Pirate Hunter

by Tom Morrisey

From the blue waters of the Caribbean and the Florida Keys to the wind-swept wilds of the Outer Banks, Pirate Hunter combines the romantic popularity of a pirate tale with an inspirational story of modern-day treasure hunters. Following a captured slave who's been freed by the sixteenth-century pirate who takes his ship, the novel weaves a rollicking tale of adventure. Paralleling this story in the present are the treasure hunters seeking the gold--and stories--of the past. Greg Rhode--a preacher's kid who has become a marine archaeologist--hires on to participate in Phil Rackham's salvage operation in the Florida Keys. He is hoping that Rackham will make him rich, not suspecting the true riches he'll eventually confront.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Pirates, Action, Contemporary

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2009

About the author

Tom Morrisey is the author of six novels and short stories, is a world-renowned adventure-travel writer whose work has appeared in Outside, Sport Diver (where he serves as Editor at Large) and other leading magazines. He holds an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Toledo and an MFA in Creative Writing from Bowling Green State University. He lives in Orlando, Florida. Visit Tom's Web site at www.tommorrisey.com

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary and historic treasure hunters find love and family as well as booty amid the sun and salt washed waters of the Caribbean and Gulf.

Exciting novel with two threads—one contemporary and one eighteenth century. Morrisey weaves them together but keeps each so distinct that the reader never loses track. Includes enough detail about Key West, modern treasure ship hunting, contemporary music, eighteenth century economics and politics (not to mention pirates, though not the blood-thristy, dirk-in-the-teeth type. Oh, wait. Their do board ships with their knives gripped by their teeth), and the slave trade all creating a moving mediation on the nature of love and family.

Good job. A very good read.

[Caity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greg Rhode is a marine archaeologist who just landed a gig with one of his role models and is beyond stoked to be included on a dive to investigate a shipwreck site that dates back...(you have to read it to know exactly how far back, and how it came to be sunk.) Meanwhile, he's plagued with bitterness towards his estranged father who he hasn't seen in ages, and hasn't forgiven in even longer.
Sheila McIntyre is an energetic artifacts analyst, as well as a diver and bluegrass-fanatic.
The two strike up a friendship that grows over time, as they work side by side uncovering and restoring hidden treasures and- possibly- family.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I expected when I picked up this book, but it is a little bit of everything. There are pirates. There is some romance involved. There is a little bit of suspense at the end. And there are familial issues throughout. It was interesting to say the least.

I really liked that there were 2 stories kind of tied together throughout this book. I particularly liked how when one chapter ended pertaining to Tom, then the next chapter about Greg would start in a similar way to how the other ended and vice versa. With that being said though, I did not feel like the transitions were fluid. It would take me a bit to realize, "Oh we aren't talking about the pirates anymore".

Overall though, not bad & I'm glad I read something that I wouldn't typically pick up.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

not my kind of book...won't say any more than that

[Nik Gromoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book! The back and forth between time lines is fantastic. Really helped turn pages. I just wanted more. It felt like the outline and not the final draft.

[James Korsmo]

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for the review copy. Pirate Hunter is the tale of two young men, separated by hundreds of years but connected by a ship lying beneath the waters of the coast of Florida. One young man, Bold Ted, is the apprentice to a pirate who patrols the waters for loot with the unofficial sanction of the British government. Jumping ahead from the 18th to the 21st century, the other man is Greg Rhode, a marine archaeologist working for a treasure-hunting firm in the Florida Keys. Both men struggle to come to terms with their past, Ted with his apparent sale to slave traders by his adopted father in Africa and Greg with the role his alcoholic father played in the deaths of his mother and brother in a car accident. For both of them, these events from the past color their present, and as they each come in contact with these men from their past, they must come to grips with the truth if they are to move on. For Ted, this story is wrapped around the adventures of piracy and the pursuit of Sally, the daughter of the local inn keeper at home port. As the Atlantic is being increasingly civilized, the danger of being a irate is increasing, and Ted and pirate Henry Thatch are racing ahead of Spanish government forces who are out to get them for their past crimes. As they head toward the Carolina coast and clemency from the hand of King George, they must rescue Sally from a Spanish warship and must race ahead of the Spanish into an oncoming storm. For Greg, his past catches up with him first as the shadow that looms over his present as he gets to know Sheila, a beautiful archaeologist who steals his heart. But he then comes face to face with his father and is forced to come to grips with the tragedy that haunts his past.

Pirate Hunter is a well-written tale, somewhat in the mold of Clive Cussler. Morrisey weaves stories of the past and present together with exotic locales and interesting action. Morrisey's overall quality as a writer carries the book, even though the action lags a bit at points and the portrait of pirate life seems a bit too honorable and romantic. But I still enjoyed the book and its characters and look forward to reading some of his other books.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey is a parallel tale of two young men and the love/hate relationship they have with their fathers. This is a common theme found in Morrisey's work, one which I think he handles well in his stories. The tales do intersect in an interesting way which I am not going to reveal our of respect for the story teller.

Both tales are set in the Caribbean with the stories separated by about 400 years, give or take. The parallel tales are told in alternating sections. The first story involving a young African man sold into slavery in Africa. Surviving the harrowing passage, he is taken by pirates and given the chance to join the crew. The second story involves a young marine archaeologist given the dream job of working active wreck sites with a firm based out of Key West, but seems bent on self-destruction.

Morrisey's technical background as a diver and diving magazine editor serves him well for the modern story. He manages to present the pirates in a slightly different light than modern readers might expect. Good story-telling tension is maintained throughout the parallel tales and you can easily find yourself rooting for both sets of heroes. There is plenty of derring-do to go around.

I would recommend this story to anyone who has a love of the sea and an interest in things "piratey." It's a good read with a good message.

Morrisey's work does not get the attention is deserves, given that the Christian market is heavily slanted to romance readers. This I find to be something of a mystery as many women are fans of a certain Captain Jack. I would rate him as every bit an equal to ABA writer Clive Cussler, who by the way is a personal favorite of mine. Do take the time to seek out Pirate Hunter .

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is not incredible, but very enjoyable. Each page and chapter keeps a reader thirsting for what comes next. In a way this is both a contemporary novel and a historical. Just about every other chapter is in two different stories that are very different, but at the same time similar in theory and lesson. The characters are easy to come to admire and appreciate even the proverbial "bad guys". At times in some chapters there were parts where I felt that I was overrun with information, but then in the next part of the story I felt those two page of words were necessary after all even though while reading through them I slightly lost interest. One of the best skills as a writer that I enjoyed while reading my first novel from Tom Morrisey was the way that he opened a next chapter going from one century to another and truly weaving the stories together in a way that fit perfectly. Over all this is a pretty great book that really gets a reader into the world of contemporary treasure hunters and opens a port hole of insight into the world of repentant pirates. I recommend it.

[Christy Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey is a wonderfully written adventure story mixed with a little faith and a lot of history. Greg Rhode is just out of college and lucky to find a job working on Phil Rackham's ship salvage operation out of Key West. His investigation of a wreck brings up gemstones that have a fascinating history that only the reader will ever know. Bold Ted was captured as a slave and then rescued by pirate Captain Henry Thatch. He signs on as a member of the Regent crew, which puts his life in danger when the Spanish go gunning for Thatch and his compatriots who stole a valuable ruby from one of their ships. The two stories move along parallel lines through manhood, falling in love, and the discovery that treasure isn't found in gold and jewels but in forgiveness and family. Morrisey gives readers just enough information about diving shipwrecks to intrigue without overwhelming them with jargon. The romances are sweet, and the adventure captivating. The two heroes are what really make this book shine. I loved this book!

[Ashley Ludwig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey is one of those fun reads. A pirate on the Caribbean seas--a la Captain Jack Sparrow. <3 him. A modern treasure hunter, fresh out of school and ready to explore the Key West coast for buried treasure...a love story that has a laugh out loud moment of clarity.

Though separated by time, the main characters share a family trial that forces them into a confrontation of sons and fathers.

Read it because Morrisey is an excellent story teller. Finish it, because it's got a great dual time period story, each one of wonderful detail and inspirational message.

When it's over, you want more. The ending might be a tad rushed, but the bulk of the message is a beautiful story of redemption and faith. Great job, and will look for more books by Morrisey!

~Ashley

[Cindy Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last few books I have read lately make me wonder if there is a trend. Two stories from different times in history woven together in one novel. Such is the case with Pirate Hunters.
Treasure Hunters in the 21st century find a Spanish Galleon from the 1700s, and the author also gives a peek at how the ship got there by weaving in the history of privateers, freed slaves and life on the high seas with modern ocean archeology and diving techniques to add realism to the parallel stories. Forgiveness and redemption are the underlying themes.
Both stories are full of unexpected plot twists and bring the reader to a satisfying ending. I have never read this author before, but I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pirate Hunter is one of those great historical books which ties in a contemporary story – and still makes complete sense. Tom Morrisey didn’t spend too much time on one half of the story while neglecting the other half. The combination of the two stories was fun to read, as he would mirror the ending of the chapter with the beginning of the next.

It’s been a while since i read this, but i can still remember the characters and in pretty vivid detail. It really reminds of Clive Cussler books, with a little less language and innuendo (or complete lack thereof) Definitely a fun, engaging read. It’s not a life-changing book, but is certainly a memorable one.

Three stars.

[Kristen Gurri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I am reading this other than it was easy to grab while the kids amused themselves at the library. Sigh.

Ok - I finished the book. It was pretty insipid. The plot alternated between past and present and flashbacks for the present narrator. The author was hellbent on making the two fun eras run parallel to each other but it was like ramming a papaya into a square hole with Gallagher's mallet. Bleah. I found myself skimming to enjoy the underwater archaeology scenes and some of the dialogue from the past. Its a beach read only if you are on a boat and bombed out on dramamine.

[Bob Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well done back and forth between 1500s and 2010s. There is romance, but it’s not gaudy or over-the-top. There are Christian characters but, at least to me, they weren’t sappy or perfect — they were real. Morrisey presents forgiveness and restored relationships without being preachy.Rescued slave and a marine archaeologist are the main characters. I’m not a literature expert/scholar, but the characters, particularly the privateer and the rescued slave, were a bit whitewashed. Not sure about the historical accuracy of the 16th century parts of the story. Still, an enjoyable read and diversion.

[Cynde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good old fashion pirate/ treasure hunting story. Two stories parrallel each other one is the tale of the Pirate Henry Thatch and his crew seizing prizes (ships) across the waters of the Carribean and selling the stolen goods in port. The other is a story of Phil Rackham and his crew of treasure hunters search for the lost and drowned treasure in the sea. This is a good story and hard to put down. The setting of Key West will be very familiar if you have ever visited there. The writer has crafted a fun tale that leaves you wanting more.

[Julieanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has done his homework in studying pirates, privateering, slavery, deep sea diving, etc. Loved having two separate stories going on at one time, that only intertwined, basically, at the very end of the book. Segues from chapter to chapter were cool, too. I really enjoyed this clean yet interesting book.

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book--its inventive back-and-forth narrative style, intriguing and memorable characters, suspenseful and intricately woven plot, and the fascinating detail about treasure-hunting and diving, not to mention the fun of pirates and tropical islands.

This author is quickly becoming a favorite.

[Lee Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is actually 2 stories 400 years apart. Morrisey cleverly switches back and forth using the same situations has a bridge. (like opening a door in 1600 and turning the page to a door opening in 2013) There is a lot of data for a fiction book, from blue grass banjo to scuba diving. Well worth the read (took me 8 hours)

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories that mirror each other in the past and the present. I quite enjoyed how the stories overlap and reflect each other but only really intertwine at the end. Made me want to go rewatch all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brand new book in the church library - just waiting to be read. I enjoyed the 2 stories and the way faith was woven into them through the way some of the characters behaved. I did find some of the diving details a bit technical but it didn't spoil the story.

[Lea Groff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging!

This was a very engaging read not only between love stories but also between centuries. I would highly recommend this adventure for anyone who likes romance and mystery stories.

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started off slow for me but almost to the middle it picked up. The book brought me under the sea, pirating, and war at sea. It is done in two different points of view--pirates in history and treasure hunters in present time. A sea-adventure-kind-of read!

[Anne-marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts a little slow, more when I'm finished...great for scuba divers, eventually redeems itself with a page turning ending.

[Sally Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eighty pages in and enjoying it. For not being a big fan of water, I love deep-sea diving adventures.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of it was more about father/son troubles rather than about actual pirating. Still enjoyed it though.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at beach. Good story

[Susan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that brings two stories together. The story of an honorable pirate, and the divers that find treasure the pirates lost. A well written page turner.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Cynthia Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Pirates and this book was a great way to get not only treasure but also forgiveness. Loved it!

[Bhriv · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Full of excitement! Love, romance, family issues, pirates, treasures...all to keep me hooked on this book!!