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Sea of Gold
‘Whoever did this wanted to make sure no one lived to tell the tale.’Money, murder and love on the high seasIn the world of international shipping, the rules are blurred and the oceans lawlessWhen instinct tells maritime claims investigator Angus McKinnon that a wave of frauds must be connected, he thinks it’s just business as usual. Instead, he uncovers a ruthless conspiracy born of greed and the lust for power.As he starts to unravel a trail leading from the post-Soviet drabness of a Black Sea port to a sweltering anchorage in the Gulf of Thailand, a devastating explosion in the Indian Ocean changes everything.Facing down terrifying childhood memories, torn between two very different women and doubting old friends, McKinnon must navigate a precarious path between secretive government agencies, shady syndicates and avaricious crime lords towards an unpredictable endgame.Gambling everything on his faith in one man, can McKinnon beat the odds and come out on top?A gripping page-turner, Sea of Gold draws the reader into a world of extremes, the casual affluence of the super-rich contrasting with the dignified poverty of the desperate. Meanwhile, McKinnon’s two loves � the enigmatic Claire and his devoted, long-term lover, Eleni, vie for his attention.This debut thriller from Nick Elliott is packed with intrigue � if you love your action spiced with suspense, make Sea of Gold your next read.
309 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2014
89 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Nick Elliott
11Ìýbooks24Ìýfollowers"Nick Elliott delivers in spades when it comes to fast-paced, intelligent, international thrillers. You feel, smell and touch every authentically crafted location; you’re expertly drawn into a maze of shadows and sinister organizations and characters where nothing is what it seems. This really is thriller writing of the highest calibre.â€� Craig Russell, award-winning author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Jan Fabel and Lennox crime thrillers.
Over an eventful career in international shipping, Nick Elliott has handled dozens of maritime claims, casualties and other assorted mishaps throughout the Far East, the East Med and Black Sea. Many of these cases provide inspiration for his series of Angus McKinnon thrillers.
He worked as a ships agent in Hong Kong and Tokyo for twenty years and Piraeus for a further eight. Along the way he's been sent to the Pacific island of Nauru to quell fears of a typhoid epidemic; hidden in a storm drain during an inter-gang shootout in Guam; investigated the theft of a cargo of ethyl alcohol in Georgia tracing both cargo and the armed gang of thieves to North Ossetia; and oversaw the welfare, disembarkation and migration from Hong Kong to the UK of 1,002 Vietnamese boat people rescued by a British ship in the South China Sea.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and now divides his time between Scotland and Greece.
Dark Ocean, his second thriller in the Angus McKinnon series, was published on Amazon in August 2017:
Nick’s first book, Sea of Gold, is also available from Amazon:
You can sign up to Nick's newsletter from his website:
Over an eventful career in international shipping, Nick Elliott has handled dozens of maritime claims, casualties and other assorted mishaps throughout the Far East, the East Med and Black Sea. Many of these cases provide inspiration for his series of Angus McKinnon thrillers.
He worked as a ships agent in Hong Kong and Tokyo for twenty years and Piraeus for a further eight. Along the way he's been sent to the Pacific island of Nauru to quell fears of a typhoid epidemic; hidden in a storm drain during an inter-gang shootout in Guam; investigated the theft of a cargo of ethyl alcohol in Georgia tracing both cargo and the armed gang of thieves to North Ossetia; and oversaw the welfare, disembarkation and migration from Hong Kong to the UK of 1,002 Vietnamese boat people rescued by a British ship in the South China Sea.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and now divides his time between Scotland and Greece.
Dark Ocean, his second thriller in the Angus McKinnon series, was published on Amazon in August 2017:
Nick’s first book, Sea of Gold, is also available from Amazon:
You can sign up to Nick's newsletter from his website:
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 25, 2014
Sea of Gold by Nick Elliot is not only an incredibly well written book that captured me from the start but what really brought it to life was Elliott's understanding of how business is conducted in the maritime world. Would definitely recommend this book.
September 21, 2014
P&I Insurance association's claims assessor, Angus McKinnon, quickly gets himself into hot water when he sees an interesting detail from the theft of cargo from several ships that eventually culminates in the complete disappearance of ship, crew, and cargo. McKinnon is no stranger to the laws of international shipping involving the ship of origin, flag, country in which the alleged crime is perpetrated, and the persons involved in the crime. Taken to exotic ports of call and introduced to some major characters, dripping with sinister personality, McKinnon sifts through the clues and rightly plays the culprits against themselves. This was a free download and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Recommended for anyone interested in sea adventures, intrigue, thrilling action, and unforgettable characters. Guess that pretty much includes everyone!
January 11, 2015
Congrats to Nick on this debut novel, a thoroughly enjoyable read with believable characters and places you wouldn't normally visit. This maritime theme is so different and seldom touched on, which makes a refreshing change to normal run of the mill detective thrillers. Having served in the merchant service I could identify with the sea going and chartering of ships but for someone not familiar with this life or business Nick explains and brings the reader into the plot.
Thanks again for a really good read and look forward to Angus in his next big globe trotting adventure, solving another maritime crime. I highly recommend this read.
Thanks again for a really good read and look forward to Angus in his next big globe trotting adventure, solving another maritime crime. I highly recommend this read.
October 3, 2014
This book reeks of authenticity and the feeling that much of this has been lived or witnessed at close quarters, even in the more credibility stretching passages. As for the rest, I assume it is the result of a particularly fertile imagination. I particularly appreciated the starting point of the investigation being the use of Scottish idiomatic language. Hopefully, Nick elliot has written, or is writing, more of the same. I will certainly be reading it!!!!
May 30, 2016
I won this book on GoodReads First Reads in return for an honest review. I'd rate this maritime thriller a 3 1/2-4 star read. Freelance maritime investigator Angus McKinnon lives and works between Scotland and Greece. He has a couple of cases of maritime fraud that seem to be related. Investigating them gets Angus involved in some complex conspiracies and a lot of danger. This is a first novel by a man who worked in this environment and know all the background. Not a bad little thriller.
September 25, 2014
Very good
If this is a first-time effort, it is exceptional. I look forward to reading future writings. a well developed story and characters
If this is a first-time effort, it is exceptional. I look forward to reading future writings. a well developed story and characters
March 17, 2015
A good sea story
Anyone who enjoys sea-faring stories will enjoy this. I found details on the shipping industry fascinating and look forward to more novels from this author.
Anyone who enjoys sea-faring stories will enjoy this. I found details on the shipping industry fascinating and look forward to more novels from this author.
October 1, 2017
Excellent!! What a brilliant read!!
Excellent plot with believable characters and the author has a sound knowledge of his art! Would recommend any friends and colleagues.
Excellent plot with believable characters and the author has a sound knowledge of his art! Would recommend any friends and colleagues.
September 17, 2019
A good read
August 2, 2022
Excellent Read
I have read all of Nick Elliot's, The Angus McKinnon Series and thoroughly enjoyed each book. The books are not only fast paced and well written but I believe depict an industry that few of us are aware of exists and it's importance in our everyday lives. In short a stellar read.
I have read all of Nick Elliot's, The Angus McKinnon Series and thoroughly enjoyed each book. The books are not only fast paced and well written but I believe depict an industry that few of us are aware of exists and it's importance in our everyday lives. In short a stellar read.
March 31, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
March 12, 2021
Fast paced
Thoroughly enjoyable fast paced and realistic,the authors marine experience is very obvious.Look forward to enjoying the follow up novels and anticipating the plots.
Thoroughly enjoyable fast paced and realistic,the authors marine experience is very obvious.Look forward to enjoying the follow up novels and anticipating the plots.
December 2, 2021
Enjoyed the pace of the book
Good character development and dynamic in the action scenes. Good mystery and good story. I will be following the hero in his adventures.
Good character development and dynamic in the action scenes. Good mystery and good story. I will be following the hero in his adventures.
May 31, 2022
I knew this book had to have been written by someone in the business. While the technical parts made my eyes glaze over, I love the story and Angus McKinnon! Keep writing Mr. Elliott!!
February 14, 2025
excellent
First time. Ha. This was real life
I already want the next book. I m going to search right now.
First time. Ha. This was real life
I already want the next book. I m going to search right now.
September 14, 2014
I enjoyed the story but have to admit that I found myself often confused, not by the characters, but by the shipping terms used and the different organisations concerned with the story. Obviously my problem and not the authors, as the story was very well written.
July 24, 2016
I received this book from goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
I feel this book had the potential to be a good read. However I soon got frustrated with all the continuing insider terminology.
As hard as I tried to get past this, I gave up on page 44.
I feel this book had the potential to be a good read. However I soon got frustrated with all the continuing insider terminology.
As hard as I tried to get past this, I gave up on page 44.
September 30, 2014
This book was a clever little read with many plot twists to keep me guessing. Sometimes a few too many twists though, and I was confused by the brief introduction of many characters.
April 12, 2015
Pithy
Mr. Elliott presumes the reader will follow the nomenclature of the shipping world with ease but it bogs the reader down.
Nevertheless, a solid yarn if you stick with it.
Mr. Elliott presumes the reader will follow the nomenclature of the shipping world with ease but it bogs the reader down.
Nevertheless, a solid yarn if you stick with it.
April 23, 2015
A very slow paced novel of intrigue and fraud on the high seas. Very convoluted.
Read
November 20, 2018thriller about a guy hunting down bad guys with a lot of shipping industry terms thrown in. Not bad. Read it in less than 24 hours :)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
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