Shark Fin Soup: A Novel (2)

Christian Roberts #2

by Susan Klaus

Christian Roberts is the prime suspect when his wife, Allie, is murdered on their yacht in the Caribbean. Grief-stricken and unstable, he must evade arrest to fulfill Allie's dying plea - to "save the sharks." Shark finning has been decimating the species as the Asian demand for shark fin soup escalates. The disappearance of sharks from the ocean will threaten the entire marine ecosystem, and Allie's dedication to stop the shark slaughter had been unshakable. Christian, reeling from the loss of his wife, steels himself to avoid arrest, determined to honor Allie's wish. With help from his friend, Vince Florio, Christian attacks those responsible. Under the guise of an eco-terrorist calling himself Captain Nemo, he uses brutal vigilante tactics to eliminate shark fin soup from every restaurant menu in the world. But those who are amassing great fortunes from this Asian specialty will not be easily stopped. Nor will the FBI agent hounding Christian's every move.

Genres: Fiction

340 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2014

Reviews

[Maryann Burchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bit darker than I thought it would be, but I couldn't put it down! The main character, Christian, has developed so much that he kept my attention. The story takes you around the world and that made it more interesting to me. I thought the ending was great too!

[Mark Mathes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Florida author Susan Klaus has created an engaging, handsome and sometimes unstable character in Christian Roberts. He must try to stop international shark slaughter by working as a bad-guy-who's really-good in New York, Costa Rica and Florida.
Christian adopts the persona of Captain Nemo, an infamous eco-terrorist. Can Christian save the world's deadliest predator--sharks--before the FBI nails him? He faces prison or a worse fate by his own hand.
Yes, I could not put this one down.
**
And I can't wait to pick up the next in this Christian Roberts Series: Wolf in the Crosshairs.
Another one ripped from today's headlines.
Klaus is a masterful storyteller who knows Florida, bad guys, nature and all who threaten our environment.

[Jolie Everett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book would have been a lot more fun to read if it wasn’t heavily seasoned with racism. Some drives the plot, some just gratuitous, but it’s all over the place. I was surprised this books was published in 2014- reads more like 2004.

I’m not a book snob, and I didn’t expect this to be literature. But it wasn’t even fun to read during shark week…

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Secretariat and Shark Fin Soup by Susan Klaus at a book selling event. Unaware that these were a series with the main character Christian Roberts, I started off with Shark Fin Soup because I was interested in shark finning and how humans are destroying our oceans. Though the story is well developed and unique, I wish I had read the other book first, because the backfill about the main character is a spoiler for the first book.

In addition to learning about the horrors of shark finning, the book is an entertaining read. Christian Roberts is a complex, passionate, and highly-intelligent man bent on saving the shark population. He is hunted by the police and FBI as an eco terrorist and possible murderer. Will he be caught? Will he succeed to keep the sharks from becoming extinct? Will he be killed by those in the illegal exporting business? The book is filled with suspense.

I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did...just read the books in order.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense thriller addressing a very timely topic--the practice of shark finning and with many shark species such as the hammerhead and the bull shark on the brink of extinction, the devastating effects on our marine ecosystem. Christian Roberts may seem like a blond, handsome "surfer guy" on the outside, but his mental stability is challenged as he vows to avenge his late wife whose dying words were to "save the sharks." Christian is one step ahead of the FBI plus law enforcement in the Caribbean and U.S. as murder and arson of key places in the alleged shark finning trade take place. Even with "Captain Nemo" claiming responsibility for the above eco-terrorist attacks, will that affect the demand for "shark fin soup" in China and other Asian countries, as some prize the soup for its alleged aphrodisiac qualities? Interesting moral conundrum in that Christian consistently breaks the law as a vigilante to achieve his goals, but some may consider him a hero.

[Kerry Bridges · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a highly unpleasant book and it I could give it no stars I would! How anyone could think that a cross between an almost Mills and Boon like soppy romance, crossed with a cold blooded murderer getting away with it because he is an "eco-warrior" was acceptable fare I have no idea. It's a real shame because the subject of shark finning is actually an important one and one that I really support. This is entirely the way to lose all respect for this important cause and alienate readers at the same time. The writing style is that of an uneducated teen with short, repetitive sentence structure the order of the day and the whole thing is unbelievable and quite frankly upsetting. One of the worst books I have read in a very long time.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like navigating through unknown waters, I loved the thrill of riding each wave, the twists and turns of the protagonist's journey to battle the extinction of sharks as well as and his own personal demons and coming to terms with his new reality. The plot, so original and well-thought out, kept me intrigued to see how Mr. Roberts would continue to take on this worthy cause and how it would all end! Well, I was not disappointed to say the least. A well-written, well-conceived story that combines what every novel reader wants; excitement, adventure, intrigue, and learning about a real, worthy cause. Love, loved!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.

Overall I found Shark Fin Soup to be a good read, which kept my attention and kept me turning the pages. While it has a real world message about the environmental impacts of shark fin soup, the main character's efforts to stop the harvest and trade in shark fins was more in memory of his late wife than based on his personal values. In some ways I'm surprised that I liked the book as much as I did, given that I had a hard time relating to Christian Roberts cold and calculating personality. I did like the variety of locales that Christian visited over the course of the book.

[Devyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads.

I just love it when I read a book and I can tell the author spent many an hour really thinking about it. I mean really thinking about it, mulling it over time and time again, that thought process visible in the writing. What I also loved about this book is, even though it's fiction, it's about something real and going on right now. It's bringing awareness through the captivating pages of an action filled book.It may make me a horrid human being, but I'd definitely be one of those very vocal Christian Roberts supporters.

[Bradenton Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was very entertaining and uplifting. It was a very enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the next book. My mom, Lois, also read it and she stayed up all night until it was finished. She couldn't put it down.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shark Fin Soup was a good book. It is a little dark but good. The only thing is that it tried to make a hero out of a b eco-terrorist. The cause may be noble, but killing people is not the answer. I received the book in the giveaway.

[Josef Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable thriller

For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/shark-... and follow me on Twitter @josenher

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 1 out of 5]

not for me.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Loved this book.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from Good Reads. I did like this book although it was slow in some parts.

[David Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is neither satisfying as a thriller nor does it convince as a piece of propaganda in support of ecoterrorism.

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