An adventure novel came to life when real-life treasure hunters John Chatterton and John Mattera searched for the wreck of a pirate ship. The pressure was on for the divers because international rules regarding historical salvage were about to change, and if they were too slow they could have been prevented from keeping the haul they spent their personal fortunes chasing. They also faced claim jumpers trying to use political influence to muscle in on the site and modern bandits willing to kill for a few dollars. Ray Porter brings the adventure to life as the men scour archival documents and the ocean floor in their quest to find and identify a pirate wreck. Verdict This will be a treat for anyone who longs to hear true adventure stories set in the modern age, but it will be especially enjoyed by lovers of sea stories and Clive Cussler. ["Highly recommended to readers who delight in adventure, suspense, and the thrill of discovering history at their fingertips": LJ 4/1/15 starred review of the Random hc.]- Tristan M. Boyd, Austin, TX © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kurson, the New York Times best-selling author of Shadow Divers (2004), takes his knowledge of the underwater world and applies it to the Golden Age of Piracy, 1650-1720, and, specifically, to the search for the sunken pirate ship Golden Fleece and its booty. Per the request and with the backing of treasure hunter Tracy Bowden, John Chatterton and John Mattera, treasure hunters themselves, take on the task of trolling the wild waters and small islands of the Dominican Republic's north coast. The Golden Fleece's captain, Joseph Bannister, was a respected seaman turned rogue pirate, and Chatterton and Mattera search for him, as well, in documents and maps in libraries around the world. Kurson pulls in information on the equipment used, the changing rules of ownership of found items, and the excitement of the search itself, thrillingly detailing the highs and lows of chasing not just gold and silver but also history.--Kinney, Eloise Copyright 2015 Booklist

The odds of finding a bona fide pirate ship are quite rare, a fact Robert Kurson (Shadow Divers) points out in the first few pages of this extraordinary adventure. Only one-the Whydah-has ever been positively identified as belonging to pirates. The subjects of Kurson's latest, John Chatterton and John Mattera, are undeterred by such unlikelihood in their conquest to locate the elusive Golden Fleece, the 17th-century ship captained by Joseph Bannister, lost somewhere in the waters near the Dominican Republic. Kurson takes readers on a wild ride alongside these bigger-than-life pirate hunters as they navigate the red tape of maritime code, dead ends, and dwindling resources, as well as rival hunters keen on beating Chatterton and Mattera to the prize. Though this drama would be more than enough, Kurson also examines the many myths surrounding pirates in their golden age, some of which were true (they did keep parrots and used colorful language, but they were also remarkably egalitarian in terms of race and rank-all races were welcomed and every man from the captain to the cook was treated equally, though women were not present unless they were in disguise). Kurson's own enthusiasm, combined with his copious research and an eye for detail, makes for one of the most mind-blowing pirate stories of recent memory, one that even the staunchest landlubber will have a hard time putting down. Agent: Flip Brophy, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Jun.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.