who was trustworthy in town. Or underwater.
If you enjoyed this book you'll like Randy Wayne White's thriller stories about a Florida based marine biologist.
August 17, 2012
#2 in the Aristotle "Soc" Socarides series.
Aristotle "Soc" Socarides, a commercial fisherman and broke P.I., is hired by wealthy and sinister Frederick Walther, whose daughter Leslie has disappeared. Soc seeks a lead on Leslie at the marine laboratory where she once worked, but her caustic, womanizing ex-boss and lover, Tom Drake, is murdered before Soc has a chance to question him. Emphasis shifts to Drake's research with remote-controlled undersea vehicles. Watery escapades ensue as Soc, Drake's enemies, Walther and the FBI close in on the German sub of the prologue, wrecked off the Massachusetts coast.
Aristotle "Soc" Socarides, a commercial fisherman and broke P.I., is hired by wealthy and sinister Frederick Walther, whose daughter Leslie has disappeared. Soc seeks a lead on Leslie at the marine laboratory where she once worked, but her caustic, womanizing ex-boss and lover, Tom Drake, is murdered before Soc has a chance to question him. Emphasis shifts to Drake's research with remote-controlled undersea vehicles. Watery escapades ensue as Soc, Drake's enemies, Walther and the FBI close in on the German sub of the prologue, wrecked off the Massachusetts coast.
July 16, 2020
A very enjoyable read with a few twist in the plot along the way. The author has a very nice flow to the way he writes and you settle in to a pleasurable read right away. The characters from major to minor were well written and there was an element of humor to the story as well. The audio book gives perfect voice to the characters. If you choose to read this, the 2nd book of the series, first you will not be lost at all it stands alone very well.
This is what I like about Goodreads. A good or bad review for somebody like Stephen King or James Rollins will not make a difference, but I hope a positive review for lesser known authors such as this helps generate a fan base.
This is what I like about Goodreads. A good or bad review for somebody like Stephen King or James Rollins will not make a difference, but I hope a positive review for lesser known authors such as this helps generate a fan base.
May 18, 2018
I'll be reading more from Paul Kemprecos!
This was a thrill ride along with a likeable Cop-for-hire who takes on the task of finding the daughter of a wealthy man. It becomes a thrill ride that takes the reader back in history and into modern as well as futuristic technologies.
This was a thrill ride along with a likeable Cop-for-hire who takes on the task of finding the daughter of a wealthy man. It becomes a thrill ride that takes the reader back in history and into modern as well as futuristic technologies.
June 1, 2021
A very satisfying read. A mystery in the best vein of the Spenser by Robert B Parker or the Travis Mcghee books by John D. Macdonald. Aristotle Socarides (Soc) is a philosophical, fisherman, PI on Cape Cod who gets caught up in more than finding a run-a-way daughter. an enjoyable read with some twists and turns like the road to Nobska light. Enjoyed it thouroughly.
January 8, 2018
Great read
I enjoy Paul Kemprecos characters Soc inspire of his drinking is capable of holding your attention and he gets the job done. You never know what's next story line keeps you reading.☺
I enjoy Paul Kemprecos characters Soc inspire of his drinking is capable of holding your attention and he gets the job done. You never know what's next story line keeps you reading.☺
June 22, 2017
Paul
Like this book. Glad you gave Doc a little love interest. Am looking forward to #3. Keep on writing the books.
Like this book. Glad you gave Doc a little love interest. Am looking forward to #3. Keep on writing the books.
December 18, 2019
Another good story
Beginning to really like the characters in this series. Really down to earth without the macho bulls**t you often get.
Beginning to really like the characters in this series. Really down to earth without the macho bulls**t you often get.
July 27, 2020
What was supposed to be a missing persons case took Aristotle “Soc” Socarides into a near death adventure. Very enjoyable read. Bring on the next one.
June 17, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyable. The mystery was good even if it was a bit predictable in places. But there were several surprises and even a few "how will Soc ever get out this" moments. I like Soc even with all his faults or maybe it's because of his faults that I find him so engaging. Regardless, I will be reading the next book in the series. Recommended.
June 16, 2013
I'm really enjoying this series. This time Soc is really involved with Woods Hole Oceanography Institute which I really enjoyed. I also liked the interaction with Flagg and hope he shows up again in the future. Good read.
March 10, 2010
I enjoy Paul Kemprecos' work in the Cussler franchise sI I picked up an early novel...this is my 1st Aristotle ''Soc'' Socarides novel and I like what's there so far
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews