Killing Dragons

Along a Caribbean reef where sea dragons prey on dolphins, every dive is a gamble. Marine biologist Eva Paz is close to a breakthrough that could transform linguistics: decoding how dolphins communicate. Her progress stalls when police summon her to examine a dead fisherman, who turns out to be her mother's boyfriend.

Eva is racing a deadline to finish her library of dolphin whistles, and her grant depends on it. If the money dries up, her dolphins will be released into the dangerous open sea. A cartel leader offers to bankroll her research on one condition: she must help him capture the sea dragon. His help comes with strings attached, and he is willing to pay any price to get what he wants.

Geneticist Thomas Sternberg arrives on sabbatical to run a dive school, and he says he wants to help Eva. The two share a painful history. Years earlier, while Thomas served as a Navy SEAL, Eva's brother died under his watch and her dolphin was injured. Eva does not trust him, but can she put the past aside and work with him to stop the sea dragon and protect her dolphins?

The novel is the first book in the Order of the Dolphin series by Kristie Clark. It is pitched to readers of Jaws and Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. It can be read on its own, though the series continues with Dragon Gold and Dragon Clan. The book also includes discussion questions for book clubs.