Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Thorley Sinclair's 1000 Days follows Jack Driscoll, the Chief Safety Officer on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Guinea, investigating the suspicious death of a crew member, Marcus Puskar. Initially ruled an accident, Jack uncovers evidence suggesting foul play, pointing to a smuggling operation involving drugs and weapons on the rig. As Jack digs deeper, he learns that Marcus had been blackmailing an engineer over his involvement in these illegal activities. The investigation grows tense, with Jack facing pressure from senior management to downplay the case, especially with the rig’s 1000-day milestone without injuries approaching. Jack’s search for the truth reveals hidden ties between crew members and organized crime, leading to a dangerous confrontation. The investigation unfolds against the backdrop of the rig’s looming safety milestone, testing Jack’s resolve to uncover the real cause of Marcus’s death.

Thorley Sinclair does an excellent job of ratcheting up suspense in 1000 Days. I love stories that take place around the industry of black gold, but when you mix rig work and a murder mystery? I'm sold. Sinclair does not disappoint. The Nicodemus rig feels like a character in itself—claustrophobic, isolated, and pumping out some serious drama. Sinclair’s writing is textured and effectively portrays the constant sense of unease and the pressure on everyone. The pacing is sharp, with action balanced by moments that come across as authentically human, particularly with Lena, who was actually my favorite character. She's a mixed bag of moral ambiguity with a complicated past that's the very definition of what it means to take on the sins of the father, and connections that don't do her any favors in the overall mystery. Jack is great as a main character, but only because Sinclair breathes such life into him. Together, the one-eye-open approach provides more tension than any Tempest Diana. Crafty, sharp, and very highly recommended.