Blood Tide

Jones ( Blood Sport ) builds his story of double revenge into a masterful adventure. Betrayed in Vietnam by a POW named Turner and ordered to resign from the Navy, Korean War veteran James Culdee is living out his days in a rum stupor when his daughter Miranda returns to his life. Determined to recover her stolen sloop, Miranda shanghais her father and sets sail for the Philippine Flyaway Islands, where her vessel has been sighted. Although the region is ruled by drug smugglers and pirates, Miranda, through her friend and longtime shipmate Effredio, gains the backing of insurgent Padre Cotinho, whose group has at its disposal armament left behind by Hirohito's navy and who envisions redressing a grievance against U.S. Navy ``pirates.'' Learning that, amid other bloodshed, Effredio has been crucified, Miranda pledges to avenge his death, whether she retrieves her boat or not. Having heard that the U.S. ``pirate'' who ordered the horrible murder was none other than Turner, Culdee is already determined to stay and fight. A memorable sea battle resolves all. (Mar.)