Book Review of
Shell Games

Lynn's Review

Shell Games by Craig Welch was published in 2010. This book is true crime meets nature on the Pacific Northwest Coast. 

I got this book as one of my books for a book subscription to Elliot Bay Books in Washington State. I don’t think it is a book that I would have ever picked up, had it not been sent to me. That is why I love book subscriptions and independent bookstores. You find books you have never hear of that way. 

Shell Games is about the smuggling of America’s strangest wildlife, the Geoduck. 

Let me start by saying that I grew up not far from the Oregon Coast and only a few hours from where most of this book takes place, and I had no idea what a Geoduck was. I actually called my dad, a lifelong Oregonian, to ask if he knew about them. He did, and we had an interesting conversation about them, including how to pronounce Geoduck. 

A Geoduck is the world’s largest burrowing calm. They are a seafood delicacy and are worth millions on the black market. People will go to great lengths to find this prized clam. 

This book takes you to the bizarre world of black market seafood and the people who are trying to stop it. 

This book is the story of the smugglers who are stealing Geoducks and risk ruining Geoduck’s future, and the government officials are trying to stop them in order to save the Geoducks. 

This book is a fascinating read, perfect for fans of The Feather Thief, The Art Thief, and The Tree Thieves. I will say that the first half of Shell Games was a bit more technical and dry compared to The Feather Thief, The Art Thief, and The Three Thieves. There is a lot of build up and background about seafood, the coast, clams, and more, before you get to the weird crime part of th book. But if you can get past the detailed first half, the second half takes you on a wild ride. 

I started this book months ago and set it aside. Not because it was a bad book, but I had other books keeping my attention better. I think I just got bogged down in the details. I was determined to finish it by the end of the year, so I picked it back up and flew through the second half. 

This book might not be for everyone, but it is a great book for those who want to know more about the Pacific Northwest or who love books about true crime and nature.