What do you think?
Rate this book
Barracuda
Recovering from a gunshot wound he’d received while in the line of duty, NYPD Detective Mick O’Shaughnessy is in need of some relaxing time away from the big city. A vacation in the peaceful, scenic Bikini Atoll, a scuba diver’s paradise, could be the panacea to heal his wounded leg as well as his shattered nerves. Then again, maybe it isn’t. The Majestic Resort Hotel, unfortunately, does not turn out to be the bastion of tranquility Mick had hoped to enjoy. Immediately upon arrival, Micko inadvertently finds himself dropped in the middle of an international money laundering operation, a territorial feud between the island natives and the resort developers, and an impending mob war between the Russian Mafia and the Japanese Yakuza. If that weren’t nerve-wracking enough, the many years of nuclear testing that had taken place in Bikini Atoll after World War II have had an unusual effect on the sea life in the lagoon—and the freakishly large mutant barracuda who dwells there perceives all scuba-diving tourists as lunch meat. Barracuda is a fast-paced story in which international intrigue, environmental catastrophe, and the sense of cultural pride collide. Even on vacation, Mick O’Shaughnessy is a detective at heart, and he refuses to fly away from the chaos in this island paradise until all questions are answered and feelings of safety and justice take over the atoll. The historical significance of the location and the underwater depictions in Barracuda are well researched, with the story incorporating the history of Bikini Atoll in the years after World War II, authentic scuba-diving knowledge, and proper police procedure into its plot, characters, and scenic detail. Barracuda will be enjoyed by readers who appreciate the aquatic action of Jaws, the mob intrigue of The Godfather, and the police procedural sense of The Onion Field.
235 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2007
8 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Mike Monahan
10 books41 followersMike Monahan was born in the Bronx, NY. His father and grandfather were NYC Police officers so it was only natural that he follow the same "calling" and continue the proud family tradition. Scuba diving became a hobby that grew into a passion sending the Bronx cop across the globe in search of famous shipwrecks to explore. Mike Monahan earned the coveted gold detective shield before retiring from the NYPD. He has since turned his police and scuba experiences into writing thriller novels. Barracuda is the first of these novels. New hobbies include sea kayaking, fishing, bike riding, golf, scuba and cruising upstate NY on his motorcycle. The author is living the bachelor life again living in a waterfront condo in NY.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 6, 2008
A satisfyingly complex plot with lots of explicit action
Mike Monahan's "Barracuda" deftly weaves together the storylines of a mutant barracuda, a convalescing NYPD detective, an uneasy alliance between branches of the Russian Mafia and Japanese Yakuza, a brand-spanking-new diving resort, extreme Aussie divers, a couple of geeky scientists, and Bikinian terrorists.
When the above characters all meet up at a Bikini Atoll diving resort, mayhem and bedlam erupt. You have to hang onto your seat, bite your nails, and promise yourself to stay away from the water to get through this fast-moving tale.
Monahan's book is full of explicit action: fighting, diving, terror, and sex. His characters are full-bodied and sympathetic (including the fish) and are faced with plenty of conflict. I especially enjoyed "Professor Two-Times", "Professor Two-Times".
I look forward to more thrilling rides from Monahan's books.
Mike Monahan's "Barracuda" deftly weaves together the storylines of a mutant barracuda, a convalescing NYPD detective, an uneasy alliance between branches of the Russian Mafia and Japanese Yakuza, a brand-spanking-new diving resort, extreme Aussie divers, a couple of geeky scientists, and Bikinian terrorists.
When the above characters all meet up at a Bikini Atoll diving resort, mayhem and bedlam erupt. You have to hang onto your seat, bite your nails, and promise yourself to stay away from the water to get through this fast-moving tale.
Monahan's book is full of explicit action: fighting, diving, terror, and sex. His characters are full-bodied and sympathetic (including the fish) and are faced with plenty of conflict. I especially enjoyed "Professor Two-Times", "Professor Two-Times".
I look forward to more thrilling rides from Monahan's books.
December 17, 2009
The Ultimate Beach Read!
Barracuda is an engaging, fast-paced, fun and exciting thriller that is part detective novel, part Jaws, and part adventure story. The main story takes place in Bikini Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands, and the book begins with a history lesson on this South Pacific paradise that was occupied by various foreign powers in the past, including the Japanese, and then used as a nuclear testing ground back for the U.S. military in the 1940s. Two nuclear bombs were detonated in the lagoon sinking battleships and tons of other military vessels, and this history sets the stage for the events that occur in the story. It was a very interesting history lesson & I quickly found myself on Google Earth checking the region out. Barracuda is also populated by a lively cast of characters, and the main character, a scuba-diving NYPD homicide detective, Micko, is so well developed and alive that he seems like a real person. The author, who I believe shares the protagonist’s background, did a great job in creating a charming, likable, and dynamic character that I would love to see starring in another adventure.
Barracuda is rich with detail, and gives you a great sense of place, both in New York and in Bikini Atoll. You can easily picture events as they are happening, and the story draws you in immediately. Micko is recovering from a gunshot wound that has done physical and emotional damage. His once fierce confidence is shaken so he is encouraged to take a holiday to help the healing process along. Instead of relaxation he finds himself in the center of a maelstrom of criminal and other unusual activity in this tiny, out of the way place. There are multiple competing players and bad guys in the book, including members of the Russian and Japanese mafia, but the most deadly is actually a mutant Barracuda that has been the ravenous innkeeper on a sunken aircraft carrier in the lagoon. Events in the story quickly escalate into murder and mayhem both above and below the water line. There are deep scars of all kinds resulting from the region’s history and the powerful bombs that wreaked havoc on the once pristine atoll.
I found myself rapidly turning the pages in this book and I recommend it for anyone who is a scuba-enthusiast, or is interested in the history of the area, or likes thrillers and adventure novels, or enjoys a detective story – Barracuda has all of that. It really is the ultimate beach read, though it may make your next scuba dive a little more nerve-wracking. It is fun and entertaining at times, yet scary and horrifying at others. It also packs a unique twist in that you see certain events from the Barracuda’s point of view. Nature has been messed with, and the consequences are severe.
Grab a copy of Barracuda and prepare to be entertained!
Rai Aren, co-author of the adventure novel Secret of the Sands
Barracuda is an engaging, fast-paced, fun and exciting thriller that is part detective novel, part Jaws, and part adventure story. The main story takes place in Bikini Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands, and the book begins with a history lesson on this South Pacific paradise that was occupied by various foreign powers in the past, including the Japanese, and then used as a nuclear testing ground back for the U.S. military in the 1940s. Two nuclear bombs were detonated in the lagoon sinking battleships and tons of other military vessels, and this history sets the stage for the events that occur in the story. It was a very interesting history lesson & I quickly found myself on Google Earth checking the region out. Barracuda is also populated by a lively cast of characters, and the main character, a scuba-diving NYPD homicide detective, Micko, is so well developed and alive that he seems like a real person. The author, who I believe shares the protagonist’s background, did a great job in creating a charming, likable, and dynamic character that I would love to see starring in another adventure.
Barracuda is rich with detail, and gives you a great sense of place, both in New York and in Bikini Atoll. You can easily picture events as they are happening, and the story draws you in immediately. Micko is recovering from a gunshot wound that has done physical and emotional damage. His once fierce confidence is shaken so he is encouraged to take a holiday to help the healing process along. Instead of relaxation he finds himself in the center of a maelstrom of criminal and other unusual activity in this tiny, out of the way place. There are multiple competing players and bad guys in the book, including members of the Russian and Japanese mafia, but the most deadly is actually a mutant Barracuda that has been the ravenous innkeeper on a sunken aircraft carrier in the lagoon. Events in the story quickly escalate into murder and mayhem both above and below the water line. There are deep scars of all kinds resulting from the region’s history and the powerful bombs that wreaked havoc on the once pristine atoll.
I found myself rapidly turning the pages in this book and I recommend it for anyone who is a scuba-enthusiast, or is interested in the history of the area, or likes thrillers and adventure novels, or enjoys a detective story – Barracuda has all of that. It really is the ultimate beach read, though it may make your next scuba dive a little more nerve-wracking. It is fun and entertaining at times, yet scary and horrifying at others. It also packs a unique twist in that you see certain events from the Barracuda’s point of view. Nature has been messed with, and the consequences are severe.
Grab a copy of Barracuda and prepare to be entertained!
Rai Aren, co-author of the adventure novel Secret of the Sands
December 20, 2013
I've had this book on my kindle for years, and I decided it was time to read it. There was certainly more to the story than just a killer barracuda on the loose. The middle part of the story, when things were happening and the story was moving forward, held my interest. In the beginning, things moved a little slow, partly due to reasons mentioned in my next paragraph. Near the end of the story, there was so much chaos that I started to lose interest and I realized that I didn’t really care what happened to the characters. I think there was just too much happening at the end. It wasn’t that it was confusing to follow, but rather that I could no longer suspend my disbelief that so many things could all go wrong at once. Also, the events in the story turned into such a gigantic mess of problems that I quit caring about whether everything turned out well for the majority of the characters. Once I quit caring, it was hard to push through to the end.
There were quite a few errors in the book, and the writing was sometimes awkward. For example, there were a couple paragraphs where a character would give a monologue spelling out his plans to somebody in great detail. This needed to be broken up a bit with dialogue, or not be in spoken form at all. Or perhaps better yet, they could have been left out altogether and we could have simply seen how things played out as a result of those unspoken plans. I’m not usually one to complain about too many details in a book, but I thought the detective’s trip to his vacation destination was covered in way too much detail. I kept thinking that it read like a “trip report” that you might read on a vacation forum where people come back after their trip and report everything they did and saw from the moment they left their home. I read a couple such reports once when looking for info on a trip I was planning, and I was bored to tears because they included the minutest details such as what everybody on the trip ate for each meal and descriptions of their interactions with every employee they encountered.
There were quite a few errors in the book, and the writing was sometimes awkward. For example, there were a couple paragraphs where a character would give a monologue spelling out his plans to somebody in great detail. This needed to be broken up a bit with dialogue, or not be in spoken form at all. Or perhaps better yet, they could have been left out altogether and we could have simply seen how things played out as a result of those unspoken plans. I’m not usually one to complain about too many details in a book, but I thought the detective’s trip to his vacation destination was covered in way too much detail. I kept thinking that it read like a “trip report” that you might read on a vacation forum where people come back after their trip and report everything they did and saw from the moment they left their home. I read a couple such reports once when looking for info on a trip I was planning, and I was bored to tears because they included the minutest details such as what everybody on the trip ate for each meal and descriptions of their interactions with every employee they encountered.
October 28, 2009
This book had its good points and its bad points. Thankfully the story line tilted more towards the good side.
Being an ex-diver I appreciated the constant references on dive gear and procedures. Would a non-diver understand them? For the most part yes, although there were certain areas where it heavily counted for the reader to know his stuff, and if he didn't, he would more than likely read over the descriptions.
In terms of the story line, the barracuda part was great. Was definitely eerie and you would see this creature in your mind as you were reading it. The only part that bothered me about it, is that the creatures name was "It". Seeing as how that is a common word used in sentences, it was sometimes confusing to know if you were talking about "It" or if the author was just saying "it" (especially in the beginning of a sentence).
The Russians vs The Japanese Mob story line, was ok. It brought another level to the book, but at times I wanted the book to drop them and just focus on the Barracuda. Mike Monahan did manage to bridge the two story lines together, but it seemed a bit forced. Micko just happened to land on an island with a beast AND mob activity? How much bad luck can happen to someone on vacation?
In terms of the writing in this book, the sentences were a bit fragmented and stilted as if each thought needed its own sentence. If was more evident in some parts than others, but would have read better if it was cleaned up all around.
The last line of the book read "The end...or is it?" I would be curious to read how the author evolves in his next book and where he takes the story of the Barracuda.
March 3, 2011
Still recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg nine months earlier, New York Detective Mick (Micko) O’Shaughnessy could use a holiday. His therapist recommends a scuba diving trip to exercise his leg, and arranges to send him to the relatively unpopulated Shark Alley and Bikini Islands in the South Pacific. Micko isn’t at the Majuro Majestic Hotel and Casino long before he senses trouble. The source of the trouble becomes clear when he meets two scientists marooned on a tiny island after their skiff was sabotaged. Add money laundering, the Japanese Yakuza, and the Russian mafia to the mix, and trouble erupts into danger. But there’s more danger happening beneath the water, and this predator is not only lethal, but clever.
What I liked most about this book is the incredible tension author Mike Monahan creates. Barracuda is a page-turner, and I also liked the way he easily juggles many characters. The other bonus was the author’s knowledge of diving. I’ve never dived, so I found his descriptions of preparation and the potential dangers under water insightful and interesting.
My only problem with the book is the point of view used in the story. Multiple viewpoints are fine, but it was a bit jarring to have the author suddenly tell us things about characters’ backgrounds that should have been revealed through dialogue or inner monologue rather than as the author’s information dumps. Still, this is an entertaining and incredibly suspenseful thriller. Enjoy!
What I liked most about this book is the incredible tension author Mike Monahan creates. Barracuda is a page-turner, and I also liked the way he easily juggles many characters. The other bonus was the author’s knowledge of diving. I’ve never dived, so I found his descriptions of preparation and the potential dangers under water insightful and interesting.
My only problem with the book is the point of view used in the story. Multiple viewpoints are fine, but it was a bit jarring to have the author suddenly tell us things about characters’ backgrounds that should have been revealed through dialogue or inner monologue rather than as the author’s information dumps. Still, this is an entertaining and incredibly suspenseful thriller. Enjoy!
March 13, 2018
It was an interesting crime scene and location. I liked the action, and plot. The twists and turns keep your attention, and wanting more. I don't know much about diving, but they explain it enough to be easily understood.
March 25, 2018
2.5 stars for suspense. Won from a giveaway at Goodreads. A NYC detective takes a vacation in the South Pacific to recuperate from an injury. A barracuda is trapped within a sunken battleship from WWII and grows to enormous size. Unrealistic and poor writing even though suspenseful at times.
March 1, 2018
What a great read. Kept my interest throughout
October 5, 2018
The writing style was stiff and awkward.
August 1, 2020
Loved this journey to redemption.
July 11, 2024
A hard read for myself. A lot of back story and such potential with suspense from beginning but took such a long time get into the story. A lot going on and then ended quickly.
August 7, 2016
Barracuda sees a New York Detective who has been injured in the line of duty heading for an island retreat under doctor's orders, where he hopes to spend his time scuba diving in the pristine waters of the notorious, but now safe and open for tourism, Bikini Atoll. Instead, he finds himself in the middle of a money laundering scheme, facing warring factions of the Russian Mafia and Japanese Yakuza, and in between angry native islanders and the nefarious resort builders. Oh, and on the menu of a giant, mutated barracuda that has claimed the waters of Bikini Atoll as its own.
This was a hard book to like it has to be said. The main character Mick is fairly detestable right from the start. Whilst it is possible to write characters who are misogynistic that are likeable, the mark has somewhat been missed here. He is at best a fairly repulsive letch, and the theme of bad taste pretty much carries on from there. From the clichéd 80's muscle car that no cop would be seen dead in to the brash, sloppy, all over the place narrative, this story tended to make me angry. I picked it because of the hint of being a creature book, but with so many other plot devices being thrown in, from money laundering to gang wars, to a cringe-worthy attempt to 'go deep' by exploring how natives might react to a development on their doorstep, the monster barely gets a mention, or a believable background of any sort.
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but on reflection and in hindsight, the poor quality is a pretty good guide to what you'll find inside. The romp wasn't without some merit and exciting scenes, but overall there is much better out there unfortunately.
This was a hard book to like it has to be said. The main character Mick is fairly detestable right from the start. Whilst it is possible to write characters who are misogynistic that are likeable, the mark has somewhat been missed here. He is at best a fairly repulsive letch, and the theme of bad taste pretty much carries on from there. From the clichéd 80's muscle car that no cop would be seen dead in to the brash, sloppy, all over the place narrative, this story tended to make me angry. I picked it because of the hint of being a creature book, but with so many other plot devices being thrown in, from money laundering to gang wars, to a cringe-worthy attempt to 'go deep' by exploring how natives might react to a development on their doorstep, the monster barely gets a mention, or a believable background of any sort.
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but on reflection and in hindsight, the poor quality is a pretty good guide to what you'll find inside. The romp wasn't without some merit and exciting scenes, but overall there is much better out there unfortunately.
April 18, 2009
Mike Monahan's Barracuda is an action packed fish tale. As a scuba diver, I may never enter the water again without thinking twice. "It" as Mr. Monahan calls his mutant killer fish is a loathsome creature. Mutated from years of living in nuclear bomb residue in the Bikini Atoll, when this monster fish is released from its lair, nothing in its realm is safe. NOTHING!
A wild array of characters including an NYPD officer, a couple of marine scientists, some extreme Aussie scuba divers, the Russian Mob, the Japanese Mob and a few local Bikinians make the story diverse. The setting of a 5-star dive resort and casino and its surrounding waters make it exciting. Money laundering, murder and all out hysteria during a hotel grand opening make it intriguing.
All in all Barracuda is an enjoyable fun story and very worth reading. Just beware if you're a diver.
A wild array of characters including an NYPD officer, a couple of marine scientists, some extreme Aussie scuba divers, the Russian Mob, the Japanese Mob and a few local Bikinians make the story diverse. The setting of a 5-star dive resort and casino and its surrounding waters make it exciting. Money laundering, murder and all out hysteria during a hotel grand opening make it intriguing.
All in all Barracuda is an enjoyable fun story and very worth reading. Just beware if you're a diver.
January 27, 2009
Take the bait! Read this book! You’ll be hooked!
You don’t need to be a police officer, a scuba diver expert or a fisherman to enjoy this one, folks. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female. What you do need is to set aside your time, have your meals for the day already prepared and find a comfortable seat. Let the answering machine answer your calls.
Mike Monahan brings us from New York to an island on the South Pacific, filled with history, conspiracies, money laundering, greed, danger and a very big fish with an even bigger attitude.
There really isn’t much more that I can say on this one. “Barracuda” hooked me from the start and just never let go. I highly recommend it. Hook, line and sinker. Case closed.
J.R. Reardon
Author, “Confidential Communications”
You don’t need to be a police officer, a scuba diver expert or a fisherman to enjoy this one, folks. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female. What you do need is to set aside your time, have your meals for the day already prepared and find a comfortable seat. Let the answering machine answer your calls.
Mike Monahan brings us from New York to an island on the South Pacific, filled with history, conspiracies, money laundering, greed, danger and a very big fish with an even bigger attitude.
There really isn’t much more that I can say on this one. “Barracuda” hooked me from the start and just never let go. I highly recommend it. Hook, line and sinker. Case closed.
J.R. Reardon
Author, “Confidential Communications”
May 22, 2016
This book had so many elements it reminded me of a know-it-all drunk in a bar who is telling a story and embellishing it to make it appeal to more people. It started with a reasonable premise, a mutant barracuda, who grows to unbelievable proportions due to the leftover radiation in the Bikini Atoll from World War II atomic bomb testing. Add to that mix a NYPD detective recovering from a shooting, the Russian mob, the Japanese Yakuza, two scientist studying gray reef sharks, an opulent diving resort about to open, a renegade diving group from Australia, a group of rebellious locals and a explosive ending worthy of a Michael Bay movie. It was a quick, good read but I could have done without the racist labels and sexist thoughts and comments.
November 20, 2014
NYPD Detective Mick O'Shaughnessy is going on a scuba diving vacation to Bikini Atoll. Micko is recovering from a gun shot wound that broke his right tibia, and is just out of a nine month cast. This vacation will not only build up his atrophied leg, but will boost his depressed spirit as well. While staying at the Majuro Majestic Hotel and Casino, he uncovers a money laundering operation, but that's not the biggest fly in the ointment on the island. A radiation enhanced barracuda is menacing the lagoon, and threatening to put an end to diving altogether. Find out how Micko's vacation comes to conclusion by reading this exciting fish tale.
July 6, 2015
This book is a great summer read, but it has many typos and other errors that a good editor would have caught. I am guessing it was self-published, The story is exciting, especially the parts about the mutant barracuda and scuba diving. And though most of the characters are of the stock variety, I really had no problem with that. They were still pretty entertaining. As an editor, I couldn't help but think that this could have been a far more noteworthy effort if it had undergone a serious review process before it was completed.
September 9, 2021
2.5 stars.
June 7, 2009
Barracuda was a great read. I'm sure it would also make a compelling movie.
I love to read mysteries and thrillers that take place in places I haven't visited, and Barracuda didn't let me down. The interesting mix of cultures at Bikini Atoll and descriptions of the islands were fascinating along with the action and the complex recovery of a New York cop from emotional and physical trauma.
Barracuda will make a great read for scuba divers, thriller readers, and travelers.
I love to read mysteries and thrillers that take place in places I haven't visited, and Barracuda didn't let me down. The interesting mix of cultures at Bikini Atoll and descriptions of the islands were fascinating along with the action and the complex recovery of a New York cop from emotional and physical trauma.
Barracuda will make a great read for scuba divers, thriller readers, and travelers.
April 20, 2009
Excellent thriller, stay out of the water....
Want to read
February 16, 2010Kindle,.99,Amazon
April 7, 2013
Poor writing. Poor plotting. Really poor plotting. Predictable. I can understand why it was free.
Want to read
March 30, 2018The aacuda is fast paced and full of adventure.The3re's a lot going on so you neede to pay attention.
Want to read
April 2, 2018I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews