Salvage - by Stephen Maher (Paperback)

About the Book

One night, Phillip Scarnum hauls an abandoned fishing boat off the rocks near Halifax in a snowstorm, risking his life in the harsh North Atlantic for the hope of a decent salvage fee. When he finds a stash of drugs aboard the ship, and her captain turns up dead, Scarnum finds himself on the run from the cops and a dangerous gang of drug-runners.

Book Synopsis

One night, Phillip Scarnum hauls an abandoned fishing boat off the rocks near Halifax in a snowstorm, risking his life in the harsh North Atlantic for the hope of a decent salvage fee. When he finds a stash of drugs aboard the ship, and her captain turns up dead, Scarnum finds himself on the run from the cops and a dangerous gang of drug-runners.

Review Quotes

Salvage is the real thing - a picture of Nova Scotia's South Shore as it is today and really good contemporary noir fiction.

Salvage soars above the average paperback thriller ... exciting, entertaining, and a lot of fun.

An interesting work by a writer of talent and, for the sailing enthusiast, a fun read.

Maher is a writer to watch; his talent takes you right into the action and is well worth the price of admission.

Maher vividly captures the East Coast, not only the wind and the tangy scent of the sea but the accents and talk of the people in Scarnum's world - as rough and salty as the waters they sail.

Mood and setting are the real appeals here, though readers will be tantalized about the identity of Scarnum.

One fast-paced action scene after another.

Peppered with plenty of sex and salty language, [Salvage] shows that Maher knows his way around Nova Scotia and boats.

The richly detailed descriptions and sharply plotted story should pull you right in.

Salvage is the real thing -- a picture of Nova Scotia's South Shore as it is today and really good contemporary noir fiction.-- "Reviewing the Evidence"

Salvage soars above the average paperback thriller ... exciting, entertaining, and a lot of fun.-- "Ottawa Citizen"

An interesting work by a writer of talent and, for the sailing enthusiast, a fun read.-- "Globe and Mail"

Maher is a writer to watch; his talent takes you right into the action and is well worth the price of admission.-- "Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews"

Maher vividly captures the East Coast, not only the wind and the tangy scent of the sea but the accents and talk of the people in Scarnum's world -- as rough and salty as the waters they sail.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Mood and setting are the real appeals here, though readers will be tantalized about the identity of Scarnum.-- "Booklist"

One fast-paced action scene after another.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Peppered with plenty of sex and salty language, [Salvage] shows that Maher knows his way around Nova Scotia and boats.-- "Ottawa Magazine"

The richly detailed descriptions and sharply plotted story should pull you right in.-- "The Chronicle Herald Metro Edition"

About the Author

Stephen Maher is an award-winning political reporter and columnist based in Ottawa. Salvage is his second novel.