Black Kayak

The Jonathan Steele Adventures, #1

Black Kayak offers us a different perspective from your run of the mill detective story; among other items are the facts that a vintage automobile and a very specialized boat could almost be considered minor characters as they both provide important supporting roles in this tale. Unusual most certainly, but intriguing nonetheless. This account involves the reader emotionally into the narrative; it is not a chronicle of guessing games. This book introduces us to Jonathan Steele and George Wilson, best friends and business partners. Test readers have commented strongly on how interesting it is watching Jonathan and George 'Come of Age' in the art of investigation. I strongly believe in letting the reader get to know my characters and what makes them tick. I do not believe in just throwing someone into the deep end. This is the opening book in the Series, and the sequel, Relentless Pursuit, is a finished product. As one delves deeper into this yarn, it becomes apparent on how important good old common sense still continues to be.

A diamond smuggling enterprise is being operated through Bar Harbor, Maine, by club owner Miles Parker, and his deadly associate Packard Lane. During one of the operations designed to bring the stones ashore, a young couple preparing to head off to college, are caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and they pay for that unfortunate timing with their lives. Their deaths are initially ruled a terrible accident by the county coroner.

 Margot Henson, Innkeeper of the nationally acclaimed ocean front inn, Tidewater, is grieving over the loss of her daughter. In a choking message, she manages to inform her semi-estranged brother, Jonathan Steele, of the horrible news of his niece's death. Jonathan, currently living in Florida, gathers items of interest, and heads north to comfort his sister. With a military and professional sports background, he cannot rid himself of the nagging feeling that there is more to the circumstances surrounding his niece's death, than what is being reported. With his best friend and business partner, George Wilson at his side, Jonathan is determined to find the truth.

 With such strong suspicions, he asks his sister not to tell anyone of his impending arrival. Once Jonathan and George arrive in Bar Harbor, they slowly devise a plan, to find out with certainty exactly what happened. Hindering this feat is the fact, that neither of them has any real investigative experience, and thusly are forced to learn 'on the fly'. This issue balances the tension, with levity. Jon ultimately relies on his military training, but mostly, on plain old common sense. He begins nosing around under an alias, stumbling onto the fact that a particular club owner in town has a history of drug involvement. For lack of a better place to look, Jonathan decides to scrutinize him while trying to avoid the ire of the local police chief. He observes Miles Parker's associate Packard Lane, immediately taking a strong dislike to the man. On nothing more than a mere hunch Jonathan bugs Miles Parker's office. The conversations recorded in that office confirm all of Jonathan's concerns; the accident was no accident. It also reveals secrets involving his sister's second husband. Together, Jon and George set a trap for a third accomplice, forcing him to reveal all that he knows. Once all the details are divulged, a final strategy is devised, to trap Parker and Lane, who was personally responsible for the deaths of his niece and her boyfriend. Parker and Lane get suspicious with the mysterious disappearance of Ronnie, the third party involved and decide to leave the country. The ensuing action employed by Jonathan and George to prevent their departure is fast and furious culminating in the brutal showdown between Jonathan Steele and Parker Lane; an engagement the reader has been anxiously waiting.