Pirate Tales takes place  on a houseboat in the busy recreational harbor of Marina del Rey. The book is  one in a series that keeps author Rick Stephens Murphy busy. Perhaps that’s why he let a tart-tongued, “it’s all about me”  cat named Salty Tail narrate his bi-coastal tale of love and intrigue.

Salty lives with his human, marine surveyor and sailing instructor Stormy McGuire. Readers are transported  to Ventura Harbor, Catalina Island, and sunny Santa Monica Bay, with a brief trip to the San Fernando Valley where the author grew up. 

While sailing novels often take place in the era of tall ships, great navel battles, and buccaneers, Pirate Tales is a modern day romantic mystery. The author worked as a sailing instructor in Marina del Rey and sailed out of that harbor for most of his life.

Stolen boats, a watery grave and a wounded heart 

While Salty and Stormy are investigating a string of stolen boats, a friend is found dead in the water. It’s up to Stormy and Salty to find the connection.  As if Stormy hasn’t  enough to deal with, he  finds himself the target of two women. One he thinks he’s in love with, the second claims only to be a friend. Can Stormy’s wounded heart survive?

With the crew and boat prepared for battle, Stormy headed us out to sea. As we cleared the north end of the rocky breakwater, leaving the protection of the marina behind, the Santa Monica Bay opened into a sparkling panorama of contrast. Off to our starboard or right of the boat lay the sandy white beach of Venice, and Santa Monica beyond. The smoggy grey skyline of Los Angeles created a drab backdrop to the famous coastline. To our port stretched the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean topped by a cloudless powder blue sky. The combination created an expansive blue on blue monochromatic horizon.

Nothing like a view of the Bay from the stern. I think I’d like to stowaway with this pair!

Author Richard Stephens  grew up in sunny southern California with two younger brothers, three dogs, and a revolving collection of cats, hamsters, lizards, snakes, frogs, fish, and any other small animal he could talk his ever-patient mother into letting him keep. Combine this zoo-like atmosphere with a love of the water, an overactive imagination and a tendency to daydream and you’ve now entered his extraordinary imagination.