Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Start discussion here for Dead Reckoning by Michael W. Smart.

About the Book (Goodreads description)

Gage didn’t have friends. He’d led an emotionally isolated life, avoiding personal attachments, a mantra for survival. And the last thing he needed was disruption and exposure of the quiet retirement he’d settled into on Bequia, living aboard his schooner Wherever. He’d buried his past. Forged a new life. And in doing so broke his cardinal rule, he’d formed attachments. A burgeoning romantic relationship with the island’s police Superintendent Jolene Johanssen, whose love awakens dormant emotions and reconnects him to the world. A relationship he’s unsure he’s emotionally equipped to handle. And a close friendship with the discerning Commissioner of Police Mike Daniels, who perceives more regarding Gage’s past than Gage is comfortable with, and who lies in a coma, fighting for his life. In pursuing his friend's shooter, Gage becomes embroiled in the vicious world of narco traffickers, money laundering, and a possible nemesis from his past, threatening to upend his new life, resurrect his inner demons, and put the people he’s come to care about in the cross-hairs.


About the Author

Michael W Smart writes mystery and science fiction novels. A native New Yorker, he is an experienced blue water sailor and airplane pilot, two passions the protagonists in his novels also share. The Bequia Mysteries are set in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a tropical achipelago in the Eastern Caribbean where Michael lived and sailed for many years. He draws on these experiences to create intimate and lively portraits of the islands and the people surrounding these compelling mysteries.

I tried beginning this book but I just didn’t get into it. It might be a good mystery but the writing bothers me. I don’t want to offend the author so I’ll just give up reading & I won’t pick it apart 🤭

I also gave up, at 36%. A pity, since it would have fitted in with my ATW Trekker journey.

Phew! I’m glad someone else thought the same.

They do say, life’s too short to read bad books.

This sounds so awful that I may actually have to read this. It's so much better to go into a book knowing that it's not likely to be good!

So this book was not as bad as it sounded. It was actually quite a quick read -- a thriller that didn't entail too much thought, but that suffered, like other books, from an almost perfect protagonist.

Yes, Nick Gage is that guy whose greatest fault is that he cares too much. The silent type with a mysterious, tragic past that he will incessantly hint at, but never explain. A guy who has friends so loyal to him that they will drop everything to help him out even though he cut off contact with them for some dozen years -- and what friends, who are perfectly capable of dropping their jobs and leaving the country at will; kidnapping criminals; and conducting light housework (you know, bomb and/or body disposal, naturally). And can anyone get the drop on Nick? What would you expect?

All said, this was an enjoyable adventure, and I did learn a bit about the Grenadines. I'm guessing the author has done a lot of sailing, since his love of the sport shines throughout the book. I'll have to rely on books like this to get my travel fix in this year, so here's to voyaging vicariously!