I was astonished to see that the author of Quint is an Englishman. This book seemed to me so quintessentially American in the same earthy, human nature dissections as "Moby Dick" and Hemingway's "The Old Man and The Sea". Quite honestly this book deserves to be put on the same pedestal.
I don't believe that it's a spoiler to reveal that this is the back story of Quint, a crucial character from the film Jaws. The old sea dog, Quint, has been shaped by violence, abandonment and war. A survivor from a real second world war disaster that befell and sorely embarrassed the US Navy . Life keeps kicking him and he just keeps going, laconic and determined.
I honestly couldn't put this book down

I remember seeing Jaws as a child at the cinema this book is the memoir of the main charater.

An interesting idea for a book and a good read especially if you love Jaws

I found this to be a captivating novel that immerses you into the world of Quint, who is the iconic character (the shark hunter” played by Robert Shaw in the film Jaws.

It was quite well crafted and gave a great look into the backstory of a great character from a film we all know and love.

When I first saw Jaws as a kid I was terrified for years after and he was one of my favourite characters, and so I enjoyed this immensely. Dark and gritty in parts it was also a great eye opener into his past and why he is the way he is.

Very well written and one to look out for.

I recently re-read Peter Benchley’s “Jaws” (1974) recently because I was aware of this novel on the horizon which is a memoir of main character Quint. Now, I’m not totally convinced that the shark fisherman is the most resonant character in the book but it is the portrayal by Robert Shaw in the movie that made the deepest impression on this author and fifty years on from Benchley’s publication it is fascinating to see this character from another perspective.
Everything that takes place here is pre-Jaws. It’s a document found after Quint’s death which was written in the late 60s and looks back focusing on two events, his wartime experience on board the Indianapolis and a memorable fishing experience nine years later. So, what we have here is a sea-drenched historical novel with flashes of Melville’s “Moby Dick”, a touch of what I’d imagine Hemingway to be like (it’s been many years since I read him) and perhaps more unpredictably, “Pinocchio” with quotes from the children’s classic by Carlo Collidi running throughout.
What gives this novel greater depth is that Quint was on board the Indianapolis, which was the last American battleship to be sunk in World War II on the way back from carrying the atomic bomb which would destroy Hiroshima by a Japanese sub. The crew entered the water and because of the nature of their mission no-one knew they were there as they fought for survival for five days. It wasn’t long before man-eating sharks came circling.
In the most powerful section of the book what happened in the sea then runs alongside a solo fishing trip with Quint, nine years later, newly arrived in Amity and trying to prove himself. With these two narratives running alongside one another we get an intense, visceral read which works so well.
Before this the narrator delves into his background to explore what makes Quint who he is and it’s a decidedly macho tale of a loner with fights, booze and contests to prove himself. He’s never likeable but that actually doesn’t matter here as it’s the larger story- a naval history disaster pitched against man’s battles with the deep and what comes up from it which exerts a significant punch. The combination of a character most will have some awareness of, the historical tragedy and a vividly created man vs sea adventure sequence produces a valid tribute to Benchley’s Quint. I enjoyed this just as much as “Jaws”.
Quint is published on 1st February 2024 by The Borough Press. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Before there was Jaws, there was… QUINT

Fifteen years since I landed on Amity, an island full of rich folks adrift between the Hamptons and Montauk.

Got a business and a boat, got me a truck with my name and a pretty shark scratched on the door. Carved it myself. Bad job.

I got ghosts around me, lot of ghosts. Gotta put ‘em somewhere. Can’t drink ‘em all. Ain’t here for company, and I only got two stories for telling company anyways.

Thinking if I get them stories down, on paper mind, then that’s just between me and the ink.

You already know the end of his story: now find out where it all began. So much more than a fisherman, Quint is a survivor, a fighter, a man who has left three wives in his wake.

From his time as a young sailor facing the horrors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, to a deadly night-long showdown with a frenzy of sharks years later, before he finally settles on the island of Amity.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched Jaws. It could well be my favourite film. If I put my mind to it I could probably recite large chunks of dialogue. I’ve read Peter Benchley’s novel. I have t-shirts, artwork and even a Jaws tattoo. Hell, the only time I’ve ever visited the United States, I made a pilgrimage to Martha’s Vineyard just so I could take a look at where Jaws was filmed.

In the film, Robert Shaw imbued Quint with a roguish charm. Initially appearing larger than life, you soon come to realise there was a pain at the core of the man. The copious amounts of booze and self-imposed isolation are just a poor attempt on his part to mask a truly broken soul. Robert Lautner’s new novel delves deeper into this tragic character’s backstory.

Quint, the man, is a creature of a different era. Events like The Great Depression and the Second World War have shaped his attitudes. He’s not a hero by any stretch of the imagination. I’m not even sure he is that likeable, to be honest. Words like cantankerous and opinionated spring to mind. I think though, he’d be the first to admit to that. The novel is written in Quint’s distinct cadence and he doesn’t hesitate to offer his thoughts on all manner of subjects, from the banal to the deeply philosophical.

This prequel cements the inevitability of Quint’s ultimate fate. He knows he is never going to die of old age. There is always going to be a reckoning with the events of his past. That sense of impending doom permeates every page. We all know where Quint’s journey is heading and I think he knows it too in his heart of hearts. Like a modern(ish) day Ahab, he is consumed by the primal forces of the ocean.

The narrative is peppered with flashbacks to the events with the USS Indianapolis and in these moments the story devolves into pure psychological horror. Groups of terrified sailors surrounded by death. It’s not just the threat of the opportunistic apex predators in the water but also the risk of dehydration, exhaustion and starvation. The tension the author creates here feels palpable. As the days drag by, death becomes a constant companion. There is little doubt these events left Quint plagued by survivor’s guilt, not that I think for a single moment he would ever admit that out loud.

I was constantly reminded of Robert Shaw’s rivetting monologue in Jaws, where he talks about the terror of suddenly having hope. Just at the point where Quint is preparing for his seemingly inevitable demise, he realises he might just be saved. In that same second, he also recognises he could just as easily still die before help arrives. That thought has always struck me as the textbook definition of fear. To be crippled by a sense of hopelessness, immobilised by the threat of danger.

For the eagle-eyed cinephiles amongst you, there are a few nice little easter eggs to spot. I’ll say no more than that. I have no desire to spoil any surprises.

More than anything I think this novel is the character study of a man who is fundamentally changed by a single life-altering event. Quint is a strong, often overbearing soul who survives a horrific experience but is haunted by it for the rest of his days. Nowadays I guess we call this post-traumatic stress disorder, but back then in the aftermath of the Second World War, the expectation was you survived so just move on.

Quint is a fascinating read and, unsurprisingly, works as a perfect companion piece to its celluloid sibling.

Quint is published by Harper Collins and is available now. Highly recommended.

Phew, I managed to get through my entire review without using the phrase salty sea-dog*…dammit!

*To my eternal shame I did use this expression when I reviewed Jaws. I’m still embarrassed.

If you loved the movie JAWS then you will devour this book ( no pun intended ).
The character of Quint who is played by the brilliant Robert Shaw in the movie and as I was reading the book the actors voice came flowing through.
This book isn't for the faint hearted its brutal and takes you on the journey of what happened to the crew of the boat Indy.

Firstly I love Jaws and have recently introduced my sons to the experience too and it has aged very well.
I was really looking forward to an extension of the Jaws universe but sadly I was left a little disappointed by this book.
There's a story here but it's a bit of a slow-burner and a bit haphazard.
I found the first half of the book a very difficult read which short sentences just reflecting the main character's (Quint's) thoughts that chopped and changed all over the place and it was really difficult to stick with it as it wasn't an easy flow at all.
However, the second half (roughly) of the book gets a bit more story and the structure of the writing is easier to enjoy.
I'm glad I stuck with it and got the action at the end but in hindsight it was more of a character examination than a novel and I'd personally only recommend it if you like a character examination and/or want a good book club read or something to dissect in detail. If you're after an adrenaline adventure look elsewhere, at least first.
It was nice to re-visit the Jaws universe but it was hard work (at least for me) overall.

The book centres around Quint, undoubtedly the most interesting and enigmatic character from “Jaws”.

Throughout the book we find out about his childhood life in an Irish immigrant family, his three marriages, his trek across the United Sates, and of course how he managed to escape the sharks who caused the deaths of most of his fellow crew mates aboard the ill fated USS Indianapolis after she was torpedoed in the Pacific Ocean. And of course his arrival on Amity Island.

The author has successfully written in Quint’s voice as we know him from the movie, so you can’t help but see and hear Robert Shaw, complete with his mannerisms.

Quint has been fleshed out and given more personality, though he still remains the alcoholic, toxic, slightly racist and misogynistic salty sea dog we love to hate from the movie. He has no redeemable qualities, though you can’t help but be drawn into his life.

I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed this book and was ‘hooked’ from the first chapter. If you love literary character-driven books, Peter Benchley’s ‘Jaws’ or Spielberg’s movie you will surely love this.

“Here’s to swimmin’ with bow legged women”

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so if you like Jaws and want the background this a great book. It is well written and provides a really good insight to Quint. However,, I just felt the book drifted and it didn't work for me.

Great story and storytelling. Loved the stories, the well rounded characters and the excellent style of writing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Quint certainly is a character. A survivor from the sinking of the USS Indianapolis when he was a young man, where so many of his fellow matelots fell prey to sharks. It changed his view of life for sure and he used his knowledge of sharks to make a living from shark fishing. The novel climaxes with an all night battle between Quint, sharks and a bloated dead whale. It was gripping stuff. Within the novel Quint gives his perspective of life either through thoughts or his own speech and the sentence structure is quaint to say the least. Whilst Quint talks of the deep, I didn't think the novel had a great deal of depth. Seemed a bit mono in a world of surround sound. If you have an unfathomable fear of sharks then Quint could be your catalyst or maybe your nemesis?
My rating for this novel is 3.5 but with rounding it becomes 4.

It matters not whether you’ve seen Jaws. This is a brilliant character study; Quint as a person with flaws, quirks and frailties leaps off every page, I saw Jaws on release 50 years ago and it was memorable for many reasons. In my view, non of the sequels match up. Quint was portrayed well but it’s so inventive to take his whole back story and turn it into a standalone book.

Robert Lautner has given him substance and credibility with a truly fascinating background, partly woven around fact. It’s a stunning achievement and should be the book that many are talking about next year. A winner.

I first saw Jaws as a child and, like most people, it had a huge impact - I became scared that even the swimming pool might contain a shark but also a lifelong fan of Steven Spielberg. It's a film that even today I can't go past when it's on TV so I have probably seen it more than pretty much any other film, yet it remains close to perfect to me.

One of, if not the most memorable characters is Quint, played by Robert Shaw. From his first appearance to his horrific ending, but most especially through his drunken monologue about his experiences on the USS Idiananpolis, he makes a huge impression and comes through as a fully fleshed person with very little background necessary. There's massive potential to tell more though and that is what Robert Lautner has done here, to incredible effect.

I'm far more familiar with the film than the Peter Benchley book it's based on, probably like most other people, and the author says himself this is the character he is developing (I did read the book many years ago but it has certainly been overshadowed by the film for me). It took me a little while to get into the way the book is narrated as it is done entirely in the voice of Quint, as Robert Shaw portrays him, but it soon became natural.

The story told of Quint's past relationships, the experiences that shaped him, the choices he makes and how he ends up on Amity Island are absolutely convincing and the retelling of the Indianapolis, particularly when combined with Quint dealing with a dead whale and the sharks that follow it, are genuinely tense. I found myself nervous for him throughout despite knowing exactly what happens to him, and I really appreciated the little touches that are a hint to what we know is coming, such as Quint singing Farewell and Adieu You Fair Spanish Ladies to himself, as he does in the film.

In 2024, it will be 50 years since the publication of Jaws (the film followed a year later) and this is a perfect way to mark the anniversary. There are lovely little introductions to characters who will appear in the timeframe we all know and this felt like both a tribute and a superb addition to the originals. One of my favourite books of the year.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

#NetGalley

Quint is a quite stunning book by Robert Lautner. The story of the tough old Sea Dog played by Robert Shaw in Jaws it tells of Quint's hard life,the childhood poverty, the drifting,brawling and his fateful wartime service on the USS Indianapolis at the age of 19. The book is told in different timelines, Quint's time on the Indianapolis and his attempts 9 years later to rejoin the Navy leading to his appearance at Amity and less than friendly welcome.
This is so much more than an action novel, Quint might be uneducated but he's no fool and is almost philosophical on the nature of wars, who starts them and who does the fighting, the hypocrisy and lies. He avoids people because he knows all about them and doesn't expect much, when he does come into contact he's aggressive and confrontational, almost happier when he's on the sea hunting Sharks.

I got far more out of this book than I expected,it's a whole lot more than just "a Jaws prequel" , There are echoes of Steinbeck and Hemingway and 2 stunning action sequences at different times and locations that Lautner manages to alternate without losing the impact of either.
An exceptional book.

'Quint' is a prequel, of sorts, to 'Jaws' - focusing on the novel's titular character as played by Robert Shaw in the movie. (As the author says in is afterword it is based more on the movie than the book).
As we know from the movie, Quint survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during the Second World War and this novel splits between his life after the war and the incident that caused him to leave the navy.
It's a literary work - at times reminding me of Steinbeck, at other times Hemmingway (and not just for the obvious 'Old Man and the Sea' element although there is certainly plenty of that in the sea struggles detailed in the book.
It is, more than anything, a character story - sure, there's plot(s), but it's very much focused on Quint himself and how much a reader takes to the novel will depend to some degree how much they are interested in the character (both initially (I'm assuming the vast majority of readers will come to this because of 'Jaws' - whether book or film or both.) and as the story progresses (not too much of a spoiler to say that the character was never a lovable, affable chap that was transformed into the figure we saw Shaw portray).
It might be that for some there are not enough redeeming or even sympathetic characteristics in the central character himself to be truly engaged by the book - he has, as portrayed the same sort of attitudes and approaches as characters in pulp noir novels of the likes of Jim Thompson for me his voice: presented as a diary like oral history effectively captured - albeit sometimes ranging in literary skill and vocabulary that seems at odds wit itself
The first person narrative works (we know after all he's going to survive whatever is described in the book) although I wasn't quite so taken with every chapter ending quoting from Pinocchio.
The story itself is a slow burn rather than a page turner: while there are big action moments in it, it didn't have the tension or 'must read one more page' of a 'thriller'. - but as stated: this is definitely a literary piece - much more so than the original source novel so I'm not judging it in the same way I would a 'thriller'.
The author is at pains to say he wanted to pay tribute not trivialise through 'thrills' the men and events of the USS Indianapolis and to that end he certainly succeeds: the novel worked as an interesting blend of real life history and one of cinema's most memorable characters.

I liked it! What a brilliant book ! Awesome! Narration, subject briefly everything in this book was perfect !

I saw JAWS in the cinema the summer it came out in 1975. It has been a favourite ever since. I read the Peter Benchley novel about the same time. The character of Quint is enigmatic in the movie ( brilliantly played by Robert Shaw!) so this book intrigued me. All the time I was reading I heard Shaw’s voice and saw his face. I didn’t really get the significance of the USS Indianapolis reference in the film ( true story). Quint relates it in this book. It is not for the faint hearted! There are many very descriptive passages of what happened to the crew of the Indy and also of Quint’s shark fishing. The style of writing is perfect - it’s as if the reader is sitting in a room with Quint and just listening to him explain his life choices. I thought the book might end when he meets Officer Brody and Hooper but it stops long before he does. I shall look on Quint differently next time I watch the movie. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a prepublication ebook in exchange for an honest review.