Dragged along on a so-called trip of a lifetime, Amy Fields is the victim of her Dad's mid-life crisis. His workaholic tendencies have pushed the two of them apart ever since her mother's death, but when Amy intentionally flunks her last exam at school, he decides it's time to act. Sailing around the world for a year should give them plenty of quality time together, right? Only trouble is, there's some extra baggage abroad in the shape of her Dad's young girlfriend. Cringe!
Baring a touch of seasickness and an amorous captain, the trip is a snoozefest until their boat is attacked by pirates. Yes, pirates. The real life kind with AK-47s, GPS and multi-million pound random demands. Not a cutlass in sight. And just like that, the passengers become prisoners in their own luxury home.
You've been warned: this novel is difficult to put down. Nick Lake's talent for suspense make it all too easy to keep turning the pages. Amy is a refreshing heroine, with real flaws and a healthy dose of teenage angst. Her tempestuous relationship with her father adds richness to the tale, and her mother's story slowly unwinds as the novel progresses, allowing the reader to better understand Amy's mood swings.
The setting is unique and the plot inventive, but the real page-turning element comes from Amy's irresistible tension with the pirate Farouz. Predictable maybe, but the genuine tension and affection between them is brilliantly drawn. Whilst the feminist inside me groaned at this stereotypical romanticizing of the hostage situation, the romantic was cheering them on. What can I say, I'm a sucker for chemistry.
