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Sea Hunter
There is something swimming beneath the placid surface of Caribbean waters -- something sleek and frightening, an inexplicable perversion of the natural order. Virgin Islands charter captain David Hope has seen it, and his passenger, beautiful renegade filmmaker Sally Moffitt, has captured its image. Now they have something that one man will do anything to possess. William Tree, the commander of a towering high-tech research vessel and scion of one of America's wealthiest, most powerful families, lives his life in single-minded pursuit of a dark and brilliant vision that the world will soon recognize . . . and fear. But Hope and Moffitt cannot trust this amiable, eccentric, and dangerous man. And they intend to keep their secret hidden, even as a nightmare, uncontained, rises up from the depths, setting them off on a breakneck hunt for answers to the greatest and most devastating mystery the seas have ever nurtured. A mystery that is now, ruthlessly and relentlessly, hunting them . . .
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 29, 2024
A charter fisherman is nearly killed by a submarine. A few hours later, he takes another charter for a woman who wants to film the mating habits of dolphins. They find a strange sea creature, that looks like a dolphin, but is way too big, and aggressive. Then they encounter a megalo-maniacal billionaire. Could the two be connected?
Not bad, but the author loses sight of his objective a couple of times.
Not bad, but the author loses sight of his objective a couple of times.
March 29, 2012
A good story with interesting characters and plenty of action. The plot is well executed and the interactions of the characters is pretty believable. The story jumps between first and third character but it does so smoothly. The scene descriptions are vivid and concise. The adventure was fun but the dramatic part of the ending could have been a bit longer.
April 10, 2013
I am a sucker for stories on the high seas - all the more so if it sounds like it will involve some large, predatory sea creatures. And this book certainly fit that bill. This was a silly, but pretty fun, high seas adventure story. The premise was pretty ridiculous and the ending wasn't terribly satisfying, but it still had many exciting moments. I would read another book by him, but it would be subject dependent. Really, it was just so silly... but managed to be fun, too, which is sort of impressive. You can’t take the story very seriously, but it was a fast-paced and certainly memorable in its own way. But definitely do not try to take the “science” behind the plot as actual research. This is definitely fictional!
March 16, 2014
I really enjoyed learning about sailing on the ocean and all that goes with it. The story was fun and the characters well developed and believable. There was an appropriate amount of somewhat technical radio related materiel used in the story, and Mr. Garrison got it all right! The switching between 1st and 3rd person was a little disconcerting but worked once I realized what was going on. I was initially a little disappointed in the ending but, upon reflection, realize it is entirely consistent with the rest of the story. This isn't a "Flipper" story but rather about a new hybrid mammal called a killfin . . . a whole different critter with a way different attitude. All in all, a very good read that left me looking forward to picking it back up again each evening.
September 29, 2008
I was very disappointed. I usually love books involving sea creatures, but I couldn't even finish this one. The dialogue got boring and when I discovered the creature was a dolphin and not a shark like I originally thought I was devastated.
August 4, 2025
A solid four stars for an enjoyable read. If I knew more about boats and sailing, I would have understood the boating language more, bit it didn’t take away from the story. Sign me up for more Paul Garrison stories.
November 3, 2023
This book is a surprise with the sea creecher being a extra large Dolphin. I was a little turned off by the cover when my sister gave me the book but really enjoyed it.
January 7, 2026
over all not a bad book. story line was very intriguing. combined a jurassic Park theme with hunt for red October with a hint of jaws mixed in. so I would recommend this one.
April 28, 2013
I enjoy sea tales and this one is no exception. When I started this book I thought that it was going to be a dud, but the farther I got into it, the more I enjoyed it.
The story is about an ex-reporter, David Hope, who purchased a catamaran sailboat several years ago and dropped out. He now takes tourists on fishing and diving charters in the Caribbean but has fallen on a hard patch. He is low on money and his next charter has just cancelled.
Along comes Sally Moffit, the wife of a wildlife film maker who has just been dumped by her husband for a rich heiress that can fund his films. Sally wants Hope to help her steal film making equipment from her soon-to-be ex-husband then sail her north to film the mating habits of an obscure species of dolphin. Her goal is to establish herself as a competent wildlife film maker and not an assistant to her already famous husband.
The theft is completed with the requisite drama and the two are sailing north into the Atlantic when they realize that there is a strange dolphin traveling with them. The dolphin is huge. Much larger than Hope and Moffit have ever seen. It seems to enjoy leaping from the water, spinning several times in the air then crashing back into the sea. The breeding dolphins are quickly forgotten and Moffit is now on a quest to film this never-before-seen dolphin.
It turns out that this dolphin is not a new species at all. It is a genetically engineered animal, part spinner dolphin and part killer whale that is the creation of the 500 pound industrialist William Tree who has designed his Killphin (dumb name) to attack and disable submarines. The only problem is that Tree and his scientists have lost control of the Killphin and they don't know what it might do. Tree only knows that he needs to get his weapon back under control and he needs to dissuade this wildlife film maker and her sailor boyfriend from documenting the Killphin's existance.
***
This is the third Paul Garrison novel that I have read. In my opinion, 'The Ripple Effect' is the best of the three. His knowledge of the sea and sailing is exceptional and he can build the reader's suspense level when describing his character's efforts to survive a storm at sea.
I would recommend 'Sea Hunter' to anyone who likes sea stories. It will be worth the effort. It is a well thought out sea yarn.
The story is about an ex-reporter, David Hope, who purchased a catamaran sailboat several years ago and dropped out. He now takes tourists on fishing and diving charters in the Caribbean but has fallen on a hard patch. He is low on money and his next charter has just cancelled.
Along comes Sally Moffit, the wife of a wildlife film maker who has just been dumped by her husband for a rich heiress that can fund his films. Sally wants Hope to help her steal film making equipment from her soon-to-be ex-husband then sail her north to film the mating habits of an obscure species of dolphin. Her goal is to establish herself as a competent wildlife film maker and not an assistant to her already famous husband.
The theft is completed with the requisite drama and the two are sailing north into the Atlantic when they realize that there is a strange dolphin traveling with them. The dolphin is huge. Much larger than Hope and Moffit have ever seen. It seems to enjoy leaping from the water, spinning several times in the air then crashing back into the sea. The breeding dolphins are quickly forgotten and Moffit is now on a quest to film this never-before-seen dolphin.
It turns out that this dolphin is not a new species at all. It is a genetically engineered animal, part spinner dolphin and part killer whale that is the creation of the 500 pound industrialist William Tree who has designed his Killphin (dumb name) to attack and disable submarines. The only problem is that Tree and his scientists have lost control of the Killphin and they don't know what it might do. Tree only knows that he needs to get his weapon back under control and he needs to dissuade this wildlife film maker and her sailor boyfriend from documenting the Killphin's existance.
***
This is the third Paul Garrison novel that I have read. In my opinion, 'The Ripple Effect' is the best of the three. His knowledge of the sea and sailing is exceptional and he can build the reader's suspense level when describing his character's efforts to survive a storm at sea.
I would recommend 'Sea Hunter' to anyone who likes sea stories. It will be worth the effort. It is a well thought out sea yarn.
May 22, 2008
Story:
This book follows David Hope and Sally Moffit as they attempt to track down what they think is a new type of dolphin. Hope is overly cautious as he blames himself for the death of his girlfriend on a previous voyage that ended in tradgey. Since then he has drifed around from port to port plauged by nightmares and doubt. Sally is a just out of work photographer looking to show up her (very recently) ex-husband. A twist of fate brings the two together and after some fire works, (where Sally throws a bit of a wrench in her ex-husbands' plans)Hope and Sally head out to study the local dolphins. Soon they are tracking what Sally belives is a never before seen type of dolphin. During their journey they run into William Tree, a businessman who conducts studies on sealife. Unfortunatley Tree also has an interest in the dolphin and it isn't to further research. Unkown to them Hope and Sally have entered the game of cold and caculating businessman who's plan has begun to spin out of control...
------
This is what I call an average action/adventure. That's not saying the book is bad, it's just saying I've read this book before and it had a different name and different characters and a bit of a differnt story. But the basic outline is the same. Troubled Male Character meets Troubled Girl Character, they feel attracted to each other and it just so happens they can help each other out. On the way to do whatever they are going to do they run into good guy that turns out to be bad guy. Usually by this time they have fallen madly in love whith each other and unite to take out The Bad Guy. Not going to make anyone's brain over load. Don't get me wrong I like these type of books I just wish that the stories wouldn't always wait until the middle to run out of ideas and then go down the beaten path. Rant over. Three things I liked about this book. The pacing was good until I got about 1/2 to 3/4 through the book then it did the above. The love scenes do not go on and on for 50 pages, there is one paragraph and the storie moves on. Finally this story does have good pacing until near the end. Until that point there really is no violence, random explosions or crazy villans. Would recommend this to anyone who likes sea adventures with a little mystery and suspense thrown in.
m.a.c
This book follows David Hope and Sally Moffit as they attempt to track down what they think is a new type of dolphin. Hope is overly cautious as he blames himself for the death of his girlfriend on a previous voyage that ended in tradgey. Since then he has drifed around from port to port plauged by nightmares and doubt. Sally is a just out of work photographer looking to show up her (very recently) ex-husband. A twist of fate brings the two together and after some fire works, (where Sally throws a bit of a wrench in her ex-husbands' plans)Hope and Sally head out to study the local dolphins. Soon they are tracking what Sally belives is a never before seen type of dolphin. During their journey they run into William Tree, a businessman who conducts studies on sealife. Unfortunatley Tree also has an interest in the dolphin and it isn't to further research. Unkown to them Hope and Sally have entered the game of cold and caculating businessman who's plan has begun to spin out of control...
------
This is what I call an average action/adventure. That's not saying the book is bad, it's just saying I've read this book before and it had a different name and different characters and a bit of a differnt story. But the basic outline is the same. Troubled Male Character meets Troubled Girl Character, they feel attracted to each other and it just so happens they can help each other out. On the way to do whatever they are going to do they run into good guy that turns out to be bad guy. Usually by this time they have fallen madly in love whith each other and unite to take out The Bad Guy. Not going to make anyone's brain over load. Don't get me wrong I like these type of books I just wish that the stories wouldn't always wait until the middle to run out of ideas and then go down the beaten path. Rant over. Three things I liked about this book. The pacing was good until I got about 1/2 to 3/4 through the book then it did the above. The love scenes do not go on and on for 50 pages, there is one paragraph and the storie moves on. Finally this story does have good pacing until near the end. Until that point there really is no violence, random explosions or crazy villans. Would recommend this to anyone who likes sea adventures with a little mystery and suspense thrown in.
m.a.c
May 24, 2017
When wanna-be-filmmaker Sally Moffitt hires catamaran owner David Hope to ferry her out off the Bermuda coast to film dolphins mating, David is reluctant but money talks so off they went. However, once the mutant dolphin makes a spectacular appearance, all bets are off and they decide to follow and film this new species of dolphin.
There were some obvious duh moments that could have avoided a lot of bad in the book but what would be the fun in that. Once the giant dolphin appeared, I knew that I had read this before but I needed it for a challenge so I decided to continue reading as I forgot the particulars. It turned out to be as enjoyable the second time as the first.
There were some obvious duh moments that could have avoided a lot of bad in the book but what would be the fun in that. Once the giant dolphin appeared, I knew that I had read this before but I needed it for a challenge so I decided to continue reading as I forgot the particulars. It turned out to be as enjoyable the second time as the first.
April 30, 2014
Pretty good... My only problem with it is that there is a LOT of technical boating terms all through this novel. I know nothing about sailing and I only know a very, very small amount of nautical terms in general. Sometimes I had a very difficult time understanding what the author was even talking about.
January 23, 2010
fun adventure
another page turner from Garrison
another page turner from Garrison
January 28, 2011
It was ok.
August 18, 2012
Nancy 5 stars
December 15, 2012
I hereby vow to read no more books with ludicrously stupid plots peopled with outrageously ridiculous characters. This book was the final straw.
December 30, 2013
Good - I'm not usually into fantasy, but this one worked.
March 21, 2014
This is "not" my kind of read. I did like it enough to finish it. It's sort of a "Perfect Storm" meets Moby Dick feel!
June 26, 2013
A good story and a fairly quick read. It's Clive Cussler meets Robin Cook, animal style.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews