Joseph Conrad's 'The Secret Sharer' is a masterclass in building tension. It’s short, but it packs a serious punch.

The Story

We meet a young, inexperienced captain on his first command. He's alone and unsure of himself, and his crew doesn't fully trust him yet. One hot, still night near the coast of Siam, he's alone on deck when he spots a naked man swimming beside the ship. On a strange impulse, he helps the man aboard. This stranger, Leggatt, confesses he's a fugitive—he killed a disobedient sailor during a storm on his own ship. The captain, feeling an immediate, deep connection to this outlaw, decides to hide him in his own cabin. The rest of the story is a nail-biting secret shared between them, as the captain must sail the ship, manage his wary crew, and plan a way to set Leggatt free without anyone finding out.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't really an adventure story about the sea. It's a story about the sea inside a person. Conrad uses the cramped cabin and the endless ocean to explore a man's mind. The captain sees in Leggatt a version of himself—bold, instinctive, capable of violence. By hiding him, he's essentially hiding a part of his own soul. The suspense comes from watching this internal struggle play out in the real world. Every glance from a crewmate, every order given, is loaded with double meaning. It makes you wonder what you would do in that impossible situation.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a psychological thriller or a character study wrapped in a gripping plot. It's also a great entry point into Conrad if you've been intimidated by his longer works. You can read it in one sitting, but you'll be thinking about the captain's final, daring maneuver—and what it says about friendship, duty, and self-discovery—long after you've finished.