Set in Michigan, home of the Great Lakes, teachers Nate and Brooke Martin head to their summer cabin in search of some much-needed rest and relaxation. Also on their to-do list is finding a way to reconnect and revamp their stale, strained marriage that is badly in need of . . . something . . . to keep the magic alive.
That something, however, proves to be more than either of them bargained for when Nate heads out for a jog along the shoreline and inadvertent stumbles upon a partially buried gold coin. Curious, he picks it up and decides to try and trace back to the coin’s origin. Enlisting the help of Abner Hutch, a loner ex-Coast Guard Officer and Great Lakes master of the deep, the two eventually come to realize two things—the coin itself, which has an interesting backstory, is very valuable. It’s also one of many coins, the rest of which, Hutch theorizes, may be hiding in the remains of a nearby shipwreck.
While the idea of hidden treasure beneath the dark blue waves is exciting at first, things take a turn when word spreads among the community, which sends Nate racing to locate the gold before someone else locates it first. Of course, he’ll soon to learn just how far some people will go to secure the riches, and it doesn’t take long for Nate, Brooke, and Hutch to realize they’re in over the heads . . . in more ways than one.
Landon Beach, one of the more underrated writers in the genre today, delivers another page-turning thriller that should appeal to fans of Clive Cussler’s many series. Written with vivid details that help bring the beautiful sand-soaked setting to life, one can almost hear the sound of the waves crashing ashore and the squawk of the seagulls coming from above. Likewise, Beach’s attention to detail is evident here, as he meticulously explains the art of treasure hunting and scuba diving, but without sacrificing pacing—which is quick and steady.
Everything, of course, is enhanced by Scott Brick, who turns in yet another brilliant performance, reminding listeners why he’s one of the most sought-after voices on the market and the force behind some of the most successful audiobooks available today. You may recognize him as the voice behind recent books from Cussler, Steve Berry, Tom Clancy, Lee Child, Gregg Hurwitz, William Kent Krueger, Gregg Iles, Nelson DeMille, and Brad Meltzer, just to name a few. Basically, if Brick’s reading it, you know the production and performance are going to be top-notch, and his steady presence sets the tone for everything that follows in the way that only he can seem to pull off.
Bottom line: whether you’re looking for the perfect summer novel or an all-out, thrilling, can’t-stop-reading-for-a-second adventure, Landon Beach’s The Wreck is a perfect option for those in search of a fun and entertaining listening experience.
Audiobook Details
Author: Landon Beach
Narrated by: Scott Brick
Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
Version: Unabridged
Language: English
Release Date: February 19, 2020
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and pens a monthly thriller column for CrimeReads. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He currently lives in Southwest Michigan with his wife and their six children.