Black Water Transit

by Carsten Stroud

Jack Vermillion is seeing red. So is Earl V. Pike. So is a smart, beautiful NYC detective named Casey Spandau. For Jack, it began when Earl asked for a little favor—one former soldier to another. With Jack’s son in serious trouble with the law and his shipping company, Black Water Transit, about to hit the big time, Jack saw a chance to be a good father, a good citizen, and a good CEO—by ratting out Earl V. Pike to the feds. It was a monumental mistake.

Now Pike is mad. Bodies are piling up. And all the backstabbers are coming out of the woodwork in Jack’s rattled world. Jack’s only hope: detective Casey Spandau, who began her week hunting for a sex criminal and ended up with Earl V. Pike—a man using guile, skill, and one astounding long-range weapon to kill everyone who gets in his way. For Casey and Jack Vermillion, making Earl V. Pike angry has turned into a cross-country nightmare. But taking him down will be even worse.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Mystery Thriller

368 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2001

About the author

Carsten Stroud is the author of the New York Times bestseller Close Pursuit, and the award-winning Sniper's Moon, both set in the New York City Police Department. He lives and writes in Thunder Beach, Ontario, Canada.

Awards:
* Arthur Ellis Award Best First Novel (1991): Sniper's Moon
* Arthur Ellis Award Best Novel (1993): Lizardskin

Reviews

[Mike Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex crime thriller with super snappy dialogue. I really enjoyed it.

4 Stars****

[jo]

i find the Niceville trilogy one of the most exciting series of the last few years, pretty much perfect in all respects (so much so that i have yet to find the words to review it), but this is a nasty book, with gratuitous nasty dispatches of unsuspecting passersby that made the reading of it pretty much intolerable to me. i don't know how stroud turned himself around so dramatically for the Niceville bunch, which includes some pretty nasty people who still end up being treated with sympathy, humor, and compassion. i suspect that the several intervening years had something to do with it.

[Colleen McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every character and plot point were weaved together in a thrilling manner. I couldn’t put the book down and even as I write this I spent the past 3 hours finishing the novel. The blooming romance was an endearing touch and did not steal focus from the action. The research to have written this book is impeccable, the language was gripping, and the mere fact of 6 days comprising nearly the entirety of the story’s timeline was quite impressive. I was enthralled and never bored by the details as some other reviewers mention. What began as a book picked up on a whim on the library shelves is now a recommendation I will be passing along.

[Joe King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 stars is more accurate. Pretty good story, though just a little too long. Not that I mind a long book (and this was definitely not long), but it was a little too long for the story it was. I think it could have been a few chapters shorter without taking away from the story.

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made it to pg 55. Gave up.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced action thriller about an owner of a shipping company Jack Vermillion who is trying to get his son moved to a safer prison. He is approached by Earl Pike, former army colonel, who wants to move a family gun collection to Mexico. Vermillion decides to go to the ATF to trade in Pike in order to win favor in saving his son. Things soon spiral out of control in a most unexpected way. Stoud's descriptions of police work, criminal procedings and the damage 50 mm sniper rounds do to someone wearing a bullet proof vest are amazing. Loved the tightly wound psychotic Earl Pike character. He was not a major character in the book but every time he made an appearance, you knew something real bad was going to happen. He was intelligent, yet lacking self control. Pike made the book worth reading. I could not put it down. Too bad the movie version may never be released. First bought by Bruce Wills to play Pike then dropped and bought by another person and tangled in lawsuits. I would love to see what Karl Urban did with the Pike part. Oh well maybe one day on DVD.

[Joe Stamber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack co-owns a transit company. In order to help his waster son, he enters into a dodgy deal with a psycho ex soldier to ship a container of weapons, the soldier's private collection. In a trail of death and double-crossing that draws in the Mafia and a cartload of law enforcement agencies, Jack gets himself into a heap of trouble. His biggest problem is an ambitious ATF officer who sees bringing Jack down as way to progress her career. Stroud introduces us to an interesting cast of diverse characters, and we spend enough time with each to make them people rather than cardboard cut-outs. Once we know who is who, the action steadily builds to a climax that isn't too surprising but certainly isn't a disappointment either. Black Water Transit has an air of authenticity that comes from Stroud knowing his stuff. It ticks along nicely and was an enjoyable listen.

[Grahamgill]

Very entertaining read. Quick and engaging with a twisted story line and diverse charters. Will be adding more of Mr. Stroud's work to my "want to read" list.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent crime thriller where it becomes clear from very early on that no-one is getting away clean. Stroud's novel is filled with characters coated in the grime of NYC and tainted by past violences. It's occasionally grim, there's one passage that might bring tears and two or three occasions where you won't like the people you do like. It cuts through lots of crime clichés, gets grubbier and grubbier and really stands out from lots of similar fluff. I loved it, it's just a shame the film adaptation is sitting on a shelf somewhere, possibly never to see the light of day.

[Alicia Nieman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second read by Carsten Stroud. He certainly didn't disappoint. This book unfolded like a thrilling movie being played out by your imagine. Not a single dull moment. This author's style is real; certainly more like creative non-fiction rather than straight up fiction. If you are looking for something to read that provides a police/investigative style of entertainment, then this will be a great choice for you. Literally, it was like my favorite episode of Law & Order on steroids.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriller - Jack Vermillion owns the transport company Black Water Transit. Earl Pike wants him to transport a technically illegal shipment of a Pike family arms collection. Jack trades the info to the ATF to improve the situation of his federal prisoner son. The situation becomes further confused by the homicidal tendencies of Pike and a black racist NYPD policewoman.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there was something that I could say as to why I love this novel so much. I have read other stories from Stroud but none that are comparable to this one. Love it! I wish the movie would be released eventually...

[Olean Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

-A more somber and serious story about taking charge of ambition. Being told by the good side of the law makes it more serious and somber but it’s a good story and the main characters lives. It’s an action story.

[Dfcass · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn't get into this book. After reading the inside jacket I had hoped it was going to be something similar to a Robert Crais work, but it's not even close. Tried to give it a chance, but returned it to the library before getting to page 100.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started off slow and took me some time to get into the story. However, once it started it kept going to the point I'm staying up late and get in trouble at work wanting to finish.

This is one of the best books I read in a while.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Returned it to the library before I even got a 1/3 of the way through. Usually once I start a book and stick with it to the end. However, I just couldn't make myself push through on this one.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book with an unusual ending

[Przemysław Garczyński (3telnik.pl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Całkiem ciekawy kryminał z nieco zaskakującym finiszem

[Marty Fried · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book (actually, audiobook) 5 years before this review, and I don't remember much about it, except that I liked it and wanted to read more by this author

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad a found this author. I will be reading all the rest of his books.

[Peter Fiske]

Actually, I decided not to finish it. It just didn't grab or excite me.