Hell Ship

Dane Maddock Origins #2

by David Wood, Sean Ellis

When Navy SEAL Dane Maddock and his squad are sent to find the wreckage of a sunken World War II Japanese “Hell Ship,” they find themselves caught up in a deadly race to solve an eight hundred year old mystery. Can Dane and Bones outrun, outfight, and outwit a cadre of deadly adversaries and find the key to unlock the deadly secret of the Knights Templar? Sunken ships, conspiracies, secret societies, historical mysteries, and all the action you can handle! A globe-trotting, adrenaline-charged thriller in the tradition of Clive Cussler and James Rollins. Don’t miss it! "Dane and Bones.... Together they're unstoppable. Rip roaring action from start to finish. Wit and humor throughout. Just one question - how soon until the next one? Because I can't wait." Graham Brown, author of Shadows of the Midnight Sun “Ellis and Wood are a partnership forged in the fires of Hell. Books don’t burn hotter than this!”- Steven Savile, author of the Ogmios thrillers

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Action, Suspense

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2014

About the author

David Wood is the USA Today bestselling author of the Dane Maddock Adventures and many other titles and series. He also writes Science Fiction under the pen name Finn Gray and fantasy as David Debord. He is also a book reviewer, podcaster, and a member of International Thriller Writers and The Horror Writers Association. David and his family live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visit him online at www.davidwoodweb.com.

Reviews

[Nigel]

This is the second of the Origins Stories and see's Maddock and Bones sent on a low level training mission...that leads them from the Far East to the U.K. and ending in Switzerland. It gives more insight to the budding friendship between Maddock and Bones and introduces Willis and the Professor. What starts off as looking for a lost ship turns into a race to find the ultimate treasure which also sowing the seeds of their future lives when they leave the service.
A great story as always, well written and researched with a great new twist on the Templar legend. Totally recommended bring on the next.

[Sharon]

What a ride, a great adventure. I love Bones and Dane they are a good pair that survive crazy stunts.

I didn't want to put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I am looking forward to more of their adventures.

[Graham]

A poor attempt at a Clive Cussler / Dan Brown novel

[M. Sprouse]

Another nice little archaeological thriller. Lots of suspense and action. I liked it better than the only other David Wood novel I've read, "Dourado", and more than the only other Sean Ellis book I've read, "The Shroud of Heaven". I even liked the concept of this adventure.

So why am I finding hard to give it more than three stars? Probably it's a combination of several reasons. First, the characters are somewhat cardboard with little complexity. Next, several unbelievable events, such as the skeleton of a castaway is found after a few minutes of searching, on a island which is not much more than a sandbar after 60 plus years? Yes, there has to be some developments that are unusual and not common place, but the events in this book appear beyond the pale and just too darn convenient. Finally, and this is probably beyond the authors control, these archaeological thrillers have been done to death. It takes something very special to rise up over the Clive Cussleresque multitude.

I hope I having been to negative on a book I basically like. Both authors seem capable and I plan on reading some of their other offerings. I do recommend this book, especially if you like action and aren't too picky about how you escape the droning of the everyday rat race.

[Boomer]

I enjoyed the previous book enough to try out Hell Ship, the second book features hero Navy SEALs/treasure seekers Dane Maddock and Bones Bonebrake. This could definitely be read as a stand alone adventure story. The authors are obviously influenced by the great Clive Cussler, adopting many of his themes of sea faring protagonists being drawn into the race to recover ancient artifacts before the bad guys. There's even a tongue-in-cheek reference to Dirk Pitt and a funny scene paying homage to the Oregon where the heroes get rescued at sea by a dilapidated tramp steamer flying the Iranian flag complete with velvet clown paintings on the wall

The story is pretty far fetched featuring a WWII hell ship that's somehow intertwined with a worldwide conspiracy involving the Knights Templar of all things. Realism goes out the window in several scenes. Dane and Bones are somehow able to easily find a sunken ship missing for 50 + years, then they are somehow able to pinpoint the exact spot in a few hundred square miles of ocean where the lone survivor washed up in the 1940's. Realism aside, its a fun read mainly because of the chemistry between Dane and Bones. They've got a love/hate relationship that really works and makes me want to keep reading. If you're looking for an entertaining Cussler-lite story, this fits the bill.

[Julie Howard]

I enjoyed this book. It is in the same vein as Dirk Pit and Indiana adventures, with lost treasure, secret society, a race against the bad guys, betrayal and action making it a fun adventure to lose yourself in for a few hours as long as you aren't the type to need it to be believable. This is a standalone adventure but having listened to a few of the previous books it was nice to find out how Maddock and Bones became such firm buddies and got involved in treasure hunting. I like the characters, especially the ribbing between the Navy SEAL team. I will join up with the team again next time a need a break from my preferred genre of cosy mysteries.
Dane Maddock and his Navy SEAL are sent to confirm the discovery of a world war II Japanese sunken ship. Instead they find themselves held at gunpoint as another team search for what was on the ship. It soon becomes a race against time and bullets as both teams try to discover the secrets buried within. A secret held by a secret society that wants to hold onto there secret and is willing to do anything to keep it.
I like the narrator. He puts in a good performance to make it not only entertaining but a must listen.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntary left this review

[James Casey]

A good and entertaining read, but not as good as others in this genre. The first time I have read a David Wood novel but I have read Sean Ellis before, I would like to see how Mr Wood writes on his own though and Blue Descent looks like a good place to start.
Dane Maddock and his exceptionally large Indian buddy Bones Bonebrake are sent on a mission to find a lost 'Hell Ship' from WWII which was sunk in the South China Sea, the reason is not made clear to them but when an armed force of mercenaries turn up looking for the same thing Maddock decides to go looking deeper and he ends up in England and from there to Switzerland searching for (of all things) a lost Templar treasure but always closely followed by the deadly mercenaries.
A good adventure but not quite gripping or exciting enough for me. Maddock and Bones do make a good team though and the camaraderie is also good between them and the rest of their crew which was entertaining in that way.
I would like to give it more but sorry can only give it 3/5.

[Vicky Coughlan]

Another fabulous adventure had by Dane Maddock and Bones. The thrills and the danger walk hand in hand with these two. I never tire of them. Great book! Of course I recommend it! David Wood has become one of my favourite writers. Just keep on writing them; I’ll keep on reading them.

[John M Thomas]

Great read intriguing!

Fast paced great characters a fun read! Looking forward to reading everything with these characters. Well paced great twists and turns that holds the reader's attention. Will read all of your books, thank you!

[Kathy]

Good book. Lots of action & twists & turns. A real page turner.

[Connie S]

Great read...

Even out of order!
This book is action packed, fast paced and makes you want to read more!
I need to go; I need to order more books!

[Susan Freeman]

Loved this story of Maddox & Bones, great characters involved with Knight Templar’s treasure hunting & WW2 interest. Look forward to reading next book.

[Jensen]

Easy read and got bored somewhere in between. There are other Dane adventures better than this book. I hope..

[Jamey Goodyear]

“My real name is Indiana Jones.”

This is a story featuring Navy Seal teammates Dane and Bones. Dane is a rule follower and Bones isn’t. Even so, the story starts with Dane breaking Bones out of jail. Upon returning to the base, Dane is giving the assignment of leading a “training exercise” looking for a sunken ship. What they find out is that this was no ordinary ship, it was a hell ship from WWII. And, it was carrying a secret that people are being killed over. Shortly after finding the ship, their own boat is boarded by those looking for this secret.

When the team finally gets back to shore and checks in they are told to report in and no longer pursue the issue. But, Dane and Bones are not ready to give up the chase. Following the clues they find themselves enmeshed in an old Templar secret.

This story picks up the pace very quickly and then doesn’t stop until the end. I enjoyed it very much. I picked up the book because I have read Dane and Bones before and liked the way the two characters play off of each other. This story didn’t disappoint. I learned some things I didn’t know, including a couple of $5 words. I’d never heard of hell ships before and the theory presented in the story about the fate of the Templars was mind blowing, at least to me it was.

This is a great book if you like stories of adventure and discovery, as well as great characters. Gotta love the Navy Seals! And especially these two. I’ll definitely be picking up more of these books.

[Paula Howard]

Hell Ship by David Wood is the 2nd book in the Dane and Bones Origins. In the Origins series, we get a peek at the life of Dane and Bones while the were Navy Seals, the friendship was beginning as well as their adventures.

The boys are sent on a mission to find a ship only to find that they had been mislead. They did find a ship, Hell Ship. Their adventure lead them to China, Great Britian and finally to Switzerland. Of course in typical Dane an Bones fashion the bad guys are after them and sometimes in front of them. Figuring into this adventure is the legendary Templar treasure.

Aiding them their search for the elusive treasure of the Templars is Alex who says she is a historian....... which they find isn't quite true.

Bones gets his revenge for Gabby who was killed. Strange event occur stateside and we see the seeds of a partnership forming for treasure hunting.

I have read all the Dane and Bone Adventures and love these little flashbacks into their lives.
Dane and Bones Adventures and Origins is a must for anyone who like mystery and adventure.

[Yvonne]

David Wood and Sean Ellis have created a Dane Maddock Origins novel which brings forth the horrors of WWII and the lengths people will go to achieve and maintain power. Hell Ship was the name given to ships which the Japanese used to load with Allied POWs and move them to forced labor camps. The ships were crammed full of men with no water, food, or sanitary conditions. Many died from diseases and more then 18,000 would become the victims of Allied forces sinking the ships thinking they were Japanese support ships. They were definitely ships from hell! In this case, Maddock and Bones are sent to find a certain Hell Ship and in doing so find themselves in a watery world of hell and a power struggle between Templars and a group called the Dominion...The action is fast and the story is great. A really good read! Now waiting for the next novel on Maddock and Bones Origins!

[Kelly]

I knew I would like this book as soon as I saw the authors, Wood & Ellis is a great combination (having read a lot of their individual work) but I wasn't quite prepared for how good it was. Maddock and Bones are back to disliking each other and through the course of the book we see their friendship expand and solidify. It has all the action, history and mystery you come to expect from David Wood. Thrown in for good measure are a couple of 'Cussler-style' escapes that make a reader smile. I look forward to reading the next instalment in the Origins.

[Stephen]

I'm enjoying having Dane and Bone's old SEAL commander playing a small part in the prequel books. He was a plot device in the original novel, but now we get a good look at his backstory. This features a direct reference to The Dominion who will play a major part in the later books.

Dane and Bones are sent on a "treasure hunt" which turns into a very dangerous mission stemming from the WWII Japanese Hell Ships. The tie in is well done and the plot weaves from point to point very fluidly.

[Stacy]

I loved this book. This book goes a little more into how Dane & Bones have such a tight friendship. It has treasure hunting, Templars, bad guys, and just fun all around. Hard to put down and I would have had it finished sooner if I hadn't gone in for surgery this week. Well worth the read and if you enjoy this make sure to read all of the Dane and Bones books. You will not be disappointed!

[Trevor]

The second book in the Dane Maddock origins series, this one is co-written with Sean Ellis who has also co-written with Jeremy Robinson on the Chess books. Maddock and Bones are still getting to know each other and this book takes them on a quest to find the Hell Ships and leads them to the Templars and Dominion. Good read that starts to build the partnership from the full novels.

[Bill Barnes]

Excellent Read

In the paths of Cussler,Patterson, and Clancy comes these two. They do need to fire their editors and hire ones that don't use spell check. It is a crime how bad the editing in this book is. The beginning was great then they got lazy and it shows. CHECK GRAMMAR AND PROPER USE OF HOMONYMS.

[Mary]

Another exciting Dane Maddox tale. Pure escapism at it's best. Well written and researched. Plenty of surprises and plot twists. A little short at under 200 pages but a ripping good tale nonetheless. Read and enjoy.

[Carlos Rivera]

Good read

Not a huge"page Turner" but good enough to pass time. It went off track with all the Templar Conspiracy theories, but that seemed to make the day for the authors. I was hoping for a bit more depth on the characters, but this may come in other books of the same series.

[Catherine Johnson]

Templar Tale

My two favorite Navy seals chase the story of the hidden Templar treasure. Diving to a torpedoed WW II ship and chasing the bad guy halve are the world has them putting all their training to test Good adventure.

[Dave Edlund]

An action-thriller with a new twist. I enjoyed the story, good pace. For some reason that I can't explain, I had trouble connecting with the Bones character--maybe it was writing him as a drunken Indian when first introduced. But that's me, other readers may not be put off by that.

[Uncle Dave Avis]

Another great novel! What an imagination for coming up with such a good plot and then leading the reader thru many twists and turns. It was a wonderful summer read. I recommend this fine book to everyone !

[Dee]

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Dane and Bones workout their differences and learn to work as a team. Can't wait for the next installments of the Dane and Bones adventures.

[Tim Coleman]

A thrill ride

The story grabs you immediately and doesn't stop. I was riveted to the book until completion.
Well written. I recommend this book for pure escapism.

[Benton Mcpeak]

Better than the first one. I enjoyed the adventure. This story was not as juvenile and that made for a much better story. Starting Splashdown next and I hope Wood's writes a fourth in the series.

[Lyn]

Wonderful to read the boy's early adventures with all the thrills and adventures you expect from. this amazing series. Loved it.