• The Shipkiller

  • A Novel
  • By: Justin Scott
  • Narrated by: Marc Vietor
  • Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (527 ratings)

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The Shipkiller  By  cover art

The Shipkiller

By: Justin Scott
Narrated by: Marc Vietor
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Publisher's summary

Before he was anointed to carry on the legacy of Robert Ludlum's Janson Command series, and before he collaborated with Clive Cussler on the fan favorite Isaac Bell series, Justin Scott created this suspenseful adventure tale, a novel of love and revenge set on the high seas. Written in 1978, this is considered by many to be one of the best maritime thrillers of all time. As an expert in the world of ships and sailing, Justin Scott creates an authentic maritime world, making The Shipkiller all the more thrilling because it could be a true story. Audible favorite Marc Vietor brings this suspenseful adventure tale to vivid life with his exciting and well-paced narration.

©1978 Justin Scott (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A stunner. Absolutely riveting. A marvelously taut, brilliantly told story of revenge, and the sea, and the dark forces than can shape the human condition.” (Robert Ludlum)

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What listeners say about The Shipkiller

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story

As a sailor, I enjoyed visuals of sailing through the oceans and experiencing the good and the bad. I enjoyed listening to the use of maritime terminology and found found no flaws throughout the story. Whether you know nothing about life on the water or are a seasoned sailor, you will find this story engaging and exciting. I couldn't stop listening to it and twice found myself falling asleep late into the evening listening to the story and then having to backtrack first thing in the morning to find where I left off.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A story of revenge

This book was written in 1978 and the technology is of that time frame. In this story the hero and his wife are sailing and their vessel was run over by a super tanker (which did not stop) and his wife was killed and he survived washed up half dead on the shore of Cornwall. His only goal is to punish the Captain of the tanker but was unable to do so by legal means so he sets about to sink the ship. The story has a great description of a raging storm off the horn of Africa as he fights to stay alive in his fiberglass sailing vessel and attempt to intercept the tanker. If you like sailing stories you will enjoy the sailing terminology and the sailing techniques in the storm. If you enjoy action books you will enjoy his attempts to destroy the super tanker down the coast of Africa around the horn and up the coast of Africa to the Persian Gulf. Marc Vietor did an excellent job narrating this story.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

For this book I'll write a review

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this is a great book that I've read several times. I was estatic to see it as an Audible selection and for this book, and this book only, I'll take the time to write a review.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Great sailing and adventure story. For those who sail, the description of sailing was spot on. If you don't sail, it won't take away from the adventure and intrigue of the story.

Have you listened to any of Marc Vietor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard him before. He did a great job with this narrative.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great story- well written and performed

I took a flier on this book- there were no written reviews when I purchased it- and I'm very glad I did. The best book I've listened to in a very long time (I have hundreds of audiobooks)

Scott's tale crackles with energy, with a driven character who stops at nothing to achieve his ends. His thorough knowledge of sailing and the intense war his protagonist wages for survival at sea is enough by itself to keep you riveted.

Vietor's narration too is spot on- no wooden deliveries, no histrionics or overwrought voice acting, he strikes the perfect tone, allowing the listener to enjoy the story in a voice that seems perfectly in tune to the material. A reading one might imagine the author would have it read. Outstanding.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Nautical Delight

The story was engaging, and the author did a very good job with the technical aspects of ocean sailing and seamanship. If you enjoy tales of adventure on the high seas, I think this book will appeal to you.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good adventure @ on the sea ocean....

If you enjoy a story where the main character is mentally disturbed but has the heart & stamina of a top US NAVY SEAL --- then this is the book for you!!!
I didn"t know that the waters around Afrcia have so many storms --- but you will find them in this story....

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Master of Plot

This is the kind of book you can sink your teeth into. It opens with a shocking maritime disaster and plunges into a revenge tale that you could and will follow to the ends of the Earth. One man, desperate for revenge, sails around the world, hunting Leviathan, an oil tanker, the largest moving thing on the planet Earth. He has one shot and a single sail yacht. The circumstances working against him mount in an ever-tightening noose.

This is one of the best plotted thrillers I've read. The tension never lets up, the characters are interesting, the actions are realistic, and despite this realism I still couldn't guess that our main character would do next. Made all the better by Marc Vietor, the narrator from the Deadly Sin Series, this is an amazing book that has not aged with time. Treat yourself!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A riveting story of Sea, Storms, and Obsession.

Justin Scott's description of a sailing yacht made me want one. Scott's description of a raging storm at the Horn was like riding a roller-coaster. He is a master story teller.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Nautical Adventure!

Such a nice surprise! This 1978-era novel of the high seas is a real gem! Scott has produced an engaging story of adventure, revenge and romance (minimal emphasis) on the high seas. It is about one man's war against a behemoth oil tanker and the listeners are taken to sea on both the oil tanker and small yachts. The author has skillfully crafted a story that pulls listeners into the adventure, wondering all the while whether Peter will live to complete his revenge, or simply die trying.

Loved the narration and recommend this maritime thriller to all!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting premise that falls apart

The villain in this book is the world's largest oil tanker. If you are interested in sailing stories or are a sailor you may like this. As a thriller it's just okay. It's also sort of dated based on the improvements in navigation. If you like thrillers there are many better ones. Although the book kept me interested, the ending was quite bizarre. I thought I had missed something because it takes a big jump in the plot line. It's almost as though the author got tired of writing the book. So in summary, if you do not like ocean sailing, then I doubt this would keep your attention.

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2 people found this helpful