Inner Passages

by Carl Brookins

A mystery adventure about love, loss, murder and redemption. It is set against the spectacular mountains of British Columbia on the waters of the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1929976011
• ISBN13: 9781929976010
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Top Publications
• Length: 261 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

NOT TO BE MISSED

Inner Passages is set on the waterway between Puget Sound and the Northern end of Vancouver Island along the western coast of British Columbia. Michael Tanner a prosperous Seattle public relations executive and a lover of sailing, plans a sailing trip to Texada Island with his wife Beth and their friend Alice. Shortly after the trip begins, a heavy fog rolls in making it hard to see. Alice's suggestion to go back is quickly over-ruled. Michael cuts the engine to listen for other boats. Sometime later the fog breaks revealing a large white yacht fifty feet in front of them. When Beth waves at the three people on the deck, the engines on the yacht came alive and head away from them. Suddenly the yacht turns heading straight for the Queen Anne. Michael is able to get out of the way on the first pass but when the yacht comes around again, a man shoots at them, hitting the mast. The sailboat, no match for the large yacht, dies and sinks to the bottom of the sea. The dinghy, carrying the battered and unconscious Tanner, grounds itself on the southern tip of Lasqueti Island. After months of depression, Tanner decides to search for the murderers of Beth and Alice. Carl Brookins weaves a suspenseful tale of the loss of love, murder, feelings of guilt and redemption. His descriptions of the surroundings are so vivid you feel as if you are there, I even thought that I smelled salt water. Wonderfully written with a powerful ending.

A Worthy Mystery

Brookins' first book is a success. He follows the mystery genre's rules, and it works for him. There's early murder (Michael Tanner's wife and a friend), a well-defined and likable character in conflict (Tanner), a beautiful setting (the Inner Passage), a premise he can write knowledgeably about (sailing), love interest (Mary Whitney), and a smoothly rendered plot.The straight forward, no nonsense writing style bends toward literary, with much of the tale spent in evocative exposition on the Northwest's Inner Passage and sailing in general. Some readers might find the suspense a bit bland, as if the plot were developed as an excuse to write about sailing, something Brookins obviously knows a lot about and enjoys.I liked the story, and think most mystery readers and all lovers of sailing and the sea will too. Watch for more from Carl Brookins.

Inner Passages

Carl Brookins' extensive knowledge of the sea and sailing shows up admirably in this first novel--although the landlubber reader may have to flip back occasionally to make sure of a term. The suspense is deftly handled, and the plot suspenseful and well-driven. It was refreshing for this reader to discover the love plot sensitively but non-pruriently handled, a factor that will probably be changed if the book is made into a movie, which destiny it well deserves.

Exciting sailing thriller

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.

Great Nautical Suspense

In this debut novel, the author does a fine job of interweaving a suspenseful mystery with an exciting tale of the sea. Brookins uses his obvious knowledge of sailing to good advantage, and he creates a marvelous (and often malevolent) landscape in which to maneuver. Strong characters and well-observed details make this enjoyable read a worthy offering in the genre.