"Deadly Depths", by John F. Dobbyn

You need to suspend your skepticism if you want to enjoy this over the top thriller featuring former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, Matthew Shane, now professor at Hawthorne University Law School in Massachusetts. As easy a job as one can have till his friend archeology professor Barrington Holmes was found dead in his office of what is believe to be a suicide. To avoid a scandal Matthew is asked by the university’s president to investigate. But a note left behind suggests that Holmes may have been murdered by a shadowy organisation called the Monkey’s Paw Society, a 5 member secret society bent on locating some kind of pirate treasure.....Matt sets out to find who they are and what is their end game......and the hunt is on...
The search for answer and the hidden treasure turned out to be a very complicated adventure: a professor dodging assassins, bombs, an ancient curse stretching back to the days of colonial conquest, piracy on the high seas and slave trade. One by one society members are losing their lives. ...what is happening?

While Matt’s quest takes him to beautiful and diverse locations: New Orleans, Montreal, Marseille and Jamaica we are into never ending suspense, very exciting. We have a large sidebar into Captain Henry Morgan sea activities which I took to be a bit long to read although on its own is very interesting as well as were the breath taking accounts of some famous privateers exploits and the Spanish Conquistadors. The depiction of history was active and very interesting. How true the descriptions were, probably not all of them, but told in a captivating manner nevertheless from start to finish. I mind never wavered I stay tuned till the conclusion.

The third person narrative is very well done and dynamic. The dialogue in some way seems outdated and too formal reflects well in this kind of story. We have a plot that is very imaginative and mostly entertaining. I would categorize “Deadly Deaths” as a mix between an Indiana Jones adventure and James Bond life style: fine dining, lots of money and beautiful girl....what is not to like.

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC