Ever bought something on a whim that turned your life upside down? That's what happens to our hero, the respectable and bookish Clement J. Cleggett. On a drive through Long Island, he impulsively purchases the Jasper B., a sailing ship that hasn't touched water in decades and sits marooned in a meadow. Cleggett, feeling a sudden call to adventure, decides his new life's mission is to dig a canal to the sea and sail her away. Simple enough, right?

The Story

Things get complicated fast. While exploring his new purchase, Cleggett discovers a skeleton bricked up in a cabin. Then, the glamorous opera singer Lady Agatha Fairhaven shows up, fleeing a mysterious and threatening man named Loge. It turns out the Jasper B. is sitting on land Loge claims to own, and he'll do anything to get Cleggett off it. What follows is a series of escalating, almost cartoonish battles. Cleggett recruits a crew of eccentric locals, including a reformed burglar and a dramatic journalist, to defend his ship-on-land. They face off against Loge's gang in midnight raids, using everything from ancient cannons to sheer wit. The story builds to a literal cliffhanger, as Cleggett finally gets his ship to water, only to find the real adventure—and Loge's true villainy—is just beginning on the open sea.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a joy because it refuses to be just one thing. It's a love letter to adventure novels, but it winks at the genre the whole time. Cleggett isn't a born hero; he's a guy who decides to be one because it sounds more interesting. The dialogue is snappy and clever, and the situations are so absurd you can't help but smile. Marquis has a great time poking fun at his characters' melodrama while still making you root for them. It's about the romance of adventure itself—the idea that buying a strange boat could unlock a world of danger, friendship, and purpose.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves the spirit of Robert Louis Stevenson or P.G. Wodehouse but wishes they'd collaborated on a nautical romp. It's for readers who want a clever, fast-paced escape that doesn't demand heavy emotional investment, just a willingness to go along for a very silly, very charming ride. If your idea of a good time is a landlocked ship, a villain named Loge, and a hero who fights with poetry as well as pistols, cast off with the Jasper B. You'll be glad you did.