Synopsis: August, 1723 -- Spider John Rush believes he has escaped piracy forever. Enjoying rum and chess in a dark Lymington tavern, he dreams of finding passage to Nantucket to reunite with his beloved Em and to finally get to know the son he remembers only as a babe in arms, though the lad must be dreaming of going to sea himself by now. But when a lazy taverner is stabbed to death, one glance at the victim tells Spider the pirate life has followed him ashore and he cannot possibly ignore this bloody crime. The wise maneuver would be to run before authorities arrive, but Spider is denied that choice because he’s already deeply, connected to the crime—he fashioned the murder weapon with his own hands.
The knife was a gift to a young man, one who ran off with the notorious Anne Bonny before Spider could drag him into a respectable life.
Soon, Spider John and his ancient shipmate Odin are dodging accusations and battling smugglers on a trail that leads to a madhouse where patients are dying one by one. Spider finds himself tangling with a horribly maimed former shipmate, vengeful pirates, a gun-wielding brunette, a death-obsessed young woman, a sneaky farmhand and a philosopher engaged in frightening experiments. But death seems to be winning at Pryor Pond, and the next life lost may be the one Spider desperately wants to save.
Spider must brave sharp steel, musket balls, gunpowder bombs, dangerous women and gruesome surgery if he is to find his foolish young friend alive and try once again to put piracy in their past.
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About the Author: My first novel, a historical mystery called "The Bloody Black Flag: A Spider John Mystery," was released Sept. 12, 2017, from Seventh Street Books. My second novel, "The Devil's Wind: A Spider John Mystery," was released in the Fall/Winter of 2018. The third, “A Bottle of Rum,” is coming in November 2019.
Learn more at stevegoble.com.
Rating: ★★★★
My Review: This is one more title that I didn't get to read books one and two. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying most of this story. I did think that it was kind of weird that for a pirate book this one takes place on nothing but land. There are no high sea adventures with this one folks. It did have a great story and amazing characters. There were twists and turns and I will totally have to go back and read books one and two. I loved the humor that Spider added to the story
Go Into This One Knowing: Landlocked
The combination of swashbuckling and deductions remains a winning one. (Publishers Weekly)
Steve Goble's third installment in his Spider John mysteries takes his pirate-detective into strange waters, or rather land, when he follows a twisted trail in search of a lost shipmate and friend. Treachery, bloodshed, wenches and dark secrets abound as Spider and his one-eyed companion, Odin, face death and damnation to quench their thirst for justice, and perhaps a swig or two of Rum. (Bradley Harper, 2019 Edgar Finalist for A KNIFE IN THE FOG )
Avast, me hearties, here be an excellent read! Spider John and one-eyed Odin are back with a swashbuckling, page-turning plot and a treasure chest full of the most original characters to ever swagger, steal, and sleuth their way through a mystery. Once again, Steve Goble proves himself a master of piratical prose and mysterious mayhem. (Susan Spann, bestselling author of the Hiro Hattori mysteries )
A Bottle Of Rum entertains from the first knife thrust to the final explosion. Goble’s mystery-solving pirate, Spider John, comes ashore in his latest adventure, but the swashbuckler’s trademark ingenuity, loyalty and mind-boggling profanities are on full and dazzling display as always. (Andrew Welsh-Huggins, editor, 'Columbus Noir' and author, the Andy Hayes private eye series. )
A twisty, suspenseful story full of murder and—unexpectedly—of friendship, A Bottle of Rum is a darkly funny, bloody good time. (Kristen Lepionka, Shamus and Goldie Award-winning author of the Roxane Weary mystery series )
Spider is at heart a funny, wise and caring individual whose personality is depicted in a way that immediately engages the reader. One wonders why there’s a touch of evil and insanity in former pirates but recognizes that there are some good souls among them worthy of admiring and rooting for. Taverns are not only sources of satisfying drinks but also unexpected but probable fights... A Bottle of Rum is a fascinating tale that puts a new twist on Spider John and his friends and enemies. Nicely crafted, Steve Goble! (Crystal Book Reviews)
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FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored.
FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored.
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