The Glass Eel

By: J.J. Viertel

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

In this gripping debut thriller, struggling divorcée Jeanette King becomes embroiled in a criminal ring when she discovers her ex-husband's cache of baby eels.

Caterpillar Island is off the central coast of Maine―beloved vacationland of lobster bakes and quaint fried clam shacks, kayaking and country houses. At night, though, by the light of a headlamp, the island is alive with cash, guns, and poachers. Oxy addicts, struggling retirees, and unemployable deadbeats dip their nets in the creeks to catch elvers―two-inch-long baby eels that fetch $2000 a pound on the international black market.

Into this dark and dangerous world falls Jeanette King, who has, up to this moment, been earning her meager living mainly by picking and packaging peekytoe crab meat for shipment to New York and Boston. As Jeanette gets drawn into a fast-moving story of risk and violent consequences, she enlists the aid of a local policeman and an Indigenous activist. Together they try to set things right for the people and the planet. But the deeper they dig, the more dangerous things get. An ensuing procession of colorful locals, corrupt state politicians, and treacherous outsiders weaves a tale that reveals the underbelly of a deadly business.

©2025 J. J. Viertel (P)2025 Highbridge Audio

Resilience

I liked the nuances of the characters. With some exceptions, they were not wholly good or wholly bad. Good guys and bad guys, and a bunch in-between, seemed very true to life. A really good story and reader was very good too.

Very interesting info on eels

enjoyed all parts of the book…interesting mystery, characters, places, and the elvers. Could not put it down!