The Ghost Trap by K. Stephens
I have recently returned from a wonderful vacation in Maine. Maine had been on my list of places to visit for a very long time. It's not a place that you can simply pass through on your way to somewhere else. Maine is kind of the end of the line, so to speak. But trust me, this state is worth the extra effort it takes to get there.
Maine is gorgeous, full of friendly people with a variety of things to do and explore. Oh, and did I mention the lobster? Lobster is on the menu everyday while in Maine. It's cheap, plentiful and delicious. Lobster can be served steamed, baked, on a roll, in soup, you name it. So no lack of culinary choices when it comes to this bright red crustacean.
My trip had been planned to include the annual Maine Lobster Festival. While there I met the author of The Ghost Trap, K. Stephens. We had a lively conversation about writing, which fellow writers always do when together. I couldn't wait to read this book.
The Ghost Trap paints a vivid picture of the life of a lobsterman in coastal Maine. It's a hand to mouth existence dependent on the fruits of the sea. And it's physically demanding. The lobsterman has to constantly push the threat of danger out of his mind. Otherwise it would overwhelm him.
Jamie Eugley ignored the lobsterman's superstition to never to allow a woman on his boat when it came to Anja, the love of his life. The pair were joined at the hip, so when Anja wanted to help him pull traps, he was glad for her company. That decision set him on a collision course with disaster when a trap pulls Anja into the water. She survives but will never be the same. The Ghost Trap follows Jamie through his struggle to earn a living, care for Anja, and fall in love again, all while a trap war threatens to destroy his family and their way of life.
Ms. Stephens has done a wonderful job of setting the scene in Coastal Maine. I loved reading about all the places I visited during my vacation. The language of the rough and tumble fisherman is on point. I became totally immersed in the world of lobster. I have to admit, in a story about a losterman's life, alot of backstory is necessary to bring these colorful characters to life. The backstory however, bogged down the novel too much. It could have been better placed throughout the book, sparingly sprinkled in, not in large chunks that consumed entire chapters.
The Ghost Trap is a great story about a lifestyle most of us will never know. And if you are nuts about Maine lobster, like me, you will enjoy The Ghost Trap.
I have recently returned from a wonderful vacation in Maine. Maine had been on my list of places to visit for a very long time. It's not a place that you can simply pass through on your way to somewhere else. Maine is kind of the end of the line, so to speak. But trust me, this state is worth the extra effort it takes to get there.
Maine is gorgeous, full of friendly people with a variety of things to do and explore. Oh, and did I mention the lobster? Lobster is on the menu everyday while in Maine. It's cheap, plentiful and delicious. Lobster can be served steamed, baked, on a roll, in soup, you name it. So no lack of culinary choices when it comes to this bright red crustacean.
My trip had been planned to include the annual Maine Lobster Festival. While there I met the author of The Ghost Trap, K. Stephens. We had a lively conversation about writing, which fellow writers always do when together. I couldn't wait to read this book.
The Ghost Trap paints a vivid picture of the life of a lobsterman in coastal Maine. It's a hand to mouth existence dependent on the fruits of the sea. And it's physically demanding. The lobsterman has to constantly push the threat of danger out of his mind. Otherwise it would overwhelm him.
Jamie Eugley ignored the lobsterman's superstition to never to allow a woman on his boat when it came to Anja, the love of his life. The pair were joined at the hip, so when Anja wanted to help him pull traps, he was glad for her company. That decision set him on a collision course with disaster when a trap pulls Anja into the water. She survives but will never be the same. The Ghost Trap follows Jamie through his struggle to earn a living, care for Anja, and fall in love again, all while a trap war threatens to destroy his family and their way of life.
Ms. Stephens has done a wonderful job of setting the scene in Coastal Maine. I loved reading about all the places I visited during my vacation. The language of the rough and tumble fisherman is on point. I became totally immersed in the world of lobster. I have to admit, in a story about a losterman's life, alot of backstory is necessary to bring these colorful characters to life. The backstory however, bogged down the novel too much. It could have been better placed throughout the book, sparingly sprinkled in, not in large chunks that consumed entire chapters.
The Ghost Trap is a great story about a lifestyle most of us will never know. And if you are nuts about Maine lobster, like me, you will enjoy The Ghost Trap.
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