Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, Hugh Edwards - renowned Perth treasure-ship hunter, pioneer scuba-diver, and author - publishes his latest book, Shark. More than a catalogue of gruesome and harrowing shark attacks, it is a fascinating attempt, based on half a century of experience with the creatures, to understand what makes the shark tick - and attack.

The book has a beguiling chemistry. It is a superbly crafted blend of first-hand reportage of the most vivid kind - Edwards has gone one-on-one with deadly great whites in a number of contexts - linked to marine science and pelagic ecology, with an admixture of shark folklore. It is also a fascinating memoir of Edwards' life-long love affair with the rugged, shark-haunted WA coast and its natural and maritime history.

As Edwards notes, like sharks, shark stories come in all shapes and sizes, this book is a cornucopia them and an engrossing read, supported by a range of stunning photographs.

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