Review of The Spill

A Thrilling Novel

The cover of “The Spill” by Keith Abbott, will grab your interest, along with its title and subtitle—“Terrorists Contaminate the World’s Oil Supply . . . Can We Survive?”

Abbott’s style of writing in first person, begins to captivate readers with the opening of Chapter One. “Late-night phone calls are never a good sign. The piercing ring-tone jolts me awake.” Readers will hear what the author hears, see what he sees and feel exactly what he feels.

Based on Reality

While this is a work of fiction, a disaster that comes to mind when oil spills are mentioned is the actual event of the Exxon Valdez running aground in Alaska in 1989. It can happen. It’s happening now in other locations like Lagos, Nigeria, where “The Spill” takes place.

What’s also real about this story is the author’s experience working in the oil and gas industry throughout the world. His expertise as an attorney adds to the reality of his novel. He knows what happens when oil spills occur and in this, his debut novel, he’s unleashed his imagination to create a startling thriller.

A Disaster of Monumental Proportions

When disaster strikes, readers are taken on a journey from Colorado to Nigeria in the dead of night, along with oil company executives, attorneys and renowned scientists. As their plane flies over the coast of Lagos, they see that this spill has the makings of a disaster of monumental proportions—and it’s only the beginning.

Unintended Spill?

They arrive in Lagos with many questions but first, they must find a way to contain the spill, even while oil continues to spill into the sea at an alarming rate. They don’t yet know whether it was intentional or the unintended consequence of a sleeping computer operator in the harbor’s control room. However, when the operator is found dead, along with another person, both brutally murdered, more questions arise.

You'll Be Captivated

Abbott is adept at captivating readers with his choice of words. For example, about Denver he writes: “Moonlight reflects off the cold beauty of snow-covered peaks, and blinks through fast-moving storm clouds.” And about Lagos: “Through the fog he hears the hypnotic clanging sound of the rocking navigation buoys in the harbor . . .”

Plot Twists

I haven’t spoiled any of the story in my review. Readers are sure to delight in the plot twists that could not possibly be imagined by anyone other than Keith Abbott. However, “The Spill” might be compared to the thrillers written by John Grisham.