ECHOES OF FORTUNE

Leng presents a propulsive novella about American Civil War-era secrets and deadly conspiracies beneath Caribbean waters.

In this thriller-series entry, the main adventuring trio—historian Jack Sullivan, Smithsonian curator Emma Wilson, and former Navy SEAL Steve Johnson—dive into treacherous depths, both literal and historical, when they discover the Del Rio, a Confederate supply vessel rumored to have vanished off the Yucatán coast in 1865. Soon, they uncover far more than corroded artifacts and treasure, including assassination orders, Swiss bank accounts funding Confederate exiles, and evidence of a post-Civil War conspiracy that powerful families will kill to protect. Leng’s historical research shines in his handling of Confederate exile movements, grounding the plot in documented history. The claustrophobic underwater sequences crackle with authenticity, particularly Jack’s harrowing solo excursion into the Del Rio’s sealed captain’s cabin—a masterclass in suspense in which every breath counts. The villain is portrayed with chilling restraint, preferring calculated intimidation to crude violence, although his mercenaries’ overwhelming resources never quite translate into a proportional threat. Emma evolves beyond simple love-interest status, yet her Smithsonian expertise feels underused; her curator’s eye for detail is too often reduced to providing photography and documentation, rather than driving the trio’s discoveries. The book is fast-paced—perhaps too fast, as the narrative compresses major plot points and revelations into a few breathless days, and some historical secrets arrive through convenient document caches, rather than hard-won investigation. Still, the core mystery is compelling: What secrets could justify a 150-year cover-up? The climax delivers genuine thrills, and although certain threads remain untied for future installments, Leng understands that the best treasure hunts balance discovery with danger.

A diverting adventure with historical depth, despite occasional narrative shortcuts.