3 out of 4 stars
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It is the middle of an icy winter in the Gulf of Alaska. Captain Steve Procida’s Buckhorn cargo ship is ablaze, and their warning system has malfunctioned, which means the discovery of the fire is too late. The only option left is to abandon ship in two lifeboats and hope for the best in the unforgiving waters of the Pacific Ocean. This decision sets off a string of related events and looks like it could even cost Steve his master’s license and his job as captain.
The tension mounts as everyone races to rescue the crippled Seattle Express and her crew. For Louise and Larry, owners of the Warhorse, this is their one last chance to save their ailing business, and they are desperate to beat the Buckhorn tugs to the distressed ship and claim the tow. They are prepared to sink everything into a last-ditch effort. But this is a small tug bringing in a massive ship in the worst weather conditions. Something has to give and it does. Another tragedy strikes at the most crucial moment.
As the story plays out, you realize that it is multi-faceted. It is not only about the survivors from the Seattle Express. Multiple characters and their individual stories take to the stage. The chapters switch back and forth between the five main protagonists, slowly weaving all of their stories into one. Local Indian tribe members are pitted against each other as some work for the big conglomerate, Buckhorn. Others are fighting the company’s infiltration into tribal lands and lives. Then there are the two distinct crews of the Seattle Express and the Warhorse. Each member is locked in their own unique battle for survival, and all are linked in some way. Everything culminates in the tense search for the last survivors of the Seattle Express in the desolate and rocky terrain of the Indian tribal lands of Haida Gwaii - also known as “the Charlottes."
Although Adrift by Charlie Sheldon is book number two in the Strong Heart Series and you can read it as a separate entity, I feel that I should possibly have started with Strong Heart. This would provide a bit more background and some references to certain events would make more sense.
The one aspect that I found a bit odd was the use of the first person for two of the characters, and then the third person for the rest. In my opinion, this usually works better with only one character in the first person, and I found it a bit distracting at times.
Adrift is a heady mix of adventure, intrigue, suspense and human drama, providing all the elements for a great story. Those who enjoy any or all of these categories will find this an interesting read. The logistics and terms of the shipping world might be a little off-putting to some. I found my attention wandering slightly at some of the very detailed technical descriptions, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel. It is also well edited, with only a few minor errors and for these reasons, I rate Adrift by Charlie Sheldon 3 out of 4 stars.
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Adrift
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