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The Book of Quint
This novel, the result of extensive research by the author, expands the Jaws universe, and adds crucial backstory that enhances the experience of watching what many still consider to be the greatest movie ever made.
“1100 men went into the water…” So begins the critically acclaimed and haunting monologue by actor Robert Shaw as grizzled shark hunter Quint in the movie Jaws , in which he describes his experience as a survivor of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in the dying days of the Second World War.
The USS Indianapolis was returning from delivering the first atomic bomb to Tinian, and on her way to the Philippines when a Japanese submarine hit her with two torpedoes. The ship sank in twelve minutes, leaving hundreds of crew members floating in the ocean with hardly any food, water, or lifeboats. During the next five days most died from exposure, salt poisoning, dehydration, and the worst mass shark attacks in recorded history. Only 316 of 1195 crew survived. This historic event provides the motivation for the iconic character Quint in Jaws .
As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of Jaws , the first summer blockbuster, author and host of the podcast The Jaw Obsession Ryan Dacko has written the definitive prequel novel to the movie Jaws , telling the story of Quint. Beginning with him adrift in the Philippine Sea after the sinking, and after the end of the war following him first to San Fransisco and then to Amity Island, we read of how and when he acquires his many scars, of how he comes to own his boat The Orca and how he develops his technique for hunting sharks as seen in the movie. Along the way we meet figures from history such as Charles McVay, captain of the doomed Indianapolis, and characters from the movie Jaws such as Larry Vaughan, the slippery Mayor of Amity Island, Ichthyologist Matt Hooper and Quint’s mate Herschel Salvatore.
This novel, the result of extensive research by the author, expands the Jaws universe, and adds crucial backstory that enhances the experience of watching what many still consider to be the greatest movie ever made. It is a story of overcoming odds, survivor's guilt, PTSD, one man’s quest for justice, and lots of sharks.
“1100 men went into the water…” So begins the critically acclaimed and haunting monologue by actor Robert Shaw as grizzled shark hunter Quint in the movie Jaws , in which he describes his experience as a survivor of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in the dying days of the Second World War.
The USS Indianapolis was returning from delivering the first atomic bomb to Tinian, and on her way to the Philippines when a Japanese submarine hit her with two torpedoes. The ship sank in twelve minutes, leaving hundreds of crew members floating in the ocean with hardly any food, water, or lifeboats. During the next five days most died from exposure, salt poisoning, dehydration, and the worst mass shark attacks in recorded history. Only 316 of 1195 crew survived. This historic event provides the motivation for the iconic character Quint in Jaws .
As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of Jaws , the first summer blockbuster, author and host of the podcast The Jaw Obsession Ryan Dacko has written the definitive prequel novel to the movie Jaws , telling the story of Quint. Beginning with him adrift in the Philippine Sea after the sinking, and after the end of the war following him first to San Fransisco and then to Amity Island, we read of how and when he acquires his many scars, of how he comes to own his boat The Orca and how he develops his technique for hunting sharks as seen in the movie. Along the way we meet figures from history such as Charles McVay, captain of the doomed Indianapolis, and characters from the movie Jaws such as Larry Vaughan, the slippery Mayor of Amity Island, Ichthyologist Matt Hooper and Quint’s mate Herschel Salvatore.
This novel, the result of extensive research by the author, expands the Jaws universe, and adds crucial backstory that enhances the experience of watching what many still consider to be the greatest movie ever made. It is a story of overcoming odds, survivor's guilt, PTSD, one man’s quest for justice, and lots of sharks.
416 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2023
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July 20, 2025
This is a prequel in the Jaws franchise. In this one we explore the character Quint.
The original movie is one of my favorite movies of all time and I watch it every Fourth of July. I also really enjoy the direct sequel. We will not talk about the others in the franchise. Did we really need a book exploring one of the iconic characters from the movie or should we just let him be remembered for his remarkable time in the movie? I am here to say "Yes we need this book". I had such a good time with this book and one can tell the author is a huge fan of this universe. We basically start with the action from the iconic and amazing scene of Quint telling Brody and Hooper about his time in the navy. So right away we know that this book is not going to hold back any punches. That is where this book excels. Yes we get the iconic character with lines taken from the movies. We also get nods and easter eggs from both movies. But this book is a book about a person dealing with the after effects of surviving a horrible tragedy. The author handles this perfectly. It haunts the character all of his life and that is why he acts like he does in the movie. There were a couple of scenes that was just a gut punch to the stomach. But in the end the exploration of a character dealing with this harrowing experience seemed so authentic and real.
This book easily exceeded my expectations. I was engrossed throughout even though I thought the middle slowed down a little as we explore his beginnings on Amity Island. Quint has never been my favorite character from the movie. After reading this I understand him a little better. I know the next time I watch the movie I will see him in a different light and I will get why he does the things he does. This book was a wonderful way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws.
The original movie is one of my favorite movies of all time and I watch it every Fourth of July. I also really enjoy the direct sequel. We will not talk about the others in the franchise. Did we really need a book exploring one of the iconic characters from the movie or should we just let him be remembered for his remarkable time in the movie? I am here to say "Yes we need this book". I had such a good time with this book and one can tell the author is a huge fan of this universe. We basically start with the action from the iconic and amazing scene of Quint telling Brody and Hooper about his time in the navy. So right away we know that this book is not going to hold back any punches. That is where this book excels. Yes we get the iconic character with lines taken from the movies. We also get nods and easter eggs from both movies. But this book is a book about a person dealing with the after effects of surviving a horrible tragedy. The author handles this perfectly. It haunts the character all of his life and that is why he acts like he does in the movie. There were a couple of scenes that was just a gut punch to the stomach. But in the end the exploration of a character dealing with this harrowing experience seemed so authentic and real.
This book easily exceeded my expectations. I was engrossed throughout even though I thought the middle slowed down a little as we explore his beginnings on Amity Island. Quint has never been my favorite character from the movie. After reading this I understand him a little better. I know the next time I watch the movie I will see him in a different light and I will get why he does the things he does. This book was a wonderful way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws.
October 26, 2023
Hooper was always my favourite. Aged around 9 the first time I watched ‘Jaws’, I identified with the young scientist – slightly nerdy and a little socially awkward, I enjoyed the way he challenged the older authority figures (“This is not a boat accident!”; “Do not smoke in here, thank you very much!”) and pulled faces behind the back of the grouchy shark hunter. Brodie was a police officer and father; I got that.
But Quint was a bit mad and unsettling in a way I recognised but was not yet old enough to understand. If someone was going to get eaten by the shark at the end of the movie – and 9-year-old me appreciated the blood and gore – I was glad it was him. Only as an adult did I begin to appreciate the complexity of his character and to question why Quint behaved as he did.
‘The Book of Quint’, by debut novelist Ryan Dacko, provides answers to those questions, and others I didn’t even know I had. Taking the original 1975 movie as canon, and drawing on many clues from that film, Dacko has cleverly crafted a convincing biography for this enigmatic character. Plunged at the outset into the shark-infested waters of the Philippine Sea with the survivors of the USS Indianapolis, the reader is led on a breathless and compelling exploration of Quint’s life for the next two decades, concluding on Amity in 1968.
Many months of research preceded the writing of this novel, and it shows. In the portion of the novel which deals with the Indianapolis disaster, Dacko has combined his own seafaring knowledge with - often harrowing - survivors’ testimony, employing a deft hand and a great deal of respect. Medical analysis helps us to understand Quint’s arm-wrestling injury and its long-term impact. We learn how he developed his barrel method of shark hunting and how the biology of sharks makes it so effective. And the events at Knocko Nolans on St Paddy’s Day 1966 are revealed.
‘The Book of Quint’ is a must-read for ‘Jaws’ fans. In his regular podcast, ‘The Jaws Obsession’, Dacko states his aim is to help fans gain more from watching the movie by better understanding details that we have seen hundreds of times. (And he does. Wondering who graffitied the Welcome to Amity billboard? – case closed. Want to know more about Quint’s harpoon rifle? – you got it.) Having read ‘The Book of Quint’, it will be impossible to watch the movie in the same way again, as its depths are drawn up from the fathoms and explored.
As well as being a must-read for movie lovers and shark aficionados, readers of many genres will enjoy this book. Fans of historical fiction will appreciate the detailed treatment of the period, in particular the aftermath of the Indianapolis tragedy. Readers of action thrillers will recognise Quint’s Reacher-like quality, battling his demons in solitude whilst fighting for his version of justice and revenge. And readers in general will enjoy it for its great storytelling.
I love a book with a map! In addition to the gripping storyline, ‘The Book of Quint’ includes a map of Amity Island and elevations of The Orca which I have spent many happy hours studying, and which not only add to the understanding and enjoyment of the book but hold up in context to the movies ‘Jaws’ and ‘Jaws 2’.
I am fortunate enough to have one of the beautiful cloth-bound self-published original editions, which is a pleasure to read and own. But this hasn’t stopped me pre-ordering a copy of the new paperback edition – ‘The Book of Quint’ is one of those books that you need more than one of.
But Quint was a bit mad and unsettling in a way I recognised but was not yet old enough to understand. If someone was going to get eaten by the shark at the end of the movie – and 9-year-old me appreciated the blood and gore – I was glad it was him. Only as an adult did I begin to appreciate the complexity of his character and to question why Quint behaved as he did.
‘The Book of Quint’, by debut novelist Ryan Dacko, provides answers to those questions, and others I didn’t even know I had. Taking the original 1975 movie as canon, and drawing on many clues from that film, Dacko has cleverly crafted a convincing biography for this enigmatic character. Plunged at the outset into the shark-infested waters of the Philippine Sea with the survivors of the USS Indianapolis, the reader is led on a breathless and compelling exploration of Quint’s life for the next two decades, concluding on Amity in 1968.
Many months of research preceded the writing of this novel, and it shows. In the portion of the novel which deals with the Indianapolis disaster, Dacko has combined his own seafaring knowledge with - often harrowing - survivors’ testimony, employing a deft hand and a great deal of respect. Medical analysis helps us to understand Quint’s arm-wrestling injury and its long-term impact. We learn how he developed his barrel method of shark hunting and how the biology of sharks makes it so effective. And the events at Knocko Nolans on St Paddy’s Day 1966 are revealed.
‘The Book of Quint’ is a must-read for ‘Jaws’ fans. In his regular podcast, ‘The Jaws Obsession’, Dacko states his aim is to help fans gain more from watching the movie by better understanding details that we have seen hundreds of times. (And he does. Wondering who graffitied the Welcome to Amity billboard? – case closed. Want to know more about Quint’s harpoon rifle? – you got it.) Having read ‘The Book of Quint’, it will be impossible to watch the movie in the same way again, as its depths are drawn up from the fathoms and explored.
As well as being a must-read for movie lovers and shark aficionados, readers of many genres will enjoy this book. Fans of historical fiction will appreciate the detailed treatment of the period, in particular the aftermath of the Indianapolis tragedy. Readers of action thrillers will recognise Quint’s Reacher-like quality, battling his demons in solitude whilst fighting for his version of justice and revenge. And readers in general will enjoy it for its great storytelling.
I love a book with a map! In addition to the gripping storyline, ‘The Book of Quint’ includes a map of Amity Island and elevations of The Orca which I have spent many happy hours studying, and which not only add to the understanding and enjoyment of the book but hold up in context to the movies ‘Jaws’ and ‘Jaws 2’.
I am fortunate enough to have one of the beautiful cloth-bound self-published original editions, which is a pleasure to read and own. But this hasn’t stopped me pre-ordering a copy of the new paperback edition – ‘The Book of Quint’ is one of those books that you need more than one of.
January 28, 2024
It’s no secret that ‘Jaws’ is my favourite movie. And, of course, the Indianapolis Speech by Quint is probably my favourite movie monologue.
Quint is such an interesting character – as most of the characters in the movie are, which is one of the reason why it’s such a great movie; it’s great in spite of the shark rather than because of it. It’s only natural, therefore, that many ‘Jaws’ fans have often wanted to know more about Quint. He deserves his own prequal. I had even thought about writing this myself – as I mentioned in an episode of the Let’s Jaws For A Minute podcast.
In the end, I never got properly started on the project as I was behind schedule with writing the next in my Iwakura series of novels, behind schedule on writing a book about Frankie Goes To Hollywood fans, and also, perhaps most importantly, because someone else had done their own prequel book about Quint. Of course, just because one person has written a version of Quint’s life prior to 1974 doesn’t mean that someone can’t do a different version, but I’m not sure another version is warranted. Especially after reading Ryan Dacko’s.
The fact that I had thought that I would write a book about Quint meant that there were times, especially early on in the book, when I was thinking about how I would have done things differently. But, as I got into the book further, this feeling drifted away, and, in so doing, my enjoyment of the book increased further.
The book is split into three main parts. Part one covers the Indianapolis and Quint being in San Francisco after the war and tells the story from Quint’s point of view. Part two covers the first part of his time on Amity and is told from the point of view of Hershel, Quint’s right hand man. Part three covers the next part of Quint’s time on Amity and is told from the point of view of Quint. The stand out part of the book for me was the second part – a part that had less detailed shark attacks and more detail on Quint himself, paralleling ‘Jaws’ itself.
Given the significance of the Indianapolis Speech, it was inevitable that the book would go into some detail about what happened that night and in the days that followed. But, for me, it went on for too long (about a quarter of the book) and there was just too many shark attacks and too much gore. It wasn’t until Quint gets to San Francisco that I really felt that the book had settled down. Perhaps if there had been something of Quint’s life prior to the Indianapolis and diving headlong into this shark-ploitation would have been less jarring, I don’t know.
By the middle of the book I truly appreciated just how much work Dacko must have put into researching and putting together the story. I realised that this is something that I just would not have had the time to be able to do myself. Once I realised this, I could let go of any remaining thoughts about what I would do differently with the story, and just fully appreciate what Dacko has done with the story. And with Quint himself.
In terms of Quint, there were a number of lines that stood out for me that I liked, perhaps because I find them relatable in some way.
‘but he now realized what scared him even more – failure.’
‘Quint tossed back another two codeine tablets, but the pain was not physical. They would have no effect.’
‘Some questions should never be asked.’
‘Every man’s body lets him down. It’s only a matter of time. Some sooner, some later.’
‘Time to ponder what should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve been your life… Time for so many damn questions. Second guessing it all. Replaying your mistakes for hours upon hours. Enough to drive you insane.’
‘It’s all a lie, Hershel. Time heals nothing. It only makes it worse.’
‘How many more years do we have left in this life before we must meet all those we let down?’
‘A man’s darkest thoughts are his own business.’
‘What will be the last thing I see as I leave this planet?’
By the end of the book Quint is 52 – the same age as I am now. Perhaps that’s another reason I resonated so much with Quint at times despite our very different life experiences. The wonder about what will be the last thing I see before death, and that it could be a painful memory or the face or name of someone I would like to forget, is something that I often think about.
While ‘The Book of Quint’ is a brand new story, it is, of course, born out of ‘Jaws’ and Dacko has done a great job in ticking off most, if not all, aspects of Quint’s backstory that get referred to in ‘Jaws’. There are also some other great Easter Eggs linking the book to the ‘Jaws’ franchise (i.e., not just the first film) and even how ‘Jaws’ was made (if my memory of how the pier scene was made is correct).
I am sure more and more ‘Jaws’ fans will be picking up this book and I am sure that, like me, they won’t be disappointed.
Also I hope that this book gets turned into a movie. Perhaps, like the original ‘Jaws’ movie it won’t use all elements of the book (I think some of the graphic details in the first and third parts would need to be toned down) – the audiobook I have just started listening to for the first time on the back of reading ‘The Book of Quint’ – but so long as it keeps the details about Quint, the man, the legend, it could be a great movie. Especially if they get Ian Shaw, son of Robert Shaw, who played his father so well in the play ‘The Shark is Broken‘, to take on the role of Quint.
Finally, a word about the artwork – it’s brilliant. And as good as it looked as an eBook, I will be getting a printed copy of the book when, probably in the not too distant future, I am in the mood to read the book again.
Farewell and adieu.
See also https://hoodcp.wordpress.com/2024/01/...
Quint is such an interesting character – as most of the characters in the movie are, which is one of the reason why it’s such a great movie; it’s great in spite of the shark rather than because of it. It’s only natural, therefore, that many ‘Jaws’ fans have often wanted to know more about Quint. He deserves his own prequal. I had even thought about writing this myself – as I mentioned in an episode of the Let’s Jaws For A Minute podcast.
In the end, I never got properly started on the project as I was behind schedule with writing the next in my Iwakura series of novels, behind schedule on writing a book about Frankie Goes To Hollywood fans, and also, perhaps most importantly, because someone else had done their own prequel book about Quint. Of course, just because one person has written a version of Quint’s life prior to 1974 doesn’t mean that someone can’t do a different version, but I’m not sure another version is warranted. Especially after reading Ryan Dacko’s.
The fact that I had thought that I would write a book about Quint meant that there were times, especially early on in the book, when I was thinking about how I would have done things differently. But, as I got into the book further, this feeling drifted away, and, in so doing, my enjoyment of the book increased further.
The book is split into three main parts. Part one covers the Indianapolis and Quint being in San Francisco after the war and tells the story from Quint’s point of view. Part two covers the first part of his time on Amity and is told from the point of view of Hershel, Quint’s right hand man. Part three covers the next part of Quint’s time on Amity and is told from the point of view of Quint. The stand out part of the book for me was the second part – a part that had less detailed shark attacks and more detail on Quint himself, paralleling ‘Jaws’ itself.
Given the significance of the Indianapolis Speech, it was inevitable that the book would go into some detail about what happened that night and in the days that followed. But, for me, it went on for too long (about a quarter of the book) and there was just too many shark attacks and too much gore. It wasn’t until Quint gets to San Francisco that I really felt that the book had settled down. Perhaps if there had been something of Quint’s life prior to the Indianapolis and diving headlong into this shark-ploitation would have been less jarring, I don’t know.
By the middle of the book I truly appreciated just how much work Dacko must have put into researching and putting together the story. I realised that this is something that I just would not have had the time to be able to do myself. Once I realised this, I could let go of any remaining thoughts about what I would do differently with the story, and just fully appreciate what Dacko has done with the story. And with Quint himself.
In terms of Quint, there were a number of lines that stood out for me that I liked, perhaps because I find them relatable in some way.
‘but he now realized what scared him even more – failure.’
‘Quint tossed back another two codeine tablets, but the pain was not physical. They would have no effect.’
‘Some questions should never be asked.’
‘Every man’s body lets him down. It’s only a matter of time. Some sooner, some later.’
‘Time to ponder what should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve been your life… Time for so many damn questions. Second guessing it all. Replaying your mistakes for hours upon hours. Enough to drive you insane.’
‘It’s all a lie, Hershel. Time heals nothing. It only makes it worse.’
‘How many more years do we have left in this life before we must meet all those we let down?’
‘A man’s darkest thoughts are his own business.’
‘What will be the last thing I see as I leave this planet?’
By the end of the book Quint is 52 – the same age as I am now. Perhaps that’s another reason I resonated so much with Quint at times despite our very different life experiences. The wonder about what will be the last thing I see before death, and that it could be a painful memory or the face or name of someone I would like to forget, is something that I often think about.
While ‘The Book of Quint’ is a brand new story, it is, of course, born out of ‘Jaws’ and Dacko has done a great job in ticking off most, if not all, aspects of Quint’s backstory that get referred to in ‘Jaws’. There are also some other great Easter Eggs linking the book to the ‘Jaws’ franchise (i.e., not just the first film) and even how ‘Jaws’ was made (if my memory of how the pier scene was made is correct).
I am sure more and more ‘Jaws’ fans will be picking up this book and I am sure that, like me, they won’t be disappointed.
Also I hope that this book gets turned into a movie. Perhaps, like the original ‘Jaws’ movie it won’t use all elements of the book (I think some of the graphic details in the first and third parts would need to be toned down) – the audiobook I have just started listening to for the first time on the back of reading ‘The Book of Quint’ – but so long as it keeps the details about Quint, the man, the legend, it could be a great movie. Especially if they get Ian Shaw, son of Robert Shaw, who played his father so well in the play ‘The Shark is Broken‘, to take on the role of Quint.
Finally, a word about the artwork – it’s brilliant. And as good as it looked as an eBook, I will be getting a printed copy of the book when, probably in the not too distant future, I am in the mood to read the book again.
Farewell and adieu.
See also https://hoodcp.wordpress.com/2024/01/...
October 24, 2023
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an early copy of Ryan Dacko's 'The Book of Quint via his early Indiegogo campaign. What a book for a debut novelist. The prologue sends you on a journey anew regarding a certain character from Jaws, then the pace, description, detail and how the book holds you in each scenario where Quint and his shipmates let forth. The tension throughout and back stories adding familiarization to the characters makes for gripping reading. An emotional ride in many ways. This is a cracking read, no spoilers but The Book of Quint for Jaws fans is an essential read, but this book also works as a standalone novel. I highly recommend, looking forward to reading more from this author.
May 15, 2025
I've always loved the film Jaws and, to a slightly lesser extent, Peter Benchley's novel on which the film was based.
Ryan Dacko's prequel novel to the film is quite simply a brilliant story. The first 100 pages cover Quint at the sinking of the Indianapolis & Dacko weaves the fact & fiction together incredibly well.
Robert Shaw brought shark hunter Quint to life in the film Jaws & here Dacko does the same & brings even more depth to the character. He can take a single line from the film & turn it into some great chapters in the novel.
The Book of Quint is a tour de force & a fitting tribute to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary.
Ryan Dacko's prequel novel to the film is quite simply a brilliant story. The first 100 pages cover Quint at the sinking of the Indianapolis & Dacko weaves the fact & fiction together incredibly well.
Robert Shaw brought shark hunter Quint to life in the film Jaws & here Dacko does the same & brings even more depth to the character. He can take a single line from the film & turn it into some great chapters in the novel.
The Book of Quint is a tour de force & a fitting tribute to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary.
March 12, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. I first discovered the project last November after finding Narragansett beer (a rare find in my landlocked state) and deciding to check audible for a Jaws audiobook. From there, I stumbled upon the Jaws Obsession Podcast and started listening. Ryan's enthusiasm and attention to detail were both infectious and impressive. I grew up with Jaws and Quint has been an important character to me since I was a child. His backstory always intrigued me and I was excited to read The Book Of Quint. Below are some of my thoughts, SPOILER WARNING.
The GOOD:
Part One was very good contemporary writing. The horror elements of being stranded at sea were very griping and the attempts to show the bond formed with ones brothers in arms didn't fall completely flat. There were a few instances that required more than a little suspension of disbelief such as Quints decision to fight a shark after being stranded in the water for 5 days when rescue is literally an armslenght away. Overall, the depiction of the Indianapolis survivors was very moving.
The BAD:
The author seemed to feel some need to paint Quint as a tragic character at every turn. The loss of his wife, the arm wrestling injury, loss of his pay for killing the sharks, loss of the carcass of the largest shark he killed, all felt a bit unnecessary. The tragedy of the USS Indianapolis has always been enough for me to explain why Quint is the way he is.
I enjoyed some of the callbacks to the source material, but it made certain parts of the plot very predictable.
I think having so much of the story told by Hershel Salvatore was a questionable choice because he was such a minor character in the movie. There was a real lack of regional voice in Hershel's accounts of Quint and the way most of the characters spoke was just too polished. I think Hershel was portrayed as being far too young. He seemed a lot closer to Quint's age in the movie, more like a partner than a sidekick. Some descriptions ran a bit long and I think it's extremely rare to find anyone in real life call someone else a hero or a legend.
The prologue and epilogue were pretty unnecessary. They were both pretty fanciful and took me out of the experience.
The scene that really took this down from a 3 star to a 2 star rating for me was the removal of Quint's tattoo with a beltsander.
I really wanted to like this book. I think Mr. Dacko is doing a lot of great work on his Podcast and I wish him the best, but I think he reads into the movie a lot more than he needs to.
Most of this book is predicated on the interactions between Quint and Mayor Vaughn and these scenes never really hit home. This is justified by the town hall scene in the movie, the author citing this as evidence of the two having a history with one another. I never bought into all that. There are plenty of reasons why Vaughn might have not wanted Quint to speak at the meeting (as the denizen of a small town, I know what kinds of characters these events can bring in).
I think I prefer the backstory for Quint I carryi from my childhood: a man haunted by those days of terror in the water after the USS Indianapolis sank who left few failed marriages, bar room brawles, and not a few dead sharks in his wake.
The GOOD:
Part One was very good contemporary writing. The horror elements of being stranded at sea were very griping and the attempts to show the bond formed with ones brothers in arms didn't fall completely flat. There were a few instances that required more than a little suspension of disbelief such as Quints decision to fight a shark after being stranded in the water for 5 days when rescue is literally an armslenght away. Overall, the depiction of the Indianapolis survivors was very moving.
The BAD:
The author seemed to feel some need to paint Quint as a tragic character at every turn. The loss of his wife, the arm wrestling injury, loss of his pay for killing the sharks, loss of the carcass of the largest shark he killed, all felt a bit unnecessary. The tragedy of the USS Indianapolis has always been enough for me to explain why Quint is the way he is.
I enjoyed some of the callbacks to the source material, but it made certain parts of the plot very predictable.
I think having so much of the story told by Hershel Salvatore was a questionable choice because he was such a minor character in the movie. There was a real lack of regional voice in Hershel's accounts of Quint and the way most of the characters spoke was just too polished. I think Hershel was portrayed as being far too young. He seemed a lot closer to Quint's age in the movie, more like a partner than a sidekick. Some descriptions ran a bit long and I think it's extremely rare to find anyone in real life call someone else a hero or a legend.
The prologue and epilogue were pretty unnecessary. They were both pretty fanciful and took me out of the experience.
The scene that really took this down from a 3 star to a 2 star rating for me was the removal of Quint's tattoo with a beltsander.
I really wanted to like this book. I think Mr. Dacko is doing a lot of great work on his Podcast and I wish him the best, but I think he reads into the movie a lot more than he needs to.
Most of this book is predicated on the interactions between Quint and Mayor Vaughn and these scenes never really hit home. This is justified by the town hall scene in the movie, the author citing this as evidence of the two having a history with one another. I never bought into all that. There are plenty of reasons why Vaughn might have not wanted Quint to speak at the meeting (as the denizen of a small town, I know what kinds of characters these events can bring in).
I think I prefer the backstory for Quint I carryi from my childhood: a man haunted by those days of terror in the water after the USS Indianapolis sank who left few failed marriages, bar room brawles, and not a few dead sharks in his wake.
May 1, 2025
In a word Jawsome! Since my favorite movie of all time is Jaws it wasn’t a shocker that I would enjoy this book, but even I was surprised at how much I loved it. So many Easter eggs and connections to the first 2 movies. Literally every mention of or story told by Quint is detailed here and further fleshes out one of cinema’s greatest characters. A must read for any Jaws fan
November 29, 2023
A great read
A great read for any Jaws fan! Well written and a delightful plot! Highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed Jaws the movie or book!!
A great read for any Jaws fan! Well written and a delightful plot! Highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed Jaws the movie or book!!
November 25, 2025
⭐️ 4.5 / 5.
January 20, 2024
A Must Read for Jaws Fans.
Fantastic! I couldn't put it down. The author perfectly filled in the gaps of Quint and has extensive knowledge of sharks and history.
Fantastic! I couldn't put it down. The author perfectly filled in the gaps of Quint and has extensive knowledge of sharks and history.
February 16, 2024
Do you love Spielberg’s Jaws? Is your favorite moment in movie history Quint’s description of the worst shark attack in US history? This book is for you! A backstory on one of the greatest characters to grace the screen, Quint! I’d love more books about other characters , like Hooper and Chief Brody. I need to go watch Jaws again with new eyes. Thank you, Ryan Dacko. This book is a joy!
February 10, 2024
Ryan Dacko’s novel The Book of Quint is an epic prequel to Jaws which focuses on the backstory of the character Quint played brilliantly by Robert Shaw in the film. Any fan of the movie Jaws will be totally mesmerized by the author’s detail of Quint’s life prior to 1974. The research that went into creating this amazing book is simply incredible. The novel reads like a movie as the reader is able to visualize what this story will look like when it is made into a feature film. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen. I highly recommend this book to any Jaws fan or anyone who enjoys great writing. Five stars.
Kevin Lemons
Nashville, TN
Kevin Lemons
Nashville, TN
April 8, 2024
Well I was expecting a bit of fan fiction, and as a huge fan of Jaws I was also a bit hesitant. What I did get though was a cracking well written account of Quint the man behind the character.
Starting with the sinking of the Indianapolis, we get an account of what Quint hinted at with his famous speech in the film.
You don’t need to be a fan of the film to enjoy this book, but the little touches throughout really had me punching the air at times (“saw one eat a rocking chair once” was one such time)
Can’t give this less than 5 stars, and a book I’ll definitely read again quite soon.
Starting with the sinking of the Indianapolis, we get an account of what Quint hinted at with his famous speech in the film.
You don’t need to be a fan of the film to enjoy this book, but the little touches throughout really had me punching the air at times (“saw one eat a rocking chair once” was one such time)
Can’t give this less than 5 stars, and a book I’ll definitely read again quite soon.
June 9, 2025
I listened to the audio book and the narrator was fantastic with all the voices. Saw the author speak at my local library and he was very passionate about Jaws and his research. The book was very good and descriptive, and I felt like I was on the Orca with Quint! 😳
December 31, 2023
A must read for fans of "Jaws"!! A real old-salt adventure story, truly.
December 18, 2023
A Perfect Prequel
This book was written by a JAWS fan and an avid researcher. Only someone with this amount of love for the film could write such a wonderful story for the character of Quint.
This book is a joy to read. It is gripping.
This book was written by a JAWS fan and an avid researcher. Only someone with this amount of love for the film could write such a wonderful story for the character of Quint.
This book is a joy to read. It is gripping.
February 22, 2024
Wow! I was not aware of this book until out of the blue a few days before Christmas 2023, it dropped through my letterbox. A gift from my old pal of over 40 years. Richard is the biggest Jaws fan I’ve come across. He watches it a lot.
So, I looked at the front cover, read the back cover and thought, mmmmm, what’s this all about?! This cant possibly stand alongside the classic movie.
I was wrong, totally wrong. This book is certainly, and deservedly a definite part of the Jaws Universe.
With each new chapter, I was totally engrossed, following the story of one of Cinema’s greatest anti-heroes. I checked in several times with Richard, over the following weeks, and each time, we were miraculously on the same chapter!!
We spoke of how this book will instantly translate into a magnificent film or mini series prequel and sit comfortably next to the original masterpiece.
A week before finishing the book I searched my podcast player for a Jaws podcast and subscribed to the Jaws Obsession Podcast. I soon realised that this was also the guy that wrote the book!!
Now on Episode 25!! Ryan Dacko, I salute you!
Let’s hope that Universal Pictures do the right thing!!
So, I looked at the front cover, read the back cover and thought, mmmmm, what’s this all about?! This cant possibly stand alongside the classic movie.
I was wrong, totally wrong. This book is certainly, and deservedly a definite part of the Jaws Universe.
With each new chapter, I was totally engrossed, following the story of one of Cinema’s greatest anti-heroes. I checked in several times with Richard, over the following weeks, and each time, we were miraculously on the same chapter!!
We spoke of how this book will instantly translate into a magnificent film or mini series prequel and sit comfortably next to the original masterpiece.
A week before finishing the book I searched my podcast player for a Jaws podcast and subscribed to the Jaws Obsession Podcast. I soon realised that this was also the guy that wrote the book!!
Now on Episode 25!! Ryan Dacko, I salute you!
Let’s hope that Universal Pictures do the right thing!!
June 10, 2025
I really wanted to give this 5 stars. I loved the beginning with the focus on the Indianapolis and I also liked Herschel's POV. Loved the fan service and references to the film as well.
The frame story didn't quite hit for me because
The frame story didn't quite hit for me because
February 18, 2024
Finished reading "The Book of Quint" by Ryan Dacko, and if you're wondering if it's about the shark hunter from "Jaws," played by the late Robert Shaw, it is. It is also one hell of a great read!
Ryan Dacko is a licensed underwater welder and worked as a professional commercial deep-sea diver. He is also a US Coast Guard veteran, having served as a search and rescue boat operator in the North Atlantic and on the US Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star from the North Pole to Antarctica.
Mr. Dacko is the host and creator of "The Jaws Obsession" podcast, ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts around the world by ListenNotes.com. He operated an independent film company where he received awards on film festival circuits, having sold his award-winning documentary "Plan 9 from Syracuse" to Netflix in 2007.
Mr. Dacko keeps a writing notebook on the dashboard of his line truck while working as a high-voltage line mechanic, living with his wife and three kids in Syracuse, New York. "The Book of Quint" is his debut novel, not that you'd know it from the writing. All of his experience at sea really and truly shows.
When "Jaws" became, if you'll pardon the pun, such a monster hit in 1975, it didn't take long for talk of a sequel to start. Among the possibilities was a prequel. "The Indianapolis story," so famously performed (and at least partially written) by Robert Shaw, is not only one of the best, and scariest, parts of "Jaws," it remains one of the greatest monologues ever delivered by an actor on film.
That's why one of the possibilities discussed for a "Jaws" sequel was to be the story of Quint as a young man on the Indianapolis. It's a true shame this never happened, especially considering the God awful march of "Jaws" sequels they ended up with, each so much worse than the one before.
One of the best things about "The Book of Quint" is that it actually gives you this prequel in the film's first section, well researched and just about flawlessly written, a portrait of true maritime hell from the perspectives of Quint and his fellow sailors.
"Rolling swells reminded them that death was an inevitability." Dacko writes, "Wherever they looked, severed limbs and half eaten corpses drifted alongside. The oily salt taste of the water that splashed their faces broke to a coppery bitterness of blood and toxins emitted from decomposing bodies--some five days old. Their mouths breathed in a layer of air mixed with the stench of rotting flesh that bubbled from the liquid tomb below."
"The Book of Quint" is split roughly into three sections; the first being the Indianapolis and aftermath, the second being about exactly how Quint got to Amity (with some surprising turns from one character we already know pretty well, and another who appears a few times in the background, and doesn't even speak, but ends up narrating a significant portion of the novel.
This man, Herschel Salvatore, ends up telling us, among other things, just who designed and built Quint's boat The Orca (a bit of a spiritual cousin to Han Solo's Millennium Falcon), on the wreck of a derelict ship. "Bad luck to re-name a ship," is stated a few times, and the other fishermen in Amity look away from Orca as if trying to ward of bad luck. Not so Quint and his first mate Salvatore.
"We sailed over the edge of the undersea shelf and the seafloor dropped off," Dacko, as Salvatore, writes, "the water turned black. The color still makes my skin crawl. It isn't a color as much as it's a window into the netherworld. The edge between death and living right here in front of me. One wrong move, and we could cross over to the other side on this day."
"I looked over the edge into the dark waters of the abyss," Dacko/Salvatore goes on, "and understood it all. After twenty years on this earth, my initiation into this realm of the ancient mariner began here--this borderland of the living where just on the other side is death. It takes a special breed of man to prefer living and working to close to this realm. I am alive and breathing while three feet away exists an entire ocean that wants me dead. Water wanting to fill my lungs and drown the life from my body. Creatures lusting to devour me. The ocean was the color of death and my reflection gazed back at me from it."
Although permission was sought and apparently received from the estate of Peter Benchley as relates to the creation of "The Book of Quint," it is very much a prose sequel to the FILM version of "Jaws," as anyone familiar with the novel-to-movie differences will see within the first pages.
This is an excellent novel. You almost don't have to have seen "Jaws" to appreciate, it just helps an awful lot if you have. I must have seen the film a hundred times in my life, but having now finished this book, I want to see it again. As far as I know, "The Book of Quint" is only available on Amazon, or at least that was the only place I could find it. If you are any kind of a "Jaws" fan, you must check it out!
Ryan Dacko is a licensed underwater welder and worked as a professional commercial deep-sea diver. He is also a US Coast Guard veteran, having served as a search and rescue boat operator in the North Atlantic and on the US Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star from the North Pole to Antarctica.
Mr. Dacko is the host and creator of "The Jaws Obsession" podcast, ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts around the world by ListenNotes.com. He operated an independent film company where he received awards on film festival circuits, having sold his award-winning documentary "Plan 9 from Syracuse" to Netflix in 2007.
Mr. Dacko keeps a writing notebook on the dashboard of his line truck while working as a high-voltage line mechanic, living with his wife and three kids in Syracuse, New York. "The Book of Quint" is his debut novel, not that you'd know it from the writing. All of his experience at sea really and truly shows.
When "Jaws" became, if you'll pardon the pun, such a monster hit in 1975, it didn't take long for talk of a sequel to start. Among the possibilities was a prequel. "The Indianapolis story," so famously performed (and at least partially written) by Robert Shaw, is not only one of the best, and scariest, parts of "Jaws," it remains one of the greatest monologues ever delivered by an actor on film.
That's why one of the possibilities discussed for a "Jaws" sequel was to be the story of Quint as a young man on the Indianapolis. It's a true shame this never happened, especially considering the God awful march of "Jaws" sequels they ended up with, each so much worse than the one before.
One of the best things about "The Book of Quint" is that it actually gives you this prequel in the film's first section, well researched and just about flawlessly written, a portrait of true maritime hell from the perspectives of Quint and his fellow sailors.
"Rolling swells reminded them that death was an inevitability." Dacko writes, "Wherever they looked, severed limbs and half eaten corpses drifted alongside. The oily salt taste of the water that splashed their faces broke to a coppery bitterness of blood and toxins emitted from decomposing bodies--some five days old. Their mouths breathed in a layer of air mixed with the stench of rotting flesh that bubbled from the liquid tomb below."
"The Book of Quint" is split roughly into three sections; the first being the Indianapolis and aftermath, the second being about exactly how Quint got to Amity (with some surprising turns from one character we already know pretty well, and another who appears a few times in the background, and doesn't even speak, but ends up narrating a significant portion of the novel.
This man, Herschel Salvatore, ends up telling us, among other things, just who designed and built Quint's boat The Orca (a bit of a spiritual cousin to Han Solo's Millennium Falcon), on the wreck of a derelict ship. "Bad luck to re-name a ship," is stated a few times, and the other fishermen in Amity look away from Orca as if trying to ward of bad luck. Not so Quint and his first mate Salvatore.
"We sailed over the edge of the undersea shelf and the seafloor dropped off," Dacko, as Salvatore, writes, "the water turned black. The color still makes my skin crawl. It isn't a color as much as it's a window into the netherworld. The edge between death and living right here in front of me. One wrong move, and we could cross over to the other side on this day."
"I looked over the edge into the dark waters of the abyss," Dacko/Salvatore goes on, "and understood it all. After twenty years on this earth, my initiation into this realm of the ancient mariner began here--this borderland of the living where just on the other side is death. It takes a special breed of man to prefer living and working to close to this realm. I am alive and breathing while three feet away exists an entire ocean that wants me dead. Water wanting to fill my lungs and drown the life from my body. Creatures lusting to devour me. The ocean was the color of death and my reflection gazed back at me from it."
Although permission was sought and apparently received from the estate of Peter Benchley as relates to the creation of "The Book of Quint," it is very much a prose sequel to the FILM version of "Jaws," as anyone familiar with the novel-to-movie differences will see within the first pages.
This is an excellent novel. You almost don't have to have seen "Jaws" to appreciate, it just helps an awful lot if you have. I must have seen the film a hundred times in my life, but having now finished this book, I want to see it again. As far as I know, "The Book of Quint" is only available on Amazon, or at least that was the only place I could find it. If you are any kind of a "Jaws" fan, you must check it out!
October 24, 2023
The Book Of Quint is the debut novel of author Ryan Dacko, a fictionalised imagining of the life of one of cinema's most memorable characters- the shark fisherman Quint from Jaws (1975), vividly portrayed by Robert Shaw.
Beginning with a present-tense mystery/puzzle element when a young woman arrives on Amity Island to piece together Quint's life, the story flicks back in time to the 1945 sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the event that transformed Quint from loyal Navy sailor into vengeful shark hunter. The slow-motion disaster of the sinking and the sanguine aftermath as the sailors cling to cargo nets, flotsam and life itself; the precise details of Naval hierarchy and command structure which the sea equalises; the dismal realisation that rescue will not be swift; the merciless marauding sharks picking off the survivors (isn't the cold indifference of nature its most terrifying aspect?) - all these elements are precisely realised and told with dynamic, immersive, economical prose.
We then follow Quint's adventures chronologically as he wades through a PTSD-affected existence, his personality as abrasive as shark skin. Initially he's fog-bound in San Fransisco before a chance encounter leads to an intriguing offer to relocate to a nascent holiday resort- Amity Island. Political intrigues and the murky infusion of money into the island bring additional weight and purpose to the narrative, as the unintended consequences of rampant capitalism (one of the subtext metaphors of the film) play out in full.
Ultimately, this book is a sea adventure in classic style. The pungent, direct flavour of Hemingway's The Old Man & The Sea is notably present where a key memory early in the book foreshadows future events. Jack London's The Sea Wolf is also a style keystone- the titular Quint is reminiscent of London's Wolf Larsen in physicality and self-containment, though happily not in sociopathic tendency. In a further nod to London's book, the author makes full use of a very incidental character in the original film and repurposes the Humphrey Van Weyden trope of a first-person narrator whose propinquity to a powerful presence transforms meek insignificance into sturdy manhood. It's a smartly-utilised literary device which delivers both personal immediacy to the action and effortless exposition.
This book is a sparkling read of trauma, tragedy, stoic resilience and breathless high adventure. Staying faithful to the film's universe, the author expands the scope of Quint's backstory with great skill, imagination and brio. Perhaps this book's biggest achievement from a pure story perspective (in the same way that James Cameron achieved with Titanic) is in its ability to hold the reader in rapt attention, despite already knowing many of the crucial plot points.
Beginning with a present-tense mystery/puzzle element when a young woman arrives on Amity Island to piece together Quint's life, the story flicks back in time to the 1945 sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the event that transformed Quint from loyal Navy sailor into vengeful shark hunter. The slow-motion disaster of the sinking and the sanguine aftermath as the sailors cling to cargo nets, flotsam and life itself; the precise details of Naval hierarchy and command structure which the sea equalises; the dismal realisation that rescue will not be swift; the merciless marauding sharks picking off the survivors (isn't the cold indifference of nature its most terrifying aspect?) - all these elements are precisely realised and told with dynamic, immersive, economical prose.
We then follow Quint's adventures chronologically as he wades through a PTSD-affected existence, his personality as abrasive as shark skin. Initially he's fog-bound in San Fransisco before a chance encounter leads to an intriguing offer to relocate to a nascent holiday resort- Amity Island. Political intrigues and the murky infusion of money into the island bring additional weight and purpose to the narrative, as the unintended consequences of rampant capitalism (one of the subtext metaphors of the film) play out in full.
Ultimately, this book is a sea adventure in classic style. The pungent, direct flavour of Hemingway's The Old Man & The Sea is notably present where a key memory early in the book foreshadows future events. Jack London's The Sea Wolf is also a style keystone- the titular Quint is reminiscent of London's Wolf Larsen in physicality and self-containment, though happily not in sociopathic tendency. In a further nod to London's book, the author makes full use of a very incidental character in the original film and repurposes the Humphrey Van Weyden trope of a first-person narrator whose propinquity to a powerful presence transforms meek insignificance into sturdy manhood. It's a smartly-utilised literary device which delivers both personal immediacy to the action and effortless exposition.
This book is a sparkling read of trauma, tragedy, stoic resilience and breathless high adventure. Staying faithful to the film's universe, the author expands the scope of Quint's backstory with great skill, imagination and brio. Perhaps this book's biggest achievement from a pure story perspective (in the same way that James Cameron achieved with Titanic) is in its ability to hold the reader in rapt attention, despite already knowing many of the crucial plot points.
April 27, 2025
I’m a person who rarely awards anything full marks, I often feel that even when I’ve read an excellent book or watched a captivating film, there was always something that I felt could have been improved.
The Book Of Quint was a rare exception.
Ryan Dacko had his work cut out. My expectations were high due to my absolute love of the Jaws story - I consider myself a bit of an obsessive. Having said that, I am a keen listener of his Jaws Obsession podcast and the depth to which he probes into the Jaws universe is incredible!
When you have grown up loving a film because of its strong characters, a gripping narrative and, in my opinion, the best monologue in cinematic history, anyone willing to tackle a prequel is in my mind, incredibly brave.
It’s a big read, but from the first few pages, I was truly gripped.
The book starts off with an at times visceral depiction of real-life events. I was aware of the USS Indianapolis tragedy, but Dacko has demonstrated his knowledge and immense talent for writing in such a way that I was able to imagine, as best as I could, what it would have been like to be immersed in the drama.
A great read for me is where I’m not only reading the words and making sense of the narrative, I’m picturing the events in incredible detail.
Without giving too much away, the book enabled me to understand how Quint came to be, so much so that by the closing pages, I saw the character with a degree of empathy and loved how he had been fleshed-out. Not so much as a deeply flawed human, but one with a sense of real honour and integrity, ultimately, a person who with all the will in the world could never rid himself of his demons.
My only disappointment was that the book had to end. I purposefully delayed reading the last two chapters.
Can there be any more books to come? Hard to say when the most colourful character in the Jaws story has had his tale told, but for a debut book, Ryan Dacko has proven that he has the capacity to write so much more.
The Book Of Quint was a rare exception.
Ryan Dacko had his work cut out. My expectations were high due to my absolute love of the Jaws story - I consider myself a bit of an obsessive. Having said that, I am a keen listener of his Jaws Obsession podcast and the depth to which he probes into the Jaws universe is incredible!
When you have grown up loving a film because of its strong characters, a gripping narrative and, in my opinion, the best monologue in cinematic history, anyone willing to tackle a prequel is in my mind, incredibly brave.
It’s a big read, but from the first few pages, I was truly gripped.
The book starts off with an at times visceral depiction of real-life events. I was aware of the USS Indianapolis tragedy, but Dacko has demonstrated his knowledge and immense talent for writing in such a way that I was able to imagine, as best as I could, what it would have been like to be immersed in the drama.
A great read for me is where I’m not only reading the words and making sense of the narrative, I’m picturing the events in incredible detail.
Without giving too much away, the book enabled me to understand how Quint came to be, so much so that by the closing pages, I saw the character with a degree of empathy and loved how he had been fleshed-out. Not so much as a deeply flawed human, but one with a sense of real honour and integrity, ultimately, a person who with all the will in the world could never rid himself of his demons.
My only disappointment was that the book had to end. I purposefully delayed reading the last two chapters.
Can there be any more books to come? Hard to say when the most colourful character in the Jaws story has had his tale told, but for a debut book, Ryan Dacko has proven that he has the capacity to write so much more.
September 29, 2025
Omg this was exactly what I was looking for!! Watched Jaws this summer for the first time and fell in love, especially with Quint. Robert Shaw is an amazing actor and Quint is such a cool character. For a movie that's been out for a while, there is a surprising lack of current fandom online which is my favorite part of watching something new. This book fits the bill perfectly. It has subtle call-backs and not-so-subtle call-backs to the movie, backstory exploration, historical tie-ins, character development and fleshing out, adventure, heartache, and more. While I wasn't sold on Hershel's perspective at the beginning, I fell in love with him. Their relationship was so so sweet and I teared up many times. He is the reason you will love this book. The narrator also wasn't my favorite for the first 1/3, but it grew on me and I really like the accents and impressions he does. My only complaint is that it wasn't a touch more fan-servicey and explored how much Hooper cared about Quint. Wishful dreaming lol. So good!!
October 28, 2023
The Quintessential Jaws prequel novel! This is an amazing story, told with the deepest respect and affection for what many consider to be the greatest movie of all time. Beginning with the harrowing aftermath of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and following the unforgettable Quint as his life takes him from San Francisco to Amity Island, this is a tale that has been crying out to be told, and is told so well. The lone protagonist out for his own brand of justice is reminiscent of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, but The Book Of Quint does so much more, crammed as it is with Jaws Easter eggs that will bring huge smiles of the faces of Jaws fans the world over. Read this book, then watch Jaws, and the way you see that movie will have been changed forever. I cannot recommend The Book Of Quint highly enough, and it deserves to be made into a movie itself.
September 14, 2025
Closer to 4 1/2 ⭐️
Loved this interpretation of a pre-Jaws Quint and how he came to be on Amity Island. The first part, told in Quint’s voice was great. So much detail and fear put into the reader’s mind with the aftermath of the USS Indianapolis’ sinking and the fight for survival afterwards. Part two, told in the voice of Quint’s first mate, Herschel, was almost equally as good except I found some parts to have too much detail about nothing important to the story and, in my mind, didn’t add anything to the overall book. Could have done without it.
If you are a fan of Jaws, this is definitely worth a read/listen. It made me want more at the end of the story.
Added note: the prologue and epilogue were…interesting. They weren’t bad but I can’t say they were good, particularly the epilogue. The prologue did do a good job of setting you up into the main story though.
Loved this interpretation of a pre-Jaws Quint and how he came to be on Amity Island. The first part, told in Quint’s voice was great. So much detail and fear put into the reader’s mind with the aftermath of the USS Indianapolis’ sinking and the fight for survival afterwards. Part two, told in the voice of Quint’s first mate, Herschel, was almost equally as good except I found some parts to have too much detail about nothing important to the story and, in my mind, didn’t add anything to the overall book. Could have done without it.
If you are a fan of Jaws, this is definitely worth a read/listen. It made me want more at the end of the story.
Added note: the prologue and epilogue were…interesting. They weren’t bad but I can’t say they were good, particularly the epilogue. The prologue did do a good job of setting you up into the main story though.
April 15, 2025
I grew up with a dad and uncle who were passionate recreational shark fishermen, so the Jaws VHS tape was watched over and over and over when I was growing up. It was super exciting when I heard this book was being written. Let me say, in no uncertain terms, that Ryan Dacko’s THE BOOK OF QUINT not only does the character justice, but it exceeded my expectations and then some. Sucks you in from sentence #1 thru the last sentence of the epilogue. It reels the reader in, ba dum tsssk, and really sews together so many of the storyline components that the avid fan has been waiting for going on close to 50 years.
Probably the best prequel novel I’ve ever read.
Probably the best prequel novel I’ve ever read.
July 31, 2025
I’m a big big fan of Jaws (the movie), so I was really excited to get into ’Quint’ and it did not disappoint. This is basically more detailed retelling of all the stories Quint tells or even just mentions in the movie. Starting with a deep dive into the sinking of the Indianapolis, it also covers the arm wrestling injury, St Paddy’s Day, working with Salvatore, how Quint came to Amity after the war, and of course, some great sharkin’! It is a little bloody, to be expected with the subject matter. I’m gonna treat it as canon in the Jaws universe, because to me, everything lined up, in tens of story telling, tone, and scale of adventure. If you like JAWS, read this book!
December 31, 2023
As soon as I learned of this prequel to the greatest movie ever made, I had to order it. From the very first couple of pages I was completely captivated. The author treats us with so many fine details and links to the movie and ties together all them little classic one liners and anecdotes from the film. All the way through it puts the reader right there alongside the characters and it pays a very emotional tribute to the heroes on the Indianapolis. The last page left me with my mouth wide open and a little tear in my eye.
This would make an outstanding movie!
This would make an outstanding movie!
July 5, 2025
5/5✨
I couldn’t tell you the first time I saw JAWS. It’s been a force in my life longer than I can remember. I read the book in early adulthood and found myself in a unique situation where I enjoyed the movie more. This book fit in with the canon of the film. This book gives us the opportunity to explore a fantastic character from a point of view we weren’t previously granted. Quint is complex, accidentally funny, and hardened in away many don’t understand. This book was just stunning—also read it then rewatch JAWS. It’s quite the experience.
I couldn’t tell you the first time I saw JAWS. It’s been a force in my life longer than I can remember. I read the book in early adulthood and found myself in a unique situation where I enjoyed the movie more. This book fit in with the canon of the film. This book gives us the opportunity to explore a fantastic character from a point of view we weren’t previously granted. Quint is complex, accidentally funny, and hardened in away many don’t understand. This book was just stunning—also read it then rewatch JAWS. It’s quite the experience.
July 16, 2025
I liked this book a lot. Split into a few sections; Quint’s granddaughter looking back - which I could take or leave, the Indianapolis, Quint’s first mate Herschel’s origin and then a final big shark hunt, which felt a lot more like Jaws tonally than the rest of the book. Without the Jaws connection I would have still enjoyed the story, though at times it felt like going through a checklist of details from the movie and explaining them. Also every couple of pages it seemed to bring up how grotesquely, deformedly short Herschel was, which was weird.
August 17, 2025
I enjoyed most of the middle of this book. The first 12 chapters are a fictionalized version of your average documentary covering the plight of the Indianapolis. Exhausting and unnecessarily verbose. I starting skipping full chapters out of boredom.
The middle is a great attempt to provide further depth to such a mysterious character by taking a deeper dive into some of the back story provided in the movie.
The last several chapters are a tired rip-off of Old Man and the Sea, really lacking any semblance of an imagination.
3 stars and I stand by it.
The middle is a great attempt to provide further depth to such a mysterious character by taking a deeper dive into some of the back story provided in the movie.
The last several chapters are a tired rip-off of Old Man and the Sea, really lacking any semblance of an imagination.
3 stars and I stand by it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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