RED TIDE by M.P. Woodward

Reviewed by Tracey Devlyn

New York Times bestselling author M.P. Woodward has taken readers from the CIA’s covert corridors (The Handler) to the high-finance world of Jack Ryan, Jr. (Line of Demarcation). Now, in RED TIDE, he sets the stage for his most explosive battleground yet—the high seas.

Rear Admiral Will Cole is easing into retirement, enjoying a rare gathering of his Navy-strong family, the “Fighting Coles,” when the commander of the Pacific Fleet pulls him back into the fray. An aircraft carrier going through an extensive refit must be expedited through drydock—fast—to make way for another vessel limping into port. If Cole fails, the U.S. will lose carrier coverage in the Pacific—just as tensions with China over Taiwan are reaching a boiling point.

What Will doesn’t yet realize is that China’s offensive has already begun. Their goal? Take Taiwan—and with it, control of the world’s most critical supply of advanced semiconductor chips. Chips that power everything from smartphones to the Navy’s cutting-edge war arsenal.

To succeed, Cole reluctantly turns to an unexpected ally: Reserve commander and tech-savvy venture capitalist Gabe Sorkin. With ties to the DOD’s new Defense Innovation Office, Sorkin pushes Cole to think outside the bureaucratic box—and fast.

As the situation deteriorates, the entire Cole family is drawn into the escalating conflict. Together, they’ll face a harrowing test of loyalty, ingenuity, and sacrifice. The only question is—what will it cost them?

Woodward expertly blends geopolitical tension, naval operations, and emotional depth. How the author kept Lucy Cole and Gabe Sorkin from stealing the entire show is a literary miracle. RED TIDE is an intensely gripping military thriller, but also a heartfelt salute to those who serve, and the families who serve beside them.

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USA Today bestselling author Tracey Devlyn once dreamed of becoming the next Dian Fossey and exploring the wilds of Africa—until she met chemistry and calculus. With an enthusiasm for research that fuels the creative (and occasionally disturbing) plot twists her characters must navigate, it’s no surprise that her suspense-laden stories thrill readers and reveal the nefarious nature hiding behind her smile. Despite the emotional rollercoaster she delivers on the page, Tracey enjoys a laid-back, fleece-and-boots lifestyle with her husband and rescue dog in the mountains of North Carolina. Visit Tracey at TraceyDevlyn.com, @AuthorTraceyDevlyn on Facebook, @traceydevlyn on Bluesky, @traceydevlyn on Instagram, @traceydevlyn on Threads, and @traceydevlyn on X.

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