Memory Layne: Catawba Island to Chincoteague Island

by Bob Adamov

With his white beard and red suspenders, his salty good humor, harmonica, and bucket of tall tales, Zeke Layne is one of those memorable characters you can still occasionally find - whether it be a Chincoteague Island waterman or retired Cape Cod fisherman or charter boat skipper in the Florida Keys, or in the case of Memory Layne, Bob Adamov's poignant word portrait, a former Miller ferry boat captain on Lake Erie. Zeke lives with his daughter, teenage granddaughter and golden lab in an old mobile home, built on steel pilings at the Miller Ferry Catawba dock, with a view from his deck of South Bass Island. Alzheimer's and a worrisome heart condition haven't stopped him from his daily routine of entertaining passengers waiting at the Catawba dock to board the ferry or caring for his Chincoteague pony. It's not a bad life, even having to deal with two rapacious stepdaughters and their biker pals. But when the unthinkable happens, Zeke must summon all his fading resources in a madcap dash to a safe haven. Adamov populates his story with a cast of unforgettable characters who teach us about the power of love, and prove, as Hemingway once said, that man can be destroyed, but not defeated. Memory Layne is a thoroughly enjoyable read! – Paul Kemprecos, New York Times best-selling author

220 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2021

About the author

Bob Adamov is an Ohio-based mystery adventure writer whose stories are based in the Lake Erie South Bass Island resort town of Put-in-Bay, the “Key West of the Midwest.” His novels follow the adventures of Washington Post investigative reporter, Emerson Moore, and are written in the style of Adamov’s favorite author, Clive Cussler.

Adamov was the featured author at the 2006 Ernest Hemingway Days’ Literary Festival in Key West and named 2010’s Writer of the Year by the University of Akron’s Wayne College.

His first novel, Rainbow’s End, was a finalist as the top fiction novel for the 2003 Great Lakes Book Award competition that was won by the Pulitzer Prize-winner, Middlesex.

All of his novels were rated “5 Stars” by the Midwest Book Review and named as top novels in northeast Ohio by the Akron Beacon Journal. His novels have won awards at the Hollywood Book Festival, London Book Festival, New York Book Festival, Florida Book Festival and the Indie Awards.

He was a guest author at the 2008, 2010, 2015 & 2017 Clive Cussler Collectors Society Convention where he met his hero, Clive Cussler, and toured his car collection. Mr. Cussler endorsed Adamov’s fifth book - “The Other Side of Hell is a great read!”

“Bob Adamov is a superb craftsman of hanging-on-the-edge-of-your-seat mystery adventures…” - Midwest Book Review

Adamov’s favorite authors include Brad Thor, Mark Twain, Ian Fleming, Jack Higgins, and Alistair MacLean. He strives to emulate his favorite author, Clive Cussler, and created a character similar to Cussler’s Dirk Pitt.

His latest novel, Golden Torpedo, was released in July 2017. It continues the popular Emerson Moore series and Adamov’s string of island best sellers which include Rainbow’s End, Pierce the Veil, When Rainbows Walk, Promised Land, The Other Side of Hell, Tan Lines, Sandustee, Zenobia and Missing.

A Kent State University graduate, Adamov resides in Wooster, Ohio. He often can be seen in Put-in-Bay, Key West and the Cayman Islands with his scuba diving, boating and treasure hunting friends. He had worked for an Arlington, Virginia-based defense contractor in the intelligence sector.

Adamov is drafting the next novel in the series – Chincoteague Calm involving mysterious NASA rocket explosions and covert Russian and Chinese saboteurs on Chincoteague Island in Virginia. He is also working on Flight, which deals with a mystery surrounding former Bellevue resident and railroad tycoon Henry Flager and a train to Key West.

Reviews

[John Wisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very engaging, humorous and a little bit sad story wonderfully crafted by the author of the award-winning Emerson Moore series. Though apart from the Emerson Moore series, author Bob Adamov takes readers along a delightful side trail of more familiar adventures with which they can readily identify in their own respective lives. Bob gets an A+ for his style and ability to connect with readers in a highly personal and yet humorous style.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!