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Robber Crabs
Robber Crabs
Joan Druett | 2015 | Mystery
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Missing a Mystery. And a Story
The story (and I use that term loosely) takes place before the series and finds Wiki in the South Pacific of the 1830’s looking to make his way to America. As a 19-year-old, he’s now at the bottom of the pyramid on his new ship, something that makes him willing to jump ship after a stop at Christmas Island. What might happen before he does?

You’ll notice the issue with that teaser. And that’s the problem with the story. Nothing really happens. The little bit that Wiki figured out, I figured out early on myself, and there are some things that were left opened. Meanwhile, we don’t really get to know anyone else in the story. Half of the length here is a teaser for book five in the series. There’s a bit of sailing history that is interesting, but that’s about it. Don’t use this as a sample of the series, and most series fans can skip it.
  
[Last Days of Last Island] by [Bill Dixon] shows that being rich doesn't always come with common sense. In the mid 1800 in America the rich were looking for new ways to enjoy their wealth. In Louisiana the plantation owners found a beautiful island off the coast. It had great views and fishing. Also the breezes were a nice change from the temperatures inland in the South.

The catch is this "island" was little more than a large sandbar. What we know as barrier islands. This did not deter them from building it up as a resort for the well to do. What could go wrong?

There was no weather forecasting as their is today and the Gulf Coast was as prone to hurricanes then as it is now. There also was no easy escape since the only way to the island was by boat.

[Dixon] tell the tragic story of life and death on Last Island during the Hurricane of 1856. The research is well done and the narrative makes the saga of the inhabitants real in this pre Civil War natural disaster. Although he does get quite repetitive with details it was still a very informative read.