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Spider John Mysteries #2

The Devil's Wind: A Spider John Mystery

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A historical mystery that blends nautical adventure in pirate waters with a locked-room murder mystery, featuring a pirate sleuth whose wits are as sharp as his blade. 1723--Spider John, longing to escape the pirate life he never wanted, has an honest seafaring job at last, aboard a sailing vessel, and is returning to his beloved Em and their child. But when Captain Brentwood is murdered in his cabin, Spider's plans are tossed overboard. Who killed Redemption's captain? The mysterious pirate with a sadistic past? The beautiful redhead who hides guns beneath her skirt? One of the men pining for the captain's daughter? There are plenty of suspects. But how could anyone kill the captain in his locked quarters while the entire crew was gathered together on the deck? Before he can solve the puzzle, Spider John and his ex-pirate friends Hob and Odin will have to cope with violence, schemes, nosy Royal Navy officers, and a deadly trap set by the ruthless pirate Ned Low.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2018

11 people are currently reading
891 people want to read

About the author

Steve Goble

17 books89 followers
My first novel, a historical mystery called "The Bloody Black Flag: A Spider John Mystery," was released Sept. 12, 2017, from Seventh Street Books. My second novel, "The Devil's Wind: A Spider John Mystery," was released in the Fall/Winter of 2018. The third, “A Bottle of Rum,” was released in November 2019, and “Pieces of Eight” is coming. Sometime in 2021.

Also in 2021, I will debut a new detective series from Oceanview Publishing. Look for “City Problems” in July.

Learn more at stevegoble.com.

Quarterly newsletter: https://stevegoble.us2.list-manage.co...

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Leo.
4,999 reviews631 followers
March 24, 2021
The the pirate who desperately wants to leave the pirate life and come home to his family is once again stuck in a murder mystery he needs to solve. I enjoyed this second book more then the first one. Murder mystery always intruigs me and throw in some pirates and you have me hooked. I think its a perfect series to read after watching the pirate documentary on neflix!
Profile Image for Joy Smith.
Author 20 books40 followers
August 1, 2018
This story captures the feel of the ships and the ocean and the time, along with interesting characters, including nasty and sadistic pirates. Nothing romantic here, despite the two women who end up sailing with the Redemption, its captain and crew, and our hero, Spider John and his two companions, who are always there for him. There's piracy, danger--and a locked room, uh, cabin, mystery. Spider John works hard to solve the mystery--an almost impossible task--and he could be wrong. He's still trying to figure it out when pirates trap them on an island. So, more danger and bloodshed. 'Tis a gritty tale with surprises--and some historical background.
Profile Image for Kayla Tornello.
1,693 reviews16 followers
July 18, 2018
I liked the combination of mystery and piracy. I really liked the main character, Spider John, a former pirate who has renounced his evil ways and is trying to make an honest living. I liked all the details of the old sailing ship. It did bother me that the Anne character was portrayed as some sort of sex kitten. That was completely unnecessary. I was also frustrated that the end of the story left so many things unresolved. I'm sure that it's because there will be another book, but it's still frustrating.

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Yay!
851 reviews28 followers
September 15, 2018
Every great pirate fiction novel seems to begin with a fearsome scene: an arrested pirate about to be hanged and the entire town’s residents gathered to enjoy the scene. It seems to be the nature of piracy – the attractive lure of adventure and the game of choosing death-defying possibilities. Spider Joe has had enough of it all. He wants to get back to Boston, Massachusetts to his wife and two children, with no pirate connections forever.
However, Spider Joe has so many friends, acquaintances and enemies that he’s having a hard time not being recognized and drawn into whatever mischief is happening at the moment. He stays to watch an old friend and pirate be hung; but when he realizes he’s been recognizes, he’s forced to flee because he is wanted as well and the noose awaits Spider Joe’s petrified neck!
Spider, with the help of friends, manages to make it onto the ship, Redemption, but he also knows there is someone else on this ship who knows Spider’s identity, even though Spider is calling himself by an anonymous name for this journey. Fights begin and the booze and violence is flying until Captain Brentwood suddenly appears and violently suppresses the melee. The shock the next morning is tangible when the Captain is found murdered in his cabin. There is a note that attempts others to believe he took his own life, but Spider knows that’s impossible.
The rest of the novel is Spider’s attempt to solve the mystery of the murderer. As in any Spider John mystery, almost every character has one or more reasons to commit the alleged crime. And there are numerous fights in between the insults and dark dialogue flying among this motley crowd.
Was the murder committed by one of the two pirates who actually savor the way they murder their victims? Was it the red-headed gal who is as good as any male pirate? Who set the trap and what’s the danger from the Royal Navy that they could all be arrested and hung?
Steve Goble writes a dashing, adventurous yarn that is so enjoyable one wants to read more tales of winning pirates. Recommend this historical fiction for a nerve-biting, hairy rollercoaster ride to freedom – one hopes!
Profile Image for Cindy Vallar.
Author 5 books20 followers
September 17, 2018
With John Rush wanted for piracy, Spider John assumes the moniker of John Coombs and signs aboard Redemption, a ship bound for America. He hasn’t seen his wife and son in eight years, and this is his only chance to escape the hangman’s noose . . . if no one recognizes him while still in Port Royal. Odin – a scarred pirate who once sailed with Blackbeard – and Hob – a fifteen year old who’d rather be a pirate than a carpenter’s mate – are his companions. It should be a peaceful journey as long as they keep a fair distance from the navy frigate escorting their small convoy of ships through the Caribbean.

As the ship’s carpenter, John gets to know the Redemption, a captured pirate ship, and her captain, Josiah Brentwood. He’s a decent, trusting man, who assumes each person is good until proven wrong. Sailing with him is his pretty daughter, Abigail, who often dresses as a man. Accompanying them on this voyage is a handful of diverse passengers. Rufus Fox, a Quaker, loves to tinker with machines and is a friend of the captain’s. Reverend Down is the dour-faced minister who is often at odds with Fox. Hadley, a freed slave who works as a crew member, keeps perhaps a too-close watch on Abigail. Anne McCormac keeps to herself, but has some particular skills for a woman and a passing acquaintance with one of the two remaining passengers – Sam Smoke and Wicked Pete Reese – both of him cause Odin’s knees to quake.

On their first Sunday at sea, the passengers and crew gather on the deck for services. A loud gunshot disturbs the peace, and Spider John is one of the first to bust through the locked door into Captain Brentwood’s cabin. He’s dead, a fired pistol in one hand. A navy lieutenant comes aboard to investigate, but his time on board is short since it looks like a suicide to him. Spider John has his doubts. Something was missing when he entered the cabin, but what? And how could anyone kill the captain in a room with the door and windows locked?

As Spider John investigates, Odin and Hob help him uncover secrets held by those on board. It’s dangerous enough having a potential murderer aboard, but the first mate, now acting captain, endangers their lives further during the night. Enamored of Abigail, he wants to please her by laying her father to rest according to his last wishes. Doing so brings them in close proximity to one of the islands frequented by Ned Low and his bloodthirsty men. It also stymies Spider John’s best-laid plan to return to his loved ones.

A locked-room murder has long been a standard in mystery stories, and Goble has created a wonderful version in both a unique setting and detective. All the needed clues are present, but are so deftly interwoven into the tale that they are not easily discernible from the red herrings. Those familiar with golden age piracy may figure out Anne McCormac’s true identity, but unearthing the murderer may stump readers as much as it does Spider John. Solving a puzzle while getting out of sticky situations with the sands of time quickly sifting through the hourglass are the hallmarks of this series, and The Devil’s Wind is perfect for pirates who wish to tax their brains, rather than test their brawn.
Profile Image for Rusty Dalferes.
119 reviews2 followers
August 13, 2019
This was a fantastic book, as a mystery, as a pirate adventure, as historical fiction, as however you want to pigeon-hole it.

The second novel in the Spider John series by Steve Goble has the intrepid reluctant pirate, Spider John Rush, and his friends, Hob the teenager, Odin the one-eyed old salt, and Admiral Thomas the cat, somehow escaping the hangman's noose in Port Royal, Jamaica, unlike some of his former shipmates from the first novel. The group hides its piratical past as part of the crew of a merchant vessel heading north for Boston, leading Spider John to hope for his long-sought reunion with his wife Em and son Johnny. This vessel carries cargo and passengers, some of whom are not who they pretend to be. When the captain of the ship dies in his stateroom seemingly of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Spider is drawn into another murder investigation that threatens to interrupt his reunion with Em. The resulting story is full of tense investigations, potential suspects literally coming out of the woodwork, and, of course, great pirate action.

Where the first novel fell one star short of my highest recommendation, this novel does not. The first novel put the pirate action above the mystery that needed to be solved, but this second novel puts the piracy and the investigation on equal footing to great effect. Spider John is both a human, fallible character, and one who is shown to be incredibly resourceful and able to inspire his cohorts to follow his lead. Hob and Odin get some more fully-fleshed character building in this story, and other characters present both real-life historical figures and possible potential recurring characters for later entries. As was the first novel, the second in the series is well-written and -edited, to the point where I have no complaints of narrative style, grammar, or even typesetting mistakes.

This book gets my highest recommendation for fans of mysteries, historical fiction, adventure tales, or just simply a fun read. It's got humor, heart, humility, and heart-pounding action. I can't wait for the third book in this series.

Thanks to Seventh Street Books for providing me with a copy of this book.
376 reviews13 followers
August 22, 2018
Pirates, beautiful women, sailing the Caribbean, a locked door murder, what more could you want in an adventure novel? We have our reluctant hero, Spider John, a some time pirate wanting only to leave his past behind and sail home to his lovely Em and their son, who John hasn't seen for nigh on seven years. His scalawag friends and fellow ex-pirates, Odin and Hob. Odin is the battle scarred wizened old man and Hob the adventure loving reckless youth who loves to play at pirates for real. Together they find a ship that will seemingly take Spider John back to his beloved family. Their hopes are dashed when the good natured captain of the merchant vessel is found shot in the head behind the locked door to his cabin. His beautiful daughter, who has accompanied him on this voyage refuses to believe he has killed himself. Spider John half convinced by the beautiful young woman and half convinced by a nagging sense of unrest that something is amiss, agrees to find an answer to the mystery. Add to this the presence on board of Sam Smoke, a vicious pirate known to Spider John and his friend Odin. Not to mention a devastating red haired beauty who carries herself with the confidence of a woman who knows how to handle herself and any man who gets in her way. Along with several other suspicious passengers, there is no shortage of suspects if the Captain's demise proves to be a murder. As if that wasn't enough the defenseless merchant ship is sailing into pirate infested waters.
Profile Image for Dana.
2,218 reviews21 followers
November 21, 2019
Had it not been for the fact that my little 2 year old son dons a pirate hat everyday, I don’t know I would have read The Devil's Wind. But since I’m humming “Yo Ho” everyday anyway, I figured why not read about a pirate who doesn’t want to be a pirate any longer and who keeps investigating mysterious deaths whilst aboard pirate ships. The result was a very creative and unique story that seemed authentic from the very start!

First off, I will say that the author certainly seems to know quite a bit about pirates and the pirate life aboard a ship. I was immediately captivated by the lifestyle that John Spider led, and assumed and the craziness that was so normal to the other pirates sailing with him was common for the time. The language used by the characters helped create the world of pirates, and made each sailor swarthy and dangerous. The descriptions of what the men encountered and how they interacted with each other were so unique, that I was caught up in their journey very easily.

What this lacked was more insight into John. The author did not spend enough time explaining to me what John felt and what motivated him. Much of the story was rooted in the present action and dialogue, which meant the characters lacked full backgrounds. I also felt that the mystery was solved easily and without much investigation by John. That made this feel a little thoughtless, but overall, it was entertaining because it was so original. Yo ho!

Profile Image for Paul Bennett.
Author 10 books65 followers
August 21, 2018
A cracking follow up to The Bloody Black Flag, The Devil's Wind is an entertaining mystery guaranteed to have you scratching your heads, along with Spider John as he tries to unravel a murder on board the merchant vessel, Redemption. Having given up the hazards of piracy, Spider John is heading home to Boston after joining a merchant convoy escorted by the British Navy. What should be a routine voyage turns out to be anything but as the Captain of Redemption is found dead in his cabin seemingly self-inflicted, but nagging circumstances have Spider John looking for a murderer.

The author has crafted an intriguing tale complete with a bevy of interesting characters, plentiful twists and turns, and page turning drama. The list of suspects is long; each with a plausible motive, and it takes all of Spider John's abilities to finally piece the mystery together...all the while on constant alert for pirates. All in all, a cracking read - one that ends, or rather, doesn't. Methinks there will be more of Spider John.  :-)  4 stars
4,392 reviews57 followers
August 21, 2019
3 1/2 stars. A classic locked-room mystery on a 18th century ship! Threats of pirates, executions and the hazards at sea during the 18th century spice up this tale. Most murder mysteries don't have the tension and sense of impending doom as this book does. Spider John must try to figure out who killed the captain in his locked cabin while desperately trying to save himself and his fellow seafarers from the sadistic murderous pirate Ned Low.

There is a lot of action in this story but the mystery is not sunk by it--in fact, it kept me guessing until the end. However, I didn't think they sailed along together as well as the first book. Pirates are not romantically portrayed. Tales of their cruelty are scattered throughout the novel and the hardship of the life but so is why it was attractive to some and others had no choice at times. This portrays pirates as complex people and that always makes for a better story.
Profile Image for Jessica.
577 reviews13 followers
August 9, 2018
My first book review for The Girly Book Club!

Rating: 3.8/5

Author Steve Goble is back with another Spider John mystery novel. After writing his first novel, known as The Bloody Black Flag, comes his second, The Devil’s Wind. No worries if you haven’t read the first book; I haven’t either. To my knowledge, this is a stand alone novel with a new mystery for Spider John to solve.

Before picking up this read, you first have to ask yourself, “Do you want to go on an adventure and solve a murder mystery along the way?” My response is, “Who wouldn’t?”

The main character Spider John wants one thing and one thing only and that is to escape the pirate life and return home. His opportunity aboard the ship Redemption turned sideways though when the Captain is found murdered in his cabin. The question is, "Was it suicide or murder?” Spider John, along with his friends Hob Odin, starts an investigation. But this is not the only thing that goes awry on this journey. As Spider John will soon find out, the ship has taken a turn for the worse. As the ship Redemption pulls away from the protection of the convoy, Spider John questions why they are headed straight into pirate waters.

If you are a person who likes to predict what happens in a book, I dare you to try and get it right with this mystery. Twists and turns are commonplace, and you won’t find out until the very end!

Will Spider John ever escape the life of a pirate or will he finally make it home?
158 reviews
February 18, 2021
The second outing of Spider John Rush is even better than the first! This time he leaves Port Royal, Jamaica in 1723 on a ship bound for New England. Along the way he encounters a variation of a locked room mystery. This one is a locked ship's cabin mystery. I tried to solve it along with Spider John. I had a few theories which were dispelled during the voyage. I figured out some of the "how?", but didn't guess the "who?". The book moves along at a good pace.
Profile Image for Kim Gray.
774 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2022
This series is good for vacation reads. This is the 3rd book of the series I have read. You can read them out of order and still know what is going on. The main character and a few side characters have appeared in all the books I read but you really don't need to read the earlier books to enjoy. All of them have been some mystery set in the backdrop of pirate chaos. They have all been fast reads. None have any thick plots but I have found myself enjoying them.
Profile Image for Alyse.
102 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2018
**I received an Advanced Reader's copy from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review**

Disclaimer: Yes, it has been quite a LONG while since this book was finally published but time has gotten away from me for the last few months. I apologize to the author :(

That said, I did enjoy the pirate-esque fictional setting, it felt like I was placed right into the Disney movies, Pirates of the Caribbean. It was a quick and great start, I immediately got into the book. Very descriptive, just felt a slight drag after the crew of the Redemption and the plot of murder-mystery set sail. It didn't seem to pick up until drastic actions were taken to further along the story into the end. The beginning of the book does mention Spider John's knack for solving mysteries, as does the text on the cover; 'A Spider John Mystery,' intrigues me to maybe look up another one of Steve Goble's books to give it a try, maybe I will like it a little more? I just have a few more books to read before I start thinking ahead of myself again.

Finally, not pertaining to the book entirely... in the acknowledgements, for people not reading enough these days, thank you for adding that! I do so enjoy reading, always have ♡
Profile Image for Joshua.
18 reviews
September 13, 2024
An unorthodox approach to the usual setting and archetypes for a standard “whodoneit”, but very enjoyable. Think a more grounded Pirates of the Caribbean meets Agatha Christie. It shouldn’t work, but it does.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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