Shannon Clarke lives in the Maine port of Gloucester, originally called Beau Port, and September is a changeable time of year for her. Small boats are pulled out of the water and stored. She works repairing them with friends, thinking about the failure of her marriage and the two kids who have moved away to make their own lives. Luckily she has staunch woman friends and plenty to do. Winter won't be so busy.

BEYOND BEAUPORT brings change after Hurricane Sandy blows through the harbor; Shannon's uncle Paddy arrives after a decade of travel and declares that he has uncovered pirate ancestry and a treasure trail. Shannon isn't keen on family tales, having had a dysfunctional upbringing. But the short sword of pirate Anne Bonny from the early 1700s changes her mind. Sea captains, privateers, patriots, and pirates run in her blood. What a thrill!

I think that Shannon so badly wants to escape from what her life has become -- loss, distrust, and loneliness -- that she grabs the lure of a treasure trail even knowing it can prove dangerous, futile, and alienating. As she perseveres, we learn a great deal about sea captains, merchants, and strong women of the past. The seashore is a frequent location for action or conversation, so we feel the pounding of waves and smell the salt, hear the seabirds' cry. Shannon doesn't need money nor dream of riches; she wants to uncover heritage and legend. Since the lady lives in a house that regularly floods, she's extremely practical and used to dirty physical work. But can she cope with a voyage to the Caribbean on a small boat, the Second Wind, as crew for Paddy, a former Naval chief petty officer?

The pirates are not all in the past. That's all I'll say. Grab this suspenseful tale of adventure on the high seas, of family, friendship, and a woman finding herself. Shannon was a family carer and became a mother early, so she never had her own life. Now, nobody can deny her opportunities. To start with I did think author James Masciarelli was making a caricature -- lonely woman eats ice-cream and drinks wine -- but Shannon swiftly developed into a well-rounded person with many strengths and weaknesses. Other authors might have worked in a time slip to show us the past lives of the pirates, but Shannon relives them for us. James Masciarelli has achieved a masterly novel in BEYOND BEAUPORT, which should be enjoyed by anyone who has sailed, or wishes they could sail. Cast off, me hearties!