New Release - 2/14/25
The Lost Fleet
Now available on Amazon in print, ebook, and Kindle Unlimited
Hidden off the South Carolina coast for over three hundred years, a missing ship from a lost Spanish treasure fleet has been discovered by an unlikely source. But fishing boat captain Jack Abromski’s lucky find is short-lived. Now, Emmy Sweeney, Jack’s determined fiancée, takes it upon herself to seek justice through her own investigation and soon finds herself spiraling down a dangerous rabbit-hole full of trouble.
Tracking down the clues of Jack’s discovery and fate brings Emmy face to face with a savage cartel, determined to grab the gold for themselves. She’ll need the help of friends, family, law enforcement, and a whole lot of luck to survive an ordeal beyond her worst nightmare.
Behind the scene of The Lost Fleet
I began the concept for The Lost Fleet in the fall of 2023. Coming off the drug theme of Stilton Pine, I had begun a new novel with another central drug theme but backed off after some initial feedback. I wanted to have a suspense theme with some kind of contraband and settled on shipwrecked treasure. The research I did on the 1715 Treasure Fleet was amazing, and when I saw that three ships from the fleet were never found, it was BINGO, let's find one of them off the coast of Georgetown, South Carolina.
Setting the novel in and around Georgetown was a special treat for me. The town has so much character and history. Including nearby DeBordieu, the Hobcaw Barony, and McClellanville added extra geographical depth to the story. That and, of course, the adventure out at sea.
Even though I love the ocean so much, my knowledge of boats, Coast Guard rescues, and scuba diving was limited. I owe a great deal of thanks to my nephew John Knight for passing along his extensive knowledge of boating and to the contacts I made at the USCG who allowed me an onsite visit to the Georgetown Coast Guard Station, conveniently located right next to the Georgetown Landing Marina, which plays a key role in the story.
The Lost Fleet is a bit different subgenre than some of my previous books. It is an action suspense thriller with clear protagonists and antagonists. Although it’s not a who-done-it mystery, it’s an edge of your seat survival thriller of an adventurist young woman who gets into a whole lot more trouble than she bargained for. I hope you enjoy The Lost Fleet. I sure enjoyed writing it.
Raves & Reviews
Article in Pawleys Island local newspaper the Coastal Observer
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Thank you Susan Bryant of Sasee magazine for taking the time to read Culligan's Way and giving me such a wonderful review. Sasee is distributed monthly all along the Carolina coast from Wilmington to Charleston with a circulation of 25,000
Kirkus Review
In this psychological novel, a woman is tormented by a deeply troubled—and perhaps murderous—high school friend. Beth Littleton and Shannon McKay are less friends in high school than bitter rivals for the affections of Ben Steeger, Beth’s boyfriend. In a freak accident, Ben is struck by lightning on Litchfield Beach in South Carolina. He dies as a result, though not before he confesses his love for Beth to Shannon, an admission she greets with “hot fury.” Levine packs the energetic novel with a generous helping of suspense and intrigue, and the plot never lags, not for a second. In addition, Beth turns out to be a sympathetic protagonist. A lively crime tale.
Midwest Book Review
“Where do you think you’ll be when you die?”
A Trail of Vengeance opens with a discussion between high school sweethearts who embark on a conversation about last wishes. These come frightening, suddenly true when Ben dies in what appears to be an accident.
Or, is it murder? And why did Beth's friend Shannon vanish in the midst of this event?
Fast forward seventeen years, when Shannon returns with a new name, identity, and a thirst for revenge which results in more bodies piling up.
The atmospheric South Carolina Low Country is a backdrop for these events as Beth uncovers new truths about not just the past, but her husband Jake. She comes to realize that her choices and relationships are part of a complex situation of ongoing deception and angst.
Marvin Levine not only places his characters in solid scenarios of intrigue and discovery, but takes the time to describe the Low Country culture and build the psychological profiles of Beth and everyone around her: "Beth drifted off and wondered what exactly comfort was — did she ever really have it? Could she ever find it again?"
These moments create a strong mystery that evolves on both a personal and an intrigue level to grab reader interest, weaving a story of revenge into that of a woman struggling to maintain equilibrium while overcoming past crises.
As her lifelong relationship with Shannon McKay is revealed, readers come to realize that Beth's involvement in this dangerous game embraces a traumatic association with an evil that emerges from the past to affect everyday affairs.
Readers who embark on Beth's journey towards realization and redemption will find much to enjoy about her processes of discovery, from her analysis of her marriage to Jake to her growing understanding of the special form of malevolence that Shannon represents.
The result is an engaging story of love and monsters that unfolds many surprising twists and turns before Beth's shaken world rights itself in a satisfyingly definitive conclusion.
Mystery libraries and those appealing to women's fiction readers will find A Trail of Vengeance spins a fine yarn not just of vengeance, but evolving truths and interpretations of them.
Other reviews
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Other reviews
Keep checking this page for media mentions and updates