Pirate Latitudes

By: Michael Crichton

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal.

The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses. In this steamy climate, there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease - or by dagger.

For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it. Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure....

Pirate Latitudes is Michael Crichton at his best: a rollicking adventure tale pulsing with relentless action, crackling atmosphere, and heart-pounding suspense.

©2009 Michael Crichton (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Not a Typical Crichton

This book was executed well, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if some grammatical forensic scientist comes out and says that this book really wasn't written by the man himself. I was suspicious before I bought it, but I didn't see anything else that really grabbed me, so I used a credit.

I'm not saying it was a bad book, whoever wrote it had some talent. However, it did not resemble anything else that Crichton had ever done in either style or content.

Maybe he was mulling over doing one of those ghost writing deals that are the only action you see out of Patterson. Most of those are simplistic and cookie cutter and I have decided to adopt the Nancy Reagan, "Just Say No!" slogan.

This book has good narration and pace and it is decently written from a plot perspective. If it does turn out to be ghosted, at least he was going to be choosing a talented one. Who knows, next they will probably find another book in a forgotten computer at a secret apartment he kept in Dallas.

GREAT BOOK

I am sorry this was Michale Crichton's last book. I could have read 10 more just like it. It is a wonderful pirate adventure and a love story between a man and the sea.

If you like pirates at all or just like adventure stories, this is a read for you. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Thanks Michael!!!!!

Read bad reviews, but thoroughly enjoyed!

The performance by JBL was top-notch. Crichton did a much better job than I thought he would.

This is NOT Captain Jack Sparrow.....

What did you like best about Pirate Latitudes? What did you like least?

If you are looking for a staight story about a pirate expedition then this is the book for you. But if you are looking for Captain Jack Sparrow, you will be disappointed........

I downloaded this story because it sounded intriquing. I like pirate stories but was unaware this one was supposedly based on a real

Have you listened to any of John Bedford Lloyd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narrator did a good job giving the story some life and made it more interesting. I think I would have become bored with it as a regular book and perhaps not finished it.
I have not listened to any of his other narrations but overall I did like him.

Do you think Pirate Latitudes needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

no....there is nowhere for the story to go.

Loved it!

I really expected it to be completely fictional, but I guess from hearing the commentary at the end of the story it actually was based on at least some facts and real characters? It was a great read. Made the driving go by very quickly.

Fascinating

Like stepping back in history -- great reader-- riveting story kept is awake while driving on a long trip

A fun read

If you like pirates and the idea of an old swashbuckling story - this book is great.

It's fairly predictable, if not unbelievable at times. When the situation is completely hopeless and there is no way out - something fantastic happens and the hero is miraculously saved - very Indiana Jones. Far fetched - but fun.

It's a very enjoyable listen and fun adventure.

Not a true swashbuckler book, however, the adventures of these privateers were enjoyable and entertaining.

This book was a great listen and fun to hear. I’m not used to such fiction, as I mainly read fantasy, I enjoyed this tale greatly.

Amazing 5 stars

By far my favorite fictional pirate book.

John Bedford Lloyd does an incredible job reading the story. He nails all the accents and truly brings each character to life.

My only problem with this book is that it was my first audio pirate novel and it set the bar too high! I’ve yet to find another as pleasing as this.

ok

The story was not as good as "Congo" or "Jurassic Park," but it was somewhat entertaining.