The Minorcan Odyssey follows the journey of Malachi Lamarca, a courageous Minorcan who escaped from a brutal colony where he worked as an indentured servant. Malachi waged a guerrilla campaign at sea-sinking British warships and capturing enemy cargo. After the war, he returns to St. Augustine. Determined to build a new life, Malachi converted his ship into a disguised cargo vessel, undertaking missions for the Spanish governor. His voyages are perilous-he narrowly survives an assassination attempt by a man seeking revenge for his brothers lost in battle and later fends off an enemy ship. Malachi's strong alliances with the Seminole tribes prove life-saving more than once, reflecting his deep respect for freedom and cultural harmony. He goes to great lengths to prevent an African American family, who are his friends, from being sent back to a slave owner in South Carolina. This is due to a fraudulent claim that their manumission papers were illegal. A man of principle, Malachi is a vocal opponent of slavery, telling friends, "No person should own another person." He finds new love, marries, and embraces Minorcan traditions, including the lively custom of the Shivaree. The novel paints a rich portrait of daily life in East Florida, celebrating the resilience, values, and spirit of the Minorcan people. In the thrilling conclusion, Malachi is ambushed by river bandits while transporting goods from the Seminoles. Though the attack is sudden and fierce, Malachi once again survives-unbowed, unbroken, and true to his legacy. The purpose of this book is to call attention to the Minorcan culture centered in St. Augustine, Florida.

Robert P. Jones, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, former St. Augustine bricklayer, and longtime fisheries association executive, is in his 93rd trip around the sun. He is passionate about telling the story of the Minorcans, who arrived at Andrew Turnbull's colony in 1768-and, after nine harrowing years during which over half the colonists perished, walked seventy miles north to freedom in St. Augustine. His passion is personal. His late wife, Malinda Usina Jones, to whom he was married for 67 years, was a descendant of one of those original colonists. Her great-great-great-great-grandmother is among the 964 whose graves remain lost in the soil of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.