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Firing Point
Below the polar ice cap, an American nuclear submarine moves quietly through the murky sea, tailing a new Russian sub. But the clandestine game of hide-and-seek between opposing captains ends with an explosion and flooding as the Russian sub sinks in a thousand feet of water. The American sub rushes to help, only to join its former quarry in the deep.
The situation ignites tensions around the world. As both Washington and Moscow prepare for what appears to be the beginnings of World War III, the USS Toledo � led by untested Captain Joe Glass � speeds to the location to give aid. Glass soon discovers that the incident was no accident. And the men behind it have yet to make their final move � a move only Glass and his crew can stop.
The situation ignites tensions around the world. As both Washington and Moscow prepare for what appears to be the beginnings of World War III, the USS Toledo � led by untested Captain Joe Glass � speeds to the location to give aid. Glass soon discovers that the incident was no accident. And the men behind it have yet to make their final move � a move only Glass and his crew can stop.
702 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
336 people are currently reading
1535 people want to read
About the author
George Wallace
19 books93 followersBorn and raised in Eastern Ohio, Commander Wallace received his commission in the US Navy and a degree in engineering from The Ohio State University. After the obligatory and memorable interview with Admiral Rickover, he was accepted into the nuclear power and submarine communities. He served on two of Admiral Rickover’s famous “Forty One for Freedom”, the USS John Adams SSBN 620 and the USS Woodrow Wilson SSBN 624, during which time he made nine one-hundred-day deterrent patrols through the height of the Cold War.
Commander Wallace served as Executive Officer on the Sturgeon class nuclear attack submarine Spadefish. Spadefish and all her sisters were decommissioned during the downsizing that occurred in the 1990′s. The passing of that great ship served as the inspiration for “Final Bearing.”
Commander Wallace then commanded the Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine USS Houston SSN 713 from February 1990 to August 1992. During this tour of duty he worked extensively with the SEAL community developing SEAL/submarine tactics. Under his command, the Houston was awarded the CIA Meritorious Unit Citation.
Commander George Wallace retired to the civilian business world in 1995, after twenty-two years of service on nuclear submarines.
Commander Wallace lives with his wife, Penny, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Commander Wallace served as Executive Officer on the Sturgeon class nuclear attack submarine Spadefish. Spadefish and all her sisters were decommissioned during the downsizing that occurred in the 1990′s. The passing of that great ship served as the inspiration for “Final Bearing.”
Commander Wallace then commanded the Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine USS Houston SSN 713 from February 1990 to August 1992. During this tour of duty he worked extensively with the SEAL community developing SEAL/submarine tactics. Under his command, the Houston was awarded the CIA Meritorious Unit Citation.
Commander George Wallace retired to the civilian business world in 1995, after twenty-two years of service on nuclear submarines.
Commander Wallace lives with his wife, Penny, in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
November 14, 2018
An exciting sub thriller. A bit different from the movie, the book adds a sub plot (pun not intended) dealing with Wall Street. A few other differences, but the overall gist was the same. I must have been one of the few who enjoyed the movie (thought it was very suspenseful).
July 27, 2012
Okay I can't be completely objective since I know the author (my dad). He asked me to read his book, and hey I really liked it even thought I am not the typical action novel fan. I'm a harsh critic, relations be damned, and my friends know that what everyone else would consider a 5, I would give a 4, I reserve my 5 for "I would not change one thing" experiences.
I would have no reservations recommending the book to anyone who does like reading naval thrillers/action books. I appreciated getting a better glimpse into the dangers and stresses of submarine life, since I only saw the military dependent view of it growing up. Plus you know it will be an accurate book since he's a retired submarine captain.
I would have no reservations recommending the book to anyone who does like reading naval thrillers/action books. I appreciated getting a better glimpse into the dangers and stresses of submarine life, since I only saw the military dependent view of it growing up. Plus you know it will be an accurate book since he's a retired submarine captain.
October 16, 2019
2.5 rounded up. This book was way longer then it needed to be, the editor could have cut out quite a bit. The pacing is super slow at first and the story really doesn't get going until halfway through then it picks up and just doesn't stop. There are WAY TO MANY CHARACTERS all with similar names and the pov or setting keeps switching every other paragraph so it's hard to keep track of who is who and where they are. All the different plots and settings are going on in real-time so when you jump from character to character and plot to plot and setting to setting it's a bit jarring until you get used to it. The submarine parts are very very technical and detailed which if you are into that kind of thing is cool but if not it's extra detail that drags down the action. The wall street plot was over the top and a tiny bit unbelievable although you could think of something similar actually happening.
You could skim over a third of this book and still get everything you needed out of it, just be warned your in for a bit of a slog for the first half.
You could skim over a third of this book and still get everything you needed out of it, just be warned your in for a bit of a slog for the first half.
October 31, 2018
An exciting, fast read, techno-thriller, certain to please fans of Tom Clancy, of which I am not one. And, as they say, "Soon to be a major motion picture!"
There were a couple of things in the book that caught my eye that seem to have relevance to the real world. First, one of the villains says:
Second, and regarding a point I have made elsewhere, a character states:
I suppose the technology and seamanship described in the book are real enough, but it doesn't help when the authors confuse Leningrad and Stalingrad on page 2. I probably won't see the film; I can't imagine it being as good as the book.
There were a couple of things in the book that caught my eye that seem to have relevance to the real world. First, one of the villains says:
Economic turmoil and protests by their own people will absorb the American attention so much, and with it the entire word, that they won't even notice our maneuverings here. (p. 145)I can't think of a better description of Putin's aims in meddling in American politics.
Second, and regarding a point I have made elsewhere, a character states:
If the American stock market collapses, it will devastate the rest of the world economy in no time. We must now retreat! (p. 525)Well, duh. Any disruption of the U.S. banking system (or electrical grid, or Internet) wouldn't just cripple the United States; it would take down most of the world economy with it! Whether by computing hacking or thermonuclear weapons, there is no way of destroying the United States and escaping catastrophe. Why it took the characters so long to come to this realization was one of the flaws in the story.
I suppose the technology and seamanship described in the book are real enough, but it doesn't help when the authors confuse Leningrad and Stalingrad on page 2. I probably won't see the film; I can't imagine it being as good as the book.
November 7, 2018
Deep below the Arctic Ice Shelf of the White Sea patrolling close to Russia is a silent and elite band of brothers who serve aboard the Los Angeles Class Fast Attack Submarine known as the “Toledo.” Enter, Captain Joe Glass. A gregarious Submariner who is devoted to his ship, his crew, and the mission of keeping the peace beneath the waves of the world’s seven seas. Immersed into a confined steal world of drills, strict protocols and combat, the life of a submariner is one of claustrophobic pressure and danger; tempered by the rigorous demands of preparing for war and standing vigil against the worst-case scenario: an all-out nuclear war.
Amid the perilous depths, there lurks a nefarious plot that puts the crew of the Toledo and the Western world in grave danger. When the U.S. Intelligence community receives word of a violent coup to destabilize Russia holding its President hostage, America’s silent warriors mobilize into action. The mission of averting World War III falls to Captain Glass and an elite team of Tier-1 Navy Seals who must venture behind enemy lines, rescue the Russian President and bring him back to shore alive. However, the mission isn’t without tremendous cost to both American and Russian forces as two military factions clash for victory beneath the surface and on land; putting the fate of the world in jeopardy.
I was lucky to find this book on Audible and after listening to it, I was very impressed with Author George Wallace’s literary work. As a former Submarine Commander, George Wallace puts the reader onboard the sub and directly into the center of the action. With the action/thriller “Hunter Killer” coming out this October, I wanted to get my hands on this exciting piece of military literature. George Wallace crafts a suspenseful, engaging and viscerally-realistic military/thriller that is right up there with the literary genius of Tom Clancy. If you’re a fan of “The Hunt For Red October” or “Crimson Tide,” then “Firing Point” is a must-have novel for military veterans and civilians alike.
Amid the perilous depths, there lurks a nefarious plot that puts the crew of the Toledo and the Western world in grave danger. When the U.S. Intelligence community receives word of a violent coup to destabilize Russia holding its President hostage, America’s silent warriors mobilize into action. The mission of averting World War III falls to Captain Glass and an elite team of Tier-1 Navy Seals who must venture behind enemy lines, rescue the Russian President and bring him back to shore alive. However, the mission isn’t without tremendous cost to both American and Russian forces as two military factions clash for victory beneath the surface and on land; putting the fate of the world in jeopardy.
I was lucky to find this book on Audible and after listening to it, I was very impressed with Author George Wallace’s literary work. As a former Submarine Commander, George Wallace puts the reader onboard the sub and directly into the center of the action. With the action/thriller “Hunter Killer” coming out this October, I wanted to get my hands on this exciting piece of military literature. George Wallace crafts a suspenseful, engaging and viscerally-realistic military/thriller that is right up there with the literary genius of Tom Clancy. If you’re a fan of “The Hunt For Red October” or “Crimson Tide,” then “Firing Point” is a must-have novel for military veterans and civilians alike.
February 17, 2018
Former submarine commander George Wallace and writer Don Keith team up for the second time for Firing Point, a story ranging from under frozen northern seas to the boardrooms of Wall Street.
The Russian Admiral Alexander Durov is tired of seeing his beloved country treated as a second-rate nation by the Western powers, and he has devised a plan to correct that. He will need a distraction and control of his nation's armed forces. Computer hackers and a new automated trading system on Wall Street will help with the first, along with a suspicious disaster at sea, blamed on the United States. His own submarines will give him the second.
Newly minted as captain of the USS Toledo, Joe Glass finds himself rescuing the crew of a stranded Russian sub, which puts him squarely in Durov's way. It means he's a target, but since he's commanding a United States nuclear submarine, he's a target that can shoot back.
Wallace and Keith write some excellent marine combat and some good action scenes with a team of Navy SEALS infiltrating Russian territory. But when they're out of the water, they're out of their element. The high finance espionage is pretty clumsily plotted (the bastion of capitalism, Wall Street, is going to go for a computer system called OptiMarx?) and more clumsily written. There are a good half-dozen references to a character looking at his or her drink of "amber liquid" (twice beer, the rest of the times Scotch) and a female character has "luscious white thighs" and "incredible orbs" (if you know what I mean and I think you do).
If you skip the corporate espionage segments, you have a decent sub thriller -- a shorter but much better book.
Original available here.
The Russian Admiral Alexander Durov is tired of seeing his beloved country treated as a second-rate nation by the Western powers, and he has devised a plan to correct that. He will need a distraction and control of his nation's armed forces. Computer hackers and a new automated trading system on Wall Street will help with the first, along with a suspicious disaster at sea, blamed on the United States. His own submarines will give him the second.
Newly minted as captain of the USS Toledo, Joe Glass finds himself rescuing the crew of a stranded Russian sub, which puts him squarely in Durov's way. It means he's a target, but since he's commanding a United States nuclear submarine, he's a target that can shoot back.
Wallace and Keith write some excellent marine combat and some good action scenes with a team of Navy SEALS infiltrating Russian territory. But when they're out of the water, they're out of their element. The high finance espionage is pretty clumsily plotted (the bastion of capitalism, Wall Street, is going to go for a computer system called OptiMarx?) and more clumsily written. There are a good half-dozen references to a character looking at his or her drink of "amber liquid" (twice beer, the rest of the times Scotch) and a female character has "luscious white thighs" and "incredible orbs" (if you know what I mean and I think you do).
If you skip the corporate espionage segments, you have a decent sub thriller -- a shorter but much better book.
Original available here.
September 2, 2018
Wallace has written a very enjoyable tale of undersea trickery, political coups and military action.
March 27, 2016
I picked the book off the shelf, with nothing else telling me what it was about other than submarines. I'm always looking for yarns about submarines.
The story includes:
Submarines - US Los Angeles Class & Russian Akula
SEALS
Financial system hacking by the Russian mob
An interesting mix. The subs and SEALS are the more interesting part, with the financial portion in New York seemly tacked on. As someone who was in the financial industry, it didn't feel right. The technology details are light, which make it a faster read. Larry Bond this is not.
Inconsistencies abound (db levels of detection for one, docked ASDV limits the mother sub performance or not). The characters do not have much for depth. Everyone seems to have a core flaw, but that is about it. The only one that isn't fully predictable is the US Sub Captain, as he is always working to out fox the Russian navy.
For a submarine yarn, the author keeps it moving. The aspects of the Russian Navy conspiracy stretches things a bit, though it does highlight where real world weaknesses could exist. I liked what he did with the USS Toledo and its crew. A good view into the world of subs, though light on detail, as I said above.
I'll look to see if there are other submarine stories from the authors. Such books in that niche don't come along too often.
The story includes:
Submarines - US Los Angeles Class & Russian Akula
SEALS
Financial system hacking by the Russian mob
An interesting mix. The subs and SEALS are the more interesting part, with the financial portion in New York seemly tacked on. As someone who was in the financial industry, it didn't feel right. The technology details are light, which make it a faster read. Larry Bond this is not.
Inconsistencies abound (db levels of detection for one, docked ASDV limits the mother sub performance or not). The characters do not have much for depth. Everyone seems to have a core flaw, but that is about it. The only one that isn't fully predictable is the US Sub Captain, as he is always working to out fox the Russian navy.
For a submarine yarn, the author keeps it moving. The aspects of the Russian Navy conspiracy stretches things a bit, though it does highlight where real world weaknesses could exist. I liked what he did with the USS Toledo and its crew. A good view into the world of subs, though light on detail, as I said above.
I'll look to see if there are other submarine stories from the authors. Such books in that niche don't come along too often.
Read
October 18, 2018Written in 2012 this is a LUMBERING THING about Russian Cossacks who aspire to regain glory that they never had as they have built a small fleet of submarines despite being poverty stricken. They blow up a couple subs and then blame that on the UNITED STATES! Putin gets kidnapped (NO!) and Obama wants S.E.A.L.s that are in country looking at the sub shed to RESCUE PUTIN!
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH OTHER RUSSIANS have created a HACKING system for the NYSE to collapse the world markets! Swearing, adult content, sub events occur that do not even pertain to the plot!
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH OTHER RUSSIANS have created a HACKING system for the NYSE to collapse the world markets! Swearing, adult content, sub events occur that do not even pertain to the plot!
April 28, 2021
2.75/5
There's a cliche in book circles that movie adaptations are never as good as their source material. With Hunter Killer, first published as Firing Point, there's an exception to that perceived wisdom. Now, that isn't to say that the 2012 novel isn't a good techno-thriller on the page, which is true of its second half. Unfortunately for novel and readers alike, authors George Wallace and Don Keith's attempt to secure a place as heirs to Tom Clancy has more than its fair share of misfires.
The biggest is that, at 704 pages, the novel is about twice as long as it needs to be. That's partly due to a 300 plus page opening that takes way too long to set the main plot in motion but also includes a Wall Street-based plotline that frankly adds nothing but unnecessary pages to an already overlong novel. That attempt to emulate Clancy's intricate plotting also means that the book has as many POV characters as it has submarines, which becomes a lot to keep up with when the pace picks up in the second half. In some ways, the best decision of the screen adaptation made was streamlining the plot, something one wishes its original writers had done, along with dumping much of the wooden and cliched dialogue.
Which isn't to entirely write off the novel, I hasten to add. Wallace, a former submarine captain, puts his knowledge on display throughout, giving the best parts of the book a nice air of authenticity. Perhaps unsurprising for a techno-thriller, it's at its best in its action sequence with pulse-pounding submarine and special forces operations that keep the pages turning.
Which makes it a shame that those sequences aren't sandwiched between something better than too many plots and characters with strained dialogue. While Hunter Killer/Firing Point isn't a bad read, it's not an especially great one either. And if you've seen the movie (which is a fine cinematic techno-thriller), you wouldn't be missing much by giving this a miss. That said, die-hard fans of the genre will get the most of it, I suspect.
There's a cliche in book circles that movie adaptations are never as good as their source material. With Hunter Killer, first published as Firing Point, there's an exception to that perceived wisdom. Now, that isn't to say that the 2012 novel isn't a good techno-thriller on the page, which is true of its second half. Unfortunately for novel and readers alike, authors George Wallace and Don Keith's attempt to secure a place as heirs to Tom Clancy has more than its fair share of misfires.
The biggest is that, at 704 pages, the novel is about twice as long as it needs to be. That's partly due to a 300 plus page opening that takes way too long to set the main plot in motion but also includes a Wall Street-based plotline that frankly adds nothing but unnecessary pages to an already overlong novel. That attempt to emulate Clancy's intricate plotting also means that the book has as many POV characters as it has submarines, which becomes a lot to keep up with when the pace picks up in the second half. In some ways, the best decision of the screen adaptation made was streamlining the plot, something one wishes its original writers had done, along with dumping much of the wooden and cliched dialogue.
Which isn't to entirely write off the novel, I hasten to add. Wallace, a former submarine captain, puts his knowledge on display throughout, giving the best parts of the book a nice air of authenticity. Perhaps unsurprising for a techno-thriller, it's at its best in its action sequence with pulse-pounding submarine and special forces operations that keep the pages turning.
Which makes it a shame that those sequences aren't sandwiched between something better than too many plots and characters with strained dialogue. While Hunter Killer/Firing Point isn't a bad read, it's not an especially great one either. And if you've seen the movie (which is a fine cinematic techno-thriller), you wouldn't be missing much by giving this a miss. That said, die-hard fans of the genre will get the most of it, I suspect.
November 16, 2020
Hunter Killer by George Wallace and Don Keith. Is a realistic fiction book that has a global setting which means it takes place in multiple parts of the world simultaneously. Hunter Killer is a story about A US Nuclear Submarine that’s, called a Hunter Killer for its ability to stalk other naval vessels and its effectiveness at destroying them, which is also where the book gets its name from, is tailing a new Russian Submarine in the Barents Sea. The Russian submarine explodes, and the American Submarine goes to help, only to be sunk. The optics of the incident led Moscow to believe the Americans sunk their sub, and the Americans were unsure of what happened, and tensions ignited within NATO and Russia as both sides had no clear understanding of the incident. Shortly after, the US sends another submarine, the USS Toledo (USS Arkansas in the movie) commanded by an inexperienced and unqualified Captain Joe Glass who proves himself time and time again to be just as capable, if not more, at commanding and handling a submarine than other Captains and officers. The Toledo investigates the area only to find the US Submarine to be completely destroyed and all of its crew killed and a few survivors from the Russian sub and move Barents Sea only to find themselves in the middle of a Russian Coup D’état. The Russian conspirators believed that the Russian President is not as hard on the US as he should and orders the Russian Navy to confront the US Navy and risk a global war. I like this book a lot, one of the main reasons I do is because I’ve personally lived through a coup in real time, the Turkish coup in 2016, but it may not be for everyone. To really understand the book as much as I did, you would need to have preexisting knowledge in military jargon. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the military or military submarines.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2025
I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book has two main plots running through it. The 1st item talks to how Admiral Durov is attempting to perform a coup in Russia, It starts with his assignment to Capt.Andropoyov to take a new submarine named GEPARD out for testing. He is having his nephew, Igor, follow behind the GEPARD on the VOLK Unknown to Andropoyov is the plan for GEPARD to be sunk. It seems that while it was being built, there was an explosive put in place to destroy it. Durov believed that an American sub would follow behind it. As it happened MIAMI, an American sub, was following behind and when the GEPARD blew up it was blamed. There were a few of the GEPARD crew who survived and they called for help and the MIAMI replied and then contacted his command and let them know. On the way back, Volk attacked the MIAMI and sunk it. Durov then blamed America for the sinking of the GEPARD as well as the VOLK. In response to the call for help, the TOLEDO was ordered to assist. The VOLK meanwhile was still on site and it meant to sink the TOLEDO as well. Instead, the TOLEDO was able to sink the VOLK and in addition rescue the GEPARD survivors.
The 2nd plot pertains to a plan where suspicious code was to be included for a system to be installed to handle WALL STREET trading. It seemed that there were several individuals that had a part of this plot. Prior to it being operational, an analyst from the SEC was examining the code and discovered the discrepancy. Once she notified others of her findings, she then was targeted by multiple parties.
To discover all the actions associated with Durov's plan. how the SEC code played a role and what sort of steps the Americans had to perform to eventually control the outcome, then you need to read this book. The ending is exciting, don't miss out!
This book has two main plots running through it. The 1st item talks to how Admiral Durov is attempting to perform a coup in Russia, It starts with his assignment to Capt.Andropoyov to take a new submarine named GEPARD out for testing. He is having his nephew, Igor, follow behind the GEPARD on the VOLK Unknown to Andropoyov is the plan for GEPARD to be sunk. It seems that while it was being built, there was an explosive put in place to destroy it. Durov believed that an American sub would follow behind it. As it happened MIAMI, an American sub, was following behind and when the GEPARD blew up it was blamed. There were a few of the GEPARD crew who survived and they called for help and the MIAMI replied and then contacted his command and let them know. On the way back, Volk attacked the MIAMI and sunk it. Durov then blamed America for the sinking of the GEPARD as well as the VOLK. In response to the call for help, the TOLEDO was ordered to assist. The VOLK meanwhile was still on site and it meant to sink the TOLEDO as well. Instead, the TOLEDO was able to sink the VOLK and in addition rescue the GEPARD survivors.
The 2nd plot pertains to a plan where suspicious code was to be included for a system to be installed to handle WALL STREET trading. It seemed that there were several individuals that had a part of this plot. Prior to it being operational, an analyst from the SEC was examining the code and discovered the discrepancy. Once she notified others of her findings, she then was targeted by multiple parties.
To discover all the actions associated with Durov's plan. how the SEC code played a role and what sort of steps the Americans had to perform to eventually control the outcome, then you need to read this book. The ending is exciting, don't miss out!
August 26, 2019
There are a lot of differences between the book and the movie. This is not a case of "book versus movie" medium contrast. Rather, it is a choice to lop off about one third of the Russian plot to stage a military coup. In the movie, it is advertised as a submarine move.
Interestingly, the economic thread by having Russian programmers insert malicious code into a stock trading algorithm and then destabilizing the NYSE is closer to the premise in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit starring Chris Pine and Keira Knightley.
The minor differences in the plot (688 instead of a Virginia class), Donnegan and Ward's ranks, are not worth mentioning.
The ending, however, is worth mentioning because it does change the nature of the relationship between the US and the Russians. Although it keeps the idea that the US was caught between Russian loyalists and the rebels, how the solution was played out was different. I think it's okay, considering who the authors are versus what liberal Hollywood wants to portray about international politics. US solving Russia's problem by their request, versus let Russia solve their own problems with tacit American support.
Interestingly, the economic thread by having Russian programmers insert malicious code into a stock trading algorithm and then destabilizing the NYSE is closer to the premise in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit starring Chris Pine and Keira Knightley.
The minor differences in the plot (688 instead of a Virginia class), Donnegan and Ward's ranks, are not worth mentioning.
The ending, however, is worth mentioning because it does change the nature of the relationship between the US and the Russians. Although it keeps the idea that the US was caught between Russian loyalists and the rebels, how the solution was played out was different. I think it's okay, considering who the authors are versus what liberal Hollywood wants to portray about international politics. US solving Russia's problem by their request, versus let Russia solve their own problems with tacit American support.
October 10, 2018
4/5 Stars. I love naval fiction--especially dealing with submarines--and I gave this novel four stars largely due to the knowledgeable technical writing. What came close to torpedoing (no pun intended) it, however, was the far-fetched idea that a half-dozen Navy SEALs could break into a Russian naval base and escape with the Russian president in-tow. Also coming close to sinking (no pun intended) it were a number of artifices: like conveniently having Russian-speaking civilians and naval officers on-hand when it suited the story; the SEALs' knowing how to fly a Hind helicopter so they could hijack one that landed in front of them; two people having gut feelings that a complicated computer program had something wrong with it; etc. The sub-(no pun intended) of two different groups trying to subvert Wall Street trading was interesting.
November 7, 2018
Great book. This was an interesting, somewhat plausible story with great, honest characters, a turn-the-pages plot, and an exciting ending. There's nothing more exciting than two, even three submarines hunting one another. In this story, the good guys (The Americans) seem to be more skillful and/or luckier than their American counterparts; lots of Ruskies perish and the good guys get away under the most precarious circumstances. To wit: a huge US nuclear sub enters a fjord wherein lies a Russian sub base, sinks a Russian destroyer and two submarine attack boats, rendezvous with a mini-sub that has just rescued the president of Russia(the crew steals a helicopter and an ambulance and kills a dozen soldiers in the process), and escapes unscathed. Nevertheless, I can see why it's "soon to be a major motion picture."
December 21, 2019
Saw the movie first then finally got around to reading the book. The movie seemed to capture the basis of the story well. Gerard Butler nailed Joe Glass
Back to the book. I have an affinity for submarine novels, especially modern era books. What makes this book and the subsequent Hunter Killer series even better is it’s written by someone who has hands on experience with the operation of a submarine, so in some respects it’s almost written first person.
Like other reviews I’ve read, i kept waiting for there to be a reason for the whole stock market manipulation sub-plot, I actually felt that took away from the the actual story and at times found myself actually skimming past those parts.
If you enjoyed this book then the hunter killer series is a great follow up. Glass, Beaman, etc are all there creating havoc and saving the world
Back to the book. I have an affinity for submarine novels, especially modern era books. What makes this book and the subsequent Hunter Killer series even better is it’s written by someone who has hands on experience with the operation of a submarine, so in some respects it’s almost written first person.
Like other reviews I’ve read, i kept waiting for there to be a reason for the whole stock market manipulation sub-plot, I actually felt that took away from the the actual story and at times found myself actually skimming past those parts.
If you enjoyed this book then the hunter killer series is a great follow up. Glass, Beaman, etc are all there creating havoc and saving the world
April 15, 2019
Good but not Great
I read Polar Ice which is billed as the same book. A lot of people (mostly men) seem to like these action books which jump from one situation to another but are short on depth and character development. Occasionally, I enjoy such books, but not too often. This book was a fun read. I particularly liked the discussions of the techniques used by submarines to evade attacks from torpedos, depth charges, etc.. I also enjoyed the skydiving into Russia sequence. There certainly is a place for “fun” reading (in the Summer on the beach). But,in my opinion, more is required for four stars. At 700 pages it seems long.
After the book, I watched the movie. Forget it!
I read Polar Ice which is billed as the same book. A lot of people (mostly men) seem to like these action books which jump from one situation to another but are short on depth and character development. Occasionally, I enjoy such books, but not too often. This book was a fun read. I particularly liked the discussions of the techniques used by submarines to evade attacks from torpedos, depth charges, etc.. I also enjoyed the skydiving into Russia sequence. There certainly is a place for “fun” reading (in the Summer on the beach). But,in my opinion, more is required for four stars. At 700 pages it seems long.
After the book, I watched the movie. Forget it!
August 21, 2022
I had not read anything by George Wallace before. But I loved this first experience with his work. The story was engaging and moved at a good clip to keep me turning the page. The characters were very believable. The scenario of a military megalomaniac in Russia is very plausible, outside the very real threat of Putin himself. The prospect of manipulation of the American stock market is also very plausible, with our excessive demand for profits at any cost, and a willingness to overlook safeguards in the process. Add to this all very insightful and detailed knowledge of submarine warfare and tactics, and you have an exciting read. I am looking forward to other opportunities to read Wallace's work.
March 21, 2019
A book has to be really, really bad for me to give it less than a three. As I read, I kept thinking that Larry Bond, Patrick Robinson, and Tom Clancy do this subject and this genre better. Some tech details and sub names were spot on, and yet, I didn't find the Russian names, misplaced use of patronymics, or skittering down the Norwegian coast very convincing even after suspending disbelief.
Crazy Russians, mafia involvement, angry VCs, and know nothing CxOs are all there, which adds to the spice.
Fun and exciting, but it is not worth trying to squeeze it into my overloaded bookshelf space.
Crazy Russians, mafia involvement, angry VCs, and know nothing CxOs are all there, which adds to the spice.
Fun and exciting, but it is not worth trying to squeeze it into my overloaded bookshelf space.
December 23, 2021
For starters, this was way better and nothing like the movie. This was about a Russian coup and an internal plot by a group of Russians to start a war against The United States. Basically a Russian Admiral sinks one of his own submarines and an American one as well and tries to pin it on America as an aggressive action against Russia. Plus he tries to crash the Stock Market. It's a good book not great but good. It was I bit long winded in spots. Also at some points it was a bit over descriptive, not leaving much to the imagination of the reader. It seemed to be talking down to the reader in spots. But it was action packed and politically intriguing. It was decent.
January 6, 2019
Solid thriller focuses on the attempted coup of a Russian Admiral, and the daring underwater escape of the Russian President on an American submarine. The secondary theme is an accompanying sabotage of the New York Stock Exchange by the rebellious Russians to divert attention from their plot to "restore the Rodina" to its rightful place as world leader.
A lot of highly detailed descriptions of the capabilities of the weapons of war makes this novel seem very realistic and contemporary.
A lot of highly detailed descriptions of the capabilities of the weapons of war makes this novel seem very realistic and contemporary.
January 28, 2024
Another Great Book by Wallace and Keith
This book involves multiple plots and twists. It kept my attention from the first page to the last. There were surprises I didn't see coming nor expected. You'll need to read this book to discover them on your own as I will not reveal them to lessen the impact on another reader.
To George Wallace and Don Keith.... Keep writing these stellar stories! I am so honored to find them in the first place.
This book involves multiple plots and twists. It kept my attention from the first page to the last. There were surprises I didn't see coming nor expected. You'll need to read this book to discover them on your own as I will not reveal them to lessen the impact on another reader.
To George Wallace and Don Keith.... Keep writing these stellar stories! I am so honored to find them in the first place.
March 11, 2019
Pretty good overall, but I do think the author occasionally got a little too technical for no reason. You can just tell me the submarine fired a missile, I don't really need to know that it's an ACME 6 Fighting Platypus missile loaded with an RQJB17 ballistic warhead. (OK, I made that up. But you get the point.)
April 9, 2019
Best Submarine Action Ever
If you like submarine thrillers with political and international intrigue, the Russian Mafia, Navy SEALs, cruise missiles, corrupt officials, thunderous Wall Street action, bombs, torpedoes, satellites, hackers and even a little romance, you will LOVE this book.
If you like submarine thrillers with political and international intrigue, the Russian Mafia, Navy SEALs, cruise missiles, corrupt officials, thunderous Wall Street action, bombs, torpedoes, satellites, hackers and even a little romance, you will LOVE this book.
April 23, 2020
I purchased and read this book after watching the movie based on this book, Hunter Killer. in all honesty, the old saying still rings true: the book is always better than the movie. This book is at least four to five times better than the movie. At least their quarters of the book are missing from the movie and most of the good part, to be honest. This was a great book and I highly recommend it.
December 15, 2020
Couldn’t put it down
After reading this book I would like to see the movie. Typically, though, the movie is never as good as the book. I just know this book had all the ingredients for a good movie. I did not want to put it down until I got to the end. Thank you to the very knowledgeable authors for an entertaining read!
After reading this book I would like to see the movie. Typically, though, the movie is never as good as the book. I just know this book had all the ingredients for a good movie. I did not want to put it down until I got to the end. Thank you to the very knowledgeable authors for an entertaining read!
November 6, 2018
Excellent page tuner. Nice to know that a fellow naval officer knows how to still knock it out of the ball park. Bravo Zulu George. I hope to meet you some day. I was one of those antisubmarine S-2/S-3 pilots that used to find you before you shot the green flare.
February 12, 2019
Entertaining Thriller
Entertaining read. Needed a good proof reader for typos and an editor for unnecessary secondary subplot regarding the Russian Mafia attacking the NYSE. The military thriller was well done.
Entertaining read. Needed a good proof reader for typos and an editor for unnecessary secondary subplot regarding the Russian Mafia attacking the NYSE. The military thriller was well done.
February 20, 2019
You can find much better offerings in this genre. The primary plot was reasonably well executed with some good tension on the military side of things. The sub plot related to a market crisis served no useful purpose. As with most techno thrillers the character development left a lot to be desired.
April 23, 2019
I thought this book was good because there was a lot of action from the start to the end between the U.S. and Russia. The reason I enjoyed this book is that there were multiple bad characters and a lot of good ones too, this book was long but the action made it go by pretty quickly.
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