THE STONE DOG

by Robert Mitchell

20th September 1917 – Wakaya, Fiji.

The Count Felix von Luckner, Master of the German raider Seeadler, lowers a sealed iron chest into the waters of a small unnamed bay under cover of darkness.


17th December 1971 – Cairns, Australia.

The chance mention of von Luckner’s name revives memories of boyhood tales of the secrets of that far-off night, and of the iron chest watched over by the stone dog.

But were the tales, told by Uncle Max, bosun on the Seeadler those fifty-four years ago, true, or were they merely that, yarns, nothing more?

And if true – would the chest still be there?

And if true – will it be worth the bloodshed?

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2013

About the author

Robert Mitchell spent his early years in Melbourne, Australia where he graduated from Melbourne University with degrees in Law and Arts. Moving to Suva, Fiji, in 1969, he spent the next twelve years practising law, with a mid-term break of two years when he and his wife, May, acquired a one-third interest in a marine salvage company. Robert acted as company manager, diver, and assistant salvage master in a number of marine salvages in the South Pacific. The experience he gained during those two years has been used to great advantage in several of his novels. In 1981 he returned to Australia and continued practising law. In 1988 his novel The Lucinda Legacy was a prize-winner in the Australia-wide Bicentennial Novel Competition. In 2000, he and his family moved to Brisbane, where he retired. In 2003, he and May ventured to China, where they taught English to high school and college students for two years. They travelled extensively throughout China during this time, their experiences reflected in his two latest novels. Robert now spends his time writing - for the pleasure it gives to others.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Novel is a Nice Change-of-Pace, Bringing The Reader into Modern-Day Piracy


I wasn’t quite sure what this book held, but it was a good, most well-written tale that underwent paths I hadn’t expected or foreseen.

At the center of this writing is greed, greed, greed — and an attractive, horny woman who uses her sexual appeal to get what she wants, when she wants it. Is this believable? Sure. Is it likely? Not under the circumstances as written by The Author.

This is the only book by this Author that I’ve read so far, but I’ll note that in closing this book — he includes quick highlights of many others he’s written, which all seem to be in the same vein of ill-equipped people going after the same treasures that OTHERS have already set their sites on. OMG! I wonder where all of these converging paths can possibly lead?!? It’s in The Author’s bests interests for YOU, The Reader, to dive into as many of these books as you can get your hands on. But, I suspect, once you’ve read one, you’ve gotten the gist of all the others. (But, perhaps I’m wrong?)

I definitely recommend at least one of Robert Mitchell’s novels be placed before your eyes and imagination. This book was worth the couple days invested in reading it, and it’s definitely a different tome than the Thrillers, SciFi, Horror and Western tales I usually try to read.

[Barbara J Wicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treasures deceit and people

Raised in Tucson, I have learned a lot about boats and sailing. The characters are well described. I felt I knew them well. Couldn't wait to find out if there was a treasure.

[Ries Marcel · Rating 5 out of 5]

55 years ago I spend 5 years in Australia and Papua New Guinea therefore it was hearthfelt fun to read Australian again. To get back in the regions way of thinking especially with a book full of cliff hangers as "the stone dog" was downright fun. THANK YOU.