|
Iris Johansen's latest novel, FATAL TIDE, tells the story of Melis Nemid, an oceanographer who lives alone on Lontana's Island in the Lesser Antilles with her dolphin friends, Pete and Lucy: "The female dolphin was much more physically affectionate than Pete" and one night Melis is both pleased and surprised when he touched her. "Ordinarily their behavior was playful, almost giddily exuberant. It was only when they sensed she was disturbed that they became ... docile. She was supposed to be teaching the dolphins, but she was learning from them every day ... they enriched her life and she was grateful for that."
Suddenly her peace is shattered by the appearance of "Cal Dugan, Phil's first mate." Phil Lontana is Melis's foster father who is currently on the lam, but the threat from those he is running from is only partially eliminated by his absence. Phil's obsession is to find the fabled island of Marinth, an incredibly wealthy city that "was reputed to be a technological and cultural mecca for the whole world. Then one night, the gods took back what they had created. They sent a great wave and drew the city back into the sea where it was born."
Then enters Jed Kelby, millionaire extraordinaire, a matinee idol type who is also an oceanographer interested in finding the buried city. He has the means and the connections to do it --- all he needs is Melis's cooperation. But, of course, he is not the only one who has an itch to plunder the depths of the ocean to discover what might be buried in the deep. His name is Archer, a sadistic, psychopathic, conscienceless killer who knows too much about Melis and her past. He stalks her and threatens her to the point where she is almost driven mad. He uses his nasty information to break her spirit and coerce her into taking him to Marinth.
The plot of FATAL TIDE is predictable and simple. The best parts describe the dolphins and their behavior, especially the relationship between Pete and Lucy as they swim happily in their space. The fascination with them increases as they begin to change when let loose in the wild. Of course the romantic tension between Melis and Jed blossoms into a great love. And the good guys take care of putting the bad guys out of business.
FATAL TIDE is an easy read. The phrase "airplane book" comes to mind, and fans of romantic thrillers should enjoy this one!
--- Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
• Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.
© Copyright 1996-2009, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
