Shattered Jade: A Novel of Saipan

by Larry Alexander

From New York Times bestselling author Larry Alexander comes a gritty historical novel of World War II, told through the eyes of soldiers on both sides of the firing line. Tarawa was hell but Saipan is worse. For Sergeant Pete "Hardball" Talbot, recently returned from being wounded on Tarawa seven months earlier, Saipan is just another battle as the United States leaps island to island towards an invasion of the Japanese homeland. But the Japanese have learned, all too well, how to defend their islands, with carefully constructed and concealed bunkers and machine gun nests. Talbot and the dozen men of Second Squad have no idea they are running headlong into thirty-five thousand Japanese soldiers who have sworn to fight to the last man. In vivid, startling detail, Shattered Jade explores the strategy and horror of battle in one of World War II's most brutal conflicts and illuminates the extraordinary courage of ordinary young men.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

392 pages, Hardcover

Published March 19, 2024

About the author

Larry Alexander is a journalist and military historian who has written a number of books about World War II, most notably about Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Easy Company was made famous principally by Stephen Ambrose's book, Band of Brothers, and the television miniseries of that name.

For over a decade, Alexander has been a columnist for the "Intelligencer Journal", a newspaper in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His books include Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers, In the Footsteps of the Band of Brothers: A Return to Easy Company's Battlefields with Sgt. Forrest Guth, and Shadows In The Jungle: The Alamo Scouts Behind Japanese Lines In World War II. Alexander participates in American Civil War re-enactments as "a living historian" with Company E of the 30th Pennsylvania Infantry, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves Civil War re-enactment unit.

He has also participated in the making of the motion pictures, Gettysburg and God and Generals. Alexander was nominated for a Pulitizer Prize in 2005 and had won state-level journalism awards. He lives in Ephrata, Pa. with his wife, Barbara.

Reviews

[Nick Ueber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many books on WWll, histories, biographies, novels and memoirs and this was a little unique. It was both historically accurate but had fictious characters. I loved the fact that the story was told from both the American side and the Japanese side, especially the cultural difference. The action sequences were so well described that you felt that you were there yourself and it really showed the waste and insanity of war, no glorification in this book. Mr. Alexander has written a book that is moving as well as memorable, well done, Sir.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow-up to his novel on the Tarawa campaign. The story is full of drama and action-packed scenes to grab your attention. The story and the characters are well developed and the perspective of the battle from both sides makes it a great read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Bob Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexander is pretty good at the action parts, but his cardboard characters and stilted dialogue have a 6th grade chapter book feel to them. I read the first in this series, 76 Hours, and wrote basically the same review. The book reads like a 1950s grade B war movie. It’s ok if you like Marines in action in the Pacific, but don’t expect great literature.

[Bob Ester · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written gripping

A great read if you like war and peace on or off the battlefield, the depth of this story fits the bill.

[David Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well told support of the invasion of Saipan in WWII