The Vermilion Sea
Chance’s pulse-pounding nautical thriller takes place in the 1920s aboard Empyria, a 200-foot luxury yacht owned by millionaire James Holloway. Marine biologist Billie McKennan is asked to join the scientific research expedition along the Gulf of California, possibly the only way to resurrect her spiraling career. From the moment she steps aboard, uncomfortable feelings cause misgivings. James Holloway and his spirit-obsessed wife, Victorine, are funding the mission. Their vice-president, Oliver Stanton, grumbles perpetually about the cost. The fifth, wholly unexpected passenger is Billie’s ex-husband, herpetologist Roland Ely, who has specifically requested Billie’s expertise. His presence makes Billie even more suspicious. He’s stolen her research before. Why would he want her as half of a two-person research team?
Dismissing these thoughts, she is impressed by Empyria’s extensive laboratory outfitted specifically for her, and Holloway promises her six collection sites. How bad can it be?
Accidents and seemingly mundane problems occur from the outset. The skiff outboard stalls out frequently, the weather explodes into perilous storms in minutes, the clear water turns a dense black, and there is a malevolent darkness stalking Billie in her room. Panic erupts among the superstitious crew as events worsen, and gossip about local legends of curses and monsters in the Gulf takes hold.
Chance doesn’t write horror, or rely on explosive chapter endings for forward momentum, yet she’s a master of paced menace. The novel is a dark, ghostly, creepy thriller, taking place in an isolated and dangerous location. Reluctantly, Roland divulges the sinister purpose of the voyage, which has unwittingly entangled Billie in the hubris of an entitled elite that believes they have dominion over the earth. How will she rectify this calculated desecration? It’s highly recommended that you read and find out.
