The Vigilant

by Andrew Outerbridge

In 1969, Robert Tucker returns from strict boarding school life in England to his island home in Bermuda to work a summer job for famed local treasure diver Harry Tumbridge. An epic marine treasure hunt and adventure unfolds in this hauntingly beautiful underwater world—and above it—with unexpected twists and turns conspiring to test Robert and his seafaring compatriots.

For Tucker, young love also evolves in this tropical paradise as first experiences unfold with nascent innocence. However, treachery is afoot when Dr. Parrish, the head of the national museum, along with the Bermuda government and others, seek to take over the important 1600’s treasure-laden wreck site that Tumbridge has found. Spirited legal battles ensue, with additional international interests playing out their hands. Will love and justice prevail?

An epic summer of adventure to remember.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2018

Reviews

[Bev]

I wanted to read this novel because it is about Bermuda written by a Bermudian. Most of the places were very familiar to me, having grown up in Bermuda and still retaining Bermudian status. Although I didn’t really know the author, I knew of him during my teenage years, and I found it difficult to separate the author from the fictional character, Robert Tucker. The characters, Harry Tumbridge and Dr. Parrish, would appear to be based on the real Teddy Tucker and Dr. Harris. Knowing some Bermuda history, I kept wondering if this novel was a dig at the hard work of Dr. Harris, recently retired from the National Museum of Bermuda. This did somewhat ruin my enjoyment of the book.

[Lee Woodruff]

A perfect summer story to take your mind off real life. A young Bermudian, tracing his lineage back to the earliest settlers, returns for the summer to be part of a dive team on a 1600’s treasure laden wreck. He finds both gold and love in an engrossing novel for sealovers.

[Jim]

A coming-of-age love letter to Bermuda, surrounded by real treasure hunting, dirty politics and a cast of off-beat and oft-times hysterically funny characters.