Author(s): Michael Crichton

Historical Fiction

The Caribbean, 1665. The island of Jamaica is a rough outpost of the English crown, a minor colony holding out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, Jamaica's capital, a cut-throat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses, is devoid of London's luxuries; life here can end swiftly with dysentery or a dagger in your back. But for Captain Charles Hunter it is a life that can also lead to riches, if he abides by the island's code. In the name of His Majesty King Charles II of England, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking. Word in port is that the Spanish treasure galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is stalled in nearby Matanceros harbour awaiting repairs. With the help of his cunning crew, Hunter hijacks El Trinidad and escapes the deadly clutches of its commander, the blood-swilling Cazalla, leaving plenty of carnage in his wake. But his troubles have only just begun...