"To sum up, this is a terrific holiday book. Read it on the aeroplane, on the beach and most of all, of course, on a cruise ship!"
That's how the critics described Jack Dunnill's novel. But don't just take their words for it.
"E! By Gum!"
Jack Dunnill's brilliant debut novel "Dancing with the Captain" is now available as an eBook from Amazon Kindle Store. Take it with you on holiday.
 | TAKE IT FROM TOM! He should know! I think I was the first person to take Jack Dunnill's book "Dancing with the Captain" out of my local library. It was absolutely delightful. I have been a musician on many, many cruise liners and I thought he caught the ambience absolutely superbly. A first class yarn, too. The book is truly outstanding. Among others ships, I have played on the Iberia, the Aurora, the Oriana and the QE2. From Tom Carlile, an unsolicited testimonial from a professional cruise musician |
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This book is a delightful romantic whodunit complete with great characters, red herrings, glamorous locations and a strong plot. According to the cover blurb Jack Dunnill was a Fleet Street journalist and his debut novel is certainly written in an assured and smooth style befitting a former sub editor on a national daily. However, fiction is completely different discipline (arguably!) and the dialogue is also nicely handled, as are shifts in time and geographical location. The writing style is completely invisible and not at all showy or self conscious and the tale is told with a deft lightness of touch. There's plenty going on but the story never confusing and it's a book that can be put down and picked up again after several days without the need for backtracking. Part Mills and Boone, part James Bond with a dash of Agatha Christie, the book has a slightly old fashioned quality, but that is part of its charm. It is also no matter that the hero, newspaper reporter Alan Hale, is clearly Dunnill's alter ego. The writer draws on his journalistic background to keep Hale's activities within bounds and technologically contemporary. There is civility, decency and grace about Dancing With The Captain and I feel I can recommend it readers of all ages including my 93-year-old mother-in-law. But while there is nothing vulgar or offensive in this novel, it is not at all twee or pious either. A neat trick. To sum up, this is a terrific holiday book. Read it on the aeroplane, on the beach and most of all, of course, on a cruise ship! |
 Jack Dunnill ... in his role as Major Gowen | PUBLISHERS' PRESS RELEASE Jack Dunnill treats the readers of his new novel “Dancing With The Captain” to the delights of the maiden voyage of the White Satin, the gleaming new £500 million cruise ship. The ship holds many attractions in the form of beautiful dancing girls, romance and comedy, plus plenty of action with sabotage and crime. His hero Alan Hale, an award-winning news reporter, pulls out all the stops in his quest. Each day presents him with another enigma and Alan goes beyond the call of duty to provide us with a titillating story which encourages the reader to turn the next page. We cruise along with the passengers as they embark on their tour and visit exotic parts of the world, each port holding out its own mystery for Jack’s central character and his lovely companions. |
You can read an extract from the book, an interview with the author, news and reviews on the "Dancing with the Captain" website.