Castigo Cay

By: Matthew Bracken

Narrated by: Matthew James Bracken

Length: 16 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dan Kilmer is a former Marine sniper in his early thirties. He returned home from military service in the Middle East and gave college a try, but his combat experiences prevented him from fitting into campus life. In a South Florida boatyard, his uncle was attempting to refurbish an old cargo schooner, and Dan left college to help him finish the flagging project. After two years of work but before the 60-foot boat was relaunched, his uncle fell from a scaffold and died. 

While still in his twenties, Dan inherited the schooner Rebel Yell. Soon after, he left the United States to embark on a series of voyages, mostly in pursuit of beautiful women and good times. While he was away from America, new federal taxes were imposed on luxury property, including privately owned yachts. Dan cannot pay these or other new taxes, so he can't return to the States without risking confiscation of his schooner. Instead he must always fly under official radar and earn a living by his wits while staying one step ahead of the IRS and other government agencies. 

He must navigate the reefs of government control while always searching for a way to make money without the permission of the local authorities. This usually requires some type of shady dealing, subterfuge, and stealing from thieves as Dan moves from port to port. A shifting cast of crew members inhabits Rebel Yell, but the novel is about Dan Kilmer and his quest to live as a free man in an increasingly unfree world. In Castigo Cay, Dan must sneak back into South Florida under the radar to conduct a short-fuse rescue mission.

©2011 Matthew James Bracken (P)2018 Matthew James Bracken

Classic Bracken

Matt does a great job narrating the 1st in the Dan Kilmer series of novels. A great Caribbean adventure with fast boats, pretty girls and some cool gear thrown in to the mix.

Looking forward to Mr. Bracken narrating the next in the series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Very Good Book with Practical Knowledge

This book was very good and it gloved in with the Enemies Foreign and Domestic Series with establishing timeline. There are many very good tips for situations and how to work through them. The Story was very enjoyable. The only criticism I have is that Matthew should hire a good actor like Dick Hill to read.

Travis McGee is Reborn

This was infuenced by "The Deep Blue Goodbye" by John D. McDonald. I loved the original. I like this updated telling even more. The characters are more developed in Castigo Bay. Matt Bracken has an opportunity to revive a literary character and free him to right wrongs for a new generation. McDonald's books are fun but dated. When I read crime fiction from the 1930s I need to keep in mind that fingerprint identification was not yet widespread. Reading McDonald I need to remember that the internet and mobile phones were not every day tools. Bracken's characters must strategize around information freedom, instantaneous communications, and the ever watchful eyes of government. This could lead to interesting stories and hopefully to a series of books revolving around these new characters. I can not wait to see what he does with "The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper."

great book as usual.

ready for the Red Cliffs to be on Audible. Hope that the enemies foreign and domestic Trilogy goes back on Audible as well.

fast action written by a pro

MB's 'Enemies' Trilogy under my belt (print versions), I suspected I'd enjoy this. Great listen!