Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: A Black Sail by Rich Zahradnik

The NYPD Harbor Launch Patrolman Crane thudded over the waves toward the Brooklyn docks. ~ Opening of A Black Sail


A Black Sail (Coleridge Taylor Mystery #3) by Rich Zahradnik
Camel Press, 2016
Crime Fiction (Historical); 264 pgs
Source: E-copy provided by publisher for an honest review.

Reporter Coleridge Taylor would much rather be on the crime beat, but with the country's attention on the upcoming U.S. Bicentennial, his time and attention is focused on the ships and vessels coming into the New York Harbor. While on assignment on a Harbor Patrol boat, the body of a housewife is found in the harbor, drugs strapped to her body. Taylor's interest is piqued. Especially as rumors surface of a possible drug war between the Italian Mafia and the Chinese Tong. Taylor has a way of finding trouble . . . and the truth.

It was good to see Samantha Callahan, Taylor's girlfriend, again, who in introduced in the second book of the series, Drop Dead Punk. She's more likely to be found coming to his rescue than he to hers. She is smart and a good influence on Taylor.

Zahradnik does an amazing job of setting the scene for A Black Sail, capturing the tone and atmosphere of New York during July of 1976. This is one of the aspects I like most about Rich Zahradnik's books. He never fails to make me feel as if I am a part of the story and history he writes about. The author uses words to paint a clear picture of the time period, a time of celebration and excitement, one of hope for the future. But the crime and grit is still there, underneath. New York City is a city barely saved from the brink of ruin. Taylor knows that all too well as he struggles with figuring out what to do with his career, feeling stuck but wanting more. 

A Black Sail is the third book in the Coleridge Taylor series by Rich Zahradnik, and can be read as a stand alone. Taylor continues to be one of my favorite series' characters with his strong sense of doing the right thing and finding the truth even as he strives to get the story. I have enjoyed this series from book one, and Zahradnik continues to deliver with each installment.

Last Words (Coleridge Taylor Mystery #1)
Drop Dead Punk (Coleridge Taylor Mystery #2)

To learn more about Rich Zahradnik, and his work, please visit the author's website.


© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

16 comments:

  1. The cover made me think this was historical fiction. I remember when all those tall ships were in NY. The book sounds good to me!

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    1. Kathy - Zahridnik does a good job of bringing history to the present. It's almost a character in and of itself.

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  2. Don't you love returning to book series where the characters feel like old friends? Glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. Paulita - I do! It's one of the draws to being a series reader, I think. :-)

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  3. I thought this was a HF from the cover, but apparently it's from the not so distant past. Sounds interesting to me! I lived in NY in 1976 and remember the tall ships in the harbor.

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    1. Rita - To my daughter, this would definitely fall under in the historical fiction category. :-) I was alive then too, although not by many years.

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  4. So good to learn that this instalment is as good as the previous. I don't know what it is but all too often a third book seems as if its cursed not to be as strong as other books in the series.

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    1. Tracy - I know what you mean. I've found that to be true with some series too.

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  5. This series is calling my name and I love the sound of this one. I love when the characters just feel familiar and this sounds like a read I'd enjoy!

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    1. Katherine - I'd be curious to know what you think of this series if you give it a try!

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  6. A Black Sail sounds good and I like that setting. Glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. Naida - I love the New York setting. The 1970's actually aren't my favorite time period to read about, but I really have enjoyed this series and feel like the author has drawn me into that time period.

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  7. I want to read this now! I mean RIGHT NOW!

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