Annie and her husband Martin flew from Sydney to join Gary and his girlfriend Dani, for a few weeks on a charter yacht from Singapore, sailing the seas and dropping anchor near an island to celebrate Christmas. They took a different course after learning of pirates in the Malaccan Strait. Life on board was relaxing, with plenty of booze, sun and relaxation. Annie felt a bit uncomfortable with what was going on although everyone else was enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile Jonno Bligh was sailing in his recently purchased yacht which he’d named The Scoop Jon B. But Jonno had recently left LA after his bestselling book was made into a film – and where Jonno was introduced to cocaine. Completely addicted, and with his best friend Cody on board, Jonno continued to use – until Cody found out. With Cody’s fury resonating, Jonno set sail for the Indian Ocean and islands beyond. But a violent storm put paid to his plans. As he nursed The Scoop into a lagoon on the shores of an island, Jonno vowed he would go cold turkey.

Some time later Jonno heard noise from the next bay across and was shocked and horrified at what he saw when he climbed the hill overlooking the beach. With murder the pirate’s favourite past-time, Jonno’s decision that day would come back to haunt him. His rescue of one of the victims and their subsequent escape across the ocean in a limping yacht was the stuff of nightmares. What would be the outcome? The danger of modern-day pirates had never entered their minds – but now it filled them…

The Scoop by Aussie author Terence J. Quinn is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller which I enjoyed very much. Set in Sydney and Indonesia as well as the vast ocean, I found the scenery, especially the lagoon, beautiful. The storms, the pirates, the horrors – all set the scene for a gripping and intense suspense thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.