A few weeks ago I was on Amazon, searching for a book to add to my order so that  I could get free shipping, when I came across Michael Crichton’s Pirate Latitudes. It is a rather short book and a quick read, so I’ll keep this review short!

Pirate Latitudes follows the exploits of Charles Hunter – sea captain and gentleman pirate – as he seeks to take over a treasure galleon harbored in the Caribbean. This is typical pirate fair — lots of sailing in storms, attacks, fighting, “wenches” – for want of a better word, and swashbuckling. I thought I’d love this book, but it didn’t do much for me. I found the action scenes – which were a large chunk of book – confusing to follow and lacking imagery (unless it was gore), but I did like the main plot and the scenes that advanced it. I felt this book would be better as a movie and, not surprisingly, I’ve read that Spielberg already holds the rights to it.

Pirate Latitudes was taken from a completed manuscript found after Crichton’s untimely death.  I have to think that he really was still working on it as it doesn’t work for me as well as his other books.

I’d give it 2 Stars and an “I’ll see the movie instead”.