Location, Location, Location

A temporary change of venue for Mac Travis and Kurt Hunter

Locations are a critical part of the structure of an adventure. A mystery can take place in an old mansion, on a train, or almost anywhere. Unique and exciting locations are part of what makes an action / adventure novel work and it doesn’t hurt for a mystery either. The norm is to set these kind of stories in exotic, historical, or often places most call paradise. But as Mac and Kurt discover, paradise isn’t always paradise. I learned from a recent trip that there are no hard rules that the author or protagonist like the setting and it might be more powerful if they didn’t.

After a family reunion on St. Thomas earlier this year, I decided to use the USVI as the backdrop for both a Mac Travis Adventure: Wood’s Justice and a Kurt Hunter Mystery: Backwater Virgin. It’s a change in scenery for all three of us.

I’ve been to the Virgin Islands before, bareboat sailing on the British side of things. This time it was a resort. The difference between a land-based trip and one spent on the water was bigger than I expected. For me, this wasn’t the idyllic destination that attracts millions of tourists a year.

Being stuck on the tourist treadmill is not my thing. I can’t sit on a beach for more than a few minutes, I’m most certainly not a shopper, and I hate crowds. Eating every meal in a restaurant is painful.

I’ve used Mac and Kurt before to express both my love and dislike of different things. From the behavior of people at boat ramps, to sandbar parties, to overrun resources, I’ve used both of them to vent and hopefully rally my readers to the cause, or at least make them think about things.

The Florida Keys have been called “The Caribbean you can drive to.” I’d add “and bring your own stuff.” That’s part of what makes the Keys special for me. From the days when I used to trailer a boat down and stay in a campground to becoming a part-time resident (soon to be full time), that has been the secret sausce. Whether it’s a boat, a fishing rod, or dive gear I like having my own stuff and don’t like relying on other people, especially charter operations.

The Virgin Islands are as different from the Keys as the Midwest from the mountains. Volcanic in nature the terrain is mountainous instead of flat. Instead of sandbars and shoals, the water is deep right up to the shoreline. The geographic differences make for an interesting change of scenery.

The culture is different as well, especially driving on the wrong (left) side of the road. It wasn’t as hard for me as the Cayman Islands where they use British-style vehicles, but still challenging. Instead of the typical cast of characters in the Keys, most of whom have drifted down US 1 seeking relief for what ails them, the residents have been here for generations. Their accents and pace is different as well,

All this adds up to a chance for adventure, commentary, and a chance for Mac and Kurt to experience new things.