Rating: 
Summary: A very interesting and well-researched book.
Review: I'm a budding history buff, but I found this book quite interesting. Zacks takes a very different approach to the legend of William Kidd (notorious pirate or misunderstood hero?) I found myself hoping that this story hit the nail on the head. One thing is for sure, Zacks did a ton of research on this topic and to his credit, managed to hold this readers' interest throughout the book. I recommend this book to anyone who has a passing interest in pirates (or history in general).
Rating: 
Summary: a bawdy, dubious history
Review: While bawdiness was characteristic of the time and element which are the subject here, this author has gotten a bit too swept-up in the spirit - the distasteful commentary is unnecessary and incessant, and detracts severely from the book. Secondly, he simultaneously acknowledges that there is a scarcity of reliable historic information regarding the subject at hand, yet presents here a greatly detailed account, which leads to the conclusion that most of his story is contrived speculation.
Rating: 
Summary: Get Ready To Stay Awake All Night - Reading & Smiling
Review: If you: prefer non-Fiction; are intrigued by the Age of Sail; would like to learn the True Story about Capt. Wm. Kidd; have a love/hate relationship with the Art of the Double-Cross, as a distant "literary" observer, of course; appreciate well-researched historical explanation, delightfully described by a first-rate true storyteller; and always suspected that somehow poor Capt. Kidd might have gotten a (very) raw deal; then you're in for one of the most enjoyable books you'll ever come across. I Loved It, and still do.
Rating:
Summary: Treasure Island beach Reading!
Review: A swash buckling adventure story if there ever was one. This books reads almost a compelling as "Treasure Island." It's full of 1700 intregue of the Court of England. The baudy but short life of a pirate and the search for the truth about Captain Kidd. The real eye opener for me was how embedded into theivery was the city of New York. We think of it as a dangerous place now but it appears to have always been this way! The level of detail in this book just adds to our belief in what we are told. It almost borders on historical fiction but then there is a citation to an actual diary or log book entry! Highly recommeded for reading at the beach.
Rating:
Summary: Really Good !
Review: Not only is the poignant story of Captain Kidd's life fascinating, this book yields a rich compendium of information concerning:
•The importance of piracy to the American colonies
•The incredible global nature of it
•The very common practice of legalized piracy (privateers) between warring nations of the time
•And the importance of the Caribbean Wars, their impact on Europe and the Americas.
Well written and researched, this book is a bit of an eye opener, one you will be glad you spent time with.
Rating:
Summary: Husband loved it as gift
Review: I bought this for my husband, interested in history but not interested in "dry" reading. He loves the book and enjoys the writing style and very interesting facts about the tedium of life during this time.
Rating:
Summary: Humans and their evil nature in XVII/XVIII century.
Review: One cannot possibly depict these times and individuals living in New England (Boston and NY colonies) better. What a great historical book, definitely not only about seamen!
Now I know how wealth became rooted in North America, how some families became so rich and influential. Everything has started then, when "dog ate dog", low and order existed but influenced heavily by corruption, greed, bribery and machinations of settlers and officials from England and other countries.
Unfairness of human's life was terrible: "wounded began to die, mostly boys, unpaid apprentices, killed while defending the treasure of the East India Company partners".
Nobody could be trusted and nothing counted but gold and valuables. Demand for goods (including slaves) was an unimaginable driving force. Land or island could be purchased for: "large black dog, a gun and ammunition, some rum, and a few Dutch blankets".
Exploitation, stealing, conspiracy, conniving, deceit were widely spread, accepted, and tolerated (not that it is much different today).
Merchants fought governors; governors, King, trading companies and Royal Navy- pirates; privateers hunted and robbed pirates and merchants' ships; pirates were stealing from pirates; colonies fought Old England Lords and governors; Councils and confederates contended governors; religious sects battled each other; legal merchants fought illegal merchants (latter financed by powerful, well connected and rich citizens/officials; and finally countries fought wars about influence and control over the trading sea roads to India.
This is a fascinating and recommended to everybody who loves historical books tale.
Rating: 
Summary: "Zacks" is not stranger than fiction
Review: I feel guilty that I cannot share the enthusiasm for this book that others have expressed. I have no doubt that Mr. Zacks' research was painstaking and he did present all the facts. It was an interesting narrative, but there were sections within the book where the facts turned dry, and I sensed that even Mr. Zacks lost interest; his prose turned almost flippant as if someone else had taken over his pen. I am a fan of historical fiction; I find it a painless and pleasurable way to study history provided the author has done his research. Several months ago, I read Nicholas Griffin's "The Requiem Shark." If you want to learn about piracy on a personal level, I would recommend Griffin's work. His research is sound and his narrative takes you deep inside this dangerous but carefree world. When I compare the two books, "Zacks" was not stranger than fiction, and I felt I learned more from the novel. That being said, if your specific interest is Captain Kidd, and not the world of pirates, then "The Pirate Hunter" is worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Shiver me gibbetts...
Review: Not much to add to the positive reviews here, others have pretty much got it. Highly entertaining story, wonderful, rich history, well detailed. A real page turner. What I want to stress is Richard Zacks' gift with the language. Candid, well spoken, but heads above the dry academic style you find so much in non-fiction. The man is very adept at spinning this yarn and providing the reader with a wink and a nudge without being cloying. Marvelous use of saucy speak. Here's to Zacks and to many more of his books. Aaaarghh!
Rating:
Summary: I loved this story
Review: Ok, I will make this brief. This reads like and action adventure story of the high seas, but is remarkably a piece of non-fiction. I could not put this book down. I found the story to be incredibly exciting.
In summary, if you would like to read an exciting pirate story I would highly recommend this book. Not only is it exciting, but it is also historically factual.
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