Howard Butcher’s Razormouth: A Novel of Blood in the Sea opens with an idyllic scenario as marine biologists Cael Seabrook and his fiancée Aja fly above a scenic vista of the Caribbean. Working in the deep Gulf Stream waters by the Bimini islands, they find a huge leatherback sea turtle washed ashore on an empty beach. It has been cut in half by something at the midpoint of its shell. The couple suspects that they are on the brink of discovering a new species of ocean predator that they jokingly call Razormouth. But something goes wrong, as they soon find a dead man on their dock. The death of this mysterious stranger is linked to the Colombian drug cartel. Cael and Aja will soon get to know Concha Dores, the ruthless queen of cocaine, as well as Pelon, one of the emptiest and most cold-blooded killers in the underworld.

Razormouth: A Novel of Blood in the Sea offers the urgency that a great thriller demands. There is an air of calmness at the beginning of the story symptomatic of something that is bound to go wrong. There is so much to like here. Howard Butcher fills his plot with such intensity that it sizzles as soon as Cael discovers the dead man’s body, and it starts to take a toll on the serenity of his and Aja’s life. Part of the excitement is that Butcher has developed two intellectual protagonists going up against formidable madmen that will not hesitate to kill. This makes for a thriller with an emotional punch, and Pelon is a villain that you will long remember once you read about his crime blueprint. When life and death are at stake, Razormouth rises to the level, and you will not be disappointed because it maintains such a level to the finish.

Razormouth: A Novel of Blood in the Sea by Howard Butcher is an awesome, action-packed thriller that will take you on a journey with the protagonists. Aja and Seabrook are marine biologists. Recently engaged and researching on the Bimini Islands, the couple finds a half-eaten sea turtle and believes that it is the work of a new, dangerous species. Seabrook and Aja have no idea they are about to be embroiled in a deadly mystery that might end with their lives. Working tirelessly to figure out the new species, the couple gets a second shock when they find the body of a man and danger very close to their home. Before they know what has happened, Aja and Seabrook are embroiled in a case that includes missing millions of dollars, drugs, and even murder. While research and investigating marine life is all they know, Seabrook and Aja are no crime investigators. They need to survive this or else pay with their lives.

What a fantastic story. From the get-go, Howard Butcher lets readers know they are in for a bumpy and thrilling ride. Howard Butcher creates a compelling story of adventure, drama, action, and thriller, a combination that should never work, but somehow it does. Seabrook and Aja are adorable in the beginning but as Razormouth progresses, they become a little desperate and realize the situation is getting out of their hands. Their relationship, however, is very intense and soothing. They work together fabulously and protect each other. The mystery behind the dead man, the drug cartel, and the stolen money all tie in together at the end. I loved this and highly recommend it.