Marvin and Angela Baynes prepare to embark on their annual voyage to Alaska. Yet, as the boat anchor rises from the ocean floor, their excitement turns to horror as a ghastly image comes into view: the body of a young woman impaled on the anchor flukes. When detective Charlie Noble is called upon to investigate, he enlists the help of Raven, a Native American sea salvager. They find two more bodies. As the case unravels, Charlie and Raven make the connection that all of the dead females are Mexican, most likely young immigrants who have been murdered. Their investigation leads them to a suspicious father-and-son team, the Kincaids. Convinced that they are guilty, Charlie tracks the Kincaids down, ultimately discovering that they are, in fact, human traffickers. To further complicate matters, Charlie and Raven soon encounter a local woman from the harbor, who startlingly admits to murdering the girls when she discovers them in bed with the younger Kincaid. Was this really a crime of passion? Or was this perhaps another twist within a sordid underworld of prostitution and human trafficking? It is up to Charlie to piece together the missing elements of this baffling case-the only way he can save other young women from winding up at the bottom of the sea.

" Precious Cargo delivers a genuine punch, the kind that leaves the reader to ponder long after they have turned the last page. Clyde Ford is an authentic voice with a clear, deep and abiding knowledge of what motivates human conduct, good and bad. He has crafted a story with a solid sense of place, the fog shrouded inlets of the North Puget Sound, and a character, Charlie Noble — Ford's ‘scruff of the neck’ investigator. Precious Cargo is a gripping read that will stay with you as long as you have memory.”
-Steve Martini, New York Times bestselling author of Shadow of Power

“Clyde Ford writes with grace and dignity that he imbues in his protagonist Charlie Noble. Precious Cargo is a first rate mystery with characters you won't soon forget, a plot that keeps you up late at night turning the pages, and an ending that will surprise even veteran mystery readers.” -Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Jury Master

“ Precious Cargo is as genuine as the sea. Dive in and enjoy!”
-Elizabeth Lowell, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Smoke and Murder

“ Precious Cargo is an unforgettable portrayal of the beautiful and dangerous world of the coastal Northwest, with a smart, tough hero who lets his humanity show through”
-Barbara Parker, New York Times bestselling author of The Dark of Day

“Clyde Ford knows a great deal about crime and the human spirit, and he writes about them beautifully.”
-Robert B. Parker, New York Times bestselling author of Now and Then

“This fast-paced thriller grabs readers and holds them to the end.”
• Booklist

“Ford keeps the suspense high and smoothly propels his story to a satisfying conclusion.”
• The Seattle Times

“Strong characterizations, authentic surrounds, and striking prose.”
• Library Journal

“Author Ford, a trained psychologist and expert on African mythology, mixes solid suspense writing with thought-provoking human takes on some of the hot-button sociopolitical issues of the day…Intelligent and action packed.”
• Booklist

“Ford has a great ability to weave a mystery around a subject that is very timely. This is hardboiled and literate at the same time proving once again that this genre may really be the best window to the world around us.”
• Crime Spree Magazine