The Wreck

by Landon Beach

Nate and Brooke Martin arrive at their summer cottage along the rapidly gentrifying Great Lakes shoreline. The beach is warm, the water is cool, and the sea breeze is blissful--perfect conditions for rekindling their strained relationship.

However, on a morning stroll along the beach, Nate finds an unusual gold coin half-buried in the sand. Where did it come from? Are there more?

Teaming up with reclusive ex-Coast Guard Officer and Great Lakes master of the deep, Abner Hutch, Nate dives for clues to the treasure's origins. But when word leaks that there may be a fortune hidden under the waves, they find themselves hunted by mega-rich residents up the coast who are willing to do anything to advance their extravagant lifestyles.

Will the Martins change their family's fortunes, or will the summer vacation end in a tragedy?

Put on some sunscreen, unfold a beach chair, and get ready to discover The Wreck.


"The Wreck has tons of fun stuff, like the log of a long-dead lighthouse keeper and flooded caves. Great underwater scenes, with a real sense of place and an action-packed climax that will make you jump out of your reading chair." - Paul Kemprecos, New York Times Best-Selling Author


"For a fun, exciting twist on the greatest mystery in Great Lakes maritime history, The Wreck by Landon Beach is an excellent summer read! Beach has crafted a story full of colorful characters; the bad guys are really bad and the good guys are really great. The Michigan summer cottage experience is perfectly captured, and then enhanced by a gripping adventure aboard boats, on shore, and best of all, underwater. Because the tension builds unbearably, the reader will not be able to turn away from the book and should take care when reading on the beach because of the danger of forgetting to re-apply sunscreen! We're looking forward to more terrific Landon Beach Great Lakes novels!" - Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg, Hall of Fame scuba divers, maritime historians, founders of Seawolf Communications, Inc., and co-authors of The Wreck of the Griffon: The Greatest Mystery of the Great Lakes


"What a great summer read for me! I have not seen much of the great lakes but this book made them sound amazing in a thriller and suspenseful way. Which I have to say for me was great! Treasure hunting, shipwrecks and so much in this book. It was fast paced and a great book! I enjoyed it very much! 5/5 Stars" - Aly from What is Life without Books Blog


"At the heart of this entertaining and suspenseful thriller is one of Michigan's great historical mysteries that has gone unanswered for more than three hundred years. The author has done his research and cleverly woven that mystery and the solving of it as the engine that drives this novel of adventure." - Tom Powers from Michigan in Books Blog

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Adventure

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2019

About the author

Landon was born and raised in Michigan but now lives in the Sunshine State with his wife, two children, and their golden retriever. He previously served as a Naval Officer and was an educator for fifteen years before becoming a full-time writer. Find out more at landonbeachbooks.com.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first novel by Landon Beach and I really enjoyed the adventure. I can't wait to start the next one.

I added this novel to my sea stories shelf, although it takes place in the surrounding area of Lake Huron, Michigan. The Wreck started a little slow, but picked up quickly after Nate Martin found a gold coin on the shore. It's one of those shipwrecks and lost treasures themes. I thought the author did a great job with the historical aspect of it. I do wonder if the link to the past is fact or fiction!

There are a good amount of side characters, some good guys and some bad but they are well-developed. Overall, a very entertaining mix and an exciting thriller.

The great Scott Brick narrates.

[Dave Wickenden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Landon Beach’s debut novel that deals with greed, betrayal and a treasure trove of gold. Vacationing at a family estate on the shores of Lake Ontario, Nate and Brooke Martin, find a 300-year-old gold coin that starts a treasure hunt that surpasses all other treasures in the Great Lakes. Teaming up with a gruff retired Coast Guard officer, Hutch, Nate searches the surrounding waters for clues to the mystery of the coin.

But there are others who are aware of the search and they plan on claiming the treasure for themselves and they are willing to kill for it. Thus, starts an exciting race for a massive payout. The suspense and unknown dangers keep the pages turning at a fast rate. Perfect for fans of Peter Benchley’s The Deep, or Clive Cussler series.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It was an interesting story about maritime treasure hunters with a few twists to the plot.
I felt that the ending was rather rushed, it could have been expanded and brought to a more satisfactory resolution.

[Shiny5711 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes this book was too detail oriented. I didn't need to know that they slipped the chain through the ring and hooked it to the thingy and through the whatzit and over the whatEVER to lower the winch. Just tell me they lowered the winch. Those little details may prove the author knows what he's talking about to those who have experience with the minutiae of boating, but they pulled me out of the story.

[Colleen Chi-Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book set in the Great Lakes. I grew up in Chicago and the GL were part of our school history, with Lake Michigan our playground.

This is set in Michigan state and features some locals and the Uber wealthy homeowners. Nate and his wife/gf are staying in a summer cottage when Nate happens to find an old coin from a long ago shipwreck.

There’s drama and killing featuring good guys and really bad bad guys. It just wasn’t my type of read but a definite, semi predictable thriller. It featured men primarily, was read by a male narrator, and it had a macho feel to it.

[Nancy Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I find sea treasures fascinating - I wouldn't want to take up scuba diving to try to find it - but I love watching and hearing stories of finds and searches. I listened to this story while walking thinking it would take my mind off of my feet hurting and lure me to the rushing of the waves in the Great Lakes. Alas - it didn't really work for me.

The initial characters of Nate and wife Brook, along with long-time beach residents Lucille and her neighbor, Hutch, held promise for a good search and find story. That was the good part. The bad part came in the extreme detailing of hooking up boat and winch equipment; I just didn't need that much detail. I just kept shouting internally, "Alright, I've got it already." The author introduced another couple on the beach with a different agenda than the original characters mentioned and I felt their presence and inclusion just convoluted an already drawn out plot. About 3/4 through my interest picked up again when a few details starting coming together and then I felt like someone pushed on the gas pedal in an effort to race to the finish line. Just like that -- it was over with little no explanation of the how's and why's of things and just left too many unanswered questions.

While I noticed that this author appears to write many stories related to the waters off and on shore, I may have to think twice before picking up another book. I DO have to give the author credit for a clever name "Landon Beach" or "Land on Beach". Good choice if you are writing boating stories!

[John Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but not a great book. This was a light read and the story drew me in. The good guys were likable and believable. The bad guys of course were despicable. The book served its purpose by keeping me entertained chapter by chapter.

This is a contemporary adventure. The setting is a summer lakeside vacation spot shared by regular folks and the very rich. After finding a gold coin on the beach, some of the regular folks come together to search for a late 17th century shipwreck on Lake Huron purportedly containing chests of French gold coins. When one of the rich and greedy vacationers learns of this, the adventure now becomes deadly.

My only complaint, (as some other reviewers point out), is after the final and very good action scenes in which the good guys win and the bad guys lose the story comes to an abrupt end. The two-page epilogue informs only that the good guys share the wealth. What about the police investigation? What about the rich guy? That should be the author's job.

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great summer read for me! I have not seen much of the great lakes but this book made them sound amazing in a thriller and suspenseful way. Which I have to say for me was great! Treasure hunting, shipwrecks and so much in this book. It was fast paced and a great book! I enjoyed it very much! *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding lost treasure. Hunting for more. Slow burn bromance between Nate and Hutch. Greed. Action. Read by Scott Brick. What more could a girl want?

Bought this audiobook on a whim and I could not be happier. I will absolutely be diving in (pun intended) to Landon Beach's other books. If this was his debut, I can't wait to see what he did next.

Summer is running out but this is a beach read that's good where ever you are.

[MissSusie]

DNF don't care about any of the women and their large breats.

[Amanda F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just meh. There were some action scenes that I really liked, but the whole family dynamics with the main character couple and their friends were just not well-done. I already purchased the other books in this series, so I'm going to continue it (probably), but I don't have high hopes.

[Anadarko52 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK

I recall the old Seahunt series with Lloyd Bridges, and hoped this book would be as good. However, the novel was very slow to get going, main characters Nate and Brooke were not likeable and the last part of the novel went very quickly with an abrupt ending that left some questions unanswered (e.g., what happened to the rich guy and his attorney?). Further, the sexual escapade component was unnecessary and detracted from what could have been a good adventure on the Great Lakes story.

[Nancy G. Murdoch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't waste your time

The book could have been worth reading as the basic story was interesting. But there were too many side stories that were barely uncovered, and too many details about the trivial. Do I really need to know the details of how to try fish? It is supposed to be an adventure, not a cookbook. The book was mediocre at best.

[John Taussig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok story but...

Story was interesting it but the wrap up of the plot was very quick and not too satisfying. I may try one more of the author's books to see if it improves.

[Richard C. Henson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good idea BUT very long and drawn out, way too much minute-by-minute descriptions. I skipped thru page after page just to find out how it ended. Really disappointed.

[ZZ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admire people who have taken the effort to do their research and write a coherent story. The Wreck shows this. The rest is mostly disappointing. The title could have be "The Cave"as there is a bit more cave diving than wreck diving. Unfortunately there is not much diving and not any in the first half of the book. Some of the described diving practices seem to be outdated, unsafe and unrealistic (especially the treasure hunting part). Overall the book leaves the feeling that it is the wrong length - it could have been a series of two or three short stories or a much longer novel as key elements of the plot were rushed or missing. I would recommend reading the book only if you are way behind with your Reading Challenge or if you have fantasized being invited for a threesome by your neighbor.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery story that takes place in Michigan.

[MaryJane Kibbee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda got lost in this one

[Richard Domann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid idea for a mystery/thriller series but something is missing… not enough of an intriguing plot regarding the Great Lakes ( in this case Lake Huron ). Infidelity storyline and father / daughter conflict line were cliche. I am going to read the next book in the series to see if the author stepped it up.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrigue on the Great Lakes

I saw this book on Kindle Unlimited and noted it had great reviews. The plot sounded interesting, a series of books based on the Great Lakes, so I decided to give the series a try. I also noted a new book had just been published, but the audio version isn't ready yet, so I started with this book first.

The Wreck was an enjoyable book that took time to set things up. We get to know the major players and the characters feel real. After the leading man finds a gold coin, the intrigue begins. The last chapters were thrilling, though I felt it ended too abruptly. We didn't find out who saved our heroes and how things went with the villain.

The audio version includes the prologue and a chapter of the next book in the series, read by the wonderful Scott Brick. I listened to this more than reading it, since I love audio books and talented narrators really bring books alive. A great book for a first timer, very authentic feeling and realistic.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wreck

This debut thriller kept me turning its pages long past my bedtime. Mr. Beach obviously did extensive research to bring Great Lakes maritime history to life. The story kept me guessing throughout, the characters were well developed and the ending most satisfying. I highly recommend The Wreck.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

**SPOILER ENDING** Review is for the audio book version: I felt that the ending was rushed. One minute Nate is being pulled out of the water by a hand, the next it’s October and Nate, Brooke, Hutch, and Lucille are on Lucille’s new porch and discussing the amount of their take, Brooke’s pregnant, and Hutch and Lucille are engaged. Lots of loose ends, too. No closure on the wrecked sail boat (or the mistress’s body, but I suppose that’s 300’ feet down with the stern), or whether Shaw ended up being implicated in any of the killings. No mention of Shaw’s scumbag lawyer either. Also, there wasn’t any follow up with Jane (or Tim’s pregnant coed) after Tim went bye-bye in the Queen’s explosion. Up to the rushed ending, it was a decent read and held my interest. Character development was good and Hutch reminded me of my grandfather who was a Coastie, too! Some readers were not too fond of all the precise character movement, but I prefer it since it helps me paint a better image in my mind of the action taking place. Scott Brick’s narration was masterful as always! Nice Aussie accent for Floyd. 3 1/2 stars!!

[Jimmy Mustion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tried to read something outside of my normal genres. Eh.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fantastic Debut Novel

Can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is? I checked the inside cover of my ebook and see that “Design for Writers” designed it and they did a fantastic job of bringing Beach’s work to readers eyes.

I went into The Wreck with an open mind. I had no real idea what it was going to be like or about, but I sort of hoped it would be a combination of Nick Sullivan and a little bit of the first ever book I read from Preston & Child – Riptide. And it definitely was. Then I saw that there was praise from one of my favorite Deep Sea Thriller authors Steve Alten. Finally, Scott Brick narrating it? Freaking sold!

The Wreck was one of those books that had a couple of stories paralleling each other. And each one had it’s own feel to it – finishing at or near the same time at the end of the book. Beach was able to cause me to be actually uncomfortable during parts of the book. He wrote a specific character to just have that creepy vibe to them and I couldn’t tell what was going to happen, but I knew something was going to happen at his hands.

Nate was one of the main characters and he was extremely well written out. From almost the first page I knew that I liked him. Then throw in Hutch who is that damaged guy that you end up falling in love with and you have a fantastic set of characters. And that’s leaving out Brooke and Lucille who were also exactly the characters they needed to be for this story to work.

The kicker is that this takes place in the Great Lakes and not in the Caribbean. Now, I love a getaway book like Nick Sullivan’s Deep Series – but having it take place in places I’ve been or at least know where they are on a map brings this one home for me. I loved that Hutch was a Great Lakes historian and that everything they talked about where all things that I’m used to hearing or at least know about.

But, the story itself was really enjoyable. Fast-paced when it needed to be and slow and steady when the pacing required it. I’m shocked that this is a debut novel. It has the chops of a seasoned author who’s written countless novels. Landon Beach is a name you should watch out for. And a name that I’ll be looking for from now on. I can’t wait to get into his next book – The Sail (also narrated by Scott Brick)

[David Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though Landon Beach bills this book as crafted to entertain - and it certainly does that - I appreciated his book for more than just suspense and intriguing character development. The details he includes in the dive scenes and navigational endeavors repeatedly had me pausing to do my own research into the equipment and methods; as a former worker in fishing operations (though a veritable gougan compared to Beach), I genuinely appreciate the nautical expertise. Perhaps more, however, I enjoyed his in-depth explorations of the history of the Lake and its people. I loved, for example, reading a (fictionalized though representative) journal entry from a lighthouse keeper, understanding afterwards the essential and respected role lighthouse keepers played on the lake. I loved to understand, as another example, how the actions of a French king, thousands of miles away, could have affected the people and industry of such a vast region. I mourned to confirm that, just like in my home state of Florida, out-of-state elites, many of whom fail to appreciate the natural beauty and vitality of the shoreline, consume the coastal areas of the Great Lakes, building mansions that go unoccupied for most of the year, and essentially drive out the local knowledge and culture that make such places so interesting. However, his protagonists' love for and defense of this local knowledge and culture made the core conflicts so fascinating and rewarding for me. His contrast of these competing interests - pretentious, lusting elites driven by avarice with gruff yet thoughtful and, most importantly, unified locals - made me smile and want to throw punches alongside the boys...(Or perhaps more accurately, Beach had me wanting to load up my speargun.)

Beach has composed an outstanding book.

[Lee M Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started at the beginning with the The Wreck as the listed first book in a Great Lakes mystery series by Landon Beach. Through a special deal I was able to acquire a few books in this series from Chirp.

The style is somewhere between Clive Cussler and Chris Niles with a little of Wendy Webb's love for the Great Lakes as a backdrop for mysteries. The story grabs the reader/listener right away with Brooke and Nate taking a vacation in his parents original beach bungalow. They are surrounded by the Nuevo Riche who would like their middle class out of the area. What a more deserving couple to find a chance at 'Treasure Island' in the Great Lakes.
Some of their encounters with other resident do seem a little over the top. Unfortunately, not all of the loose threads get tied up neatly in the end. Perhaps Landon Beach met his contract word limit in the last two chapters and epilogue.

Scott Brick as always in my opinion does a very good job of narrator for this style of book. This is where his narrative pace and vocal characterizations shine. Perhaps that is because I am used to him with the Clive Cussler style books. Even at 150% his diction is clear and dialogue is easily distinguished by the unique character speaking.

[Jacques Hollands · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wreck had less adventure and action than I anticipated. It was very slow to start off with and everything seem to happen in the final 15% of the book. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily.

Perhaps it was my expectations. While I didn't expect an "over-the-top" action book, it was initially just too slow - the title of the book only becomes relevant towards the end. In a sense, it is similar to the movie, Fool's Gold (2008) with Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. It seems to amble along and not really going anywhere, only for it to pick up towards the end. However, even the ending is not as climactic as one perhaps would suspect, but once again, that is fine. Too many books end with ridiculous action scenes.

Considering this is Langon Beach's debut novel, it is not a bad book. It probably should receive 3.5 stars, but it was just too slow for me initially to give it 4 stars. I almost lost interest in the book and that is why it took me 3 weeks to complete. On a positive note though, it must be mentioned that the character development was not bad. Even after not being able to read for about 10 days, I could still identify with characters when I picked it up again.

Will I give his next book, The Sail, a chance? Probably. I love the setting of his books (Great Lakes) and believe that his writing (read pace) will only improve as he writes more books.

[Maria Stoddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished a roller coaster of an adventure I simply did not want to end! There were plot twists with serpentine turns, cliff-like peaks and cavernous valleys, slow gut churning click click click climbs followed by wild, screaming, eye scrunching plummets of chase scenes leading to that wide eyed screeching halt where you scream whoa, whoa!, WHOA!!! I don’t want to get off! Keep me fastened on for another ride right now! Simply put...I truly enjoyed this book! Filled with rich characters you loved to love and dastardly characters you loved to hate. A glimpse of lake life along a Great Lake coast with boat rides and wreck dives in the lovely Lake Huron, this book has it all! Intrigue, intelligence, adventure filled with some interesting informative nautical stuff with just the right amount of the literary spices of sexiness, love, greed, and huh...what the what was that!? Landon Beach definitely does NOT disappoint! So if you are like me and love a good read line up with a copy of The Wreck and strap yourself in for a wild time that will leave you wanting to get in line to for Landon’s next ride!! Oh yes!! Landon truly shows—life is better along the beach!!

[Big Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

At long last . . . A summer read centered on the Michigan shores of Lake Huron. This treat for lovers of sunken ships and buried treasure, “The Wreck” is the first in a series of Great Lake adventures by author Landon Beach, and it doesn’t disappoint. In “The Wreck” we are introduced to protagonist Nathan Martin, a vacationing teacher and a rollicking cast of characters led by an unforgettable “Old Salt” Abner Hutch, as bold,irreverent and mysterious as “Quint” in the novel Jaws by author Peter Benchley. Beach masterfully weaves a “story within a story” that starts quietly and builds into a crescendo of twists and turns until you are speeding on a roller coaster of intrigue and raw emotion. Easy to read and finished before you realize it, “The Wreck” contributes refreshing new ideas to a genre usually reserved for exotic ports of call. Landon Beach rises to the challenge with great skill in this accomplished and thrilling novel.

[Mel Brannen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Other than the location being Lake Huron this book nothing I. An recommend to an adult reader. Written in straight-forward choppy prose this would almost be a good book for a high school boy who doesn’t read at grade level. Almost, because there are discussions of wife-sharing and threesomes.

Haven’t figured out why the CEO and his attorney (and the attorney’s sexual and careless behavior) were included. Except maybe they funded the ‘bad guys’? If so, that was never explained.

No character development. A loner with no friends, except his neighbor, adopts the protagonist in one day and both behave as if the other is a completely honest fellow although they know nothing about each other’s background. Would you go into a cave looking for treasure with someone you met the day before yesterday?

On second thought, I can’t even recommend this for a high-school boy reading below grade level.