Arrow's Flight

The Offshore Novels #1

by Joel Scott

Crime and adventure on the high seas

Jared Kane is a West Coast commercial fisherman whose life has been plagued by bad luck and blackout drinking. When he inherits Arrow, an old 46-foot wooden sailboat, he sees a chance for redemption. With his friend from prison, Danny MacLean, Jared plans an offshore voyage, sailing from Vancouver down the Pacific Coast to California and out into the South Pacific. 

But that bad luck rears its ugly head: Danny is attacked and left for dead, and when the unknown assailants attempt to finish the job, Jared is forced to flee aboard Arrow with Danny lying helpless in his berth, under the erratic care of his grandfather, a Haida elder who won’t speak English. On the search for safe haven with the would-be killers hot on their tail, Jared finds himself with no good choices but to run south — ill-prepared, poorly provisioned, and crewed by a silent old man and an injured friend strapped into his bunk.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

440 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2018

Reviews

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jared Kane inherits the Arrow he sees it as a means of changing his life. He hopes to sail away from his less than stellar past and find a pleasant life in … oh, say… some South Pacific Paradise.

Like that’s going to happen.

Unexpected violence soon has Jared and his friend Danny MacLean running for cover, so to speak.

Aboard Arrow they hope to escape immediate conflict and perhaps outdistance it completely.

You think?

Surely not.

Yet Arrow’s Flight [ECW Press] is not just a yarn about violence and retribution. It’s also about friendship and family. Danny is part of an extended Haida family that opens its arm to Jared.

And, hey, there’s Sinbad, a delightful dog that makes the Hound of the Baskervilles seem like a whining puppy.

Oh, and Danny’s inscrutable Haida grandfather Joseph who’s nigh unto a hundred years old and truly adept with a knife, regardless of its use, is a gem-dandy character.

Of course, there are plenty of sailing details describing Arrow’s voyage from Vancouver to the Marquesas, if such description luffs your sails.

At times, while reading this novel I thought of Travis Mcgee and Jack London. I even thought of John Steinbeck and Cannery Row when Arrow sailed into Monterey.

Bottom line — keel line? — Arrow’s Flight is top notch.

[Jim Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written, suspenseful novel of crime, mystery and adventure on the Pacific coast. Put it on your Summer Reading List now! Full review: http://bit.ly/arrowsflight

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jared Kane’s life has had its ups and downs but things start to turn around when he inherits the sailboat Arrow. With his friend Daniel, Jared decides to plan a once in a lifetime trip until plan of events change when Daniel is assaulted and left for dead. Now Jared, a severely injured Daniel and Daniel’s grandfather begin a cat and mouse game down the Pacific with killers on their tail.
This book was action packed filled with twists and turns from beginning to end. The author’s description of events on sea was as if the reader was standing right in the boat along for the ride. Arrow’s Flight has action, crime, mystery with a little bit of romance all in one. The boat terminology was the only difficulty I had with this boat since I’ve never been on a sailboat, but after a while you grasp the ways of life on sea. This book kept me guessing and on my toes. My rating for Arrow’s Flight book is a 4/5!

[Ruthpearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. I'll admit, it was rough in places, but believable and a real page turner. exciting every moment.

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is that it's very easy to read. I got into it right away and when I had to put it down to do other stuff, I could get right back into it again easily.

Summary: An adventure caper. The protagonists are Canadian commercial fishermen living somewhat on the edge of the law. A chance encounter with bad guys forces them to leave on a sail boat. However the baddies come after them all the way to the South Seas.

Cons: The plot and story is a bit predictable, even a bit cheesy. You know, the kind where the good guys drinks tons of alcohol, gets the girls and beats the bad guys. All the boxes are checked: there's a friendly cop who turns a blind eye and even the savage but loyal dog. All the women friends are pretty and athletic and the guys are badasses. Still, I liked the characters and enjoyed the whole boating trip with them. The thing is, this book isn't trying to be anything else - if you are not looking for cerebral entertainment but rather an enjoyable read I'd definitely recommend this book.

I got this as a free ARC.

[Elizabeth Hayhoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sinbad the dog is amazing. If they make this book into a movie I have to see what this dog looks like. Liked this story. My favorite character is Joseph. He is an amazing 100 year old, my favorite part is how he treats Danny when they are on the boat. Anyway I don’t want to give too much away but this is a fun book.

[Schuyler Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Joel Scott introduces the reader to a hard drinking fisherman and sailor in “Arrow’s Flight.” It’s a well-structured story about Jared Kane who has some change of luck for the better when he inherits a 46-foot wooden sailboat. I say well- structured because the story travels well and retains it’s shape, keeping the reader involved and interested. The change of luck takes Kane from a booze soaked jailbird to a booze soaked boat owner with a new lease on life, albeit tenuous.

The camaraderie is intense, with friendships that are strong, lasting, and seem to keep on developing. Perhaps, because it’s touted as being the first of a series of high-sea adventures, the author feels the need to introduce many characters that may endure.

After a planned voyage on the new boat, Danny, a prison friend of Jared’s, is viciously attacked and left for dead. His grandfather, a Haida elder, and Jared decide to proceed with the trip to escape the assailants. They take Danny, in near death condition, to try and protect him because the attacks continue. Their search for a safe haven is a monumental effort because brutal killers appear every step of the way.

Scott, a sailor in his real life, writes with authority about boat maintenance, boat handling, sailing under adverse conditions, navigation, and the vagaries of weather. The continuous struggle of keeping an old wood boat in working condition is well documented and the sailing in bad weather is realistic and nerve wracking. The seamanship is, perhaps, the most intriguing part of the story.

This book is an easy read, entertaining, and a clear storyline. Some reviewers have thought it somewhat juvenile but I think there’s too much adult content to consider that. I highly recommend it for a leisurely summer’s read.

[Larry Epp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jared Kane, Vancouverite, inherits a wooden two masted sail boat the Arrow. Plans for a Pacific voyage to turn his life around turns to confrontations by baddies out to get his friend Danny. Long chase to a stormy happy ending in an atoll. Add in a huge fish catching dog, a Haida elder who won't speak English and lots of sailing jargon. Vivid sailing and running accounts.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I liked the storyline, the characters, but felt out of my depth on sailing knowledge and terminology, which made it a bit confusing at times to sort out what was happening. If you have some seafaring knowledge, I bet you’ll enjoy this story.

[Patrick Geraghty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in the library on a table with books for sale that had been removed from circulation. What a find! A great story that I took a chance on. Fantastic sense of place being out on the ocean. I will be reading more from this author.

[Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book but it had too much of sailing and boat stuff that a landlubber like me would not understand.

Still well written and engaging book with a even plot

[John Taussig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

Enjoyed the characters as well as the sailing particulars which those of us who sail will enjoy. Great descriptions and imagery.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and exciting, with realistic and authentic descriptions and narrative of sailboats, sailing and sailing lore.

[Chefestelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing, great characters, great story. But you have to love boats to slug through those details!

[David Kinzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly entertaining. A sailing adventure with empathetic characters, bad guys, romance, and beautiful descriptions of the Pacific ocean.

[John Withers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Too many nautical terms that I gad to keep looking up. Spoiled the flow of the story

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read that kept me interested until the end!

[Les Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard fare mass-market thriller, but heavily featuring a sailboat (adds a *).

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Great read and nonstop action. Looking forward to reading more stories by this author. I recommend this book for anyone who appreciates a good story.

[Chris Ashby · Rating 5 out of 5]

captivating excitement

Lots of fun and intrigue. Bonus points if you’ve ever sailed or dreamed of sailing. A wild ride from start to finish.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea. — Joseph Conrad

Wowser, I loved this book.

I have never been sailing and frankly, never had the desire, but for some reason I enjoy sailing adventure stories. And, first and foremost, this is a book about sailing.

Jared Kane has not had an easy life. Both of his parents died while he was young and he was raised by his paternal grandparents on a Canadian dairy farm. His grandfather beats him and basically ends up throwing him to the wolves and Jared spends two years in prison because of it.

He becomes friends with Danny, a Haida fisherman, in prison and after they are both out, Danny's family becomes the family he never had. They work as commercial fishermen during the halibut season and party after the season ends.

When Jared unexpectedly inherits a beautiful wooden sailboat called the ARROW it looks like life is looking up for him and he and Danny plan a long, leisurely trip to Mexico and the South Pacific.

But then the SHTF for Danny and the adventures start.

I loved all the sailing details. I loved Danny's grandfather. The action was fast-paced. The characters were vivid. It sounds like this is the first book in a planned series. I'll definitely read the next one.

I received this book through the Amazon VINE program in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.