The life of a pirate is a hazardous one, fraught with many dangers. How much more so when you are sailing with a captain who is a bit maniacal. Spider John Rush and his best mate Ezra join the crew of Plymouth Dream and find themselves at odds with many of their shipmates, a situation that thrusts Spider John into a mystery to be solved and revenge to be meted out. The tale is engaging and certainly exciting. Life aboard a pirate vessel is presented in fine detail; the characters are believable; the plot lines are nicely filled with surprises. All in all it is a page turning read that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats as mysteries are unraveled as Spider John seeks answers and revenge. 4.2 stars