The Short Rope of Mary Critchett

The Short Rope of Mary Critchett is a gripping, historically accurate adventure based on the astonishing true story of one of the few recorded female pirates in early 18th-century America. Born into poverty in the grimy streets of London, Mary Critchett's life was shaped by hunger, hardship, and the need to survive in a world that offered her nothing. Convicted of theft and transported to the colonies, she endured the brutal reality of life in a penal colony as forced labor in indentured servitude—until she chose something far more dangerous: escape. With nothing but desperation and the fragile bonds of trust, Mary joins a ragtag crew of fellow convicts. Together, they steal a ship and sail into Chesapeake Bay with dreams of freedom and a future of their own making. But freedom has a price. Told with stark realism and emotional depth, this is not a tale of golden treasure and swashbuckling glory. The Short Rope of Mary Critchett is the haunting true story of a forgotten woman who defied her fate, paid the price, and left her mark in the shadowy world of piracy. This is Book 13 in the Pirate Women series, with each installment offering a unique, stand-alone adventure rooted in the lives of real women who defied expectations. The book includes a detailed historical timeline in the back to help separate fact from fiction and dispel centuries of myth.