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Papua Trilogy #3
The Pacific
As a war correspondent covering the Second World War, Ilsa Stahl isn't afraid to be on the front line. But when her plane goes down in a terrible storm over Papuan waters and she is taken prisoner by the Japanese, she has every reason to be terrified. Particularly as they plan to hand her over to the Nazis.
When Jack Kelly discovers that his only daughter has fallen into the clutches of the enemy, he will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means risking the life of his only son, Lukas. No one knows Papua the way they do; they may be Ilsa's only hope but time is running out.
Meanwhile, Major Karl Mann is sent on a secret mission to Indochina that will see him embroiled in Ilsa's rescue mission in ways he could never have imagined.
When Jack Kelly discovers that his only daughter has fallen into the clutches of the enemy, he will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means risking the life of his only son, Lukas. No one knows Papua the way they do; they may be Ilsa's only hope but time is running out.
Meanwhile, Major Karl Mann is sent on a secret mission to Indochina that will see him embroiled in Ilsa's rescue mission in ways he could never have imagined.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
315 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2001
26 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Peter Watt
58 books121 followersPeter Watt's life experiences have included time as a soldier, articled clerk to a solicitor, prawn trawler deckhand, builder's labourer, pipe layer, real estate salesman, private investigator, police sergeant and adviser to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. He has lived and worked with Aborigines, Islanders, Vietnamese and Papua New Guineans.
He speaks, reads and writes Vietnamese and Pidgin - and has a reasonable grasp of the English language. He currently lives in Maclean, on the Clarence River in Northern NSW.
Good friends, fine food, fishing and the vast open spaces of outback Queensland are his main interests in life. He also enjoys SCUBA diving, military history, crosswords (but not the cryptic kind) and teaching.
He is a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Training and Development and the Australian Society of Authors.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (University of Tasmania), Post Graduate Diploma of Training & Development (University of New England) and an Associate Diploma of Justice Administration (Sturt University).
He speaks, reads and writes Vietnamese and Pidgin - and has a reasonable grasp of the English language. He currently lives in Maclean, on the Clarence River in Northern NSW.
Good friends, fine food, fishing and the vast open spaces of outback Queensland are his main interests in life. He also enjoys SCUBA diving, military history, crosswords (but not the cryptic kind) and teaching.
He is a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Training and Development and the Australian Society of Authors.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (University of Tasmania), Post Graduate Diploma of Training & Development (University of New England) and an Associate Diploma of Justice Administration (Sturt University).
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 13, 2022
Another great book! Brought out the brutality of war ,what it must have been like fighting in the jungle with not only the "enemy, " but also the conditions malaria, dysentery and tropical diseases. I enjoy the way the author backs up the parts and the people who are real and the research that goes into all of his books. The writing of this book demonstrates how little is written about the pacific islands and the war there. Great well rounded book I was a bit disappointed when Lukas was killed however that played out well and after all there has to be a hero that dies
June 16, 2023
Great read as was the 3 book series
Love the way Peter Watt writes with determination to acknowledge the lesser known but nonetheless important and courageous actions of the WWII
Pacific series well worth reading
😊😊
Love the way Peter Watt writes with determination to acknowledge the lesser known but nonetheless important and courageous actions of the WWII
Pacific series well worth reading
😊😊
August 27, 2019
The storyline was simple and things just happened too easily for a 'thriller'. Overall a good read for time pass.
January 30, 2021
Some made it to the end
Another great story by this author hence the 5 stars. Three great stories who made it through to the end you will have to read the books to find out
Another great story by this author hence the 5 stars. Three great stories who made it through to the end you will have to read the books to find out
March 15, 2022
There is not enough written about these theatres of war. This is a bit of a soapy but I enjoyed the story and the history
September 2, 2025
I couldn't really get into this book. there were initially too many parallel threads that I lost track of them. it might have been easier if I'd read the other two books in the trilogy first.
March 15, 2014
This is another great book from the pen of a wonderful writer, man and Australian. Full review shortly. I finished this book quickly as I do with all his work, so easy to get involved with the characters.
Merged review:
Jack Kelly has two children, a son Lukas, adored as a friend and fellow combatant in their adopted country’s struggle for freedom. Papua New Guinea is the place Jack calls home and WWII sees him retired from active fighting, but, in a position to ensure volunteers like Lukas can be kept out of harm’s way. His daughter was estranged from him at an early age when his first wife left him.
Ilsa Stahl was raised in Germany by her mother and step father, until they moved to America. Her step father had been a high ranking Nazi who defected to the US before the war. Educated in America, Ilsa became a journalist, taking on correspondence work in dangerous war zones. She had fallen in love with a fellow American and did not expect to meet her paternal father again. Their one reunion was awkward.
While the war rages Lukas volunteer work in his small boat the ‘Riverside’, takes him into dangerous waters. He intends to ask his long time girlfriend to marry him when the battle with the Japanese is over. He and Jack could then return to their plantation home and live settled lives.
As with all Peters’ books, the characters carry you along with the battle. There is subterfuge behind enemy lines, desperation among prisoners of war and a battle that Jack once again goes into against the odds. The heartache is undeniable when Jack finds a member of his own family has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Peter Watt is a master story teller describing the scenery in PNG with the clarity of a man who lived and worked there. His background in the army and police-force create battle scenes that literally had me holding my breath. For anyone who has not yet shared in the wonderful exploits Peter’s books offer, this would be an excellent place to start.
Merged review:
Jack Kelly has two children, a son Lukas, adored as a friend and fellow combatant in their adopted country’s struggle for freedom. Papua New Guinea is the place Jack calls home and WWII sees him retired from active fighting, but, in a position to ensure volunteers like Lukas can be kept out of harm’s way. His daughter was estranged from him at an early age when his first wife left him.
Ilsa Stahl was raised in Germany by her mother and step father, until they moved to America. Her step father had been a high ranking Nazi who defected to the US before the war. Educated in America, Ilsa became a journalist, taking on correspondence work in dangerous war zones. She had fallen in love with a fellow American and did not expect to meet her paternal father again. Their one reunion was awkward.
While the war rages Lukas volunteer work in his small boat the ‘Riverside’, takes him into dangerous waters. He intends to ask his long time girlfriend to marry him when the battle with the Japanese is over. He and Jack could then return to their plantation home and live settled lives.
As with all Peters’ books, the characters carry you along with the battle. There is subterfuge behind enemy lines, desperation among prisoners of war and a battle that Jack once again goes into against the odds. The heartache is undeniable when Jack finds a member of his own family has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Peter Watt is a master story teller describing the scenery in PNG with the clarity of a man who lived and worked there. His background in the army and police-force create battle scenes that literally had me holding my breath. For anyone who has not yet shared in the wonderful exploits Peter’s books offer, this would be an excellent place to start.
April 1, 2012
Peter Watt has often been described as Australia's answer to Wilbur Smith. In The Pacific, he returns to the beloved characters of previous books as he combines elements of history, romance, humour and tragedy to keep his readers turning pages until they reach the end ... all too soon. This book feels like a completion of the story of the Jack Kelly and the Manns. It is worthwhile getting hold of the entire series and read through from beginning to end. Nevertheless, this book still stands on its own as a story gleaned from the pages of Australia's own history.
July 30, 2013
I liked Tjhe Pasific but there were some things that really annoyed me, mostly that everything happened too easily and some parts seemed too forced. And maybe that too much happened during a short period of time. I'm not so sure if this book makes me want to read more books from Peter Watt, but I gave three stars because it was omewhat interessting and showed things from a little different perspective.
July 3, 2015
I thoroughly enjoy Peter Watt's Papua series because it gives glimpses into earlier days of a country where I lived for 8 years. The books also highlight aspects of Australian as well as PNG history which has often been forgotten or unknown. The plot lines often challenge credibility but by using a few families he is able to draw the historical elements together so I can live with the extremely coincidental links.
January 17, 2016
A war correspondent in WWII crashes into the sea near PNGuinea and is taken prisoner by the Japanese who intend to hand her over to the Nazis. Tells the story of 'little-known heroes of WWII' who fought behind enemy lines in places like New Guinea and Solomon Islands. A great story based on history.
January 2, 2017
The third book in the Papua trilogy follows the characters of Jack Kelly and his family through to the conclusion of WWII. The third book does not disappoint and is easy to read as are the first two. There are a few unexpected twists and turns but the author moves the story along nicely without getting bogged down in lengthy battle descriptions.
May 27, 2014
The last in the trilogy - Papua; Eden; The Pacific.
We've waited a few years for Peter Watt to wrap up this saga for us! Whilst it had to be predictable in parts, there was still enough twists & turns to keep me interested.
Another page turner from Peter Watt.
We've waited a few years for Peter Watt to wrap up this saga for us! Whilst it had to be predictable in parts, there was still enough twists & turns to keep me interested.
Another page turner from Peter Watt.
September 22, 2016
My first Peter Watt book. Will not be my last, easy to read.
January 2, 2016
Another wonderful read by Peter Watt.
December 17, 2015
A good end to a truly epic trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews