Adventure doesn't wait. It calls—loud, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.

One Phone Call That Changed Everything

In the fall of 1977, 19-year-old Dale "Catman" Ballard gets a call that changes everything. Trading the cold Midwest for the promise of freedom, he's pulled into a high-stakes world most only read about in drug smuggling books, organized crime books, and true crime stories books. His destination: Colombia. His mission: smuggle 13.5 tons of marijuana aboard The Mirage, a 76-foot yacht.

Into the Deep End of Survival

What follows is a true survival story—violent storms, mechanical failures, and rising crew tensions threaten everything. As Dale navigates waves and self-doubt, My Caribbean Run becomes a gritty, raw memoir of resilience, risk, and youth pushed to the edge.

A Real Survival Story, A True Crime Memoir

This gripping true crime memoir blends the thrills of Caribbean adventure books with the emotional depth of coming-of-age books and the tension of trafficking books. It's perfect for fans of true crime books nonfiction, true crime ebooks, and true crime kindle books.

What You'll Gain as a Reader

• A wild travel adventure book rooted in reality
• A powerful adventure memoir and travel memoir
• A vivid, firsthand account of the 1970s smuggling scene
• A page-turning mix of true crime books 2025 and real survival story

Ready to set sail?

My Caribbean Run is one of those true story survival books you won't forget.