WINNER of the 2020 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD

A gripping suspense-thriller set in an exotic shadow world from award-winning author Toni Bird Jones.

The islands frightened her with their uncivilized rawness. They looked like a place where anything could happen, a godforsaken outcrop at the end of the world.

Seafaring chef Ella Morgan is an honest woman--until her life falls apart. When her dream of owning a restaurant is shattered by her father's death and the loss of her inheritance, she is suddenly alone in the world. Desperate for money, she risks a one-time chance to crew on a drug run with a trusted captain, only to find herself fighting for her life in a violent underworld.

Set in the Caribbean, The Measure of Ella is a dramatic story of love, murder, high-seas action, and the consequences of pursuing a dream at all costs. Like The Girl on the Train, it unwinds with gripping suspense from a woman's point of view. With its brave, strong, complex female protagonist at the helm of a high seas adventure, The Measure of Ella is entirely unique.

"A compelling, fast-paced thrill ride." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Women who look for strong, believable female protagonists and blends of seafaring adventure with personal growth will relish The Measure of Ella for its intrigue, its ethical conundrums, and its realistic protagonist whose life choices propel her into dangerous waters." -- Midwest Book Review

"A page-turning thriller set in the murky underworld of the Caribbean that's a must for all who wish to enter an exciting new environment for an adventure." -- Michael Chapman, cinematographer, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull

"Five STARS Excellent sea story with smuggling, murder, and betrayal." -- Vigilant Reader