Hetta and her husband, Bob (Jenks) Jenkins, have finally broken free from the rat race of corporate America.  Having forsaken the shackles of deadlines, they have been enjoying the soul liberating life of freedom.  For the past five years, they have traveled on their boat, Jensky, meeting new friends and finding their true selves.

Freedom, however, comes with a price.  As the Jenkins find, the sea is an unforgiving mistress. Hetta and Jenks meet up with an old friend, Bud, a fellow water rat, to discover he has a new flame- a much younger lady (too young, too lithe and too evil, Hetta muses).  The Jenkins happen upon a Gps unit and several packs of  cocaine  when they land in Mexico. Soon, they find  that Bud's loyalty  seems as shallow as his mistress' personality.  Finding themselves followed  constantly by two men, they go to the local police for help. However,  they seem to care less about this and begin to suspect Hetta and Bob are drug mules.

The U.S. Coast Guard finds a boat similar to the Jenksy adrift in the Sea of Cortez; its occupants butchered by machetes. They find in a satellite photo that a small Panga has been blown up, and trace the Jenksy to being in the area.  Soon, the Jenkins find themselves caught up in a world of drug runners and arms dealers. On the run from drug cartels and the Mexican police, they are running out of time.   

Written while on board the High Jinx,  the book is one not to be missed. Although a  story of fiction, TROUBLED SEA is very believable.  It was executed with great talent and bears heavily with suspense. As with any tale involving the sea, you will find yourself riveted to this book and will scarce want to put it down. Being the first adventure for Bob and Hetta, it made me look forward to the next installment of their adventures.  The heroine of the salty tale, Hetta is strong willed and has a great personality that is well rounded. Not perfect, but a down to earth likable person. I found myself feeling sorry for Bud, who seems like an uncle you would like to have- full of life and carefree.

The story has a bittersweet and happy ending.  For me this is always a plus! TROUBLED SEA, has mild language and brief nudity, just enough violence to make an interesting tale, but not gory enough to bother even the feint-hearted. Three cheers for Jinx Schwartz and TROUBLED SEA