First Line: The fifth-floor hallway was darker than reported, and there was an awkward dogleg near the stairwell that their local recon hadn't bothered to map; it smelled of garlic, mold, and dry rot even though the hotel was billed as a Byzantine five-star.
Aubrey Sentro is a black ops specialist who, from the sheer number of concussions she's suffered, is courting a very unpleasant death. After an unsettling visit to her doctor, Aubrey is persuaded to take some down time, so she packs a bag and boards a ship for a cruise down to South America. Unfortunately, some people just aren't allowed to take vacations.
When Aubrey's ship is seized by pirates, her training takes over. Eluding the pirates time after time, she's focused on saving her fellow passengers. But her memory lapses are becoming more frequent. She pushes herself to survive with thoughts of her children, who've never been told of what she really does for a living-- and if she's not successful in her game of cat and mouse, she might not get the chance to tell them.
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Water Memory is just the sort of book to turn any reader off freighter cruises. True, they do supply the leisurely cruise without the bling and crowds of the behemoth cruise ships of companies like Carnival or Princess or Royal Caribbean, but freighters are more likely to be boarded by pirates. In fact, one of the things I found interesting in Daniel Pyne's thriller is that there seems to be an entire thriving business around hijacked cargo ships.
The first third of Water Memory is a bit clunky as the author explores Aubrey Sentro's relationship with her children as well as the workings of Aubrey's mind. Persistent post-concussion syndrome means headaches, aural distortions, mood swings, and memory problems among other things, and watching Aubrey experience these things can be painful because she is a talented black-ops specialist who enjoys what she does ("international risk mitigation") and she's extremely good at it. Having her mind betray her is going to put paid on the life she loves.
Not having told her children Jeremy and Jenny what she really does for a living has caused problems. Both grew up with a stay-at-home father and the idea that Aubrey couldn't be bothered to spend any time with them like "real mothers" do. In fact, it's warped Jenny so much that I got tired of her whining about how she's never had the mother she deserved. (Big girl panties, Jenny. Big girl panties.) Pyne's description of mother and daughter-- "two peeves in a pod"-- made me laugh and stayed in my mind just like the author hoped it would.
Once the first third of the book, the setup, is done and the pirates have taken control of the ship, the pace picks up. This is where I really became engrossed in the story. I learned why Aubrey chose this unusual work for herself. I learned to appreciate characters like Morehouse the doctor and little Zoala who might be playing in the Cricket World Cup one day. I also appreciated what Pyne has to say about women who don't do what's expected of them.
I loved watching Aubrey at work as she tried to save everyone aboard the cargo ship. I loved Zoala. Those two caused me to break out in fist pumps more than once. And I loved the little twist at the end of Water Memory. Evidently, there's supposed to be a follow-up book in the "Aubrey Sentro series." As much as I enjoyed this story, I'm not interested in reading any further. Some characters are absolute perfection in one book and one book only. I think Aubrey Sentro is one of them.
Aubrey sounds like an interesting character, Cathy, and that always appeals to me. And a freighter cruise is an intriguing context. I'd honestly not heard much about them before, so that part might interest me. I'm not into 'black ops thrillers,' if I'm being totally honest, but it sounds as though it's got some interesting characters.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I see you're reading The Bitterroots. I like Box's Joe Pickett novels, and I've read a little of his standalone work. I hope you're enjoying the book (it's part of a new series, right?)
There's not much "black ops" in this book, Margot, it's more to do with Aubrey's ability to survive under dire conditions.
DeleteYes, I am enjoying The Bitterroots. It's the latest in his Cassie Dewell series set in Montana.
I loved the bit about "big girl panties" --that's what I tell myself frequently!
ReplyDeleteIt's a useful phrase, isn't it? ;-)
DeleteI was aware of this title, but didn't realize it involves a freighter cruise - that bumps it higher up my list, because non-traditional travel always interests me. Add "women who don't do what's expected of them" and I'll definitely give this one a try.
ReplyDeleteI'd certainly be interested in your opinion, Kate.
DeleteI didn't know about freighters either. I only knew about the Carnival and others mentioned on air.
ReplyDeleteI've known about these types of cruises since I was a teenager. They just don't advertise them very much.
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