A Deadly Exchange
Sheryl Jane Stafford (Guest Reviewer - Sallie Flannigan)
2000 Writer's Showcase
ISBN: 0595156770
Amazon's price is: $17.95
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Matt & Alex Spencer weren't looking for trouble when they began exploring the Bahamas on their newly acquired sailboat. Unfortunately, trouble finds them when two drug dealers mistakenly hide cocaine on the Spencers' yacht.
Guest Reviewer Sallie Flannigan writes:
As I read A Deadly Exchange, Sheryl Jane Stafford's debut novel, I was dazzled by her detailed descriptions of the island flora & fauna & the pristine waters surrounding the Bahamas. I could almost taste the salt & feel the wind in my hair as I traveled to the remote Bahaman Cays with Alexandra & Matthew on Amani, their Pearson 323 Sloop. The sailing & navigation details suggest that the Spencers are experienced mariners, who know their way around boats.
The story begins innocently enough, with two bungling Bahamians, who want to make a name for themselves with a drug cartel. The two drug boy wannabe's mistakenly stash cocaine inside the fiberglass hull of the Amani, just before the Spencers take possession. When the bunglers' error is discovered, they are ordered to go after the Amani & do whatever is necessary to retrieve their coke.
For a time the Spencers, unaware of their deadly cargo, enjoy loafing at quiet anchorages & exploring deserted beaches. When Matt & Alex inadvertently find the contraband, they recognize their dire predicament. Without any law to defend them, they are on their own.
In a desperate move, Matt leaves Alex with a gun aboard the Amani & rows to a nearby island with the bags of cocaine. His plan is to bury them &, if necessary, use them as a bargaining chip. While Alex huddles in the cabin waiting for Matt's return, she gets her first introduction to terror.
“Then she heard it. The sound was muffled, but she heard something over the wind and waves. Footsteps. Topside. The fiberglass cabin creaked with each footfall. She cringed and held onto the gun butt with both hands. She thought she heard a voice carried on the wind. It sounded almost like a sigh. Her teeth began to chatter. Holding the gun rigidly in front of her, she stared into the darkness.” Page 115.
It is evident as this nightmare unfolds that Alexandra & Matthew Spencer have the kind of love most of us only dream about. Each will, without hesitation, die for the other.
Sheryl Jane Stafford's pacing is flawless as one desperate situation leads to another. When the cartel boss, Raoul, & his henchman, Jorge, are introduced, the stakes are raised & the tension rises precipitously. Unlike the inept Bahamians at the beginning of the story, these men are ruthless, powerful, & without a conscience.
Because I frantically turned the pages as I read A Deadly Exchange, I decided to read it again. Even though I knew the outcome, I found myself anxiously tearing through it at breakneck speed.
If this book has a flaw, it is that it ended too soon. I hope Sheryl Jane Stafford's sequel is on the way. I can hardly wait.
RebeccasiReads.com
