The statute of limitations has run, so the story can now be told. Pirates are still out there, flintlock pistols and schooners traded for assault rifles and black-painted Zodiacs. Based on his experience as an international lawyer and pilot, Timothy Grant Acker tells a riveting tale of modern-day pirates in the unpredictable waters of the Caribbean. Juan’s crew of outcasts and thieves from various countries lived at the edge of a dusty village in Southern Haiti, not far from the Dominican Republic border. They were safe in Haiti—a country of refuge for pirates and thieves, for injustice and abuse. The village itself consisted of fewer than a hundred hovels of sticks, paper, and earth, all clustered together. The inhabitants made their living from fishing and meager farming. Their bodies were thin, and souls depressed. It was typical Haiti. The pirate’s neighborhood, though, prospered a little from the thieves’ spending. A few residents dedicated a portion of their homes to selling groceries, supplies, and light hardware, or providing their skills—a couple of seamstresses, a mechanic, and a panga boat repairman. Opportunities to buy alcohol and drugs were abundant, as were women who offered the usual services. A “policeman” was paid by Juan to guard his belongings, prevent problems, and report on everything that happened. He was always wearing the mock badge Juan once pinned on him. Pirates, Scoundrels, and Saints tells the riveting tales of modern-day pirates in the unpredictable waters of the Caribbean—not Jack Sparrow caricatures, but real men and women driven by their pasts. Juan is fiercely loyal to his crew and loves adventure, but did he bite off too much by attacking a luxury cruise ship filled with Argentina’s ruthless elites? His son, Ivan longs to build a respectable life with the beautiful daughter of a prominent Dominican Republic family, but how can he convince Ileana that he is no longer a ruthless pirate? Maria’s life fell apart when her father died at sea, but she found a new one climbing the ranks of Juan’s crew. When she’s nearly killed leading their most ambitious raid, Maria begins to regret her new life. Peter, an American expatriate, was a Catholic missionary until alcohol cost him everything. Wondering the hills of Haiti in search of redemption, he begins caring for a young lady who is recovering from a gunshot that should have killed her. Timothy Grant Acker creates an unforgettable cast that brings us into a world filled with danger and corruption, love and redemption. "Great story with great characters. Adventure and life lessons pack the book." - Brandi B Biffle "An engaging story of modern-day pirates in the choppy waters of the Caribbean that reminded me of the novel, The Treasure Island. What makes this novel so authentic and real is the author's adventures as a pilot and a lawyer. The author develops the tale, characters, the surprises, the drama, the adrenaline rush, and the mystery drawing from his experiences, the places visited, the people he met, and above all his knowledge of the sea. Read this book and get a first-hand, present-day peek into the life of buccaneers and scoundrels." - PAT MITCHELL "I love books based on true stories, and Mr. Acker's experience shines through in this one. This book has all the hallmarks of a great heist novel. The characters are so well written that it's easy to forget that you're rooting for criminals - although Mr. Acker does a great job of creating moral ambiguity by pointing out that the "victims" of the heist got rich by exploiting others and manipulating laws. How morally wrong is it to steal wealth from those who obtained it unjustly in the first place? The reader can grapple with this. If I had one piece of advice to the author, it would be to carefully limit the number of times he uses the word "was" and "were" in describing things, as those are weak linking verbs, and could be replaced by stronger verbs. Regardless, this was a great book, and I'm sure his next novel will be even better!" - Andrea Ramirez B. "As someone who is familiar with both Latin and Caribbean culture, I cannot recommend this book enough. It reads like a true insider's tale of bravery, death, and corruption set against a background of stunning beauty and poverty. I highly recommend. You will be hooked from the first chapter." - Eric Petrov "This book was a lot of fun to read. Pirates, Scoundrels and Saints: Paraiso is a super realistic and lively adventure - the plot is exciting and well-paced, and you can tell the author knows (lived?) a lot of the exploits. Anyone who has traveled in the Caribbean can feel the authenticity that comes through with Acker's writing, and he does a great job getting the reader to root for the "bad guys" (and to think about who, really is bad after all?). Great character development as well, and I appreciated how they each played into each other; and who doesn't love strong female pirates?! The range of adv