The Night Charter

By: Sam Hawken

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

Exactly one year ago, Camaro Espinoza killed five bad men in New York City and fled town. Now she's keeping a low profile in Miami, running night charter catch-and-release fishing trips off the coast. It's a simple life for a former combat medic. But it wasn't easy to come by. Camaro plans to do everything she can to hold onto it.

Trouble comes knocking in the form of Parker Story, a man in over his head with all the wrong people. Parker wants to book Camaro's boat to run a small errand off the coast of Cuba. Camaro knows she shouldn't get involved. But Parker's got a teenaged daughter named Lauren, and Parker's associates have threatened to harm her if the mission doesn't go off without a hitch. Camaro has never met the girl. Barely seen her picture. But that doesn't mean she can ignore her plight.

Camaro's used to being wanted -- by men good and bad, by soldiers wounded on the field of battle, by the long arm of the law. But she's never been needed before. Not the way Lauren needs her. Joining forces with Parker, Camaro soon finds herself in the midst of double crosses, international intrigue, broken promises and scattered bullets. Even a skilled warrior like herself may not be able to escape unscathed.

Critic reviews

"[Camaro] comes across in style as a female Jack Reacher . . . A winner for a wide crime fiction audience."—Jack Batten, Toronto Star

"Sam Hawken may have struck crime series gold with this gritty thriller. . . . Hawken has crafted a fascinating character in Espinoza, a kick-ass heroine with depth. Staccato chapters and page-turning action may evoke the likes of James Patterson or Lee Child, but Hawken also layers in plenty of fine characterization as well as a nice touch for dialogue, the sweltering Florida setting, and the complex history of Cuba and its relationship with the United States, too. A great read. . . . The Night Charter shows his heroine has got the freshness, charisma, and layers to backbone not just one great novel, but an ongoing series."—Mystery Scene

"In short, staccato chapters, Hawken adds an accomplished new voice to the South Florida crime library."—Shelf Awareness

"The Night Charter is a heck of a book by a fine writer. Camaro Espinoza is a captivating heroine, whether shooting it out with the bad guys or standing, unflinching, in the face of the law. Drawn into this saga by a strong moral code and her own dark past, Camaro is impossible not to root for, and Sam Hawken's deft, assured prose keeps the pages turning--and your heart pounding--all the way to The Night Charter's adrenaline-soaked finale."—Owen Laukkanen%2C author of The Professionals and The Stolen Ones

"The Night Charter caught me completely by surprise. In precise, neon-soaked prose, Sam Hawken launches a promising new series headed for the high seas of John D. MacDonald and the relentlessness of Lee Child. Camaro herself is a wonderful creation, an uncompromising heroine whose adventures many readers, including this one, will look forward to for many books to come."—David Morrell, bestselling author of Inspector of the Dead and Murder as a Fine Art

"A fast-moving story with lots of action, some interesting twists, and the deadliest female protagonist since Jon Land's Caitlin Strong and Stieg Larsson's Lisbeth Salander."—Booklist

"Camaro Espinoza [is] and intense and capable heroine [with] an ironclad sense of justice. Hawken delivers a potent climax that winds its way through an unremitting firefight to a satisfying conclusion."—Publishers Weekly

"A tough-minded, compellingly drawn female protagonist. The fascinating political background and gritty dialog help propel this fast-paced, entertaining mystery. Sure to attract fans of Jon Land's "Caitlin Strong" books."—Library Journal

"Sign on for The Night Charter, Sam Hawken's hot new thriller captained by Camaro Espinoza, a protagonist that'll light up the literary seascape unlike anything before."—Craig Johnson%2C bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mysteries%2C the basis for Netflix's Longmire

Great narration

Good voices of all characters, and great storyline. First time to read a book from this author.