Pirate Latitudes

Written by Michael Crichton

Narrated by John Bedford Lloyd

Michael Crichton as you've never seen him -- an irresistible tale of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal.
'A terrific novelist ... He could make most readers lose sleep all night and call in sick the next day' San Francisco Chronicle tHE ICONIC BEStSELLER AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFOREAn irresistible tale of swashbuckling pirates in the New World; a classic story of treasure and betrayal Jamaica in 1665 is a rough outpost of the English crown, a minor colony holding out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, Jamaica's capital, a cut-throat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses, is devoid of London's luxuries; life here can end swiftly with dysentery or a dagger in your back.But for Captain Charles Hunter it is a life that can also lead to riches, if he abides by the island's code. In the name of His Majesty King Charles II of England, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking.Word in port is that the Spanish treasure galleon El trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is stalled in nearby Matanceros harbour awaiting repairs. With the help of his cunning crew, Hunter hijacks El trinidad and escapes the deadly clutches of its commander, the blood-swilling Cazalla, leaving plenty of carnage in his wake. But his troubles have just begun ...'A master' Los Angeles times'Crichton writes superbly ... the excitement rises with each page' Chicago tribune

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Sep 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781460793350

Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton (1942-2008) was the author of the ground-breaking novels The Great Train Robbery, Jurassic Park, Disclosure, Prey, State of Fear and Next, among many others. Crichton’s books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, have been translated into thirty-eight languages, and provided the basis for thirteen feature films. Also known as a filmmaker and creator of ER, he remains the only writer to have a number one book, movie, and TV show in the same year.

Reviews for Pirate Latitudes

[Tyrone Stapleton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A much better story than I remembered reading at the airport.

[marklacy-355086 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fast, easy read, fun, lots of adventure, very enjoyable.

A number of characters from various walks of life - lawful and unlawful, highborn and low - makes for an interesting story. Action - including sabotage, naval engagements, piracy (of course), sharks, unfriendly natives, escapes, a hurricane, treachery, violent death - permeates the novel. I kept wondering, okay, how are these men going to get out of this danger?

Pirate Latitudes was found as a completed novel in Crichton's papers after his death. In some ways, though, it felt incomplete. There were a number of plot elements that were not exploited very well, that came and went too quickly. I think any one of them could have been utilized to build the action and suspense even further. Even so, this book would make just as good a movie as so many of his other books have.

Anyone planning a vacation to the Caribbean should read this book. But be warned: this is not Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean.

[jthierer_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun read but the ending felt a little rushed. I saw where he was going with the pushy second in command suddenly turning against the crew and trying them for piracy but the execution just didn't work for me. I would have preferred to see the book end with them sailing into Port Royal and let me fill in their further adventures.

[readingover50 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not his best book, but still a good read. Seemed to be a lot of historical facts that were interesting.

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the first Michael Crichton novel I've ever read and I was really surprised in some ways with how much I enjoyed it. It had a bit of a feel of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' in a way. I love the swashbuckling and the overall adventure of the story.

[delta351 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Decent story about privateers and sea battles, based in Jamaica but moving around a little. Makes me want to read about Henry Morgan sacking Panama.Definitely a beach read

[jbarringer-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't generally expect Michael Crichton's books to remind me of Horatio Hornblower's adventures, but this book is very much in that vein, only without all the sappy pseudo-romance that Hornblower books are riddled with after a while. The ending felt a bit rushed, but considering that this book was found in his files after his death and published posthumously, perhaps this is simply the unpolished version of a resolution that might under better circumstances have been more fully fleshed out.

[atdcross · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another fun book by Crichton with adventure, betrayal, unexpected turns, exotic locations, and...a fabled monster.However, it seems to me this may be a book that was draft form, which Crichton himself may not have finished before his death. It reads as if someone sort of fleshed it out, trying to keep as best he could in step with Crichton's style. If so, the anonymous co-writer doesn't succeed to well, in my opinion, for two reasons: (a) it's not as sharp and fast-paced as past books by Crichton, and (b) there's some sexual innuendo (nothing too explicit) that, unless I'm mistaken, is not Crichton's style.Nevertheless, worth the read for sure!

[ikeman100 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really fun read. Crichton can tell a story. It's fun to read a period piece by an author that researched the period. Bad guys and high adventure. What's not to love.

[buffalogr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I expected SciFi and got none of that....just a pirate historical fiction story.. There is a plot and some memorable characters, The plot proved that Crighton did his research well--read that in the publisher's review. He developed compelling characters involved in interesting situations, One cannot finish a review of a pirate story without using the word "swashbuckling", so here it is.

[benjaminhahn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was a book club pick and seemed a bit rushed or unfinished. It seems Mr. Crichton had been working on this thing since the 70's and never got around to publishing it. That's probably because he never really put the finishing touches on it. It lacks any real surprises or twists. It's entertaining in a sort of swashbuckling adventure novel sort of way. Crichton was clearly a fan of historical naval trivia. He inserts a great deal of it throughout the book and I found it enjoyable. But some of the chapters felt like synopses that he never gotten around to finishing. Its a bit sad to read really. The family probably should have left this one alone and just treasured it as a family keepsake.

[karenduff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this but the part where they are fighting the kraken was just really stupid and should have been cut.Other than that if you want a quick read where you will be entertained and you won't have to engage your brain then this is the ideal book.

[thejohnsmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fast paced, swashbuckling adventure set in the 17th Century Caribbean. A real page turner.

[debs913 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I admit to feeling trepidation when I read the jacket and discovered the manuscript for this book was discovered in Michael Crichton's files after his death. Sometimes an author puts away a book for good reason and does not want it published.

Turns out, this was a quick and entertaining read, though it had a "Pirates of the Caribbean" feel to it and I found myself thinking how odd it was that I was familiar with so many of the islands mentioned in the book, from playing Sid Meyer's Pirates video game.

Crichton writes swashbuckle with the best of them. We have a roguish hero, a damsel in distress, and evil villain, a crew both treacherous and true, a lady pirate who bares her breasts to stun her enemies just before she cuts their throats, and even a sea monster.

Recommended for those who enjoy light, adventure fiction that is well-written.

[glennbell_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is an unusual book for Michael Crichton in that it is not science fiction. The story is action packed and amusing but is too adventurous to be credible. I am unclear on the motivation to write such a frivolous story but I still liked the story.

[bravenewbks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ending was a little hasty and unfinished-seeming but I enjoyed the rest of it very much; it read more like a Clive Cussler novel than a Michael Crichton one, but I've always enjoyed the former so that was okay by me. Would have easily been for stars if the ending hadn't been so abrupt.

[dcarlin-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Set in Jamaica in 1665, Pirate Latitudes give an insight into another era far away from many of the contemporary adventure stories in my shelf. Although a broad description of the plot would be similar to many contemporary novels – good guys versus bad guys combined with a twist and several beautiful women.

How much is based on fact and how much is total fiction I don't care as it was enjoyable enough to keep me reading way past lights out. It is the type of book that I describe as a ‘page turner’.

This manuscript was, apparently, discovered after Michael Crichton died and I am thankful HarperCollins decided to publish.

[nataliesw · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not by any means Crichton's best, but I believe this was the one found in a drawer after his death. Entertaining in a very light way. Protagonist sort of a Mary Sue. :-)

[fbswss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fabulous writing. The story felt so "true life" like you just can't make this stuff up - yet Crichton did. Amazing.

[christineellei · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Blood and guts … looting and pillaging … ships and sea monsters … a dashing captain and a buried treasure of Spanish gold. What more could one hope for in a pirate book? Aaaargh … t’was a good tale! (Sorry, couldn’t resisit)

[lkernagh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My love for rollicking adventure stories continued with my read of Crichton's Pirate Latitudes. Building upon an actual event and grounded in a rather accurate portrayal of 17th century Jamaica, it is easy to see why a number of readers may compare this story with the movie The Pirates of the Caribbean. I admit I did, more so for the mere fact that both are adventures with boats, treasure, damsels in distress and a crew of potential disreputable individuals than for any noticeable direct comparisons. The characters are lively, with some wonderful banter and I will admit that I always seem to have a soft spot for ship captains who like to play things fast and loose while still abiding by a personal moral code of ethics, be they pirates or privateers. Part of the story dragged a little bit, and yes, I did catch myself rolling my eyes when the kraken makes its appearance but overall, this was a decent read and is what it is - an adventure story, pure and simple.

[authorpsbartlett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I must say first that no, this wasn't the best pirate story I've ever read but it was definitely a great one.
Being a pirate storyteller myself, I appreciated this book on a whole different level than let's say, the more contemporary or classic books I've read. The reason is; I read pirate novels not only for entertainment but for research.
I was excited that so much of this story takes place in Port Royal, Jamaica because I recently spent quite a few hours researching that area of the world during the Golden Age of Piracy and found his descriptions really brought the place to life for me.
I read this book while my last novel was being edited and my head swirled with ideas and imagery that I felt my own story was lacking. The end result? Several rewrites on my own novel. :)
I suppose my hope is to someday reach the level of success this gentleman did. Even if writing on a topic that is near and dear to my heart was not his forte, I could tell he was having a lot of fun with it and I wanted to climb into the story and enjoy it with him!

[ozzieslim · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A posthumously published work is like a double edged sword for both reader and the author. For fans, if the work is not “up to par” it can be a disappointing experience leaving a sense of dissatisfaction and comparisons with other more polished work. For authors, it may have been a personal piece meant only for them to enjoy or a draft for a future novel still in the rough and nowhere ready for publication.Pirate Latitudes was dug out of Michael Crichton’s filing cabinet after his death. Yes, it is not as polished as his more famous work but I also understand that it is most likely a draft meant to be subject to extensive editing and re-writing. You know what? I didn’t care.There is something fun about the pirate story. This is very traditional pirate stuff. An English outpost in Jamaica with a Governor-General fond of drinking and privateering is approached by Captain Hunter. A Spanish galleon located on a neighboring island is said to contain a mother lode. It lay at anchor in a heavily fortified bay. Hunter is given the o.k. by the GG with the understanding that he himself as well as the Crown will both get their share.Hunter goes about the town under cover of darkness gathering together a crew of specialists to help him undertake a daring expedition, considered impossible by more conventional privateers. These specialists include Bassa the Moor – the brawn; Lazue a female pirate with a knack for navigation; Black Eye aka “The Jew”, a merchant with a sideline in explosives and a Frenchman named Sanson who may be an ally or an enemy – only time will tell. On their journey they are faced with all manner of obstacles. Cazalla, a Spanish pirate who controls the fortress at Mantaceros where the galleon is anchored must be faced first, when he captures their ship on the way to the raid, and again at the fort during the capture of the galleon. Storms in the Caribbean waters of a mild nature right up to hurricane force winds force them to negotiate a treacherous reef to find shelter. Arawak cannibals on an unnamed island and a kracken both attempt to take the crew and they are further hindered by having to rescue the Governor-General’s niece who had been captured by Cazalla and also was dabbling in witchcraft – a hobby she picked up during a stint in France.Upon their arrival back to home port, the Governor-General had been imprisoned in a coup by some unscrupulous underlings and more adventures abound as the crew attempts to save themselves from unfriendly government troops, unsavory politicians and each other.Yes, this is not the most polished novel, but it was a great story, a quick read and I could only imagine what may have become of it had Crichton been able to work with it as he probably wanted. This was never really meant for readers – I’m sure the publishing house was just looking for that final pay day from an author that was gone too soon. Enjoy it for what it is and appreciate that Crichton took the time to write it.

[kr_patterson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Here's what I think happened: Michael Crichton thought it would be fun to write about pirates. So he did a lot of research and wrote the book around that. Indeed, probably the biggest positive of this book is that it's researched very well. In the end, he must've realized the story didn't hold up, so maybe he tucked it away to work on later. In a nutshell, it felt very realistic (except for the kraken parts) but was very slow story-wise. But I'm still glad I read it.

[ameise1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was enjoyable fast-paced reading. Charles Hunter, a pirate, who is based at the colony of Jamaica is planning and undertaking a theft from the Spanish crown in the Caribbean. Therefore he is looking for the most skilled men who are coming along with him. He is making an unorthodox approach to get to his target.The story is written very gripping and I could laugh out loud at the different incidents which have taken place during this endeavour.

[anigl-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm reading this because pirates, but I will note that it still doesn't come near the shores of the POTC movies. The verdict is still out on the POTC novel though; that's next in line to read.

[trgllylibrarian · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

2 1/2 stars for this one; my least favorite of Michael Crichton's so far. Impeccably researched as usual, but I just don't think historical fiction suits his style as well as the science fiction does.

[ahopkinsbibliomaniac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was a gift. This story is a favorite of mine and I've bought other copies for my friends. I fully recommend this book. I went through a period where I hadn't read a book for months and this book brought me back to one of my favorite places. That place where only a good book and a cup of tea can take you. I fell in love with the story and the characters. It helps when you've been to the Caribbean and seas interest you. I also am a fan of pirates. It's a fun must read. Mr. Chrichton describes his characters flawlessly.

[storeyonastory · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A different genre for Michael. Typically known for his technothrillers, Pirate Latitudes is a historical fiction novel. It's alright, but not what I look to Michael Crichton for. Unfortunately, there will be no more exciting science at its worst novels from him. He will be missed.

[piersanti-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good book, but not a great book, because of course, Crichton didn't get a chance to finish it. There are parts that are very well developed, but then there are more parts that read like they didn't get past the first or second draft. However, I also felt like this provided interesting insights into the author's writing process.