The Empty Grave

by Wright Gres

The Empty Grave Late 1944, a band of Greek Partisans, led by OSS operative, Freddie Chase, watch helplessly as a U-Boat departs Thessiloniki heavily laden with Nazi treasure stolen from the people of Greece and the Balkans, bound for Argentina. On board, a high ranking Nazi functionary jealously guards the treasure. The U-boat captain and crew fight overwhelming Allied opposition transiting the Mediterranean. Redirected by Hitler to detour to patrol along the US eastern seaboard, the sub is damaged and forced to seek shelter for repairs along the Georgia coast. When the U-boat eventually limps in to Argentina with its Nazi passenger, the vessel is under the command of the First Officer. The treasure is not on board; neither is the commanding officer. Spring 1986, Captain Frank Brown and two of his crew, South Korean deckhand Chang-Ki, and Turkish Intelligence Agent Nevser Akkaya Chase take time off from their duties aboard the sailing yacht, Belle Tata, in the Caribbean to run down a Nazi war criminal and recover the lost treasure. Before following the cold trail to Argentina, Brown is attacked in Tampa, and their quest takes an unexpected turn toward the Georgia coast as they attempt to unravel the mystery and find the treasure. Then they learn that finding the treasure is only the beginning. The Empty Grave is a high-stakes, high-adventure, stand-alone novel. Readers who enjoyed Macedonia Passage, following Captain Frank Brown and his crew on their perilous journey aboard a stays’l schooner crossing the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean two years earlier, will look forward to this adventure.

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2020

About the author

I grew up in Tampa, Florida, more often than not playing around the water. From adventuring up and down the Hillsboro River to sailing on any boat I could get my hands on.
After college I returned to Tampa where I took several jobs, from retail advertising, print shop operator, to advertising agency, before moving to Orlando to handle the advertising in the state for United Telecom (now Sprint) In 1983 I left the coat and tie, nine to five world and signed on as deckhand on a schooner to make a transatlantic and six month exploration of the Mediterranean. This, along with my Walter Mitty fantasy life, served as the inspiration for writing "Macedonia Passage: Dangerous Cargo."
I currently live in southeast Georgia on the Altamaha River. I run tugboats from time to time to try to make ends meet.

Reviews

[Dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller and travel adventure combined. Heavy on the sailing but easily understood.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Empty Grave by Wright Gres

In 1944, Freddie Chase, an OSS operative, leads a band of Greek partisans to steal treasures from Greece and the Balkans. The U-Boat is headed for Argentina but is detoured by Hitler along the US coast. When Finally arriving the treasure is missing and so is the Commanding Officer.

Many years later in 1986 Captain Frank Brown and his Crew; Chang-Ki and Nevser Akkaya Chase, set out to find the missing treasure and a Nazi war criminal. This leads them to Argentina, but getting there will not be an easy task as they run into trouble along the Eastern Coast of Florida and Georgia.

The story moves at a steady pace with attention to detail and well developed characters. Alternating from the past (1944) to present (1986) bringing me deep into the story of intrigue and danger. I was hooked from the first page.

Wright Gres took me on an adventure of a life time with his knowledge of vessels and events from WWII. I highly recommend The Empty Grave to all.