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Buck Reilly's in Jamaica and back in the treasure hunting business--until some old enemies ace him out. Fortunately for Buck, a beautiful University professor with ancient Maroon secrets about Captain Henry Morgan's huge stash, missing for hundreds of years, lures him back to the chase. Thrust into turbulent waters where trust is as elusive as the treasure itself, Buck's knocked further off course with the appearance of the one-time love of his life. The heat of Maroon Rising jumps off the page as Buck ricochets from the pirate enclave of Port Royal--once the Wickedest City on Earth--to the Blue Mountains, GoldenEye, white sand beaches and the lush Cockpit Country of Jamaica. The conclusion will change Buck's life forever.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2015

384 people are currently reading
1318 people want to read

About the author

John H. Cunningham

23 books257 followers
John H. Cunningham, outdoorsman, world traveler, and aviation enthusiast, is a commercial real estate professional and former editor. He splits his time between Virginia, New York and Key West with his wife and two daughters. His books include RED RIGHT RETURN, GREEN TO GO, CRYSTAL BLUE, SECOND CHANCE GOLD, MAROON RISING, FREE FALL TO BLACK, SILVER GOODBYE, WHITE KNIGHT, and THE LAST RAFT.

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5 stars
577 (56%)
4 stars
319 (31%)
3 stars
102 (10%)
2 stars
9 (<1%)
1 star
8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Erin Seidemann.
Author 1 book14 followers
August 14, 2016
Always an enjoyable adventure

Once again, I'm sad the latest Buck Reilly adventure is over, and I'm already looking forward to the next one. The tales of treasure hunting, swashbucking, damsel in distress rescuing, and flying never disappoint!
224 reviews3 followers
December 28, 2015
First of all I would like to thank Goodreads, the publisher and Mr.Cunningham for giving me the opportunity to read this book. The cover states that the book is "A BUCK REILLY ADVENTURE" and an adventure it was. The book was fast paced and flowed well. I am happy to have entered the world of Buck Reilly and and look forward to reading the others in the series. This was a fun read
13 reviews
December 1, 2015
The best of the Buck Rielly series.

This book is the best of Buck Rielly series. Well written and you will not want to put it down until the last page. Looking for more of this author's fine work.
This book is exciting and fun to read.
Profile Image for Tony Flood.
10 reviews5 followers
February 6, 2016
Buck Reilly takes us to Jamaica! Filled with action, romance, danger, history, comedy and revenge! Another fantastic adventure by John Cunningham. Cant wait to fly co-pilot on the next Buck Reilly adventure! where will he take us next? Great and fun read!
Profile Image for Get Red PR Books.
28 reviews18 followers
February 5, 2016
Cunningham's Buck Reilly Adventures are ALWAYS entertaining. Great vacation reads.
Profile Image for Melissa Dinwiddie.
268 reviews14 followers
May 27, 2017
A Modern-Day Indiana Jones

Buck Reilly has a past he's not so proud of, as "King" Buck, the not-so-ethical treasure hunter who made quite a name for himself, scored a trophy wife, mounds of cash, and then ended up losing it all.

Now he's on the losing end again, this time to his double-crossing ex-business partner, Jack, who somehow manages to win the rights to search for missing treasure in the waters off Jamaica, even though Buck is a changed man, and his proposal offered to give a healthy chunk of the proceeds back to the Jamaican people.

To add insult to injury, Jack is in a relationship with Buck's ex-wife, and even worse, he also has Buck's beloved amphibious plane, Betty.

Meanwhile, Buck has been forbidden from setting foot on Jamaica, but multiple people keep calling him back, and eventually he succumbs to the temptation.

He's a treasure hunter, after all, and there is a mother lode of treasure to be found. And all manner of danger between Buck and said treasure.

And a brilliant — and sexy — Maroon archaeology professor, Nanny Adou, who may not be what she seems.

A fun read, with lots of twists and turns, and wonderful incorporation of Jamaican history and real-life characters.

My only real complaint was how quickly Nanny jumped into bed with Buck. Really??? She'd have sex with him after three days, to *apologize*??? Come ON? I mean, I know it fits the Bond theme, but it really had me rolling my eyes.

Other than that, a rollicking page turner.
Profile Image for Satrajit Sanyal.
572 reviews3 followers
July 10, 2017
Buck Reilly has a past he's not so proud of, as "King" Buck, the not-so-ethical treasure hunter who made quite a name for himself, scored a trophy wife, mounds of cash, and then ended up losing it all.

Now he's on the losing end again, this time to his double-crossing ex-business partner, Jack, who somehow manages to win the rights to search for missing treasure in the waters off Jamaica, even though Buck is a changed man, and his proposal offered to give a healthy chunk of the proceeds back to the Jamaican people.

To add insult to injury, Jack is in a relationship with Buck's ex-wife, and even worse, he also has Buck's beloved amphibious plane, Betty.

Meanwhile, Buck has been forbidden from setting foot on Jamaica, but multiple people keep calling him back, and eventually he succumbs to the temptation.

He's a treasure hunter, after all, and there is a mother lode of treasure to be found. And all manner of danger between Buck and said treasure.

And a brilliant — and sexy — Maroon archaeology professor, Nanny Adou, who may not be what she seems.

A fun read, with lots of twists and turns, and wonderful incorporation of Jamaican history and real-life characters.

My only real complaint was how quickly Nanny jumped into bed with Buck. Really??? She'd have sex with him after three days, to *apologize*??? Come ON? I mean, I know it fits the Bond theme, but it really had me rolling my eyes.

Other than that, a rollicking page turner.
489 reviews6 followers
July 20, 2017
Maroon Rising (Buck Reilly series #5)

Buck is drawn to Jamaica by his friend, Noony, to help with the artifacts, maps, and other clues to Captain Morgan's missing treasure in spite of all the mishaps in book four and the threat of death or imprisonment from the Jamaican government and his former partner, Jack Dobson and his new salvage partner, Gunner. After arriving in Jamaica, Buck submits his bid to restore the sunken Pearl Harbor artifacts and recover any treasure found. To his and Noony's surprise, the bid goes to Jack and Gunner. What happens next will keep you on the edge of your seat, as Buck and Ray and others finally figure out where the actual treasure is located, recovered, and Buck Reilly ends up with the greatest treasure of all, "BETTY," which was restored by gunner in Cuba. The treasure goes to the furthering of education of Jamaican children and a better life for future generations. Buck comes back to the keys a little richer, and two sea planes, Betty and the Beast. Thanks for a great read.
Profile Image for Eric.
32 reviews3 followers
May 6, 2022
This is book 5 in the Buck Reilly series. A action adventure series about a treasure hunter gone bankrupt and his amphibious airplane. They need to be read in order due to reoccurring plot lines and characters.

Buck is trying to win the dig rights for an under water treasure in Jamaica. His competition is his ex business partner. Out of luck buck leaves Jamaica and is lured back by a good looking professor and a charter. From there on race is on to who can find Henry Morgan’s lost treasure first. Of course his ex partner and gunner are up to their usually tactics and buck finds a new love interest. The end of the book buck is reunited with an old friend.

I think this book is better than the first few and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. It was kinda hard to believe Gunner and bucks ex parter could use guns shoot and buck out in the open with zero discipline from the authorities but with all these books you have to have a pretty big suspension of disbelief. All in all a quick fun read.
Profile Image for Donna Bresnak.
133 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2023
i won this book for free from goodreads. it was an adventure story, comparing itself to an indiana jones story of archeology and treasure hunting, with a nod toward saving historical items for the public.
overall, i enjoyed this story. it was filled with villains who meant harm to the protagonist. in the tradition of such thrilling rides, he gets beat up and shot at but manages to overcome bruises and concussion by drinking rum and exerting himself to furthur damage. even through this improbable adventure he solves a mystery, using maps, and involving a history professor to finally achieve a happy ending.
if you enjoy thrills in your mystery stories you might enjoy this one. it is one of a series, but works as a stand alone too.
542 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2017
Maroon Rising is the 5th book in the action adventure Buck Reilly series. Buck is a treasure hunter holdup in Key West, FL licking his wounds after a hot lead on sunken Maroon treasure in Port Royal is awarded to his ex-business partner. He has all but given up until a beautiful university professor lures him back to the tropical paradise of Jamaica. A paradise until he runs up against his ex-wife, his ex-business partner's new gun wielding muscle, and a whole slew of characters trying to get their hands on millions of dollars worth of buried treasure that may or may not even exist. This is a fun read and I look forward to going back and reading the other Buck Reilly adventures.
Profile Image for Jeff Benham.
1,710 reviews11 followers
May 24, 2017
WOWser is this good! Buck bids for a permit to locate Captain Morgan's (The pirate, not the rum) treasure that is rumored to be hidden in Jamaica. Even though he had the best bid, the project went to his ex-partner. Maybe a bit of purposeful misdirection as there is no treasure to be found in the area included in the permit. There is a different group, however, with possibly a much nobler use for the money from the treasure and they hire Buck to help solve the puzzle. Just a very well researched and enjoyable read!
922 reviews11 followers
May 19, 2017
A Fun Action-Packed Tale

Cunningham does a good job of grabbing the reader's attention and holding it with his realistic characters and graphic scene descriptions. He makes you feel like you're there. However, as a current Flight Instructor and Advanced Ground Instructor, I question his aviation knowledge after reading us inaccurate terminology and use of flight controls to maneuver the aircraft. Still, it's worth the read.
Profile Image for Kate.
398 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2017
Formula genre fiction - Buck Reilly is a treasure hunter who encounters beautiful women and bad guys in exotic places. Very readable in an transit lounge kind of way, well researched for the history/archaeology/geography and anthropology of the place. In this one, set in Jamaica, there is predictably rum and a beautiful woman. Storyline is a little contrived.
315 reviews11 followers
September 5, 2023
This is a fast paced, easy to read thriller. Authors uses twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and wondering what next? This was the first Buck Reilly Adventure book I've read and while not having the storyline background from previous books, the author gives you enough to make it a good read on its own.
Profile Image for Alan Carlson.
289 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2023
Reilly's adventures took me back to my three years in Jamaica, in the mid-90s. Fascinating fact: Strawberry Hill is less than an hour from Kingston's international airport (Norman Manley), and just 13 km from the edge of Kingston proper. But it feels light-years away.

This would have been a great book to while away the time in airports and commercial flights.
Profile Image for mattie townzen.
4 reviews
May 6, 2017
This is an outstanding read

I loved every minute of this book . Would like more of the same , great subject matter . It keeps you wondering what is going to happen next .
Profile Image for James P. Conard.
13 reviews2 followers
May 6, 2017
Treasure hunting adventure in Jamaica

Highly enjoyable story of the Betty and the Beast aircraft in the sun and sand beaches of Jamaica don't for get the adventure and rush of the hunt of hidden treasure to top it off
38 reviews
May 7, 2017
Review of Maroon Rising

I took a chance and read Maroon Rising because it was free. I can't wait to pay for the first four books in the series and read them because this book was so good.
32 reviews
May 13, 2017
OK

A rapidly moving story that requires a healthy dose of ”willing suspension of disbelief” as Buck careens through one tight spot after another. Don’t expect too much and you won’t be disappointed
Profile Image for Jeanne  Brewer.
272 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2017
Great fun while learning about Jamaica's history

Rip roaring treasure hunt with engaging, well drawn characters and lots and lots of action. Will definitely watch for more Buck Reilly adventures.
24 reviews
April 15, 2020
An Intriguing, Suspenseful, Mystery

Each adventure Buck Reilly takes you on is better than the last.
Moon Rising certainly fills that billing.
As with all his adventures across the tropics, you'll feel like your riding side by side with Buck in another epic adventure! 👍👍👊🤙🤙
7 reviews
May 15, 2025
Another Fantastic Buck Reilly Adventure

John H. Cunningham has been blessed with a special gift as a writer. He catches you from the first paragraph and doesn’t disappoint through to the end.

Looking forward to the next in the series.
156 reviews10 followers
May 6, 2017
Fantastic book

This book delivers on it's promise of excitement intrigue and great story writing. Enjoy this well researched and we'll written story
Profile Image for Deuard.
59 reviews
May 30, 2017
First read

It is a quick read. A pretty simple plot and it has good flow. I liked that historical elements were included.
Profile Image for Mark Heath.
375 reviews2 followers
May 31, 2017
Really enjoyed this book. A good adventure story.
150 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2017
A great adventure!

The author takes you on a wild ride through the history of Jamaica, in search of Captain Jack Morgan's hidden treasure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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