Grey Lady

Aristotle Socarides #7

by Paul Kemprecos

The shiny new charter fishing boat financed with family money was supposed to launch a bright new career for Cape Cod fisherman, diver, and private investigator Aristotle “Soc” Socarides. But when the slip of a beer-oiled tongue brings the ire of a Russian KGB mogul down on his head, Soc finds himself drowning in a sea of troubles. As he looks for a foothold on the sandy shores of Nantucket Island, Soc discovers more than he ever bargained a deranged homicide suspect who thinks he’s Captain Ahab and Soc is his first mate Starbuck; a high-seas case of murder and cannibalism that still stirs up emotions; a Cold War secret; a missing whaling artifact with a bloody history; and cutting-edge underwater technology with deadly potential. As he gropes his way through the Nantucket fog that shrouds the lonely moors and beaches, Soc will soon discover that “the little, grey lady of the sea,” has a dark side the tourists never view, and that a single misstep can be fatal.“What a character. Aristotle Socarides is a diver, a fisherman, and a PI who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. He’s the brainchild of a genius—Paul Kemprecos—who knows a thing or two about writing action and adventure. I bow to the master and urge all of you to read this latest installment in a first rate series.” —Steve Berry, New York Times and #1 Internationally Bestselling Author“#1 New York Times bestselling author Paul Kemprecos shows once again he is the undisputed master of high-action adventure, better on his own and better than his former co-author Clive Cussler period. Returning to his roots in Grey Lady, he brings back old friend Aristotle “Soc” Socarides in a rapid-fire tale chock full of historical mystery, cutting edge technology, and sea-going daring-do with so many twists and turns you’ll need to take a Dramamine before you plunge in. Masterfully paced and brilliantly constructed, this is reading entertainment of the highest order.”—Jon Land, bestselling author of The Tenth Circle“Paul Kemprecos has crafted another winner! The Grey Lady’s dogged and irreverent private investigator Aristotle “Soc” Socarides is a blast to spend time with, and the story’s clever twists and turns will have you rocketing through the pages until the very end. Don’t miss it!”—Boyd Morrison, author of The Loch Ness Legacy

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2013

About the author

My fiction-writing career owes it start to the bad navigation of an 18th century pirate. For it was in 1717 that a ship, the Whydah went aground, reportedly carrying a fabulous treasure. In the 1980s, three salvage groups went head-to-head, competing to find the wreck. The controversy over the salvage got hot at times and I thought there might be a book in their story. I was working for a newspaper at the time.
I developed my own detective, an ex-cop, diver, fisherman, and PI named Aristotle “Soc” Socarides. He was more philosophical than hard-boiled. Making his first appearance in “Cool Blue Tomb,” the book won the Shamus award for Best Paperback novel. After many years in the newspaper business, I turned to writing fiction and churned out five more books in the series.
Clive Cussler blurbed: “There can be no better mystery writer in America than Paul Kemprecos.”
Despite the accolades, the Soc series lingered in mid-list hell. By the time I finished my last book, I was thinking about another career that might make me more money, like working in a 7-11.
Several months after the release of “Bluefin Blues,” Clive called and said a spin-off from the Dirk Pitt series was in the works. It would be called the NUMA Files and he wondered if I would be interested in tackling the job.
I took on the writing of “Serpent” which brought into being Kurt Austin and the NUMA Special Assignments Team. Austin had some carry-over from Soc, and another team member, Paul Trout, had been born on Cape Cod. The book made The New York Times bestseller list, as did every one of seven NUMA Files that followed, including “Polar Shift,” which bumped “The DaVinci Code” for first place.
After eight NUMA Files I went back to writing solo. I wrote an adventure book entitled, The Emerald Scepter, which introduced a new hero, Matinicus “Matt” Hawkins. I have been working on the re-release of my Soc series in digital and print, and in 2013, responding to numerous requests, I brought Soc back again in a seventh Socarides book entitled, Grey Lady. My wife Christi and I live on Cape Cod where she works as a financial advisor. We live in a circa 1865 farmhouse with two cats. We have three children and seven granddaughters.
To learn more about Paul Kemprecos, check out his website at http://www.paulkemprecos.com.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about a detective story that's told in the first person. When it's done right, it just works. That is, hands down, the case with Grey Lady. But it's far more than you classic who done it? mystery. It's also a wild ride with a riveting plot that pulls you in at the start and keeps you locked locked within the pages for the duration. Everything centers around a character named Aristotle Socarides, better know as "Soc" to his friends and adversaries alike. And while this is book 7 in a series, that shouldn't prevent anyone from jumping into the series right here. I haven't read the earlier books yet (Though they have all been added to my to-read list now).

This a tale of murder, a rich man's mental break with reality, and the search for the great white whale immortalized by Herman Melville. What do all of these things have in common? Not a single thing, unless you're Paul Kemprecos. But for an author with his pedigree, they're the base ingredients for a fantastic mystery thriller than involves lost American history, scrimshaw, hive based drone technology, and cannibalism.
Keep Reading!
Are you hooked yet? Just mix in that classic detective flair that can only come from a novel written in the first person and you've got a first class, five star novel on your hands. If you haven't read any of the six previous Aristotle Socarides books yet, don't work. Start with book 7, Grey Lady. You won't be disappointed. In fact, you're almost guaranteed to find your next six favorite books in the process.

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

No stopping Paul Kemprecos in this series! Seven books in and all is fine, well maybe not for Aristotle. The same things we loved in the first six books are here as well (Aristotle has to manage being a fisherman, detective, son, and cat owner and still finds the time for the ladies!) Some characters from previous books show up here but if for some reason you start with this book in the series you would not be lost.

[Glen U · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a hiatus of sixteen years, Aristotle Socarides returns. Paul Kemprecos' hard boiled but highly educated detective is back. Always a mid level seller, the Socarides series was "abandoned" by Kemprecos when he teamed up with fellow author, Clive Cussler, to write the popular NUMA series. But in 2013, Kemprecos brought him back. I can't say it is my favorite Socarides mystery, but it does bring the flavor of Cape Cod and the ocean back to the literary world. Always a credible writer, especially when he writes about the ocean and its mysteries, Kemprecos writes this one more like a thriller than a mystery. Chinese diplomats trying to buy a secret weapon, an evil Russian billionaire villian and a kidnapped scientist all play into the mix. My favorite part of Kemprecos' writing though, is the literary allusions he brings to his stories. In this edition, an elderly man accused of murdering another man over scrimshaw, becomes a delusional Captain Ahab and we are treated to many references to Melville's "Moby Dick". A good read for the fans of Paul Kemprecos.

[Vicky Coughlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rollercoaster of a book this was! Book 7 in the series and they just get better and better. Soc Socarides has a way of getting himself in trouble no matter what. He bought himself a new boat and was planning on doing some fishing charters….. well, that was the plan but, typical Soc, it all started to go downhill. Russian goons , murder, delusional people, treason, Moby Dick…. You just have to read this book. I found myself holding my breath most of the time. Luckily Aristotle ’Soc’ Socarides has more lives than a cat and it all ends well. Another great book by Paul Kemprecos.

[Bruceandtricia Lamparelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more Soc!

I am an avid reader of Clive Cussler and started reading books from his co-authors. Thoroughly enjoyed Kemprecos' books and as fate may have it my wife and I now live on the Cape and I work on Nantucket. This prompted a re-read and I liked it even more the second time through. Now if I could only meet the author.....

[Lawrence Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second Kemprecos novel featuring Socarides Mystery! The story takes place on the Little Grey Lady in the Sea better known as Nantucket. Enjoyed the Cape Cod landmarks and found the story to be well developed and entertaining. Will have to read more of this series and as always free from the local library!!

[Charles j. Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story..full of history and twists and turns!

Great book. The Aristotle Socardides series has cost me many a nights sleep because I can't stop reading them! Thanks Paul

[Nancy A. Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soc rides again

Another great adventure with Soc and his buddy Flagg. I enjoyed the book because of the suspense waiting to see whichvillian would be tied to to the other.

[Tamsin Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jolly, quick read. The arms industry is disgusting.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for my first Aristotle "Soc" Socarides adventure. I started the book expecting a Clive Cussler type slam, bam story and ended up being pleasantly surprised by something a bit different. The story, not the action, was what did it for me. I really enjoyed the historical aspect and the murder mystery. I even bought the Russian villain storyline. Unfortunately I thought the cousin in trouble aspect unnecessary and distracting. The action scenes were short and almost seemed to be included as an afterthought. Nothing ever went awry which I found difficult to believe. So why the four stars? Because even with all its faults, I enjoyed it.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kemprecos is always a joy to read. It's nice to see that - having not re-visited his work for almost a decade - since tearing through the first six books in this series in a three month span - that the reality lives up to the enjoyable memory. And having waited so long, I now have three more of his works to enjoy soon.

[Sally Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great welcome back to Soc!!

[Abphoto · Rating 2 out of 5]

nice local color but a bit of a stretch in the plot dept!

[RON · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painfully bad. Plot holes the size of Moby Dick.