O Captain

A Novel

Dripping wet, I hurried forward. “You must bring me back, sir…Captain.”

“Hoist the colors!” the captain bellowed, not taking his eyes off me.

“Aye!” One of the crew members answered the command, and I watched as a black flag reared its head, the Jolly Roger flapping in the wind—a skull with two crossbones.

My eyes widened. “You’re a pirate!”
***

It’s 1691, when the fires of the Spanish Inquisition burn and pirates roam the seven seas. Rafael Mendes, a child of conversos, sets out on a journey to find the father he barely remembers. He soon finds himself in dangerous waters, trapped aboard a pirate ship. Although disgusted at first by the criminals he works alongside, it isn’t long before the winds in the sails and freedom of the sea call to him.

Even as Rafael attempts to cling to his faith and identity, a clue about his father’s whereabouts leads him to the most bloodstained ship of the Caribbean: the Spaniard, steered by the infamous Captain Kasper. Surrounded by murderers and thieves, Rafael begins questioning how much he must sacrifice to find his father…and whether he’s ready to face the horrible truths waiting for him in the depths.

In O Captain, Menucha Winner weaves a captivating tale about the search for identity and genuine faith even in the darkest of places. Packed with emotion, suspense, and shocking twists and turns, this chills-inducing novel will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

By Menucha Winner