In the 1600's Dutch were masters of the spice trade in the East Indies. This is their non fiction story involving the new Dutch ship Batavia's wreck with over 200 passengers on a small atoll near Australia on its maiden voyage. The ship's master and a small number of the crew in quest of help is able to sail from this wreck to reach the original destination leaving behind the rest of the crew at the mercy of a psychotic killer. The main story is how this mad man leaves only 80 people alive to be rescued. If you like history, adventures of the sea, and horror stories you will like this one.