A new book from first-time author Terrance Layhew is One Man’s Treasure. We get an action-adventure story, with romance, a pirate map (and, maybe, treasure), set in the Caribbean. This story is reminiscent of many of the pulp stories in magazines like Argosy, Adventure, and others.
In a time when most such books either have some generic cover artwork or something AI generated, we get an original piece by Victor Maristane. It actually illustrates a scene from the book rather than being a generic piece.
Full disclosure, I was sent a copy to review.
Our main characters are brothers Dixon and Sam Hastings. We meet them and quickly learn the differences between the two. Dix is clearly a “caviar and champagne” type, whereas Sam is more the “burger and fries” type and is more impulsive.
In a poker game, Dix, a lawyer, wins an old map that is supposedly a treasure map of the notorious pirate, Killian Jack. Legend has it that he captured a Spanish ship with a Spanish princess who had taken the crown jewels. Jack later returned the princess, but not the jewels. Does this map point to this lost treasure?
The brothers are soon off, joined by Amy, Sam’s long-time fiancé, as well as Mallory, Dix’s former lover, though in a surprising way. There are complications as the man who lost the map wants it back. As well as some real-life pirates who take over their ship and soon learn of the treasure. Do the brothers get the treasure? And maybe more importantly, do they get the girls? Read and find out.
Like any good pulp-style story, things move along quickly, with lots of action, including fights and even some swordplay. A different take here is that the book is told in first person by the two brothers, but it alternates from chapter to chapter. While I have read works where the point of view changes, I don’t think I’ve seen one that alternated like this. But I am sure it’s been done before.
I have no idea what the author may be planning next. But if it’s as fun a read as this one, it will be worth checking out.
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