Murder or Mutiny?

by Pamela Stephenson

The tie-in to a 6-part TV series follows Pamela in search of her sailing captain ancestor who was cut adrift by mutineers in the Malacca Straits - or was he?.'Salty Sam' Stephenson, Pamela's great, great grandfather, family legend has it was the owner and captain of the sailing ship ROSALIE who was abandoned by his crew in the 1820s and never heard of again. A chance encounter with the descendant of another crew member who had a different story to tell prompted Pamela to discover the fate of her ancestor. Delving in maritime archives she begins to piece together his background. From Rotherhithe she retraces his journeys along the old spice route and hires a sailing boat with a heavily armed crew to continue her search in pirate-infested waters. A tale of genealogy, mystery and adventure with a high-profile television series to accompany it.

Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Dr Pamela Helen Stephenson Connolly is a New Zealand-born Australian clinical psychologist and writer now resident in the United Kingdom. She is best known for her work as an actress and comedian during the 1980s. She has written several books, which include a biography of her husband Billy Connolly, and presents a psychology-based interview show called Shrink Rap on British television.

Reviews

[A.J. Llewellyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. I just finished this and wish I'd read it when I met Pamela and her husband, comedian Billy Connolly at the Aroma Cafe. This is a worthy follow-up to her brilliant "Treasure Islands" another book I pored over.
Stephenson sails the South Seas in such a visual way, you can feel the ocean spray on your face.
In this new book, Stephenson follows the trail of her long-lost great grandfather, Sam "Salty Sam" Stephenson whose fate remains a mystery. He was accused of being a mutinous pirate on his ship the Rosalie, but a chance encounter with a woman in a bar in Bali of all places leads Stephenson to research the truth. Salty Sam was most likely murdered by his own men.
Once again she rigs up her boat the Takapuna and with her 16-person crew tackles some of the world's deadliest seas. Even seasoned sailors balk at some of what Stephenson describes as Liquid Beasts.
A wonderfully written, engaging tale. I agree with Billy Connolly's foreword that it's a page turner.
He describes himself as her Literary Enabler. I've decided every writer should have one.
I think he'd be pleased when I say it's a thumping good read.

[Sharon]

Good book, I enjoyed it, certainly sounded really exciting and wonderful. The pictures where great, I just wish the mystery at the end was resolved better.