Bermuda is at the centre of a crime fiction book written by a sailor who fell in love with the island and its people on visits here. Entanglement — Quantum + Otherwise, John K. Danenbarger’s first novel, “unravels the generational impact on reality after the death of a loved one”.

Q: What’s Entanglement about?

A: An explosive collision between a pick-up truck and a Volvo erases two momentous scientific discoveries. Quantum probability results in complex emotional entanglements. Voices return from the dead. A bloodstained piano becomes an heirloom. Although a picture-perfect family, Beth Sturgess divulges an ignominious past (much set in Bermuda) to her loving husband — who has deadly secrets. Mistakes are fatal.

With deeply flawed, relatable characters, is an intricate literary crime story that unravels the generational impact on reality after a loved one’s death.

Q: Is this your first novel?

A: Yes, this is my debut novel.

Q: What led you to feature Bermuda in your book?

A: I featured Bermuda because I love Bermuda. Period. The story I always tell about the kindness and consideration of the Bermudian people is when I had to take a large engine battery from the yacht to a marine shop in Hamilton on a rented scooter. I had barely ridden a scooter before and was concentrating on driving on the “wrong side of the road” (left-hand driving being difficult for us foreigners), when two different cars stopped to help me. The first one saw that I was riding without a helmet and stopped to tell me to put it on.

The second car stopped to ask if he could help me when I was trying to get the scooter going again. That told me everything. I was stunned by the kind consideration.

Q: So you have been to Bermuda?

A: I sailed a 46ft sloop from Salem Harbor to Hamilton’s Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the first time with my son and our spouses. We slept on board, but explored the island on motor scooters both times.

The second time, I sailed with two male friends on the way down and, since one friend had to suddenly return alone by plane, we sailed with my one friend and his adult son back to Massachusetts. The Newport to Bermuda Race was arriving the second time we were there, so we had to move the boat to another harbour.

Q: When was the last time you were here?

A: I sailed on my own yacht to Bermuda twice from New England (Salem, Massachusetts to be exact). Both trips were about two years apart; sorrowfully, the last time being a little more than ten years ago. I miss Bermuda.

Q: According to your publicist you sailed off the coast of Bermuda and New England with the Merchant Marine. How did that come about?

A: The “merchant marine” is a sort of misnomer because it is not related to the Marines, but a merchant marine licence allows a sea captain to sail a ship up to a certain weight level, and is required for ships with paying passengers and/or freight. I took the merchant marine exams because I wanted to raise my competency level as a sailor.

Q: How does Bermuda fit into Entanglement’s plot?

A: Bermuda is a haven and cure for a young woman who has been ruined by drugs. Second, it is an eroding haven for a wealthy criminal who inherited his wealth from his family’s slave trade. Thirdly, it is a metaphor for human values which enrich and influence the characters who live there and the young lady character, shown through the actions of a kind Bermudian woman and her acquaintances.

Q: Do you plan to do a book signing here?

A: Our publicity team hasn’t scheduled anything as of yet, but it would certainly be a tremendous pleasure to return to Bermuda again.

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