Running Wrecked

Phil Riley is running. Running from his past, and as Mark Combes' debut mystery Running Wrecked opens, running from his future as well. Six months ealier, Phil came to Isla Tortuga to run a dive shop and forget. He guides SCUBA, drinks beer as the sun sets while arguing philosophy with a friend, and enjoys the fresh catch of the day at his favorite restaurant.

So when Phil spots an abandoned sailboat adrift and tows it in to harbor, he's not looking for trouble. But trouble seems to have found him, in the form of an island police chief who seems strangely disinterested in the whereabouts of the boat's passengers and a mysterious visitor to the island who seems committed to keeping Phil from following up on his suspicions about the boat. When his dive master goes missing, Phil feels compelled to investigate -- the consequences of his efforts be damned.

Mark has written a lyrical, thoughtful mystery with plenty of gritty action. His character, Phil, is damaged by his past and controlled by his compulsions, yet evinces a striking nobility. This book is a beautifully written page-turner featuring a character you're going to want to know better even as you hope he can come to truly know himself. I loved this book, and can't wait to see more from Mark.