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Cocos Island Treasure
Where did those rasty, barbaric theft-driven pirates bury their treasures in the 17th and 18th Centuries? Perhaps just a little south of the main South Sea shipping lane of Costa Rica in a secluded harbor where a short paddle through shark-infested waters to the steamy, fetid jungle island could yield fresh water, food, and gold! Turn-of-the-20th Century fortune hunters from the schooner, Bessie, hunt where only ghosts inhabit--or are they all merely apparitions? Captain Dan was ready to retire until he gained access to a secret cipher--one that he felt sure was authentic enough to reap him millions and willing to risk one more salty adventure to seek the insanely rich treasures of Cocos Island.
153 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Stanley McShane
10 books44 followersI am Virginia Williams, the granddaughter and editor/publisher of historical author, Patrick John “Stanley McShane” Rose. I published six of his manuscripts. In an effort to market and promote his books, I began a blog called Rosepoint Publishing and currently share reviews of 3-4 books per week with the CE. I welcome review submissions using the Submission Guide on my website. I also submit those reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, and Kobo, as well as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts.
I am an Amazon Vine Voice member at V Williams.
I am an Amazon Vine Voice member at V Williams.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2015
It had been a while since I read a book like this one, so it was nice as something different. Overall I did enjoy it. As you can probably surmise from the cover and blurb it's very reminiscent of Treasure Island. The backstory of the author is very interesting, as he was a sailor from the time period, and as such the book does feel authentic.
I do have to say that I thought the book moved a little slowly, and it took some time to get used to the writing style. There were sharks, pirates, treasure and battles, so it wasn't exactly boring. One of the characters was doctor specializing in "glands" and that subject felt a bit overdone to me as it was brought up several times, several times in jest. Parts of the story also seemed a little dry, as I thought things could have been presented in a more exciting way, but still, when you look at the time period of the book, writing was just a little different then.
Overall, if you enjoyed classics such as Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Moby Dick, The Sea Wolf, Billy Budd, etc. you will probably enjoy this one as it's similar subject matter. If you don't enjoy those type of books, or if you are strictly a more contemporary reader, this probably wont be your cup of tea. Overall, an enjoyable read. My thanks to Mr. McShane's family for making this one available!
I do have to say that I thought the book moved a little slowly, and it took some time to get used to the writing style. There were sharks, pirates, treasure and battles, so it wasn't exactly boring. One of the characters was doctor specializing in "glands" and that subject felt a bit overdone to me as it was brought up several times, several times in jest. Parts of the story also seemed a little dry, as I thought things could have been presented in a more exciting way, but still, when you look at the time period of the book, writing was just a little different then.
Overall, if you enjoyed classics such as Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Moby Dick, The Sea Wolf, Billy Budd, etc. you will probably enjoy this one as it's similar subject matter. If you don't enjoy those type of books, or if you are strictly a more contemporary reader, this probably wont be your cup of tea. Overall, an enjoyable read. My thanks to Mr. McShane's family for making this one available!
March 22, 2019
My grandfather wrote this book back in the late 1920's. My mother can remember him tapping out the manuscript with his two index fingers on an old Underwood. While I may be a bit prejudiced, I rated it a five because I know he was there, walked that beach (Chatham Bay), climbed through those jungles and did his best not to disappear in the many crevices. (He later noted in a letter what a fun little trip it was!) He described this island down to the gnat's eyeball. Since I've researched the island, I've found descriptions echoing his down to the wild pigs and he wrote this manuscript over 80 years ago--well before word processors or computers. He turned this sailing adventure into a novel affirming the well known rumors or stories of all the pirate treasures buried on the island, including the "Loot of Lima", purportedly the largest treasure ever hidden by pirates. It's a fun, quick read and takes you back almost a century to sail on the schooner, Bessie.
June 26, 2013
This book has it all, adventure, mystery and a touch of romance. Take a trip back in time to experience an exciting nautical voyage, complete with authentic sailor's terminology. Code breaking and theivery will keep you turning the pages as you learn about the auction house business and especially Coco's Island, an actual place.
January 27, 2019
It was quite a trip to go back in time, not only considering the setting of the story, but the book's birth three decades ago. A cross between Stevenson's Treasure Island and Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island, full of the language of the day. For example, it took me awhile to get that "feeding the fishes" meant vomiting over the side of a ship. One I didn't catch was "beneath the donkey's breakfast," apparently a place on a boat, I guess. One rather obvious description was "the schooner was winged out with a fairly strong breeze."
The description of Cocos island was meticulous, and reputed to be quite accurate, and colorful as well: "The jungle, in places where the sun penetrated, became a stinking steaming cauldron"
Written nearly 100 years ago, one could hardly expect the novel to be politically correct. Labels such as "little Jew," "stinking dago," and the casual references to "black birding," might make one feel uncomfortable if the time frame isn't taken into account.
The term black birding compelled me to look it up. It was the practice of indentured labor, capturing south sea islanders for forced labor, i.e. human trafficking, a practice chiefly associated with Australia. So I learned something.
Not for everyone, but I enjoyed this quaint book.
The description of Cocos island was meticulous, and reputed to be quite accurate, and colorful as well: "The jungle, in places where the sun penetrated, became a stinking steaming cauldron"
Written nearly 100 years ago, one could hardly expect the novel to be politically correct. Labels such as "little Jew," "stinking dago," and the casual references to "black birding," might make one feel uncomfortable if the time frame isn't taken into account.
The term black birding compelled me to look it up. It was the practice of indentured labor, capturing south sea islanders for forced labor, i.e. human trafficking, a practice chiefly associated with Australia. So I learned something.
Not for everyone, but I enjoyed this quaint book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews