The Tears of Dark Water

Written by Corban Addison

Narrated by Korey Jackson

Daniel and Vanessa Parker are an American success story. He is a Washington, D.C. power broker, and she is a doctor with a thriving practice. But behind the facade, their marriage is a shambles, and their teenage son, Quentin, is self-destructing. In desperation, Daniel dusts off a long-delayed dream-a sailing trip around the world. Little does he know that the voyage he hopes will save them may destroy them instead. Half a world away, on the lawless coast of Somalia, Ismail Ibrahim is plotting the rescue of his sister, Yasmin, from the man who murdered their father. Driven to crime by love and loyalty, he hijacks ships for ransom money. There is nothing he will not do to save her, even if it means taking innocent life. Paul Derrick is the FBI's top hostage negotiator. His twin sister Megan, is a celebrated defense attorney. When Paul is called to respond to a hostage crisis at sea, he has no idea how far it will take them both into their traumatic past-or the chance it will give them to redeem the future. Across continents and oceans, through storms and civil wars, their paths converge in a single, explosive moment. It is a moment that will test them, and break them, but that will also leave behind a glimmer of hope-that out of the ashes of tragedy the seeds of justice and reconciliation can grow, not only for themselves but also for Somalia itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781501904462

Corban Addison

Corban Addison is the international bestselling author of A Walk Across the Sun, The Garden of Burning Sand, and The Tears of Dark Water,which won the 2016 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Award. His novels have been published in over 25 countries. An attorney, activist, and world traveler, he is a supporter of humanitarian and social justice causes around the world. He lives with his wife and children in Virginia. Learn more at his website corbanaddison.com Facebook: CorbanAddison Twitter: @CorbanAddison    

Reviews for The Tears of Dark Water

[vickimarie2002 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was so much more than I anticipated! It was such a roller coaster of emotions! I had a hard time getting into it at first, even though it was interesting but then I really got caught up in it. There is so much more to the events in the story than what it looks like on the outside. It's very interesting to see how far people will go to save their family members. Such a good read and really gets you thinking about things and how we judge other people.

[smits_52 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another really good Corban Addison novel. This time the adventure happens on the high seas when American Daniel Parker and his son Quentin are kidnapped while they sail the world in their own quest to bond. We follow a tense negotiation between negotiator Paul Derrik, the US gov't and the kidnappers led by Ibrahim ( Ismail). Things go terribly wrong. The next part of the novel takes us "behind the scenes" to Ismail's past and his family and life for a muslim in Samalia who is trying to lead a righteous life. This is done through Ismail's lawyer Megan who searches for answers to why Ismail did what he did.A interesting novel full of adventure but with information and a message to share.

[laine4cunningham · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Book Review: The Tears of Dark Water by Corban Addison
Thomas Nelson 2015
This novel reads as if it were written specifically to go straight to a movie screen. And I mean that in the least flattering way.
A father and son set out for an 18-month cruise on their sailboat. The mother stays behind; the marriage is faltering and she isn't sure whether she will join the two later at a midpoint docking. The sailboat is boarded by Somali pirates led by a man whose sister is held hostage by the men who operate the piracy ring. Tension is supposed to ensue.
Herein lies the problem. Novels depend on characterization and description to lead readers into the interior lives of others...to get them to care. Movies rely on visual and auditory elements, and must strip away the interior elements to present the different sensory input. Two very different formats, two very different types of requirements.
Addison gives us very little interior story. Instead, the 439 pages are pretty much choked with technical details. We discover the types of guns the pirates use and hear about the ships and helicopters that come to the rescue. We learn about the emergency signal that alerted everyone the sailboat had been taken. If only we had been given the same perspective on the characters who handled those weapons and ran those machines.
Oh, and the dialog. This is about the most boring dialog ever. It's terrible because it reads like a movie script. It's filled with things the characters do not need to say to each other (or shouldn't if the narrative had revealed their personalities). It's lacking the meaningful moments that really provide emotional resonance for a book.
Overall, this novel relies on the plotline to shove it through all 439 pages. There is an effort in the latter half to reveal the motivation of the lead pirate and generate compassion. And in fact the court case reflects this "triumph" of humanity. But it's far too little, and the machinations the characters go through to unveil this final moment don't do anything justice in terms of the novel.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. I really wanted to enjoy the story on at least some level but did not.
1 star.

[muddyboy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A father and son embark on a long distance expedition on a small boat and are captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The first half of the book deals with the negotiations trying to get them set free. The second half of the novel deals with the lives of the people involved after the kidnapping is over from the point of view of the kidnappers and those victimized by the crime. As is many things in life things are more complex than they seem on the surface. I think the book is very insightful and realistic in the ways that the various character's lives proceed. This book is well written and very accurate.

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Daniel Parker is a successful lawyer and his wife, Vanessa is a doctor. They have very demanding and stressful jobs. With their careers, they have little time to devote to their troubled teen, Quentin. Daniel decides he must reconnect with his son and plans to sail around the world with his son on their yacht. I can't imagine being on a yacht for an extended amount of time and being so far away from land. As Daniel finishes up the final details of their trip, he is hoping that his wife will join them . Perhaps the trip could improve their relationship as well is the thought he has in his head. Vanessa declines the invitation, so off father and son go on an adventure that will change their lives.The trip seems to be improving the relationship between father and son until they hit the coast of Somalia. There waiting for them, is a band of pirates who hijack the yacht and soon will terrorize their prisoners. The shock must have been felt all the way to their toes, as Daniel and Quentin face an unknown future. Ismail is the leader and is determined to make this latest crime pay off. He is in desperate need to save his sister from a ruthless man who has demanded a ransom for her safe return.There are many people who play key roles in the story and their determination, strength and love is written with great emotion. I'm not sure how I would react in a similar situation., but the characters really showed a depth of survival instincts that captured my attention. The Navy and SEALS are recruited to rescue Daniel and Quentin. I think the feelings that Vanessa expressed during this trying time were so real, I instantly felt my heart go out to her.The story weaves many characters together while telling their own personal struggles. It is a powerful read with twists with an emotional roller coaster. It becomes hard to hate Ismail when he is so deeply entertwined with the rescue of his sister. What is the right thing to do? It may be a fiction book, but it could easily be a story we hear on the news. The US government deals with terrorism daily and this book is one that will have you glued to the book as the incredible story unfolds. Will Daniel and Quentin be saved by the U.S.? Can Ismail save his sister before a tragedy strikes? I loved the underlying theme of forgiveness. Can someone redeem themselves if they have committed a horrible crime? This book will not be one you will forget as you read a story of the high seas and people who have pasts they want to overcome.I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.

[labdaddy4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent book, A tale told from numerous perspectives, At its core a story of Somali pirates taking an American and his son hostage after capturing their sailboat. This book has far too many layers to be a simple story of piracy and it's aftermath.The novel is a very a tightly woven, heartfelt story of the impact of this act on primarily three families. Ultimately a story of violence, retribution, causality, and transformation. I highly recommend this book

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 A fast paced thriller that could have been torn from current headlines. Really makes one think. How little is known about other countries, their problems and their people. How opinions are formed based on incomplete news stories, biased journalists, governments that only tell us what they want us to know. So many problems in the world, situations and people are very seldom black and white. We really get to know many of these characters, they are multi-faceted many in jobs harkening back to a tragic or formative event in their own lives. Experiences and how they form the people we become. A good look at hostage taking, negotiating and the might of the US government.My only concern was at times this was a bit too coincidental, written as if for film, a little to preachy, and maybe wrapped up a little too tidily.Still I enjoyed this novel, with all its moral complexities. Enjoyed learning about Somalia, liked these characters, and wanted to keep reading to find out how everything turned out.ARC from Netgalley.

[bettytaylor56 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Let me say right upfront that I wasn’t sure about this book at first. What did I really know about Somali pirates? I wasn’t sure I would find it interesting. But now that I have finished the book I am certain THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ THIS YEAR. (And I read a lot of books.)In “The Tears of Dark Water”, Corban Addison tells a compelling, gripping story of fractured families dealing with tragedies in their own lives and global tragedies. If you enjoyed the movie “Captain Phillips” I believe you will like this book. It is not a story about piracy; it is about what drives someone to being a pirate and the consequences of their actions on all those involved.The Parkers – Daniel, Vanessa, and their son Quentin – seem to have it all. Successful careers, a nice house, all the trappings of success. But their marriage is shaky and teenage Quentin has gotten into trouble and become very distant. In an attempt to reestablish ties with Quentin, who loves the sea, Daniel and Quentin set out on a sailing trip around the world. But their dream turns into a nightmare when their sailboat is taken captive by a team of Somali pirates led by Ismail Adan Ibrahim. In violation of all his religious beliefs, Ismail turns to hijacking ships for ransom. His father was killed in front of him and his sister taken captive by the leader of the Shabab. All his actions now are focused on rescuing his sister, at any price to himself and others.Paul and Megan Derrick, twins, have dedicated their lives to helping others. Paul is an ace negotiator with the FBI; Megan is a defense attorney. But both live with horrific memories of the day their brother killed his father and then himself.Paul is assigned as negotiator in the hijacking of the Parkers’ boat. Thus is set in motion the intertwining of these three families. None of their lives will ever be the same after. Trust turns to betrayal. Power and corruption destroy lives. Now, how do these families carry on after the devastation they encountered? Can these families by patched back together?Addison writes with such precision, fully developing all these characters into people you feel you know. People with admirable traits, and with faults. How do you find justice in such an incident? What would you have done had you been Daniel, had you been Ismail, had you been Quentin, or Vanessa, or Megan, or Paul? Each has choices that may or may not backfire on them. Addison leads us rapidly toward some scenes while slowing us down in others. Savor each moment. Mull over each decision. Feel the fear, the pain, the hope, the despair. Addison does a remarkable job getting into the heart of each character.As a result of reading this book, I learned that Addison writes about global human issues, a topic I am certainly concerned with. Now I must read his other books which address human trafficking and gender-based violence.Due out in October 2015