May 1, 2015
Fans of things nautical, or those who enjoy an action-packed adventure story, are sure to appreciate Tonkin's latest installment in his popular Robin and Richard Mariner series. The married business partners are in California for two reasons. First, they're meeting the Sulu Queen, star of their shipping fleet, to oversee her unloading and send her back across the Pacific. Second, they're meeting their old friend, billionaire Nic Greenbaum, and traveling to his lavish retreat in Mexico for a bit of R&R. But their plans are derailed when a rare ARkStorm so called because an ark is about all that can save anyone caught in oneheads toward the California coast. So it's all hands on deck to unload the Sulu Queen and get her out of the harbor, then board Nic's boat and set off for Mexico before the storm strikes. But when the ARkStorm veers south, not only are Nic, Robin, and Richard in terrible danger, but Nic's daughter, Liberty, is also on her new racing boat smack in the path of the storm. Terrifying, suspenseful, and vividly told, Tonkin's latest is a must for high-seas-adventure fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)
September 1, 2015
Robin and Richard Mariner return in another nail-biting adventure, this one set in the Sinai desert. On a diving holiday in Sharm el Sheikh, the couple is admiring the incredible underwater landscape when a ship explodes just above the dive spot. Robin and Richard are quick to come to the aid of survivors, after which it becomes apparent that the boat was carrying Africans being trafficked into Egypt. One of the survivors, Nahom, tells the Mariners that he boarded the boat to follow his sister, who was kidnapped by the traffickers. Against their better judgment, the Mariners promise to help Nahom and are immediately drawn into conflict against a brutal gang of people traffickers who will stop at nothing to deliver their cargo to the high-paying customer. Staying alive in the Sinai proves nearly as challenging for the intrepid pair as battling the gang. A well-crafted narrative, plenty of suspense, and a ripped-from-the-headlines plot make this one a sure bet for adventure fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)