Hurricane Force

by Tom Cunliffe

“Tom Cunliffe is set to become the Dick Francis of the sea. This highly readable novel is nail-bitingly exciting as well as being very well-written. Exceptionally enjoyable.”
ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
Bestselling author, including No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series

A boat holed in mid-Atlantic, a dodgy job on a fancy yacht, an undertow of eco-vandalism and a sailor with an ugly choice.
When Ian Hordle arrives singlehanded on a remote Caribbean island pumping for his life, he is sucked into the heart of a murky web of underworld greed.

Drawn to a feisty young lawyer, should he sign on with her, the calypso singer and the island schooner-man to fight for a slim chance of saving the community? Or should he choose the obvious option, fix his boat and run?

A straightforward, resourceful man with a moral dilemma that would have vexed Jack Aubrey, an unavoidable voyage to violent death, and the last brutal card dealt by the elements. Only the finest of seamen can hope to survive.

278 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2025

About the author

Tom Cunliffe (born 1947) is a British yachting journalist, author and broadcaster.

Cunliffe has been a regular contributor to Yachting Monthly, Yachting World, Sail magazine, Classic Boat and 'Sailing Today' for many years.

A professional writer since 1986, Cunliffe has won the Best Book of the Sea award twice, for Topsail and Battleaxe and Hand, Reef and Steer.[4] He is author of the important Shell Channel Pilot for the English Channel.

In 2010 he presented the award-winning six-part BBC documentary series, The Boats that Built Britain. He also presented the popular 'Boat Yard' series for Discovery TV. He now has a big following on his Youtube channel, 'Yachts and Yarns'.

Reviews

[Linnea Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cunliffe has written a gripping thriller, set at sea and on a fictional Caribbean island. The author is a master of suspenseful chapter endings, with hints of what is to come. For example, after Ian Hordle has expended almost superhuman effort to keep his wounded boat afloat, the first chapter ends, “Cobbling up a boat in mid-ocean would turn out to be a walk in the park in light of what lay in store over the western horizon.” Although the pacing never flags, serious issues such as difficult ethical choices, corruption, and the impact of tourism on the islands’ environment and inhabitants are integral to the tale. The details about sailing, sailboats, and Caribbean weather add to the tale’s verisimilitude. I’m not qualified to judge, but given the author’s lifetime of sailing expertise, I’m sure the details are accurate. At times, I forgot the story was fiction and pictured Cunliffe himself trying to save his boat. Understanding every bit of the terminology and the details of maneuvering is not essential to enjoying this well-plotted tale, which includes life-threatening situations, memorable characters, and, of course, a bit of romance.

[Zara Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurricane Force is a tense, sea-soaked thriller where survival, greed, and conscience collide. When sailor Ian Hordle limps into a remote Caribbean island with a damaged boat and little left to lose, he’s pulled into a dangerous web of corruption tied to eco vandalism and underworld profiteering.
As Ian becomes involved with a sharp, determined young lawyer, a calypso singer, and a seasoned schooner-man, he faces an agonizing choice: help them fight to save their threatened island community or repair his boat and escape before the storm breaks. With powerful forces closing in and the elements turning deadly, every decision carries life or death consequences.
Fast paced and richly nautical, Hurricane Force blends moral dilemma with high stakes adventure, delivering a gripping tale where only skill, courage, and integrity stand between survival and disaster.

[Josh Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gripping and enjoyable read! Great book with plenty to keep the sailers and non-sailers happy.