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Sharkman: A True Story

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In 1992, mechanic Peter Hauser and two friends bought three old cars and set off from southern Germany to cross the Sahara and drive to Togo, where they planned to sell their vehicles.

They never reached their destination. The young, free-wheeling adventurers were ambushed by Tuareg bandits on the Algeria-Mali border, kidnapped and disappeared into the vast nothingness of the desert.

Thirty years later, Peter Hauser lives in a tent between jungle and ocean on a remote archipelago in Southern Thailand. Every day, Peter heads out into the deep blue to swim with tiger sharks, apex predators and masters over life and death, to find out what fear means to all of us.

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2024

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4 people want to read

About the author

Tom Vater

37 books39 followers
Tom Vater is a writer, editor & publisher working predominantly in Asia.
Tom has published six novels, The Devil’s Road to Kathmandu, currently available in English and Spanish, The Cambodian Book of the Dead, released by Crime Wave Press in Asia and world wide in July 1013 by Exhibit A as well as two follow-ups, The Man with the Golden Mind, out with Exhibit A in March 2014 and now with Next Chapter and The Monsoon Ghost Image (2018), also out with Next Chapter. In 2019, the Goethe Institute Kolkata and the city of Kolkata selected Tom to take part in the Indo European Art Residency - his novella collection Kolkata Noir is the result. In 2022, Next Chapter published Tom's eco thriller, The Green Panthers.
Tom has written for The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The South China Morning Post, Marie Claire, Geographical, Penthouse etc.
From 2012 to 2021, he was co-owner of Crime Wave Press, a Hong Kong based English language crime fiction imprint.
He has published several non-fiction books, including the highly acclaimed Sacred Skin with photographer Aroon Thaewchatturat, and the more recent Burmese Light with photographer Hans Kemp.
His True Crime title SHARKMAN was an instant Amazon bestseller when it came out in 2024.
Tom is the co-author of several documentary screenplays, most notably The Most Secret Place On Earth, a feature on the CIA’s covert war in 1960s Laos.
In his spare time, he plays in Rock’nRoll bands, swims with sharks & reads Noir fiction.

You can follow him on his Facebook page or on Clippingsr.

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for CHenry Roi.
173 reviews78 followers
April 27, 2024
This is an adventure story. My favorite part was the fast driving though the desert, experience behind the method and madness. The setting, Mali and the Sahara in the early 90s, came to life with Tom's journalist style of giving a bit of history on an area and its people so you know how that place came to be how it was. The characters quickly became like old friends I knew decades ago, and I felt regret that I didn't get to go with them on this particular night. The villains, the Tuareg bandits, weren't evil people, they were just surviving the only way they knew how—by taking whatever they could get away with taking. After experiencing such a thing, I can see why the man telling the story to Tom, Peter Hauser, has no fear of swimming with tiger sharks at his present home. Remarkable short tale, and nary an error in the text or telling.
Profile Image for Sandra Vdplaats.
588 reviews18 followers
June 11, 2024
In 1992, mechanic Peter Hauser and two friends bought three old cars and set off from southern Germany to cross the Sahara and drive to Togo,where they planned to sell their vehicles.They never reached their destination. The young, free-wheeling adventurers were ambushed by Tuareg bandits on the Algeria-Mali border,
kidnapped and disappeared into the vast nothingness of the desert.

Thirty years later, Peter Hauser lives in a tent between jungle and ocean on a remote archipelago in Southern Thailand. Every day, Peter heads out into the deep blue to swim with tiger sharks, apex predators and masters over life and death, to find out what fear means to all of us.

This book was such a treat and a joy to read. The cover is very intriguing, sharks in the desert? With a mere 50 pages, this is a very fast read, and one might wonder if this could be classified as a memoir, a travelogue, or an adventure novel?
What an incredible story!
From the comfort of my armchair, I was witness to an unlikely travelogue of three friends recounting their perilous adventure. I was completely captivated by their desert adventure. Thankfully, I was spared the food, the mosquitoes and the chaos!
(note: The men undertook this journey at a time of great political unrest in the region (the Touarag rebellion(s)).

The story begins with Peter, who likes to spend his winters in Thailand, on Koh Surin. Koh Surin is a group of islands just south of the Myanmar border, separated by a strait you can walk across at low tide. It is known as a diver's paradise among true diving enthusiasts. It has an almost Jurassic atmosphere and Peter spends his days in his hammock dreaming of swimming with tiger sharks. Peter has always lived an adventurous life, always wanting to go off the beaten track, always wanting to see what fear could teach him.

This short book tells the fascinating and almost implausible travel story of Peter, who sets off on a journey across the desert with two friends in a Peugeot 504.
Previous trips have often ended badly for the adventurers.
The two friends can take two different routes, the Tanezrouft to Mali, a long 1,000-mile route to Mali or the shorter but more dangerous Hoggar route through Niger. (N.b I regret that the book does not include a map of the route the men took).
I find it incredible that the author has managed to tell the story of this adventurous and dangerous journey in just 50 pages and at the same time has managed to tell some interesting facts. Indeed, at the time of this journey, there was great political unrest in the area and the Touareg were in the midst of a struggle for freedom. In the end, the Toeareg spread out over Algeria, Libya, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

I knew of the Touareg - or Kel Tagelmoust - a nomadic herding people. The men (but not the women!) are veiled in indigo cloth. Little did I know, for example, that the dye leeches out and eventually turns the men's skin blue. Hence the name 'blue men'. There is a car brand named after them, so the men regularly have to swallow references to the war and Hitler as they travel. They set off with a trunk full of beer and clothes; problems were solved with bribes in the form of German beer and clothes.
What I didn't know was that you had to drive at a brisk pace at all times, otherwise the car would get stuck in the sand. The men had a solution for that too....
Unfortunately, they ended up getting captured by the Toeareg. They have to live on pieces of meat in goat's blood for days before they are released.
This life-changing experience is an account of that adventure, with an afterword by Peter Hauser.

Incredibly exciting adventure story, for a moment I imagined myself in the Sahara, but when I read about ‘green sheep’ (putrefaction) I was glad I could make a cup of tea in my mosquito-free house after reading this. But for a brief moment, I found myself in the middle of the Sahara, sharing their hardship.

Hugely entertaining and interesting. Highly recommended!

Profile Image for Mariel.
374 reviews13 followers
June 11, 2024
Sharkman: A True Story
by Tom Vater

I received a complimentary copy from Henry Roi PR and Black Coffee Book Tours and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Tom Vater's gripping book, "Sharkman: A True Story," is based on the real-life experiences of Peter Hauser, who is also known as Sharkman. In the early 90s, Peter and two of his close friends embarked on an extraordinary journey across the Sahara desert. Originally from Germany, Peter always sought excitement and adventure in life, and they didn't hesitate to drive across the desert in three old cars. Life was an adventure, and that's exactly what they experienced on their journey.


The book has everything a reader could ask for. It's a fairly short story that includes themes of facing death, joy, friendship, and much more. It was a worthwhile experience to read about how unburdened the main character's life was, and how the trio survived threats from bandits known as the Tuareg, among other adversities. I found the portrayal of their friendship, where they watched out for one another, to be the most endearing quality of the book—a rarity in today's society. It was a pleasure to read about how they treated every person they came across with respect, even when language was a barrier.

With all of his adventures, it's no wonder that Peter turned to the thrill of diving with Tiger sharks in Thailand as another adventure. I rate the book five out of five stars. It was a delightful read that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout its short length. The author did an excellent job of explaining and presenting each scenario in a unique way, which made me wonder and envision what life was like during their experiences in Africa. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about true events. It's a quick read that will delight all readers.
Profile Image for pastiesandpages - Gavin.
482 reviews13 followers
June 10, 2024
At 50 pages this is a quick read and well worth your time. A real true life adventure tale. Peter Hauser is the Sharkman of the title. Spending months in Thailand each year and swimming with sharks his wanderlust has not diminished over the years. It's during one of these sojourns that he recounts his story to Tom Vater and from many hours of interviews and notes and research Tom has put together this true life account.

Thirty years previously in 1992, Peter and two friends from southern Germany set off to drive across the Sahara to Togo. A brutal environment that would test their endurance and driving skills and leave them no choice but to sell their vehicles on arrival.
The problem was that they never reached Togo. Caught up in the local conflicts they were ambushed and kidnapped by Tuareg bandits on the Algeria-Mali border.
Their travel adventure suddenly became a terrifying life and death situation out in the vast nothingness of the desert.

It makes for an intense, fast paced read, especially knowing this actually happened. The narrative flits about in the time period and also gives background information on the political situation going on in the countries at the time. It's a lot to fit in and could easily have been expanded into a novel but Tom keeps it brief, quick and to the point with this thought provoking, informative and intense non-fiction novella.

The events really show Peter's mindset and how he conquered his fear. Swimming with sharks doesn't seem so scary after you've stared death in the face in the desert.

Thank you very much to Henry Roi PR and Black Coffee Book Tours for providing the ecopy and giving me something completely different to enjoy.
Profile Image for Donna.
Author 14 books36 followers
June 10, 2024
Sharkman is a gripping true-life adventure recounted by Tom Vater. The plot transports readers to the early 1990s in Mali and the Sahara, where Peter Hauser and two of his friends make a unique but dangerous journey. A thrill ride that became a little more thrilling than any of them expected.

Vater paints this harrowing tale within a rich historical framework. I enjoyed learning new things like how they drove across the desert carrying metal sheets in their vehicles to give them traction when needed, how borders weren’t well defined, and all these details came into play. The vivid descriptions of Hauser's distressing escapade had me on the edge of my seat as the trio comes face-to-face with Tuareg bandits in the unforgiving desert. Through Hauser's recollections, the characters come alive, and the line between friend and foe blurs, portraying a nuanced depiction of survival in a harsh landscape. As Hauser's story unfolds, it becomes clear how confronting death shapes one's perspective on life, evident in Hauser's present-day fearlessness, such as swimming with tiger sharks in Thailand.

Vater's skillful storytelling captures the essence of human resilience amidst adversity, offering readers a riveting read that resonates long after the final page. With its blend of danger, historical context, and introspection, this novella is a must-read for mature audiences seeking an adventure that transcends time and place. I give it 5 stars and recommend it to those looking for a real-life experience that keeps the pages turning.
* * *
As BookHookup I received a free review copy of this book from Black Coffee Book Tours but was not compensated for reviewing or recommending it.
Author 1 book89 followers
May 24, 2024
When one has stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale, the rest of their life takes on a different appearance. Peter Hauser attempted to travel across Africa with two friends in 1992, but their journey became a harrowing experience that continued to resonate in their minds even thirty years later. Now, Peter spends most winters in southern Thailand where he can swim with tiger sharks and embrace each day for what it can give. This intriguing novel brings readers on a journey through a true story from Peter Hauser’s life. Told through narratives that occur at various points in Hauser’s journey, this book makes readers work hard to reveal the central theme of the plot, but the events are interesting nonetheless. Moments of danger and peril are described in the text as Peter and his companions attempt to escape from the clutches of desert bandits known as the Tuareg. Though there are no official chapters in this short novel, the shifts in time demarcated by appropriate headings help to break up the narrative. A helpful, though brief, discussion of events happening in Africa in 1992 provides historical context for readers who may or may not be well versed in the political unrest in Africa at the time in which this novel takes place. There is no strong language in this book, but the subject matter, level of danger, and drug references make the novel best suited to mature readers. This is a unique, accessible story that will appeal to mature readers who thirst for adventure and share Peter Hauser’s level of wanderlust.
Profile Image for Holly.
391 reviews7 followers
June 9, 2024
This book was extremely fast paced, adventurous and chaotic as we follow three friends on their travels through Africa in the 90's. The reader will be left on the edge of their seat as our wanderlust seeking adventurers face many scary and often unbelievable moments on their journey.

This book is not what I would usually pick up, but the premise caught my eye and interested me greatly. This is a retelling of the experiences that Peter Hauser and his friends experienced while travelling together. I wanted to love this short story so much as someone who constantly itches for adventure and excitement on travels. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much as expected and I struggled to get into the actual story.

Sharkman was a wonderfully written piece of work, but for such a short novel, there was too much information and politics within the story. I felt like it could be fleshed out a little more and expanded on. Often times it was too fast paced for such an information heavy and factual story.

I would genuinely love to read more about Hauser's adventures as he seems to be living the dream life. I just hope that if I do, it is part of a longer piece of work with more back story on his friends, the lands he has travelled, the people he met and less on the politics.

Thank you so much to Black Coffee, Henry Roi for this RC in exchange for a completely honest review.
Profile Image for Celeste Wilson.
40 reviews5 followers
June 18, 2024
A story of survival in the Sahara Desert during a rebellion. A novella.

Survival After Adventure

The adventure started in 1992 when three German friends decide to each buy a car and drive across the Sahara desert from Morocco to Togo via Algeria and Mali. An area in northwest Africa. Unfortunately their timing could not have been worse.

Peter had attempted this trip 2 years prior and felt that they’d be safe. However, a rebellion against the government was growing in northern Mali. The Sahara Tuareg tribesman were willing to kidnap foreigners and take what they could to survive. Just north in Algeria, the miliary was about to annul the current parliament and lawlessness was rife.

The Tuarag rebellion, and a drought threatened their way of life. The tribesman became vigilantes in the desert and this is what Peter and his friends drove into when they were kidnapped and robbed.

This story is about their fight for survival in the middle of a vast desert. Their only tool was hope.

The author tells the story after interviewing Peter who now lives in a tent on the beach of Southern Thailand. He swims with sharks daily to revisit what it means to feel fear.
Profile Image for Stephanie Benoist.
33 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2024

I was invited write a review of this gripping true story. "Sharkman" is about three friends facing adversity and danger traveling through sub-saharaian countries of Africa (rather than a lone man facing the great predators of the sea, as its title may suggest).

I have given this book four stars, as the narrative is a bit choppy, but especially because this too-short adventure leaves the reader yearning to find out more about the journey of Sharkman and his companions. It would be truly amazing to read the whole story with more details relating the experiences of these bold desert wayfarers; a kind of modern-day Jules Verne tale - but in fact, the characters are real and these events actually took place.
Profile Image for Lynelle Clark.
Author 58 books176 followers
June 14, 2024
This very brief account of three men’s adventure in Africa just shows again what human persistence can do when you stay positive. Trails can test our strength and send us into a tailspin, but these three men really stood together, showing determination and hope.

Africa can be very harsh; its elements alone can be a very intimidating to foreigners. Add some human elements with guns into the equation can break your spirit. In Sharkman, we see how the three kept it together.

I found the writing very simplistic and to the point, with no real emphasis on the emotional element of it all, and I struggled to really get involved in the characters’ lives. Nevertheless, an interesting story of adventure while getting to know the most beautiful destinations.
Profile Image for Destiny Imperati.
1,038 reviews38 followers
June 14, 2024
☆Fast-paced, enthralling tale☆

Sharkman follows Peter and his 2 pals on what turns out to be a dangerous adventure that will haunt them for years to come.
This riveting short story will leave you almost speechless and wanting more. The author did a wonderful job making this read incredibly engaging for the readers. I felt as if I was a part of the adventure.

Thanks so much to Henry Roi Pr & Black Coffee Book Tours for the ARC copy!
127 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2024
For all this is a very short story, it covers a lot. It is well written and really makes you think about what it would be like to be captured.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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