Engines Over the Amazon: A Novel of Seaplanes in the 1930s

1934. Unemployment, soup lines, and desperation are a fact of life for many, but despite the darkness, people of means travel the world. The airplane is becoming a viable mode of travel, and flying boats offer the ultimate in luxury. Passengers lounge in ornate, spacious cabins, dine on cuisine served on fine china, eat with real silverware, and speed toward their destination at 150 miles-per-hour.

Caribbean Airways, with operational headquarters in Nassau, Bahamas, has just acquired the brand-new Sikorsky S-42 four-engine flying boat. With this plane, the airline will expand its territory deeper into South America. But first a survey flight must be made to check on facilities and the feasibility of the new route. The story follows the crew of five diverse characters who must work together to overcome mechanical issues, bad weather, corrupt local governments, and Nazi spies.