| Title | : | The Keys |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0578075776 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780578075778 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 328 |
| Publication | : | First published March 1, 2011 |
unknown? Most people have—few actually do. Quint not only considers ditching his cheating wife and dead-end job for a tropical escape, he does it—and heads for the Keys.
After finishing two tours of duty as a Navy SEAL, Quint had longed for an ordinary life away from death and brutality. However, his post-service American dream becomes nothing more than a deep sleep, and he finds himself longing for a sense of purpose, a mission. He begins his new life tamely enough—as a charter boat captain in pursuit of the legal limits for his clients. But soon events converge to thrust Quint into a race to find the world’s most valuable treasure while extracting himself from a shipwreck, rogue naval forces, and from the pursuit of a vile cadre of pirates and thieves, who are also committed to snatching the treasure from the grasp of ancient history
or from anyone who gets in their way.
This fast-paced adventure starts in Mississippi then moves to the
Keys. Soon Quint finds himself in Cay Sal looking for a lost Spanish galleon bearing the secret to an even bigger treasure. This leads him to South America where he searches for the most valuable and unusual treasure in the history of the world. It could also be the most dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. Join Quint and Dawson in the adventure of their lives.
The Keys Reviews
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"The Keys", the first novel in Frank Wilem's Quint and Dawson series is a realistic and spine tingling page turner. Frank Wilem writes an action pact nautical adventure with a riveting storyline. Although a few parts of the book may be hard to stomach and some may find certain details disturbing, I was completely spellbound until the final word. Wilem's characters are misfits with many faults. Because of this, I found them to be completely likable and relatable.
Quint, an ex-Navy Seal, who disillusioned with his wife and life, decides to start anew. He takes off to Key West and soon finds himself pursuing a life as a charter boat captain aboard his boat, "Mojito." But life for Quint switches course and he soon is teaming up with his Navy Seal buddy Dawson, in pursuit of the key to a most sacred temple and all it's priceless holdings.
The first part of the book teems with nautical adventures and it's lifestyle. Even though I have no experience with sailing, Wilem creates this fascinating world in such a way that I can imagine myself right in the throws of the action, aboard the Mojito, with the team.
The last part of the book finds the team in Venezuela. They race against time and their enemies to locate the sacred temple of Quirupa Taytacha and to unlock it's deadly secrets.
Wilem writes with such great authority that it was easy to become a fan. I look forward to reading, "The Pass," the sequel to this gripping book. -
This is the author’s first novel. He sent me a copy and asked for a review back in 2015. I got through the first 9 chapters back then and stopped. I thought it was very stilted writing, just going from one event to another with no natural flow. I picked it back up recently and just finished it. It did get better as it went along, but still not the natural flow of a Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, Delderfield, Poyer, Reeman or Wouk novel. It had a unique plot: searching for hidden Antimatter. I have been reading some books on Physics that talked about antimatter, so that interested me.
Two of the key characters were retired SEALS. I thought that at times, the author didn’t take the training of SEALS into his writing. For instance the bad guys were following them and had their phones tapped, and although they knew about the bad guys, they didn’t take normal security measures that trained SEALS would have used when they knew they could have been surveiled.
One of the other reviewers mentioned that his author was in the style of Clive Cussler novels. I would agree with that. Clive Cussler is bigger than life; always doing amazing things to get out of trouble. Trouble is that these events are often unrealistic. That is why I don’t read Clive Cussler novels. For instance, when the bad guys had their boat alongside the good guys boat and the had the good guys covered, some of the good guys were able to sneak away, get all their weapons, and destroy the bad guys boat, suffering very few casualties themselves. They seemed to always come up with more Stinger missiles.
A strange ending. The main villain, who was supposedly killed with his gang when a antimatter box blew up, ending up digging himself out of the collapsed cliff. Set up for next book, but in reality it wouldn’t have happened.
So, ok for a first novel. Author has written 3 more. I would hope he has smoothed out his writings and had better flow to the events. I did give it a 3 star rating. -
A Rollicking good Piratical Romp!
Wilem's main character, Quint was a former Navy SEAL come insurance agent. Unfulfilled by a weak marriage and dead end second career, he is lured to a sleepy dream job as a sport fishing charter captain in none other than Key West. Who wouldn't want to slide into a gig as good as coaching "Tex" and his gang of youthful executives into the thrill of nearly landing a bill fish for the sport of it, then letting the beast go free.
Only this story goes way beyond sport fishing and way beyond casual adventure. Get your "Elmer's" out and begin to glue together Quint as a stand up sort of guy, acting out the role of "Indiana Jones" in the present. Roll that up with a play on words. Yes, right away, the title "The Keys" and "Key" are linked with an ancient back story. There is treasure to be found and the keys to that treasure come together via an unimaginable villain and his sick brother.
Rather than spoil the fun, I'll close by recommending that any guy needing a rollicking adventure escape, Wilem's got you covered. Just read this one and you'll be hooked for another. As far is this critic is concerned, "Hey Frank, what say you? What else have you got in that quiver of rollicking modern sea faring adventures you can share with us? It looks like I'll be reading "The Pass" next! -
I started to read this book and couldn't put it down. It reminded me of the Clive Cussler genre with quirky characters and lots of action. Book could have used another editing pass but it didn't diminish the great reading experience. If you like Clive, you'll love Frank and his characters Quint and Dawson.
