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Scorpion in the Sea
On a calm night off the Florida coast, a fishing boat vanishes without a trace. Something deadly is hiding in U.S. waters, and the Navy brass would rather bury the truth than face it.
It's Montgomery's war now. Brash and unconventional, Mike Montgomery is hardly regulation Navy. At his side, Diane Martinson, the Chief of Staff's wife-smart, tough...and his lover. Under his command, the USS Goldsborough -a WWII-era destroyer thundering toward a showdown of water and fire.
With the arrival of P.T. Deutermann-retired Navy captain, former arms control negotiator within the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and ex-commander of at destroyer squadron-today's naval thriller just climbed to a whole new level.
It's Montgomery's war now. Brash and unconventional, Mike Montgomery is hardly regulation Navy. At his side, Diane Martinson, the Chief of Staff's wife-smart, tough...and his lover. Under his command, the USS Goldsborough -a WWII-era destroyer thundering toward a showdown of water and fire.
With the arrival of P.T. Deutermann-retired Navy captain, former arms control negotiator within the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and ex-commander of at destroyer squadron-today's naval thriller just climbed to a whole new level.
582 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 28, 1992
135 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
P.T. Deutermann
43 books300 followersP. T. Deutermann is a retired Navy captain and has served in the joint Chiefs of Staff as an arms control specialist. He is the author of eighteen novels, and lives in North Carolina. His World War II adventure novel Pacific Glory won the W. Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction, administered by the American Library Association; his other World War II novels are Ghosts of Bungo Suido and Sentinels of Fire. His most recent novel is Cold Frame, a contemporary thriller set in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 23, 2014
I recently found Deutermann, and after reading Pacific Glory, I wanted to investigate more. Deutermann has strengths and weaknesses. And the weaknesses interrupt the story line. Looking at books he has written over more than 10 years, he is not abandoning the weaknesses. And here, in Scorpion as in Pacific Glory, it has to do with the love subplot.
He also used the same lousy (it is really horrid) joke in both books. Where is the creativity there? But to highlight, as a first time writer here, when he has the improbable lovers together he will switch POV in mid paragraph multiple times. That is never a good practice. And he gives us insights that show just how perfect the two are, when he often leaves out introspection about why the lovers should embark on the course that they do.
Considering how awesome the action sequences work, leaving out all reference to a tangled love affair would have made a stronger tale. And note I think the action sequences are awesome. We see inside the enemy as well as our hero's force. We see modern naval warfare and it works well, though some of the politics in the tale begin to seem far fetched. Some of the assumptions about failure to report so that people can keep the waters smooth seem placed to make the ending come about, rather than how we think our navy would handle matters.
If you like tense, tight dramatic military fiction, then this is for you. It stands with Poyer's Dan Lenson series, though here, i think we have a one off. It is certainly worth a read despite the reservations I have noted.
He also used the same lousy (it is really horrid) joke in both books. Where is the creativity there? But to highlight, as a first time writer here, when he has the improbable lovers together he will switch POV in mid paragraph multiple times. That is never a good practice. And he gives us insights that show just how perfect the two are, when he often leaves out introspection about why the lovers should embark on the course that they do.
Considering how awesome the action sequences work, leaving out all reference to a tangled love affair would have made a stronger tale. And note I think the action sequences are awesome. We see inside the enemy as well as our hero's force. We see modern naval warfare and it works well, though some of the politics in the tale begin to seem far fetched. Some of the assumptions about failure to report so that people can keep the waters smooth seem placed to make the ending come about, rather than how we think our navy would handle matters.
If you like tense, tight dramatic military fiction, then this is for you. It stands with Poyer's Dan Lenson series, though here, i think we have a one off. It is certainly worth a read despite the reservations I have noted.
July 21, 2024
What a good writer..heartbreakingly honest. Strategy, competition, and dirty politics. Very human characters.
January 17, 2021
I was surprised I became so engrossed in this novel because it takes nearly 500 pages to get to the real action. The reader's patience is well rewarded though. The author did an excellent job of revealing the Navy's mindset during peacetime and the political games that must be played by officers to move up through the ranks. You'll get a decent understanding of ASW procedures reading this book. The writing was strong with well developed characters. Hooker, the foul mouthed and frequently intoxicated parrot provides some good humor.
May 25, 2015
real good
November 11, 2016
Should be a movie made from this book
November 21, 2025
Spoilers ahead. This book is dated around/after the time when the US made a strike against Libya. The plot of this book is a Libyan Foxtrot submarine (Soviet technology) sails all the way to Mayport (Florida) in order to sink the USS Coral Sea for revenge because the planes that bombed Libya came from this aircraft carrier.
The story is divided into 2 main POVs, one being that of the USS Goldsborough (USSG) an aging 25 year old destroyer that is to be mothballed the next year captained by Mike Montgomery (MM). The other is the Libyan submarine Al Akrab. A 3rd POV is that of Diane Martinson (DM), the wife of JW Martinson, chief of staff of Montgomery's admiral, who has an affair with MM.
I actually skipped all of Al Akrab's POV since I didn't want to see what was happening and it was a good choice to me as I didn't see the "other side". I only knew what happened when USSG reacted to it.
I also wanted to skip DM's POV because I didn't really want to get into their romance but in the end it was a somewhat integral part of the story, especially since we'd see MM going to and from his ship from his houseboat where he was meeting with DM.
The plot really starts when a fisherman thought he saw a U-boat and the USSG is sent to follow up. They believed they found a soft signature and followed up with more and more clues or findings including a fishing boat that mysteriously disappeared. Eventually MM believed a diesel sub was hanging around the port and brought it up to his commodore who also eventually believed him. However their admiral didn't believe it because he didn't want to look stupid if it was wrong and ordered them to dismiss their findings.
MM and the commodore come to the conclusion that the Foxtrot was there to sink the Coral Sea based on several findings. Because the admiral disallows a search, the commodore sends the USSG for a sea trial at the same time that the Coral Sea comes back to port, and if they find the sub then good, if not, no one has to know.
On the day the Coral Sea is supposed to come back a huge car carrier (a cargo ship that carries automobiles) is blown up by mines. USSG believes that portends an attack and sails towards where they think the sub will be and warns the Coral Sea. They do find the sub and fends off a torpedo attack to the carrier and them. After some ship to sub action the sub explodes a mine and damages itself and the USSG fatally.
The story has many aspects to it: romance, the ship vs sub part, the ugly politics, etc. Overall it was a good read and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes submarine action.
The story is divided into 2 main POVs, one being that of the USS Goldsborough (USSG) an aging 25 year old destroyer that is to be mothballed the next year captained by Mike Montgomery (MM). The other is the Libyan submarine Al Akrab. A 3rd POV is that of Diane Martinson (DM), the wife of JW Martinson, chief of staff of Montgomery's admiral, who has an affair with MM.
I actually skipped all of Al Akrab's POV since I didn't want to see what was happening and it was a good choice to me as I didn't see the "other side". I only knew what happened when USSG reacted to it.
I also wanted to skip DM's POV because I didn't really want to get into their romance but in the end it was a somewhat integral part of the story, especially since we'd see MM going to and from his ship from his houseboat where he was meeting with DM.
The plot really starts when a fisherman thought he saw a U-boat and the USSG is sent to follow up. They believed they found a soft signature and followed up with more and more clues or findings including a fishing boat that mysteriously disappeared. Eventually MM believed a diesel sub was hanging around the port and brought it up to his commodore who also eventually believed him. However their admiral didn't believe it because he didn't want to look stupid if it was wrong and ordered them to dismiss their findings.
MM and the commodore come to the conclusion that the Foxtrot was there to sink the Coral Sea based on several findings. Because the admiral disallows a search, the commodore sends the USSG for a sea trial at the same time that the Coral Sea comes back to port, and if they find the sub then good, if not, no one has to know.
On the day the Coral Sea is supposed to come back a huge car carrier (a cargo ship that carries automobiles) is blown up by mines. USSG believes that portends an attack and sails towards where they think the sub will be and warns the Coral Sea. They do find the sub and fends off a torpedo attack to the carrier and them. After some ship to sub action the sub explodes a mine and damages itself and the USSG fatally.
The story has many aspects to it: romance, the ship vs sub part, the ugly politics, etc. Overall it was a good read and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes submarine action.
September 3, 2024
Superb US Navy Novel -- Politics, Romance, and Much More!!
P. T. Deutermann is a master of US Navy fiction, and in this older novel he does not disappoint. One of the fascinating things about much of Deutermann's writing, and this novel in particular, is Deutermann's deep understanding of US Navy politics among serving career officers. Combine this with exceptionally memorable characters in this novel, and a taut and plausible storyline (mostly) and it all combines into a wonderful read and a first-rate novel.
The politics of this storyline have been overtaken by real world events, but this matters not at all as regards the reader's enjoyment of the novel or the relevance of its basic storyline. Here, Libya's dictator Kaddaffi (now dead) decides to seek revenge against America for the 1986 bombings by the US against Libya. This is certainly not an improbable scenario. Kaddaffi does this by secretly dispatching a Soviet-made and relatively advanced diesel-electric submarine on a special mission against a US ship. The notion of Libya engaging in this kind of aggression is obviously something that the US Navy is not expecting, and therein lies a very excellent sea yarn. There is much more, including lots of Navy politics, romance, and more. This is a wonderful novel.
My one criticism of this novel is the ending -- it felt somewhat rushed, and I did not find the actions of the two main protagonists, particularly Mrs. Martinson, to be plausible. Nor was the ending particularly satisfying. What this novel really needed was an epilogue -- it really does leave the reader hanging. Deutermann does not do this in many of his other novels so I was disappointed.
This is a minor nit. This is an excellent novel that I could not put down. Highly recommended.
P. T. Deutermann is a master of US Navy fiction, and in this older novel he does not disappoint. One of the fascinating things about much of Deutermann's writing, and this novel in particular, is Deutermann's deep understanding of US Navy politics among serving career officers. Combine this with exceptionally memorable characters in this novel, and a taut and plausible storyline (mostly) and it all combines into a wonderful read and a first-rate novel.
The politics of this storyline have been overtaken by real world events, but this matters not at all as regards the reader's enjoyment of the novel or the relevance of its basic storyline. Here, Libya's dictator Kaddaffi (now dead) decides to seek revenge against America for the 1986 bombings by the US against Libya. This is certainly not an improbable scenario. Kaddaffi does this by secretly dispatching a Soviet-made and relatively advanced diesel-electric submarine on a special mission against a US ship. The notion of Libya engaging in this kind of aggression is obviously something that the US Navy is not expecting, and therein lies a very excellent sea yarn. There is much more, including lots of Navy politics, romance, and more. This is a wonderful novel.
My one criticism of this novel is the ending -- it felt somewhat rushed, and I did not find the actions of the two main protagonists, particularly Mrs. Martinson, to be plausible. Nor was the ending particularly satisfying. What this novel really needed was an epilogue -- it really does leave the reader hanging. Deutermann does not do this in many of his other novels so I was disappointed.
This is a minor nit. This is an excellent novel that I could not put down. Highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2019
Just under the wire as the last completed book of 2018. I've read almost all of Deutermann's World War Two Navy thrillers and thought well of all of them so far. Scorpion in the Sea is his first novel, published in 1992. It's a tale of the modern U.S. Navy of that time. There's three essential parts to it. There's a possible threat, no one believes it, the navy brass shut down discussion of it. There follows a lot of discussion of navy careerism and politics. Second, there's a love affair, fairly precisely described that impacts the overall plot. Third, there's the actual account of the threat and the action taken to resolve it.
The first thing I noticed is how Deutermann's first novel serves as a template for his subsequent naval thrillers (The WW2 history series). There is both good and bad in this. In the world of the publisher's blurb one often repeated descriptor is that the book is a "slow burn." I have not read a lot of novels that fit that description. Indeed fast burn might be more appropriate to most; however, despite the (to me) inordinate length of the political and romantic threads this book is truly a slow burn. This gives the suspense a palpable sense. I was up last night to 5 a.m. finishing the book. So, if Captain Deutermann wishes to add politics and romance to his future novels, well then, full speed ahead.
The first thing I noticed is how Deutermann's first novel serves as a template for his subsequent naval thrillers (The WW2 history series). There is both good and bad in this. In the world of the publisher's blurb one often repeated descriptor is that the book is a "slow burn." I have not read a lot of novels that fit that description. Indeed fast burn might be more appropriate to most; however, despite the (to me) inordinate length of the political and romantic threads this book is truly a slow burn. This gives the suspense a palpable sense. I was up last night to 5 a.m. finishing the book. So, if Captain Deutermann wishes to add politics and romance to his future novels, well then, full speed ahead.
February 26, 2023
Read this thirty years after PTD first wrote this, a different technological era, a different political era.
Lockerbie had occurred but not 9-11.
This was another great PTD Navy book. My only complaint is that the idiots on staff didn’t get it in the end, only hinted at.
The Navy, even thirty years ago, would never be able to keep something like this quiet.OTD hints at this in the book where the Chiefs rat line agents the word out what they are doing out there on the Atlantic.
How would even the dumbest shits in the Navy think that two totally unconnected vessels both hit mines within hours of each other and think they’re going to over that up
Lockerbie had occurred but not 9-11.
This was another great PTD Navy book. My only complaint is that the idiots on staff didn’t get it in the end, only hinted at.
The Navy, even thirty years ago, would never be able to keep something like this quiet.OTD hints at this in the book where the Chiefs rat line agents the word out what they are doing out there on the Atlantic.
How would even the dumbest shits in the Navy think that two totally unconnected vessels both hit mines within hours of each other and think they’re going to over that up
May 30, 2017
Deutermann, a retired Naval Officer, has portrayed the characters and shipboard adventures of military life to a key, even to the point of the "Westpac widow" syndrome evident in military life. Throw in a little subterfuge of a Libyan submarine hiding offshore from Mayport, Fla, Naval Station, a lonely officer's wife and a single, good looking Commander of a destroyer about to be decommissioned and it makes for a good military thriller. A good read for those enjoying this type of suspense. Deutermann is a good author. I will read more of his work.
November 19, 2019
With each new novel I read by P. T. Deutermann, I am getting more and more impressed with his writing style, or possibly I'm just getting more accustomed to it!? Either way, it's enjoyable reading, as well as educational and entertaining. I can't really ask for more in a novel. I'm so glad I stumbled upon him as he's truly a gifted writer, in my humble opinion. I'll continue till I read all his books (I'm only about 1/3 of the way through at this point).
June 22, 2018
A gripping naval story
I really liked this book, it covered all my bases. Even though this story is fiction the characters, the ships, the settings are all contemporary and realistic. The author holds your interest with subplots, suspicions and threats to national security. It is a well paced story that held my interest right to the last page.
I really liked this book, it covered all my bases. Even though this story is fiction the characters, the ships, the settings are all contemporary and realistic. The author holds your interest with subplots, suspicions and threats to national security. It is a well paced story that held my interest right to the last page.
March 14, 2022
Deutermann’s first book published in 1992. A military thriller set in a Navy base in Florida, and its coastal waters. Excellent well developed characters, and a very exciting action packed story.
I have enjoyed Deutermann’s WWII novels. Now I am looking forward to reading everything he has written.
I have enjoyed Deutermann’s WWII novels. Now I am looking forward to reading everything he has written.
November 5, 2023
I now know much about submarines. I now know much about naval destroyers. I know about the politics of the navy with people going to parties and trying to get promotions. The story is very long and ends with a lot of. Violence and deaths. All of it happening in peacetime. The wishes of the big guys do not count when things look not so good. Well written.
October 29, 2018
Naval politics versus character
This story feels real. Technically astute with just the correct amount of detail. Not a false step anywhere. A successful illustration of the importance of character to naval leadership.
This story feels real. Technically astute with just the correct amount of detail. Not a false step anywhere. A successful illustration of the importance of character to naval leadership.
December 21, 2019
Still a great read
One of the advantages of getting old is that I can re-read books from my past and enjoy them again. I remember the characters but have forgotten the plot. This was a great read for an old salt. Highly recommended!
One of the advantages of getting old is that I can re-read books from my past and enjoy them again. I remember the characters but have forgotten the plot. This was a great read for an old salt. Highly recommended!
October 2, 2018
Another great plot by Deutermann.
October 20, 2019
Hard to put down
If you enjoy naval stories you won't want to miss this one. It's amount the best from Deutermann, and he is a top-notch writer.
If you enjoy naval stories you won't want to miss this one. It's amount the best from Deutermann, and he is a top-notch writer.
May 19, 2020
Very good. Maybe his best, although I haven't read them all, yet.
February 2, 2021
Really great story that would make a wonderful movie. Hats off to the author!
November 26, 2023
This was very different from my usual genre. I enjoyed all the planning, calculating and decisions the main character went through. It was very suspenseful and entertaining.
May 24, 2024
Didn't want it end.
Excellent read. Keeps you connected on every page. Good characters, great story line. Really didn't want it end. Want more.
Excellent read. Keeps you connected on every page. Good characters, great story line. Really didn't want it end. Want more.
February 10, 2025
Damn Good Tale
Couldn’t expect less of an ending in todays military - disappointed but expected with the woke of the E ring -
Couldn’t expect less of an ending in todays military - disappointed but expected with the woke of the E ring -
September 15, 2016
Incredibly Realistic
Coincidentally being a former Navy man, and my destroyer home ported in Mayport, I was seeing in a time warp my old ship tied up to the pier, and walking right alongside of Mike Montgomery as he fought his fight with the naval beaurocracy that is ALWAYS right, I could imagine this novel becoming real life. I obviously don't have a handle on what goes on in officer's lives, but what Mr. Deutermann writes in all probability could take place. At any rate, there WERE officers who cared about their subordinates, albeit few and far between. This novel kept me up WAY past the time I'm usually asleep, as it was so realistic.
Coincidentally being a former Navy man, and my destroyer home ported in Mayport, I was seeing in a time warp my old ship tied up to the pier, and walking right alongside of Mike Montgomery as he fought his fight with the naval beaurocracy that is ALWAYS right, I could imagine this novel becoming real life. I obviously don't have a handle on what goes on in officer's lives, but what Mr. Deutermann writes in all probability could take place. At any rate, there WERE officers who cared about their subordinates, albeit few and far between. This novel kept me up WAY past the time I'm usually asleep, as it was so realistic.
July 22, 2014
This book took me a long time to read. With all of Deutermann's other books, I've been hooked instantly; that was not the case here. The beginning was very reminiscent of the Hunt for Red October...overly detailed for my taste and very slow-paced (and obviously with a similar plot focus). I'm not sure at which point I finally got sucked in, but I finished the rest of the book in one sitting.
I definitely like Deutermann's style. I will absolutely continue to read his other books.
I definitely like Deutermann's style. I will absolutely continue to read his other books.
October 20, 2011
This non-stop thriller is Deutermann's first book and my first read of this author. It did establish him as high on my reader's list and I've read several others since. All are fast-paced thrillers with a little sex and romance thrown in. Scorpiion in the Sea is one of the best although some of the action borders on difficult to believe, but that said the book as whole is an enjoyable read.
May 6, 2010
P. T. is one of my favorite authors. This was his first book; it is a very good story but could have been told with half the words. A Libyan submarine is dispatched to the Atlantic off the coast of Jacksonville to sink an American aircraft carrier.
April 13, 2012
A great thriller. There is a lot of Navy lingo & technical background, which I found interesting. Some may find it a bit too much; don't let that put you off Deutermann. His subsequent novels are just as good (if not better), without the Navy info.
April 17, 2016
This book is not for everyone, while there is action it is not the manly-man steady action page one to finish. Memories from my past Navy 1972-1976, people yes Deutermann's characters are real well rounded. Peace time politics real, Action just enough to make it possible yes I liked this one.
February 27, 2012
A good USN yarn although some parts were rather implausable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews