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Eye Contact Over Truk: Heartrending Historical Fiction
A forgotten battle. A live-aboard dive vessel. Will exploring what lies under the coral tear these men apart?
America, 1985. Nick Mitchel is wracked by grief. Destroyed by his beloved wife’s death, the retiree is fighting to keep his flashbacks from disturbing long-buried truths. And a diving expedition in the Pacific Ocean he’d hoped would heal old wounds only reopens dark memories of the war…
Japan. Junichi Takahashi is brimming with indignation. After surviving the WWII firebombing of Tokyo as a child, he resents his dying father’s request to explore a sunken graveyard. And with the location now a tourist mecca for scuba divers, he’s furious that one of his nation’s most tragic losses has turned into an underwater playground.
As Nick struggles with nightmarish visions, his anger awakens when a saboteur starts tampering with his equipment. And as Junichi battles to make peace with his grim history, he confronts Nick in a dangerous collision of perspectives.
Can the two men salvage anything from the wreckage of a bitter conflict?
Eye Contact Over Truk is a heartrending work of historical fiction. If you like nuanced characters, emotional journeys, and surreal backdrops, then you’ll love Stephanie Woodman’s thought-provoking exploration of the past.
Buy Eye Contact Over Truk to seek redemption today!
America, 1985. Nick Mitchel is wracked by grief. Destroyed by his beloved wife’s death, the retiree is fighting to keep his flashbacks from disturbing long-buried truths. And a diving expedition in the Pacific Ocean he’d hoped would heal old wounds only reopens dark memories of the war…
Japan. Junichi Takahashi is brimming with indignation. After surviving the WWII firebombing of Tokyo as a child, he resents his dying father’s request to explore a sunken graveyard. And with the location now a tourist mecca for scuba divers, he’s furious that one of his nation’s most tragic losses has turned into an underwater playground.
As Nick struggles with nightmarish visions, his anger awakens when a saboteur starts tampering with his equipment. And as Junichi battles to make peace with his grim history, he confronts Nick in a dangerous collision of perspectives.
Can the two men salvage anything from the wreckage of a bitter conflict?
Eye Contact Over Truk is a heartrending work of historical fiction. If you like nuanced characters, emotional journeys, and surreal backdrops, then you’ll love Stephanie Woodman’s thought-provoking exploration of the past.
Buy Eye Contact Over Truk to seek redemption today!
- GenresHistorical
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 31, 2024
“Now one last, but equally important, item. Please remember that these wrecks were not sunk to entertain divers, nor with the intent of promoting marine growth as an artificial reef. As alluring, mysterious, and beautiful as the wrecks are, they are first and foremost tombs to those who died in the battle. Most of the human remains have been removed, but not all. To the families of the men who died here, visiting this site is the same as visiting a grave site…”
In the aftermath of losing his wife, Nick Mitchel experiences the resurgence of old memories that he thought he had put behind him. Overwhelmed by despair and the absence of his wife, Nick retreats into isolation, wasting away within the confines of his home. However, Natalie, one of his closest friends, refuses to let him waste his life and is committed to helping him find his way back. They begin organising a diving trip to Truk, where Nick had participated, during WW2, in Operation Hailstorm, sinking Japanese ships, along with Natalie’s late brother. Hopefully, this will be a voyage towards saying goodbye to the past, confronting it, and moving ahead.
Despite his strong reluctance, Junichi Takahashi cannot refuse his father’s dying request to go on a trip to Truk. Why his father would want him to go and see the ship that went down with him onboard, the ship he barely survived the sinking of, was beyond him. Nevertheless, Junichi’s father yearned for a definitive separation between the past and present. Thus, Junichi felt compelled to revisit Natsu-Shima Island and explore the submerged wrecks as a way to honour his father and find a resolution regarding the war’s impact on his life.
Stephanie Woodman’s novel Eye Contact Over Truk is a deeply emotional exploration of loss and acceptance, as well as learning to live with grief.
Everyone remembers the famous battles of WW2, but unfortunately, others of equal importance are slowly being lost to history. Still, those who participated in those battles are haunted by invisible scars and indelible memories. Many battles were treated as just numbers - counting planes, bombs, and casualties. Faceless individuals, all with their own story to tell, wiped away, forgotten. The haunting feeling of knowing the impact of your actions, even if you were following orders, in such a battle and the lives you have cut short is undeniable. Throughout the novel, Nick faces significant struggles as he delves into various underwater wrecks, grappling with the immense devastation his war involvement caused while also attempting to absolve himself of blame.
Some characters in the novel are untouched by the war and remain oblivious to the extent of the devastation and life-altering effects. This is perfectly exemplified by Nick’s children. While Nick struggles to repress his memories and escape the past, his children live in blissful ignorance of his wartime experiences. The book illustrates numerous examples of how the war impacted everyone’s lives. Nick fought in it. Junichi, although young, suffered immense trauma from the fire bombings as he desperately ran away from the blistering heat, fully aware that any pause could be fatal. The war had a profound impact on Natalie’s life when her brother died in the line of duty. Her relationship with those around her, such as her parents, shifted. The effects of war are profound, and they cannot be erased or healed simply by the passage of time.
The diving element in this book was fascinating, a unique approach to recounting history by revealing the aftermath instead of the actual events. Through Nick’s flashbacks, the reader gets a glimpse of what it was like to fight in this war. Nevertheless, Nick’s emotional reaction to seeing the wrecks years later has a significantly more intense effect on the reader. The reader learns that the war’s impact lingered long after the fighting ceased. The story of the wrecked ships, transforming into an underwater cemetery for countless individuals, is truly heart-wrenching. Even though coral and new life have begun to thrive, the sunken ships still serve as haunting reminders of the lives lost in a war. However, as Nick encounters more and more life-threatening situations caused by his malfunctioning diving gear, doubts and suspicions begin to surface. Junichi’s aversion towards Nick intensified upon learning about his involvement as a pilot during Operation Hailstone, attributing him to the numerous casualties. Yet, would Junichi’s loathing for Nick drive him to deliberately endanger his life?
Despite a slow beginning, the pace of the novel rapidly intensifies, capturing your attention and making it impossible to put down. The characters are so meticulously developed that their emotions resonate deeply with the reader. Although the characters are fiction, the historical events in this novel are authentic. Operation Hailstorm was a real battle, and many people died in the attacks. Through her fictional characters, Ms Woodman sheds light on a little-known battle, portraying the trauma, loss, grief, and evoking empathy in readers. The reader experiences the characters’ emotions, as this book emphasises the enduring psychological impact of war on its survivors. Many historical sites are tourist attractions now, but they were once inhabited by living, breathing people, whose circumstances ended with their deaths. It’s one thing to remember history, but to live through it and survive when so many others didn’t is a whole other story.
Eye Contact Over Truk by Stephanie Woodman is a novel that will touch your heart and leave a lasting impression. The book evokes a strong desire from the reader to embrace these characters and erase their painful memories. But alas, such a thing is not possible. Many individuals, like Nick and Junichi, left the war without physical injuries but were mentally scarred for the rest of their lives. It not only destroyed the lives of those who died but also those of the ones who survived. Stephanie Woodman’s novel explores the lasting impact of trauma on WWII veterans, who expected to be hailed as heroes but instead found themselves bound to the memories of war and their fallen comrades.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Ellie Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club
May 18, 2024
A beautifully written and poignant book exploring the long-term effects of war on the human psyche, this is as good a study of post-war trauma and melancholy reflection as you are likely to read, delivered by Stephanie in a thought-provoking and warmly endearing style.
Eye Contact Over Truk is all about its themes and its characters, as two men go on a wreck-diving excursion to the South Pacific island – the site of a devastating air and naval battle in the American-Japanese branch of World War Two – for their own reasons, following the heart-rending deaths of two respective people close to them. As is to be expected, there is suspicion and profound introspection, followed by the inevitable personal growth. Told on parallel timelines, we witness both sides of the backstory, and the mutually catastrophic effects, not only physically but mentally.
The concept of war is obviously one with devastating implications for all involved – except, that is, the greedy, power-mad despots behind them, hiding often thousands of miles away behind their curtain of protection and luxury, a factor Stephanie all too eloquently addresses. However, unlike many war books, this explores the mental damage of being forced to kill, sometimes indiscriminately and in vast numbers. Many books I have read from veterans seem to imply the worst psychological harm to be not only the death and destruction witnessed, and the loss of friends and loved ones, but most pensively that caused by being made into a murderer for duty. The themes explored in this book are those of loss, honour (particularly on the Japanese side) and, most of all, guilt. We often consider how soldiers are to be reintegrated into a post-war society, but this book goes way beyond that, to the later, more reflective years, as these men reach the twilight of their life and begin to seriously consider their younger actions. For Nick, the American bomber pilot, diving the wreckage of ships he literally sunk is not morbid, as his Japanese counterpart implies, but rather cathartic. Indeed, his own trauma has been held back, distracted from by a life with his loving wife. When she dies, in the book’s opening scenes, it is the catalyst for his PTSD floodgates being flung open; he soon comes to learn that the depression he is spiralling into isn’t simply about her loss, but rather the onset of decades-delayed repression of his actions under order.
This is a brilliant book, not heavy on action, though what there is is utterly engaging, realistic and thoughtfully portrayed; even at the time Nick is wondering why, yet mechanically going through the motions. The real star of this book is its descriptive exploration of the human condition in the context of war and trauma. Yet, don’t be deterred by thinking it is a study in gloom and sombreness; despite those themes, it is surprisingly lovely and even uplifting to read – and Stephanie is a fantastic, empathetic and pensive writer.
Eye Contact Over Truk is all about its themes and its characters, as two men go on a wreck-diving excursion to the South Pacific island – the site of a devastating air and naval battle in the American-Japanese branch of World War Two – for their own reasons, following the heart-rending deaths of two respective people close to them. As is to be expected, there is suspicion and profound introspection, followed by the inevitable personal growth. Told on parallel timelines, we witness both sides of the backstory, and the mutually catastrophic effects, not only physically but mentally.
The concept of war is obviously one with devastating implications for all involved – except, that is, the greedy, power-mad despots behind them, hiding often thousands of miles away behind their curtain of protection and luxury, a factor Stephanie all too eloquently addresses. However, unlike many war books, this explores the mental damage of being forced to kill, sometimes indiscriminately and in vast numbers. Many books I have read from veterans seem to imply the worst psychological harm to be not only the death and destruction witnessed, and the loss of friends and loved ones, but most pensively that caused by being made into a murderer for duty. The themes explored in this book are those of loss, honour (particularly on the Japanese side) and, most of all, guilt. We often consider how soldiers are to be reintegrated into a post-war society, but this book goes way beyond that, to the later, more reflective years, as these men reach the twilight of their life and begin to seriously consider their younger actions. For Nick, the American bomber pilot, diving the wreckage of ships he literally sunk is not morbid, as his Japanese counterpart implies, but rather cathartic. Indeed, his own trauma has been held back, distracted from by a life with his loving wife. When she dies, in the book’s opening scenes, it is the catalyst for his PTSD floodgates being flung open; he soon comes to learn that the depression he is spiralling into isn’t simply about her loss, but rather the onset of decades-delayed repression of his actions under order.
This is a brilliant book, not heavy on action, though what there is is utterly engaging, realistic and thoughtfully portrayed; even at the time Nick is wondering why, yet mechanically going through the motions. The real star of this book is its descriptive exploration of the human condition in the context of war and trauma. Yet, don’t be deterred by thinking it is a study in gloom and sombreness; despite those themes, it is surprisingly lovely and even uplifting to read – and Stephanie is a fantastic, empathetic and pensive writer.
May 31, 2024
"Eye Contact Over Truk: Heartrending Historical Fiction" by Stephanie Woodman is a touching and emotional story about two men who are connected by their painful memories of World War II in 1985, the book holds many emotions of grief, memory, and healing through the experiences of these two characters.
The story revolves around Nick Mitchel, an American who is very sad because his wife has died. Nick is retired and finds it hard to deal with his sorrow. He often thinks about his past, which brings back memories he would rather forget. To help himself heal, Nick decides to go on a diving trip to Truk Lagoon in the Pacific Ocean. This place is known for its underwater wrecks from WWII. Nick hopes that this trip will help him feel better, but instead, it brings back painful memories from the war.
At the same time, we meet Junichi Takahashi, a man from Japan who is also struggling with his past. Junichi lived through the firebombing of Tokyo during WWII when he was a child, and those memories have stayed with him. His father is dying and asks Junichi to visit Truk Lagoon, a place where many Japanese soldiers died. Junichi is upset because Truk Lagoon is now a popular spot for scuba divers, and he feels it is disrespectful to treat such a tragic place like a tourist attraction.
The Author has amazingly portrayed the complexity of these two characters. Nick and Junichi each represent different sides of WWII, and their stories show how the war affected people in different ways. Their confrontation is not just about their personal struggles but also about finding a way to move forward from the past.
The book invites readers to reflect on how they remember the past and how they can find peace with it. If you enjoy stories with deep characters, emotional journeys, and a thoughtful look at the past, this book is a great choice.
I highly Recommend it !!
The story revolves around Nick Mitchel, an American who is very sad because his wife has died. Nick is retired and finds it hard to deal with his sorrow. He often thinks about his past, which brings back memories he would rather forget. To help himself heal, Nick decides to go on a diving trip to Truk Lagoon in the Pacific Ocean. This place is known for its underwater wrecks from WWII. Nick hopes that this trip will help him feel better, but instead, it brings back painful memories from the war.
At the same time, we meet Junichi Takahashi, a man from Japan who is also struggling with his past. Junichi lived through the firebombing of Tokyo during WWII when he was a child, and those memories have stayed with him. His father is dying and asks Junichi to visit Truk Lagoon, a place where many Japanese soldiers died. Junichi is upset because Truk Lagoon is now a popular spot for scuba divers, and he feels it is disrespectful to treat such a tragic place like a tourist attraction.
The Author has amazingly portrayed the complexity of these two characters. Nick and Junichi each represent different sides of WWII, and their stories show how the war affected people in different ways. Their confrontation is not just about their personal struggles but also about finding a way to move forward from the past.
The book invites readers to reflect on how they remember the past and how they can find peace with it. If you enjoy stories with deep characters, emotional journeys, and a thoughtful look at the past, this book is a great choice.
I highly Recommend it !!
August 19, 2024
Inspired, Inspiring
I’m and avid reader. I have been since I learned to read, 70 years ago. I must relate a bit of my history to put my review in perspective. I’m a retired US Marine. I served 31 years as an attack helicopter pilot, starting in Vietnam as an Army Aviator before joining the Marines. I come from a Navy family. My Dad was a Navy Fighter Pilot, starting in WW2 and Korea, retiring after 22 years. I am, and have been, a military history fanatic, focusing on the Pacific War. My wife (second marriage) is Japanese. Her Grandfather was a Zero Pilot during that war. I’ve lived in Japan for 13 years and counting. I dove Truk in 2004, going through a severe case of PTSD brought on by a fatal helicopter crash in 2003, after I retired from the Marine Corps. All of this shaped how I read, processed, and reacted to this word. I can honestly say this is absolutely THE BEST book I have ever read. I felt everything the author so brilliantly presented. She definitely did her homework. The details of her account were flawless (I’m a real stickler for historical accuracy). Her descriptions of the emotions of the two main characters resonated deeply with me. The pace of this work is perfect, the characters are real. The story is immensely rewarding. The author was obviously inspired. I am inspired having read it, and it helped me sort some of my combat and loss demons. I cannot say enough good about it.
I’m and avid reader. I have been since I learned to read, 70 years ago. I must relate a bit of my history to put my review in perspective. I’m a retired US Marine. I served 31 years as an attack helicopter pilot, starting in Vietnam as an Army Aviator before joining the Marines. I come from a Navy family. My Dad was a Navy Fighter Pilot, starting in WW2 and Korea, retiring after 22 years. I am, and have been, a military history fanatic, focusing on the Pacific War. My wife (second marriage) is Japanese. Her Grandfather was a Zero Pilot during that war. I’ve lived in Japan for 13 years and counting. I dove Truk in 2004, going through a severe case of PTSD brought on by a fatal helicopter crash in 2003, after I retired from the Marine Corps. All of this shaped how I read, processed, and reacted to this word. I can honestly say this is absolutely THE BEST book I have ever read. I felt everything the author so brilliantly presented. She definitely did her homework. The details of her account were flawless (I’m a real stickler for historical accuracy). Her descriptions of the emotions of the two main characters resonated deeply with me. The pace of this work is perfect, the characters are real. The story is immensely rewarding. The author was obviously inspired. I am inspired having read it, and it helped me sort some of my combat and loss demons. I cannot say enough good about it.
May 22, 2024
Eye Contact over Truk is a very well-written story, based on Operation Hailstone, the Task Force 58 raid on the Japanese fortress of Truk, 17-18 February 1944. The major characters are a bomber pilot and a young Japanese man who both have links to the Japanese naval and air base in the natural harbour of Truk. They find themselves on the same dive boat.
The pilot is returning to dive on the wrecks in the lagoon. He had dropped a torpedo that sank a large tanker, the Shinkoku Maru, while the Japanese man was there to honour his father, who survived the attack on his ship, the Heian Maru. The two men evince mutual aggression, which ramps up during the diving expeditions.
This is a fairly confronting story. The first few chapters brought tears to my eyes, the events and characterisations are so well described. The later chapters dealing with the diving expeditions take the reader down to the wrecks such that he or she is there, under the water and looking at the coral and broken metal. The story brings home to the reader the fear and futility of war.
There are a couple of twists and turns in the narrative and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, having read and commented on two of Stephanie's short stories.
The pilot is returning to dive on the wrecks in the lagoon. He had dropped a torpedo that sank a large tanker, the Shinkoku Maru, while the Japanese man was there to honour his father, who survived the attack on his ship, the Heian Maru. The two men evince mutual aggression, which ramps up during the diving expeditions.
This is a fairly confronting story. The first few chapters brought tears to my eyes, the events and characterisations are so well described. The later chapters dealing with the diving expeditions take the reader down to the wrecks such that he or she is there, under the water and looking at the coral and broken metal. The story brings home to the reader the fear and futility of war.
There are a couple of twists and turns in the narrative and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, having read and commented on two of Stephanie's short stories.
May 30, 2024
Above the water are beautiful tropical islands. Below the water, a graveyard now decorated with incredible coral.
Nick flew torpedo planes during WWII. He cannot forget the Japanese captain (JC) with whom he made eye contact just before his torpedo slammed into the ship, killing JC. He returns to Truk in 1985 to dive on wrecks strewn around the Pacific island, hoping for closure
Junichi’s father served on a ship in Truk. He survived the war, but his health was broken. He asks Junichi to visit Truk.
Nick and Junichi end up on the same live-aboard dive boat. Junichi flies into a rage that people spend their vacations diving on the wrecks of Japan’s war losses. He blames Nick.
Both men come to realize that they buried their emotions to survive the war, but now, holding onto the past comes at the expense of their future. At the end are long philosophical discourses about these realizations.
Also of interest, Junichi’s wife’s experience as a child orphaned by the Tokyo fire bombings. The atomic bomb victims received all the attention while the 120,000 orphaned children suffered greatly.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 11, 2025
I started this book because I have always wanted to dive Truk. And having finished the book, I’m not so sure now, for reasons that will be obvious to anyone who has read it. I started it some time ago, and found the writing style a bit too simplistic, almost as if written for younger readers. I put it down and came back to it. Once I was used to the style I began to appreciate the historic detail, and the diving. The trauma that war leaves with the survivors is the main theme of the story, and several members of the group on the live aboard had their own history to deal with. So my summary is: an easily readable historic novel based on real events, that can pack an emotional punch.
Read
July 15, 2024Ordinarily quite stoic. The author had me crying my way through the initial pages. The mark of a good writer is their ability to vividly transport you to new and exciting places, and visually depict your surroundings. Ms. Woodman accomplishes that teleportation in a magnificent manner - all the while pecking at your mind. Smart lady; great author. (Sorry to see it end...)
November 16, 2025
I’ve read many historical books about World War 2 but not many about the Japanese side. The historical events in this book showed me not only events, but emotional parts of war. Reading how this affects all sides of war was very emotional for me.
November 22, 2025
A really excellent book exploring the long term ravages of war. Highly recommended.
December 14, 2025
A great message
It kept me interested even as I knew where it was headed. Well put together. I will look for more.
It kept me interested even as I knew where it was headed. Well put together. I will look for more.
May 20, 2026
This had an intriguing premise. Because I’m not a scuba diver, I got a little bored with some of the dive descriptions.
I enjoyed reading the book and like the redemption of the characters.
I enjoyed reading the book and like the redemption of the characters.
March 23, 2026
Very good historical novel...I had mixed feelings as I read it due to the nature of war. The two main characters had past events haunting them from WWII. They were related to the Pacific part of the war. Eventually they came around and let their "ghosts" free. As usual, when people read of the atrocities of war, it is difficult to find anything positive about it. Yet, there is something to be considered about stopping obvious evil. Unfortunately many people who really do not wish to be part of the fighting are injured or killed. It would be of mankind's best interest to live peaceably with each other.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews