MrsK Books: The Tears of Dark Water by Corban Addison

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Tears of Dark Water by Corban Addison

ISBN: 9780718042202

Publisher's Synopsis:

Daniel and Vanessa Parker are an American success story. He is a Washington, DC, power broker, and she is a physician with a thriving practice. But behind the gilded façade, their marriage is a shambles, and their teenage son, Quentin, is self-destructing. In desperation, Daniel dusts off a long-delayed dream—a sailing trip around the world. Little does he know, the voyage he hopes will save them may destroy them instead.
Half a world away on the lawless coast of Somalia, Ismail Adan Ibrahim is living a life of crime in violation of everything he was raised to believe—except for the love and loyalty driving him to hijack ships for ransom and plot the rescue of his sister, Yasmin, from the man who murdered their father. There is nothing he will not do to save her, even if it means taking innocent lives.
Paul Derrick is the FBI’s top hostage negotiator. His twin sister, Megan, is a celebrated defense attorney. They have reached the summit of their careers by savvy, grit, and a secret determination to escape the memory of the day their family died. When Paul is dispatched to handle a hostage crisis at sea, he has no idea how far it will take him and Megan into the past—or the chance it will give them to redeem the future.
Across continents and oceans, through storms and civil wars, the paths of these individuals converge in a single, explosive moment. It is a moment that will test them and break them, but it will also leave behind an unexpected glimmer of hope—that out of the ashes of tragedy and misfortune, the seeds of justice and reconciliation can grow.

MrsK's Review:

Not the typical read, yet very compelling... intriguing... and intense. Daniel and his son, Quentin, are sailing around the world. This voyage was an attempt at reconciling Daniel's relationship with Quentin... as well as a journey of restoration period for his marriage. Vanessa's "words were like a prophecy playing in an endless loop." A haunting in which Daniel is determined to rectify once they reached their rendezvous in South Africa. Ordinary morning sights of of "winking stars" and sailboats should have kindled adventurous energy, yet a fluttering of memories about Vanessa overshadowed Daniel's vision:

"Vanessa in the old Greek...

means 'butterfly.'

It's like you're somewhere else --

in the air, dancing with the sun."

Vanessa was a double major in biology and music. Daniel was a law student. On that day when Daniel stood in Carnegie Hall "clutching the handbill," he witnessed the beauty of her violin. As the years passed their marriage began crumbling. All those years ago, Vanessa's words about her music "fading like everything else" brought an agonizing grief to Daniel's heart and spirit. His hope was in the voyage's destination. Would she meet them in South America?

Paul Derrick (a negotiator) and his twin sister Megan are special agents. Both are haunted by the death of their brother. Both chose career paths that would allow them to turn a "crisis" situation for others into a journey with support instead of agonizing suffering. On a holiday in Cape Town, South Africa they will receive a call to duty.

In the Indian Ocean, Ishmail is watching the cargo ship on the western horizon:

"Ismail looked across the tropical sea draped with the shadows of twilight

and clutched his AK-47."

Trusted for his fearlessness, valued for his command of English, and known as a man of action... Ishmail is readied for this piracy mission. With complete surprise, the mission failed and now Ismail must find a way to get his crew to safety. They needed to take a ship!

"The clouds trundled in, effacing the sun...

The drops were huge...

pelting the sailboat...

like rubber bullets."

The Renaissance was heading southeast with the swells. Daniel has to keep Quentin safe. The GPS shows they are an hour off course. The satellite e-mail bulletin is warning about a pirate attack:

"If you proceed through the High Risk Area,

please take precautions to avoid attack..."

On November 9, 2011... Vanessa's iPhone vibrated... The sailboat has been hijacked by pirates! For everyone, the following days will be filled with anxious waiting, unbearable choices, reliance on others, and "uncharted" decisions.

Embedded within the piracy, is the foreshadowing about Somalia's history. The life endured by so many. The atrocities enforced. Although the choices are horrific, the humanistic perspective is illuminated with empathetic facets. Ishmail's faith and character is defined by quotes from the Quran. The bonds of family is portrayed on both sides of the injustice. With in the climatic trial, vindication and redemption is honestly portrayed. This was not a book in which the last page is read and you move on to another journey. While the topics of terrorism, hostage situations, piracy, and justice are plastered all over our social media, one rarely is provided a glimpse into the story behind the horrifying choices. This story needed time for me to comprehend its truth. I did not embrace compassionate ideology. Instead, I found empathy with justice and hope in a quieted forgiveness. Not unlike so many whom have extended forgiveness in every day atrocities...

Voyaging with this book means that you will be experiencing more than any headlines could offer.

Be prepared to be "swept" away... tossed about... anguished... and ready to see this journey through to completion!

MrsK

"My mother always told me that strength is a choice.

Be strong."

Amazingly paced... depth defying characters...

all encompassing story line...

decisive conclusion!

Meet the Author:

Corban Addison is the author of three international bestselling novels, A Walk Across the Sun, The Garden of Burning Sand, and The Tears of Dark Water, which address some of today’s most pressing human rights issues. An attorney, activist, and world traveler, he is a supporter of numerous humanitarian causes, including the abolition of modern slavery, gender-based violence, and HIV/AIDS. He lives with his wife and children in Virginia.

"I received this book for free from the Fiction Guild for this review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)