Down Island

by Mark R. Hill

This adventure novel is a thrilling story set in the contemporary Caribbean. The author deftly utilizes his sailing experience and knowledge of the region to educate and entertain the reader while delivering a fast-paced tale of drug pirates and narrow escapes. The first half of the book is set in the beautiful British Virgin Islands, followed by a seagoing chase moving south, or "down island" through the Lesser Antilles.

Brothers Doug and Nate Thompson, on their sailboat, Payback, discover a marooned young woman who barely escaped from modern-day pirates. The murderous criminals discover she is still alive and must recapture her. Pursued by the cocaine smugglers' motor trawler, the crew of Payback must survive ocean dangers, sea battles, and romantic entanglements to reach desired safety in Trinidad.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2006

About the author

Mark R. Hill, Sr., M.B.A. (Winthrop University; B.A., Florida State University), is a U.S. Navy submarine veteran who also has been a CPA, a banker, and a retailer. He cruises his sailboat in the West Indies from January to July and spends the hurricane season with his wife in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute drek. The second worst book I have ever read. If there was an option for zero stars that is what I would have rated this junk. I am sorry that I referred to it as a book. I thank the author for his service to our country and plead with him to provide one more. Stop writing.

[Vicki Breeding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirates and sailing! Great adventure!

What a fun read! Not only was this a great adventure that kept me feeling as though I were there, the author is obviously so experienced and knowledgeable! I learned some cool facts about the Caribbean, sailing, weaponry, and tips to keep me alive should I ever find myself deserted on an island! Pirates, crazy island bars and great characters!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want a great summer book for the escapist in all of us?

This is a fun read that takes you on a wild modern day pirate adventure all over the British Virgin Islands and down the Caribbean chain of Islands to the South. For those of you who want to relive your sailing adventures through the BVI or just like a good swash-buckling story that's takes place in Caribbean, this is the book for you. The author keeps the story moving at a good clip and explains the nuances of sailing throughout the Islands in rich detail. I couldn't put it down.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this book to my kindle because I will be going on a sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands in March.
This story was perfect since the characters seem to experience what I will be experiencing in just a few weeks. Great descriptions of the islands and ports of call that I am heading too. Lots of information about sailing in this area.
The story kept me reading even when the sailboat sailed south out of the Virgin Islands.

[Marion Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good vacation read - modern day piracy in the British Virgin Islands - lots of good references to places we visited on a sailing charter last year. Read 1/2 the book on the way out to the Maritimes and finished the other 1/2 on the way back....

[Amy Fairchild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story with lots of island hopping

Good adventure story. Well connected plot line. A little improbable sometimes but that makes it fun. I recommend this book.