I found this to be up there with Cornwell's other sailing-related books. If it weren't his name on the cover, I wouldn't bother even picking it up, but he never fails to deliver a good story. This one is set in the 80s, and the story revolves around the drug trade, specifically cocaine, and is set in the Bermudas. Aside from some cultural references, it has aged rather well, and you are able (mercifully) to pretend it takes place in another era, when people had smaller hairstyles and wore less pastels and shoulder pads. The sad part is, I only have a few Cornwell books left to read...
An interesting standalone story describing a situation wherein a number of regular folk with no particuar axe to grind are caught up in a drug conspirancy where violence pervades. All share competency in their work and lives, but none are particularly adept in the ways of violence. I suppose the story could be described as how "everyman" or "everywoman" might respond, because the primary characters could not have extricated themselves by themselves. Thus there is no Richard Sharpe or his ilk to persevere and fight his way out of the mess.