Book Review: Inner Passages

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Inner Passages     Amazon US TPB Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada TPB
Carl Brookins
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Series: Michael Tanner and Mary Whitney # 1
Top, Jul 2000, $14.95, 225 pp.

As he made his final preparations on the Queen Anne sloop for their sailing of British Columbia’s Inside Passage, successful public relations exec Michael Tanner thought the world is good. Accompanied by his beloved wife Beth and their friend Alice, Michael looks forward to the short trip to Texada Island. An hour later, the fog engulfs the three sailors. However, not too log after that, a big yacht purposely follows and rams the Queen Anne, knocking Michael out.

When Michael reawakens, the Coast Guard informs him that his wife and friend have vanished and are assumed dead. No one believes Michael that the accident was deliberate. Unable to cope with the depression and grief, Michael seeks closure. He obsessively goes after the mysterious yacht that destroyed his life seeking vengeance.

INNER PASSAGES is an absorbing thriller that works because debut author Carl Brookins makes the various water routes seem beautifully alive. The action is non-stop as Michael faces his own inner demons and guilt (he insisted on sailing) to battle an unknown enemy. The climax is powerful and believable although a subplot involving Mary Whitney, a traveling companion during Michael’s odyssey, seems stretched. Mr. Brookins deserves a large audience for a fast-paced novel starring a broken hero.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner