Ghosting-David Poyer

Ghosting
David Poyer
St. Martin’s, Nov 9 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312613020

Egotistical but brilliant neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Scales purchases a fancy yacht he christens the Slow Dance. Although he has little sailing experience and that in sheltered environs and his vessel is not ocean oriented, he decides to sail from Long island to Bermuda. Accompanying Captain Jack is his reluctant family; his wife Arlen who considers leaving him, his twentyish bipolar son Rick who may be sent to a group home, and his rebellious teenage daughter Haley who loathes any family outing of more than a minute.

From the start, the ocean voyage proves dangerous as Jack’s inexperience surfaces rather quickly and Rick stops taking his meds. They know they fortunately survive a deadly accident and a storm leads the Slow Dance to nearly sinking. When Jack rescues a man at sea, he leads his family into a group of deadly predators who plan to kill the males and rape the females before murdering them. Only Jack stands in their way.

Although the Scales’ family could use the nautical expertise of Dan Lenson, David Poyer has given his star a respite so Jack and his three charges are on their own. The story line is fast-paced and filled with twisting action that grips the audience as one misadventure like waves keeps on coming. Even though the climax seems unlikely, fans will root for the beleaguered family as each must scale their personal fears and needs to risk sacrificing their life so their loved ones might survive.

Harriet Klausner