Whiskey Gulf – Review

Author: Clyde Ford
Publication Date: 2009
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Pages: 255

“Mayday. Mayday. Mayday”

in “Whiskey Gulf“, Charlie Noble is a former USCG commander turned PI hired by a local yacht club to find out what happened to a couple who disappeared after sailing near a live-fire naval exercise area named Whiskey Gulf. The story showcases the author’s solid knowledge of sailing, Native American mythology and British Columbia’s waters, and although the story starts slowly, by the midpoint it delivers smooth and thrilling action sequences on its way to answering questions in the third book of the Charlie Noble mystery series.

The prologue to the story lays out a tense radio conversation between the Canadian Coast Guard and a vessel in dire trouble. Works well as far as the story goes, but it creates a different issue – the story switches from third person in the prologue to first person in Chapter 1, where Charlie talks with his lover, Kate, and also agrees to work for the yacht club to investigate what happened to the missing boaters. The first-person narrative adds constraints as to how exposition is conveyed, and reading through the first fifty or so pages, there are so many details which feel extraneous that I’m concerned that the volume of them is about to overwhelm the story. Some are well buried, but enough stick out so that they draw unnecessary attention to themselves. By the time that I hit the kind of exposition where two people, who have shared the same experience, recount to each other what they already know well, I’m wavering. Much of it seems to be not strictly relevant to the story, but rather intended to establish the author’s knowledge of all things nautical.

Luckily, Charlie meets up again with Maya, an investigative reporter looking into the Whiskey Gulf incident, and trades in the exposition-heavy passages for a shot of danger, enough to get interest back up while layering some questions about what really happened in Whiskey Gulf. There is a romantic subplot that goes on between Charlie and Kate, with potential on both sides to be lured away from each other, but that remains mostly in the background while the main investigation plot is underway. Charlie is joined by his friend Raven, a former Navy SEAL, as they continue the investigation in the second half of the book, and this is where Native American mythology details are woven into the story while hidden agendas, betrayals and secrets become evident, leaving Charlie to keep pulling at the threads to unravel what is really going on. Although there are a few parts of the story where logic and motive seem fuzzy, and a few convenient coincidences pop up, the action is well-written and suspenseful, and questions are answered as the story drives ahead to its conclusion.

The attention to detail lends verisimilitude to the story, even if it sometimes weighs it down with minutiae better placed in a non-fiction piece. I would probably really enjoy articles by Ford on boating or on aboriginal mythology, as he seems to be well versed in those details, and most of all, his detailed knowledge of British Columbia’s waterways is impressive and includes some of his best writing – he’s definitely traveled these waters often, and their beauty comes across clearly through his words.

Overall, if you enjoy mysteries and sailing, “Whiskey Gulf” will likely appeal to you. The story’s authenticity benefits from the author’s familiarity with the setting and his meticulous attention to detail, even if some streamlining could have made the story that much more nimble.

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You can find more information about “Whiskey Gulf” at www.whiskeygulf.com, or learn more about Clyde Ford at www.clydeford.com.

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Note: This review copy was provided to me by Susan Taft-Bourgo of The Perseus Books Group. Thank you to Ms. Taft-Bourgo and to Mr. Ford. As per my review policy, this copy of “Whiskey Gulf” will be given to my local library shortly.

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