Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY CHICAGO TRIBUNE A thrilling adventure of danger and deep-sea diving, historic mystery and suspense, by the author of Shadow Divers Finding and identifying a pirate ship is the hardest thing to do under the sea. But two menJohn Chatterton and John Matteraare willing to risk everything to find the Golden Fleece, the ship of the infamous pirate Joseph Bannister. At large during the Golden Age of Piracy in the seventeenth century, Bannister should have been immortalized in the lore of the seahis exploits more notorious than Blackbeards, more daring than Kidds. But his story, and his ship, have been lost to time. If Chatterton and Mattera succeed, they will make historyit will be just the second time ever that a pirate ship has been discovered and positively identified. Soon, however, they realize that cutting-edge technology and a willingness to lose everything arent enough to track down Bannisters ship. They must travel the globe in search of historic documents and accounts of the great pirates exploits, face down dangerous rivals, battle the tides of nations and governments and experts. But its only when they learn to think and act like pirateslike Bannisterthat they become able to go where no pirate hunters have gone before. Fast-paced and filled with suspense, fascinating characters, history, and adventure, Pirate Hunters is an unputdownable story that goes deep to discover truths and souls long believed lost. Praise for Pirate Hunters You wont want to put [it] down.Los Angeles Times An exceptional adventure . . . Highly recommended to readers who delight in adventure, suspense, and the thrill of discovering history at their fingertips.Library Journal (starred review) A terrific read . . . The book gallops along at a blistering pace, shifting us deftly between the seventeenth century and the present day.Diver Nonfiction with the trademarks of a novel: the plots and subplots, the tension and suspense . . . [Kurson has] found gold.The Dallas Morning News Rollicking . . . a fascinating [story] about the world of pirates, piracy, and priceless treasures.The Boston Globe [Kursons] narration is just as engrossing as the subject.The Christian Science Monitor A wild ride [and an] extraordinary adventure . . . Kursons own enthusiasm, combined with his copious research and an eye for detail, makes for one of the most mind-blowing pirate stories of recent memory, one that even the staunchest landlubber will have a hard time putting down.Publishers Weekly (starred review) The two contemporary pirate-ship seekers of Mr. Kursons narrative are as daring, intrepid, tough and talented as Blood and Sparrowand Bannister. . . . As depicted by the author, they are real-life Hemingway heroes.The Wall Street Journal [Kurson] takes his knowledge of the underwater world and applies it to the Golden Age of Piracy . . . thrillingly detailing the highs and lows of chasing not just gold and silver but also history.Booklist A great thriller full of tough guys and long odds . . . and: Its all true.Lee Child