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The Tears of Dark Water

Corban Addison (Goodreads Author)

4.17 · Rating details · 2,717 ratings · 428 reviews

Daniel and Vanessa Parker are an American success story. He is a Washington, DC, power broker, and she is a physician with a thriving practice. But behind the gilded facade, their marriage is a shambles, and their teenage son, Quentin, is self-destructing. In desperation, Daniel dusts off a long-delayed dream a sailing trip around the world. Little does he know, the voyage ...more

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Hardcover, 464 pages

Published October 13th 2015 by Thomas Nelson (first published March 5th 2015)

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Sep 15, 2015 Diane S ☔ rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 A fast paced thriller that could have been torn from current headlines. Really makes one think. How little is known about other countries, their problems and their people. How opinions are formed based on incomplete news stories, biased journalists, governments that only tell us what they want us to know. So many problems in the world, situations and people are very seldom black and white.

We really get to know many of these characters, they are multi-faceted many in jobs harkening back to a ...more

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Oct 05, 2015 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Fantastic! I went into this novel totally blind... deciding to read it based on the star rating and the beautiful cover. I wasn't sure if it was something I was going to enjoy once I discovered it was about a Somolian pirate hijacking. I was afraid it was going to be a retelling of a Captain Philips. Boy, am I glad I stuck with it. When I realized that Addison was the author of A Walk Across The Sun, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I knew I was in for a memorable and insightful journey. Addison does ...more

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Nov 08, 2015 Sierra Faith rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf, got-for-review, read-reviewed, disappointing

Genre: Contemporary.
Age Range: 18+
Series: No.
Stars: 2 out of 5 stars.(Should be one star, but I’m generous.)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction.

I didn’t like this book at all. I will be telling exactly what I disliked about it so there are spoilers below. I stopped reading this book with one hundred pages left.

This book is published by a CHRISTIAN company. When I pick up a secular book, I expect language. When I pick up a book published by a Christian company, I expect it to be fairly ...more

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Mar 05, 2015 Veronica ⭐️ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, hachette

Daniel Parker, his marriage in tatters and his son ready to self destruct, decides to follow a long held dream and, along with his son, sail around the world.
Ismail and his band of Somali pirates are in the depths of desperation after an attempted oil tanker hijacking goes terribly wrong. That is until Daniel Parker and his yacht the Renaissance cross their path.
Little did they know that that night would change the lives of many…..forever!

When I received an ARC of The Tears of Dark Water my firs ...more

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Apr 11, 2020 Jerry rated it liked it

As a novel, this book excels. The story is gripping; heartbreaking at times, charming at others. I found the writing to be crisp, and the characters either likable (Daniel, Vanessa, Paul, Quentin) or despicable (the pirates), depending on their role.

However, as a piece of Christian fiction, this book fails on one major point: profanity. I was very disturbed to see uses of epithets ranging from the d-word and h-word to even the s-word, the latter of which was forbidden from network television not ...more

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Oct 22, 2015 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: suspense, contemporary, abc-challenges, new-authors-2016, 2016

I've seen a few other reviewers mention this, and I agree - The Tears of Dark Water has the feel of two books in one. The first part is a a suspenseful negotiation between the United States and Somali pirates, and the second part is it's aftermath and the trial that goes with it.

I read both Christian fiction and mainstream fiction. I don't like limiting myself to saying I "only" read this kind of fiction or this kind, etc., and I think that there's value to be found in many genres. In Christian I've seen a few other reviewers mention this, and I agree - The Tears of Dark Water has the feel of two books in one. The first part is a a suspenseful negotiation between the United States and Somali pirates, and the second part is it's aftermath and the trial that goes with it.

I read both Christian fiction and mainstream fiction. I don't like limiting myself to saying I "only" read this kind of fiction or this kind, etc., and I think that there's value to be found in many genres. In Christian fiction particularly, I tire of the same type of plot devices over and over and cookie cutter ideas of faith, and appreciate stories that are gritty and authentic. The Tears of Dark Water doesn't water down the situations presented, and I also think it reminds readers of how things are in other areas of the world. It's narrative forces you to look at the realities of the world and dares you not to be affected. In this way, I applaud the author for taking on this story.

I can't say I ever missed it when I put it down (although I admit that I read a lot less suspense than I do other genres), but it was a good read while I was reading it. It is definitely a story carried by the plot, which had a lot of exciting moments, and there were certainly times that I didn't want to put it down. I prefer character-driven stories myself, and though this story changed points of view, there was not a huge distinction between the voices of the characters, at least for me.

I'm conflicted about rating this because on one hand, it was an enjoyable read. In mainstream fiction, I'm not easily offended by profanity, and I can usually overlook it unless it's very prevalent in the story. I also know that given the situations in this book, the language was really mild and probably way underdone. However, Thomas Nelson is a Christian publisher, and while I had heard that they were getting a bit more relaxed with their standards, I had never experienced it for myself until this book. In addition to the language, there was nothing to distinguish this story as Christian fiction. The faith aspect while present is on the periphery, so much so that I wasn't sure what characters it was supposed to be important to and who it was not. This book actually seems to highlight Islam more than Christianity (which doesn't bother me except for the whole publisher thing and how it doesn't fit the audience), and I'm not sure what the reasoning for that was supposed to be. I wonder why this publishing house chose to publish this novel, when it would have seemed more at home in the general market.

This book has a lot of high reviews, so please take my review with a grain of salt. Honestly, if it was published by a different publisher, I wouldn't have mentioned any of those things - however, I think many of my GR friends, especially those from CFD would appreciate knowing this if they were considering picking this up.

Solid, plot-driven story touching on a serious topic that I'm glad is addressed in the story, but not what I've come to expect from Thomas Nelson. 3 stars. ...more

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Nov 21, 2019 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, international-author, read-in-english

I have great admiration for Corban Addison. I love to write stories myself too. The books i wrote till now are for very young children, but in the nearby future i hope to write for an older age group too. In this sense Corban Addison's work is an inspiration to me. I love how he weaves important themes as human rights and cultural subjects into entertaining highly readable books (for a big audience).

In this book two American citizens on a small sailboat are hijacked by Somali pirates. In seperat I have great admiration for Corban Addison. I love to write stories myself too. The books i wrote till now are for very young children, but in the nearby future i hope to write for an older age group too. In this sense Corban Addison's work is an inspiration to me. I love how he weaves important themes as human rights and cultural subjects into entertaining highly readable books (for a big audience).

In this book two American citizens on a small sailboat are hijacked by Somali pirates. In seperate chapters you follow the different characters in the book: the hostages, one of the pirates, the negociator and family of the hostages. The first half reads like a normal American thriller, but if you read carefully you already see hints of what you're gonna experience troughout the story. The biggest hint is that there is more attention Somali perspective than in average American thrillers.

In the middle of the book there is a big plottwist, that changes everything. During the rest of the story you slowly start to understand more and more how the hijacking situation came into existence and you learn more about Somalia and the things that are happening there right now and the history of the country. The book doesn't say that piracy a good thing (not at all!), but you're gonna understand why it's happening.

The + and the - for this book.

+:
* It was interesting to learn more about Somalia, the culture and the situation the country is in right now. I encountered diverse prejudices in my mind about the country, which the story took away. After finishing the book i felt the urge to learn more about Somalia and it's history.
* It's highly readable.
* I love the theme of forgiveness in the story.
* Corban Addison did a ton of research for this book.

-:
* There is not a lot of movement in this story. Negociation/hijacking contains a lot of waiting by its nature, but at times it make the book feel slow. spoiler: (view spoiler)
* In the end i kinda had the feeling that the author found it difficult to end the story. There were multiple moments where my thoughts were: beautiful ending, but after that the story continued again with another chapter. Positive side of this point: the story had multiple beautiful endings for me ;)

Conclusion: I loved it and i was really happy when i found out that the author wrote another book i didn't read yet. It's about the fashion industry and I'm looking forward to it already! A Harvest of Thorns. It's a shame Corban Addisons books are not translated into Dutch anymore.

#firstreviewiwriteinenglishthankstoHenk #englishisnotmymotherlanguagebutididmybest ...more

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Feb 15, 2015 Melinda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015

“The Tears of Dark Water is not really “about” Somali piracy. It is about the multi-dimensional fallout of Somalia’s disintegration over the past two decades. Piracy offered me a narrative framework to explore not only how a hijacking and hostage crisis could end in tragedy but also how the breakdown of social order on land could inspire young Somalis to take to the ocean.”

I was moved by this book, a story of forgiveness as well as shining light on Somalia, a country under chaos and

“The Tears of Dark Water is not really “about” Somali piracy. It is about the multi-dimensional fallout of Somalia’s disintegration over the past two decades. Piracy offered me a narrative framework to explore not only how a hijacking and hostage crisis could end in tragedy but also how the breakdown of social order on land could inspire young Somalis to take to the ocean.”

I was moved by this book, a story of forgiveness as well as shining light on Somalia, a country under chaos and never-ending turbulence, an ongoing civil war with zero results, its people left with desperation as their only hope, what's risk when you have absolutely nothing to lose, also how far will you go to save your family. A narrative with a poignant message, don't let the jacket summary mislead you, this book is powerful, more than a gripping suspense thriller.

Three parties paths collide, their stories are affecting, the outcome heartbreaking. You will find yourself emotionally spent, however the power of forgiveness and understanding serves as a soothing balm. Every emotion was felt as I read this story, I vacillated between anger, sympathy, love, hate, understanding and callousness, what I related to most was the power of forgiveness. Two favorite forceful characters Ismail and Yasmin, I kept thinking - if only their circumstances were vastly different, what if their country wasn't so troubled, what could have been for both without the trauma and hardship suffered.

No doubt you will be asking yourself numerous questions long after you have completed the book. Ethics, human rights are a few scratching at the surface. Learning of someone's past and what they have endured, where they come from is important, worldwide we should have knowledge of the struggles fellow humans face, what better way to bridge the gap of ignorance and foster understand along with compassion. The biggest question of all... Does one's desperation and horrid circumstances excuse them from nefarious deeds?

Addison delivers another compelling narrative with poignant characters, his writing and extensive research pull you into the story, he tackles hard-hitting issues while educating the reader forcing questions to be considered. Every player in this story was a victim, no winners, heartbreaking tale, eye-opening with all certitude. ...more

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Apr 19, 2016 DeB MaRtEnS rated it it was amazing

Shelves: outstanding-bests, africa-mideast-asia, dramatic-fiction, adventure-thriller

Such a great adventure -- nail biting suspense, international politics, true-to-life dilemmas, relatable characters, matters of social conscience and legal, moral and religious ethics, courtroom drama--- WOW!

I will not be my usual verbose self here but simply say that this novel is rich and marvellously paced with Somalian pirates setting off this powerful cannon of a story with complex and increasingly interesting repercussions.

John Grisham, who has never endorsed the work of debut authors, d ...more

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Jun 11, 2015 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Compulsive and captivating reading from beginning to end was my experience with The Tears of Dark Water! This is one of those very rare books that leaves you somewhat bereft after you’ve reluctantly turned that last page. A gritty and enthralling story of families living in vastly parallel worlds, damaged and hurting for different reasons whose courses collide in explosive circumstances changing their worlds forever.

Daniel, a successful American power broker and father, is nearing the end of an Compulsive and captivating reading from beginning to end was my experience with The Tears of Dark Water! This is one of those very rare books that leaves you somewhat bereft after you’ve reluctantly turned that last page. A gritty and enthralling story of families living in vastly parallel worlds, damaged and hurting for different reasons whose courses collide in explosive circumstances changing their worlds forever.

Daniel, a successful American power broker and father, is nearing the end of an around the world sailing odyssey from the helm of his own sailboat. A trip undertaken in the optimistic hope that it may provide some clarity on his crumbling marriage and also the hope that it may provide some healing and direction for his troublesome teenage son, Quentin who has accompanied him. Whilst out in the Indian Ocean fate crosses their path with a band of Somali pirates who are opportunistic, determined and frustrated from a previous hijacking gone wrong. They are led by Ismail, a young man driven by a perilous mix of desperation and devotion who will stop at nothing for resolution to what he holds dearest.

The book is almost two in one whereby the first half of the story takes place mostly out at sea followed by the second half which sets out to resolve all that transpired in the first part. At this point the reader is given a small lull in tempo before the drama builds up again. The chapters are based on specific characters and although there are several pivotal characters, each one with a rich and intriguing story, one never loses the thread.

Strong themes of hope, faith, redemption and reconciliation are explored. The story highlights the power of family bonds and love and to what level of desperation these bonds can push a human to go, driving you into a muddy area which will beg the question if there is ever a point where crime becomes justified? Poignantly exposed is the unimaginable way of life faced by humanity living in a war torn country. The story also addresses an accountability that is necessary when the U.S. government takes action, balancing individual needs against the perceived best interests of a powerful nation.

A riveting, convincing and thought provoking read that will keep you turning page after page for more!
...more

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Oct 23, 2015 Laine Cunningham rated it did not like it

Book Review: The Tears of Dark Water by Corban Addison

Thomas Nelson 2015

This novel reads as if it were written specifically to go straight to a movie screen. And I mean that in the least flattering way.

A father and son set out for an 18-month cruise on their sailboat. The mother stays behind; the marriage is faltering and she isn't sure whether she will join the two later at a midpoint docking. The sailboat is boarded by Somali pirates led by a man whose sister is held hostage by the men who op Book Review: The Tears of Dark Water by Corban Addison

Thomas Nelson 2015

This novel reads as if it were written specifically to go straight to a movie screen. And I mean that in the least flattering way.

A father and son set out for an 18-month cruise on their sailboat. The mother stays behind; the marriage is faltering and she isn't sure whether she will join the two later at a midpoint docking. The sailboat is boarded by Somali pirates led by a man whose sister is held hostage by the men who operate the piracy ring. Tension is supposed to ensue.

Herein lies the problem. Novels depend on characterization and description to lead readers into the interior lives of others...to get them to care. Movies rely on visual and auditory elements, and must strip away the interior elements to present the different sensory input. Two very different formats, two very different types of requirements.

Addison gives us very little interior story. Instead, the 439 pages are pretty much choked with technical details. We discover the types of guns the pirates use and hear about the ships and helicopters that come to the rescue. We learn about the emergency signal that alerted everyone the sailboat had been taken. If only we had been given the same perspective on the characters who handled those weapons and ran those machines.

Oh, and the dialog. This is about the most boring dialog ever. It's terrible because it reads like a movie script. It's filled with things the characters do not need to say to each other (or shouldn't if the narrative had revealed their personalities). It's lacking the meaningful moments that really provide emotional resonance for a book.

Overall, this novel relies on the plotline to shove it through all 439 pages. There is an effort in the latter half to reveal the motivation of the lead pirate and generate compassion. And in fact the court case reflects this "triumph" of humanity. But it's far too little, and the machinations the characters go through to unveil this final moment don't do anything justice in terms of the novel.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. I really wanted to enjoy the story on at least some level but did not.

1 star.

If you enjoy stories with gripping tension that puts family and friends of the main character in danger, check out Reparation: A Novel of Love, Devotion and Danger. ...more

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Nov 18, 2015 Staci rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015

On the surface, The Tears of Dark Water was about piracy off the coast of Africa. The novel was much more complex than that however. It was about loss, guilt, forgiveness and love.

I've also read Corban Addison's debut novel, A Walk Across the Sun. While I found the debut to be stronger, The Tears of Dark Water is definitely a novel I recommend to readers that enjoy complex and thought provoking story lines. ...more

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Oct 06, 2015 Nate rated it it was amazing

I got an ARC of this from the publisher, and this book is gripping, nuanced and very much worth your time. HIGHLY recommended.

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Apr 01, 2015 Kiwiflora rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is great story telling. A riveting story of modern day piracy, a clash of cultures, people's lives torn apart. The quality of the writing is not so great, and for that reason many will consider it not much better than an airport or pool side read, but in terms of being a page turner, it is right up there. It also raises a large number of issues that have become so much a part of our daily news - terroism, piracy in the Indian Ocean, the might of the US government vs everybody else. As well This is great story telling. A riveting story of modern day piracy, a clash of cultures, people's lives torn apart. The quality of the writing is not so great, and for that reason many will consider it not much better than an airport or pool side read, but in terms of being a page turner, it is right up there. It also raises a large number of issues that have become so much a part of our daily news - terroism, piracy in the Indian Ocean, the might of the US government vs everybody else. As well as intangibles such as the basic human needs of justice and truth, the bonds of family, religion, and simple human decency.

Daniel Parker, a successful lawyer, and his 17 year old son Quentin are most of the way through a world sailing trip on the family yacht Renaissance. Wife/mother Vanessa continues to live at their home in Washington DC and working as a doctor in the practice she founded. Quentin has not given his parents an easy ride through the teenage years, and this trip is an attempt by Daniel to re-bond with his son. The relationhip between Daniel and Vanessa has also beeen sorely tested over the previous few years. The trip, so far, has been a fantastic success, with the Renaissance now off the coast of Somalia. So you already know what is going to happen next. A band of pirates, led by the young Ismail, hijacks the yacht and its two sailors. Isamil is a highly intelligent young man, in his short life having lived through violence and murder, been kidnapped himself and seen his family and life as he knew it torn apart. He has a sister, Yasmin, who has disappered, her only link to the outside world a mobile phone she has managed to keep secret from those around her.

As news of the hijack leaks out in the US, the Navy, the Seals, and a hostage negotiator, Paul Derrick, are deployed to do their part in the rescue of Daniel and Quentin, as well as the apprehension of the seven hostage takers. Being a novel, things do not go to plan. About half way through the book, things take a decidedly interesting turn, with everyone out to protect and save themselves - the Navy, the Seals, the Parker family, Paul, Ismail and Yasmin. How these diverse elements and characters come together is gripping and very well done, if at times a little melodramatic in the telling. But, as I said earlier, the quality of the writing is surpassed by the quality of the story and the people who fill it.

So it is much more than an airport book shop read with a big glossy cover and author's name in large letters. And at the end of it all, there is a serious message - we do actually have to learn to get on with our fellow human being, to understand them and their pasts, not just their immediate pasts but where they have come from. So the book isn't really about Somalis hijacking foreign vessels, and the author makes this point in his notes. Piracy is his narrative framework for looking at the much bigger issue of the breakdown of Somalia over the past twenty years or so, and the lawlessness that has resulted from the ongoing civil war. It is tragic, and hardly surprising that the problems spill over into the Western world - after all Somailians really do have nothing to lose by taking the law into their own hands.

The author's starting point for this novel was the 2011 hijack of a US flagged sailing boat, the Quest, in the Indian Ocean by Somali pirates. HIs 'research odyssey' as he calls it includes visiting Somalia, getting to know the people there, interviews with many US government officials, an FBI hostage negotiator, learning how to sail, staying on an aircraft carrier, going to the trial of the Quest hostage takers - immersing himself in these strange and diifferent worlds. The result is this excellent story, well worth the effort .Part of his dedication at the beginning of the book is "For the jewel of the Indian Ocean, may you rise again". And after finishing this book, you too may well hope for such an outcome.

...more

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Oct 20, 2015 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: misc-wins, ebooks

I received this book in the mail, it didn't say who it was from or anything. I looked at the cover and I was like, I've never even heard of this book or author. The next day, I got the same book again and it was from Fiction Guild. And I was like okay, guess I will be reading this one.

Wow, was I surprised! I absolutely got into this book after the first couple of chapters and COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! There was a lot going on in this book. A couple who let the work rat race come between their marri ...more

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Oct 31, 2015 Peg (Marianna) DeMott rated it it was amazing

Wow! I really wasn't expecting a whole lot when I checked out this audiobook. I figured it was just a placeholder until I found something better. I am so glad I stumbled across it! Below is a short list of what makes a 5 star book for me:
Characters I love because I can relate to them.
A book that takes me to a new place or time.
A novel that teaches me something.
A story that helps me empathize with the plight of others.
A book that keeps me peering around the next corner.
A book that has beautiful ...more

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Feb 27, 2016 Alicia rated it it was ok

There are few times I recall forcing myself to finish a book... This is one. When I finally finished I was actually relieved.
The basis of the story line is solid, and delivers a necessary message in today's society. However, the foundation of the plot was obscured by a labyrinth of unnecessary characters and their ceaseless traumas/drama. Then came the inevitable cliche romance that diminished the plot further....
By far the most engaging characters in the book were Ismail and Yasmin. I found V ...more

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May 31, 2015 Margie Jeursen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Brilliant! Just when you think halfway through the book the story should end, the rest of the book was even more intriguing. Have read his first book, A Walk Across the Sun...it was a page turner, so bought the second and third. This book tells the story of a man and his troubled son embarking on a round the world sail adventure, which gets hijacked by pirates and the tragedy involved in this crime, then goes on to explore the reason the head pirate had embarked on this wicked deed. Corban Addis ...more

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Aug 16, 2018 Brigid Gallagher rated it it was amazing

Shelves: travel, thriller, somalia

"The Tears of Dark Water" is an exceptional thriller that gripped me from beginning to end. The author includes the tragic history of the Somali people and how the character Ismail Ibrahim becomes the leader of a group of pirates holding two hostages to ransom, in order to rescue his own sister.
The book is intelligently researched and each character is well crafted from the hostages Daniel and Quentin, Vanessa wife and mother, Paul the hostage negotiator...
Highly recommended.
...more

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Aug 02, 2015 Betty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Let me say right upfront that I wasn’t sure about this book at first. What did I really know about Somali pirates? I wasn’t sure I would find it interesting. But now that I have finished the book I am certain THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ THIS YEAR. (And I read a lot of books.)

In “The Tears of Dark Water”, Corban Addison tells a compelling, gripping story of fractured families dealing with tragedies in their own lives and global tragedies. If you enjoyed the movie “Captain Phillips” I believ Let me say right upfront that I wasn’t sure about this book at first. What did I really know about Somali pirates? I wasn’t sure I would find it interesting. But now that I have finished the book I am certain THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ THIS YEAR. (And I read a lot of books.)

In “The Tears of Dark Water”, Corban Addison tells a compelling, gripping story of fractured families dealing with tragedies in their own lives and global tragedies. If you enjoyed the movie “Captain Phillips” I believe you will like this book. It is not a story about piracy; it is about what drives someone to being a pirate and the consequences of their actions on all those involved.

The Parkers – Daniel, Vanessa, and their son Quentin – seem to have it all. Successful careers, a nice house, all the trappings of success. But their marriage is shaky and teenage Quentin has gotten into trouble and become very distant. In an attempt to reestablish ties with Quentin, who loves the sea, Daniel and Quentin set out on a sailing trip around the world. But their dream turns into a nightmare when their sailboat is taken captive by a team of Somali pirates led by Ismail Adan Ibrahim.

In violation of all his religious beliefs, Ismail turns to hijacking ships for ransom. His father was killed in front of him and his sister taken captive by the leader of the Shabab. All his actions now are focused on rescuing his sister, at any price to himself and others.

Paul and Megan Derrick, twins, have dedicated their lives to helping others. Paul is an ace negotiator with the FBI; Megan is a defense attorney. But both live with horrific memories of the day their brother killed his father and then himself.

Paul is assigned as negotiator in the hijacking of the Parkers’ boat. Thus is set in motion the intertwining of these three families. None of their lives will ever be the same after. Trust turns to betrayal. Power and corruption destroy lives. Now, how do these families carry on after the devastation they encountered? Can these families by patched back together?

Addison writes with such precision, fully developing all these characters into people you feel you know. People with admirable traits, and with faults. How do you find justice in such an incident? What would you have done had you been Daniel, had you been Ismail, had you been Quentin, or Vanessa, or Megan, or Paul? Each has choices that may or may not backfire on them. Addison leads us rapidly toward some scenes while slowing us down in others. Savor each moment. Mull over each decision. Feel the fear, the pain, the hope, the despair. Addison does a remarkable job getting into the heart of each character.

As a result of reading this book, I learned that Addison writes about global human issues, a topic I am certainly concerned with. Now I must read his other books which address human trafficking and gender-based violence.
...more

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Oct 02, 2015 Nicole rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

In this novel, three families each touched by their own separate tragedies, will forever be bound together in a tangled web of betrayal, love, and forgiveness.

Daniel and Vanessa Parker have a struggling marriage that is only made worse by the problems they’re having with their teenage son, Quentin. To give his marriage and Quentin the second chance they desperately need, Daniel takes Quentin on a voyage sailing around the world. His hope is not only that Quentin will benefit from the voyage, but In this novel, three families each touched by their own separate tragedies, will forever be bound together in a tangled web of betrayal, love, and forgiveness.

Daniel and Vanessa Parker have a struggling marriage that is only made worse by the problems they’re having with their teenage son, Quentin. To give his marriage and Quentin the second chance they desperately need, Daniel takes Quentin on a voyage sailing around the world. His hope is not only that Quentin will benefit from the voyage, but that Vanessa & Daniel will be able to rediscover their love for each other and save their marriage after the voyage is done.

Ismail is a young Somali pirate that has seen his fair share of tragedy. Not only has he seen family and friends murdered before his very eyes, but the man who committed these murders also kidnapped his sister, Yusmin. Whether good or bad, every choice Ismail has made since Yusmin’s kidnapping has been to put him on a path to rescue her.

Paul Derrick is the government’s top hostage negotiator. His sister, Megan, is a well-respected criminal defense lawyer in Washington. The two siblings share a deep bond that was born out of a family tragedy that has affected them throughout their entire lives.

Oh, this was a wonderful story! I was initially intrigued by the description of the book and I was hooked immediately. There’s a strong theme of familial bonds and loyalty that is just beautiful throughout the book. I immediately found myself swept up in Daniel & Quentin’s story of circumnavigation and then being transfixed with Ismail & Yusmin’s story later on in the book. And about halfway through the book the author brilliantly unearths more of the story to give the reader a deeper glance and it truly kept me hanging on in suspense until the very end. I appreciated the separate points of view from the characters that gave their stories an added depth as well. This was a riveting, multi-layered story that is sure to entertain and keep you in suspense.

I also have to add that with 10 or less cuss words in the entirety of its 400-something pages, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others. I really appreciate that while the author was able to describe some harsh realities, especially for women, there was no graphic sex or violence. I was shocked at how “clean” the book was. It’s truly hard to find a good book without all the junk in it and this book passes with flying colors.

While it’s difficult to leave a detailed review and communicate just how well-written and fantastic this story is without giving away any spoilers, I can for sure say that I highly recommend this book and am making it a priority to get my hands on the other two books by this author!

(I received and ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. The above opinions are entirely my own.)

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Oct 27, 2015 Susan added it · review of another edition

Thriller with a mission

Corbin Addison writes thrillers with a moral dimension. I loved A Walk Across the Sun. The Tears of Dark Water is the story of a Somali pirate hijacking gone bad despite the best efforts of Paul, the best hostage negotiator the FBI has. It tries to explain the reasons behind such acts of piracy without excusing them. Addison takes real incidents and fictionalizes them. There are some twists and turns, but this novel fell at several points into predictable romantic melodram ...more

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Dec 21, 2015 Kara Peck added it

I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Tears of Dark Water. At times I found it slow and others quite intriguing. My expectations were short sighted, and thus I found the second half to move a little faster. A much longer story than I had assumed I would be reading. You could almost make two books out of it. At least thats what I originally thought. Once I finished and let the story ruminate for awhile, I realized I enjoyed the story and the pace. Beautiful ending and well woven. I liked the elem ...more

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Dec 12, 2018 Lauren Fee rated it it was amazing

I was captivated by this book. The story of a sailboat being overtaken by Somali pirates would have been an intriguing story in its own right, but why I loved this book was that this American writer got to know the Somali people and sought to represent their culture and complex history accurately and not through a “black hawk down” stereotype. He didn’t compromise the fact that piracy is wrong and should be brought to justice, but he humanizes the people behind the act and the reader can easily ...more

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Aug 29, 2015 Angmdc rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 I have been looking forward to this book since reading the authors previous, and it did not disappoint. It was an interesting read and opened my eyes to Somali, and their hardships. Great story and characters, found it captivating right until the end

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Oct 29, 2015 Kelly rated it liked it

Shelves: book-club

If I could rate this book in two parts I would. Part 1: 5 stars Part 2: 3 stars. Since this was a book club read I will wait to update my review until after the discussion!

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Aug 16, 2017 Mary Ann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I loved this book! Until a few years ago, like many Americans, I didn't know very much about Somalia other than the all too sparse national news coverage, e. g., the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama and Captain Phillips. That changed when I discovered the heroic Somali refugee and scholar Ayaan Hirsi Ali, first as a lecturer and interview subject, then through her wonderful and courageous autobiographical works, Infidel, Nomad, and Heretic (all of which I highly recommend), and learned much ...more

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May 13, 2017 Gina Morphy rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 25, 2020 Jim rated it it was amazing

I don't know what steered me to this book. Probably an interview or review. Anyway it sat on my reading list for months before I noticed it again and checked it out from our public digital library. As I started reading I wondered if it was going to be a dull vapid experience about the idle lives of the idle rich. My usual fare tends to be mystery or thriller. Well, the deeper I got the deeper the story. What a masterpiece of skill, perception, research and imagination to mention just a few of th ...more

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Jul 12, 2017 Amy rated it really liked it

-Not my typical read but I really liked this. I found it thought provoking in terms of the blurred lines that come about when you can empathize with those who do horrible things. The plight of sufi Somali Muslims caught in a civil war with Al-Shabaab; not only oppressed, abused and in danger of being murdered, but also lacking any opportunity was eye-opening. The background of Ismail made his motives so real to the reader....I actually found myself rooting for a good outcome for him. The only re ...more

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About Corban Addison

Corban Addison

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Corban Addison holds degrees in law and engineering from the University of Virginia and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He began to experiment with writing at the age of fifteen, about the same time he developed an interest in international travel. His early works were mostly essays, reflections and travelogues, but his true love was fiction. For eight years he searched f ...more

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“The Tears of Dark Water is not really “about” Somali piracy. It is about the multi-dimensional fallout of Somalia’s disintegration over the past two decades. Piracy offered me a narrative framework to explore not only how a hijacking and hostage crisis could end in tragedy but also how the breakdown of social order on land could inspire young Somalis to take to the ocean.” — 3 likes

“The truth is that everyone is to blame, and no one. When I've tried to force one person to shoulder the weight of guilt....it has only exacerbated the wrong. The knot cannot be undone. The strands are bound together for all of time. There is only one way to overcome it and that is to cast it over the side and let the sea of forgiveness wash it away.” — 0 likes

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