Secret Sea

by Robb White

A dying Cuban, terrified by a nameless, sinister "tall one", leaves naval officer Pete Martin a clue to a sunken Spanish treasure ship. With only a brash waterfront urchin as crew, Pete sets sail in his old schooner, pursued by the "tall one" in a radar-equipped yacht. Outwitting the enemy in a storm, they find the prize guarded by a monster octopus, and the menacing black yacht again on their trail.

Genres: Adventure, Young Adult, Collections, Fiction

325 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Robb White was partnered with gimmick horror film king William Castle during Castle's most popular and productive period. Born in the Philippines, White was a preacher's son who held a wide variety of jobs before landing in the Navy during World War II. He initially collaborated with Castle on the short-lived TV series "Men of Annapolis" (1957), then joined forces with the enterprising producer-director on the horror thrillers "Macabre" (1958), "House on Haunted Hill" (1959), "The Tingler" (1959), "Homicidal" (1961), and "13 Ghosts" (1960). He later went back to TV writing, including "Perry Mason" (1957), as well as novels.

Reviews

[David Allen Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a boy I loved Robb White's books and this one was my favorite, I read the small paperback many times! I recently re-read it for the first time in over 25 years, and I was as captivated today as I was back then! Despite the passage of a quarter century, the words memorably jumped off the page to my eyes! A very realistic tale! In the waning days of World War II, a Navy Reserve Officer whose craft is on patrol comes across a floundering boat with two hurt dying Cubans aboard. Among their possessions is an ancient logbook telling the tale of a Spanish gallon sunk in the 1500s. Evidently they were being chased by a Nazi sympathizer who wanted the logbook, leading them to take a fatal chance at sea in a storm. The navy reserve officer thinks little of the incident at the time. Then his kid brother breaks his back in a football accident and the officer is looked to to provide financial support. There is no such thing as health insurance and the stuggling family has even sold their house to help pay for the young brother's hospitalization. Imagine that: a book written way back in 1947 has as its central theme unaffordable healthcare costs in the United States...

The reserve officer tries to join the regular navy but he has been injured in the line of duty and no longer medically qualifies. Desperate, he decides to search for the lost Spanish gallon, and cleverly uses his navy reserve vessel beings assigned to test a primitive sonar system as an opportunity to secretly locate the wreck. He picks up an essentially homeless teenage boy as crew and they set out, only to find the Nazi chasing his craft with an early radar system. In a storm they temporarily evade the Nazi then are able to find the wreck. The initial salvage is stymied by an octopus, but they recover some gold only to find the Nazi has found them again. In a stunning but believable ending the officer and his mate are brutually tortured but help arrives just in time.

Even today more than 70 years after it was written, this is a believable, exciting story. I enjoyed it today as much as I did when I first read it over 30 years ago. Some of the World War II references may be less familiar to readers today but other than that this book is as exciting and as believable to read today as when it was written in 1947. This remains one of my most favorite novels of my young days and I believe most boys will still enjoy it very much today. Robb White was an incredibly talented writer and they just don't make writers like him today!

Sadly this book is long out of print. My small paperback edition dates from a 50+ year old paperback printing but unlike the poor quality modern paperbacks my old book still has firm binding and sound pages even at the age of 50!

Copies of Secret Sea are readily available at used bookstore website and anyone who finds a copy will enjoy this book very much!

[Joseph Carrabis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read this book in 4th grade. I was so enthralled by it that I didn't hear the dismissal bell and stayed in my seat. Mrs. Woodbury, my teacher, didn't disturb me except an hour later when she wanted to leave for the day. She tapped me and said, "That must be a very good book." Her tap and words startled me.
I reread Secret Sea recently and, although written for juveniles, it still holds up. I know it's a great story when the change in technology (lots of WWII and Korea references and equipment) fall away in lieu of great storytelling, characterization and plot.
Definitely a winner.

[Edb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book good enough that I read it when I was a boy and then enjoyed it again as an adult.

[Russ Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I read it ages ago, when I was in grade school. I got it from the Scholastic Book Club. I can't remember what year it was.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books ever. This was the story that began my obsession with Robb White.
The ultimate sea adventure, this story has everything one would wish for. A scary- smart bad guy, and a dangerous sunken treasure guarded by a giant octopus, and a million other things which will ensure that you are glued to this book until the last explosion and grieve when it's all done!
And think of it, a book with all guy characters and not even one gay reference! What's not to love??

[DJ EHO · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my two favorite books when I read it a few years after its publication courtesy of the Scholastic book club. Engaging and suspenseful, I have re-read it a few times over the years. I’m sure a 10 year old today would find it dated so maybe it doesn’t stand the test of time? I don’t care, I loved it and still do. It doesn’t feel nearly as culturally abhorrent today as, say, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[Tatorstevie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thrilling, but gets a little bogged down in the ship lingo, which I'm sure would be great if I understood it. Also, be aware that it was written, and takes place, just after WWII, so some of the language and thoughts toward certain nations are not very politic.

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of White's earlier novels, and one of the rare books by White that is not set in World War II. It is rather boring, and shows only glimmers of the gripping writing that characterizes White's later books. For an example of White writing gripping fiction outside of the World War II setting, read Death Watch.

[Barbara Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rescued this book off my grandmother's bookshelf when she downsized in the 1980s; prior to that I had read it many times while at her house. I'm not sure whose it was initially, but I hope (s)he enjoyed it half as much as I did.

[Jenny Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure, mystery, danger, underwater exploration--I was a great read. I really enjoyed it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting adventure story. I loved this book as a teen! I read it so many times.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ex-Navy reserve man and street teen try to recover lost treasure in the Gulf

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a young teen and remembered it as one of my favorite books. I ordered it for my 11 year old son from Amazon.

[Alan Mawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the 5th grade and enjoyed it.