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Captain Kelly Maguire #3
Back to Battle
Commander Kelly Maguire, leader of men in the British Navy, finds himself plunged into blistering attacks at the battle of Dunkirk. From bitter fighting in the Mediterranean, to the landings at Normandy, this action-packed saga takes Maguire through trial to triumph. Against a background of personal tragedy, this is a compelling story of love and adventure.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 7, 2024
This is the final part of three in the George Kelly Maguire (Kelly) series and a very good finale it is too. I noted in my reviews of the earlier two books, Hennessey has a very matter of fact style to telling what are essentially adventure stories. Kelly leading men or ship into danger in an unfussy way reflecting the `Royal Navy’s reputation for quiet competence and efficiency. In this book Kelly the highly regarded and highly decorated officer is sent to a variety of hotspots starting with the Spanish civil war, evacuating British citizens and soon after to Dunkirk, followed by the north Atlantic, Malta, Crete and Russian convoys, Normandy (and maybe a couple I've forgotten).
This may sound a horrendously packed schedule, but the enormous loss of British warships means that those which survive are quickly pressed back into service, meaning Kelly spends little time ashore. He does, however, continue to progress through the ranks.
This book differs from the first two; Kelly is more reflective, beginning to feel his age and considering his personal sacrifices as well as the enormous loss of shipmates and even those closer to him. Charley (Charlotte) too is often in his thoughts, though when they do meet, they seem to have drifted apart.
The final 100 pages or so are very moving and written with a sensitivity not evident in the earlier books. The war in Europe is clearly nearing an end though the loss of life continues, including those close to Kelly.
Overall, an excellent series. I gave the first two books 4 stars and this one 5 reflecting the strength of the trilogy overall.
This may sound a horrendously packed schedule, but the enormous loss of British warships means that those which survive are quickly pressed back into service, meaning Kelly spends little time ashore. He does, however, continue to progress through the ranks.
This book differs from the first two; Kelly is more reflective, beginning to feel his age and considering his personal sacrifices as well as the enormous loss of shipmates and even those closer to him. Charley (Charlotte) too is often in his thoughts, though when they do meet, they seem to have drifted apart.
The final 100 pages or so are very moving and written with a sensitivity not evident in the earlier books. The war in Europe is clearly nearing an end though the loss of life continues, including those close to Kelly.
Overall, an excellent series. I gave the first two books 4 stars and this one 5 reflecting the strength of the trilogy overall.
August 18, 2021
This was the last volume in the tale of Kelly Maguire serving in the English Navy from WW! through WW2. The author skillfully tells about the intricacies of a carreer naval officer rising to the highest post in the English Navy. As in the previous the author provides many new nuances of WW2 naval history. I enjoyed the series and compare it as an equal to C.S. Forester's Hornblower series.
October 5, 2022
Continuation of the 3rd book. Spoilers ahead.
Summary:
I'm writing this as I read it because there are usually so many things going on in the book that I'll forget about them as soon as I'm done and these reviews are a reminder to me more than anything else.
The first part is the Spanish Civil War. Hennessy is doing what a lot of authors do for their historical characters. He injects them into as many historical events as possible for the historical part of the historical fiction. And many of them have been, as the characters themselves note, evacuation events. In this part, KM is sent to evacuate British and other nationals from Spain. And in doing so we are given a short precis of the SCW and I have to admit that he's done a pretty good job.
In part 2 KM takes part in the evacuation of Dunkirk and Hennessy does a great job of putting a man in place. The horrors and chaos of Dunkirk are all done very well. Hennessy has also managed to add a little commentary on the spinelessness of the politicians that led up to WW2.
Part 3: Operations in the Med, convoys to Malta, and the Crete campaign, with a base in Alexandria. During this time he also has an affair with Jenner-Neate (a woman he met in the SCW) and meets and loses Charley again. He also encounters Archie-Bumf again, a French naval officer he first met during Dunkirk. AB is now a French admiral and he wants to hand over French North Africa to the Allies after a few token shots. KM is now promoted to rear-admiral and given his own task force.
Part 4: Convoys to Murmansk. During this time Hitler had invaded Russia and now Russia is on the Allieds' side. Supplies are being sent to Russia via the northern route. The Americans enter WW2 after Pearl Harbor. Verschoyle serves under him as a flotilla commander.
There are also some convoys to America but it's just a short side trip in the book.
Part 5: KM takes part in the Italian campaign. There isn't a lot here, the main experience was with the new German radio controlled glider bombs.
Part 6: KM takes part in D-Day. Again, not a lot, just preparation, the secrecy, the vast amount of materiel in the south of England. During D-Day, he sails with the vast fleet and is part of the bombardment.
Some of the ending deals with the relationships KM has with the other characters. One of the bigger ones is with Verschoyle who really has become a firm friend over time from the mutual respect each other has for their abilities. And of course the long running romance with Charley. Towards the end I really felt drawn into this subplot. I almost felt like this was a romance story with an overplot of KM's naval career and I have to say I really enjoyed it.
Overall a fantastic epic. It was rushed at the end, simply because a lot more could have been written but I'm not sure if Hennessy wanted to spend any more time on it. But if he did, it would have been worthwhile. To be honest, this is just as good if not better than Ken Follett's long series, which made him a rich man. If Hennessy had added 1-2 more books to it, it might have done the same. Bravo and a well earned 5 stars for the entire series.
Summary:
I'm writing this as I read it because there are usually so many things going on in the book that I'll forget about them as soon as I'm done and these reviews are a reminder to me more than anything else.
The first part is the Spanish Civil War. Hennessy is doing what a lot of authors do for their historical characters. He injects them into as many historical events as possible for the historical part of the historical fiction. And many of them have been, as the characters themselves note, evacuation events. In this part, KM is sent to evacuate British and other nationals from Spain. And in doing so we are given a short precis of the SCW and I have to admit that he's done a pretty good job.
In part 2 KM takes part in the evacuation of Dunkirk and Hennessy does a great job of putting a man in place. The horrors and chaos of Dunkirk are all done very well. Hennessy has also managed to add a little commentary on the spinelessness of the politicians that led up to WW2.
Part 3: Operations in the Med, convoys to Malta, and the Crete campaign, with a base in Alexandria. During this time he also has an affair with Jenner-Neate (a woman he met in the SCW) and meets and loses Charley again. He also encounters Archie-Bumf again, a French naval officer he first met during Dunkirk. AB is now a French admiral and he wants to hand over French North Africa to the Allies after a few token shots. KM is now promoted to rear-admiral and given his own task force.
Part 4: Convoys to Murmansk. During this time Hitler had invaded Russia and now Russia is on the Allieds' side. Supplies are being sent to Russia via the northern route. The Americans enter WW2 after Pearl Harbor. Verschoyle serves under him as a flotilla commander.
There are also some convoys to America but it's just a short side trip in the book.
Part 5: KM takes part in the Italian campaign. There isn't a lot here, the main experience was with the new German radio controlled glider bombs.
Part 6: KM takes part in D-Day. Again, not a lot, just preparation, the secrecy, the vast amount of materiel in the south of England. During D-Day, he sails with the vast fleet and is part of the bombardment.
Some of the ending deals with the relationships KM has with the other characters. One of the bigger ones is with Verschoyle who really has become a firm friend over time from the mutual respect each other has for their abilities. And of course the long running romance with Charley. Towards the end I really felt drawn into this subplot. I almost felt like this was a romance story with an overplot of KM's naval career and I have to say I really enjoyed it.
Overall a fantastic epic. It was rushed at the end, simply because a lot more could have been written but I'm not sure if Hennessy wanted to spend any more time on it. But if he did, it would have been worthwhile. To be honest, this is just as good if not better than Ken Follett's long series, which made him a rich man. If Hennessy had added 1-2 more books to it, it might have done the same. Bravo and a well earned 5 stars for the entire series.
September 9, 2019
War as it always is; a personal affair
I read the entire series one after another and as a former "Navy person, enjoyed every page. The author is a painter and you can almost smell the sea. The main characters are full fledged and compelling, as is the story line. I have no complaints it is an enjoyable read and what more do you want?
I read the entire series one after another and as a former "Navy person, enjoyed every page. The author is a painter and you can almost smell the sea. The main characters are full fledged and compelling, as is the story line. I have no complaints it is an enjoyable read and what more do you want?
March 27, 2021
The last of the trilogy of books from the Kelly Maguire thrillers. Approaching World War II, Kelly is back and hoping to survive the toughest test to date. Max has done a brilliant job to making the story tense and gripping with some nice light touches as well. Almost weep in places. A brilliant end to a great trilogy 🙂
May 11, 2024
As a retired Naval Officer I found this book fascinating. I am also a history buff and this book covers a period in the history of the world that is particularly significant. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the period from WW 1 through most of WW 11.
May 8, 2024
Excellent Series enjoyed them very much , liked the Characters too
August 2, 2024
Kelly McGuire came of age in his Majesty’s Navy during the Great War, and unlike many he stuck it out through the ‘peace” — though for him it wasn’t so peaceful, between running around in China and having his heart broken. Now Europe is preparing for another attempt at suicide, and McGuire and his destroyer are in the heart of it. Opening outside of Iberia, where McGuire and company are helping nuns escape from the Marxists and helping political dissidents escape from Franco, McGuire witnesses the invasion of Norway and does his bit to savage German ammunition transports. From his assumption of command at the Battle of Jutland when his captain perished, McGuire is now a commander of destroyer flotillas. As it becomes obvious that the British expeditionary force is about to be trapped in Dunkirk, McGuire — with a history of pulling off evacuations — he’s tapped to help. As usual, McGuire is one part Horatio Hornblower, one part Forrest Gump: he’s always where the action is and making history, despite occasionally losing lovers and ships. There are a few lulls between assignments, and here Charley makes a return. One element of the McGuire stories I’ve especially enjoyed is his complicated relationships, both with a fellow officer who he’s frenemies with and the woman he loves but can’t be with because he’s married to the Navy. His and Charley’s relationship and interactions are heavy with emotion — pain, resentment, and love all jockying for space in their hearts and heads as they stare and make their way in war that’s already cost both. As you’d expect from a novel set during World War 2, there is a lot of action in this, with more death than the prior two books together, and many scenes that deliver some sense of the horror and chaos of battle — decks slick with blood from the wounded, men gasping for air as their ship is burning beneath them. Given that this is the third book in the trilogy, Hennessy wraps things up nicely, both with the war and with Charley — but boy, does poor McGuire have to earn his happy ending.
Highlights:
‘Si vis pacem para bellum. Well, now we’re up to the necks in the bellum we haven’t para’d for.
‘I’m bloody hungry,’ a Guardsman next to him said. ‘I ain’t had anything to eat for three days.’ ‘We could always eat each other,’ Kelly suggested. ‘But, as senior officer,’ he said, ‘I expect first bite.’
There was a line of splashes alongside the leading Italian cruiser, then they all saw a yellow flash just abaft the bridge. ‘One for his nob!’ Latimer said. ‘With your knowledge of Shakespeare,’ Kelly observed, ‘you might have come up with something more memorable than that.’ ‘How about “A hit, a hit, a palpable hit”, sir?’
She immediately gave him a drink and said she was going to change into something comfortable. His look of alarm made her smile. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘That was a silly thing to say. It doesn’t mean what it means in novels.’
Highlights:
‘Si vis pacem para bellum. Well, now we’re up to the necks in the bellum we haven’t para’d for.
‘I’m bloody hungry,’ a Guardsman next to him said. ‘I ain’t had anything to eat for three days.’ ‘We could always eat each other,’ Kelly suggested. ‘But, as senior officer,’ he said, ‘I expect first bite.’
There was a line of splashes alongside the leading Italian cruiser, then they all saw a yellow flash just abaft the bridge. ‘One for his nob!’ Latimer said. ‘With your knowledge of Shakespeare,’ Kelly observed, ‘you might have come up with something more memorable than that.’ ‘How about “A hit, a hit, a palpable hit”, sir?’
She immediately gave him a drink and said she was going to change into something comfortable. His look of alarm made her smile. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘That was a silly thing to say. It doesn’t mean what it means in novels.’
June 25, 2024
The third volume in the Kelly Maguire trilogy, Back to Battle, takes Maguire from the Spanish Civil War as a run-up to the Second World War, through Dunkirk, and to the final resolution. As in the previous volumes by Max Hennessy, Maguire is sent from hot-spot to hot-spot with a varying range of armament and capabilities. Also, as one might expect in adventures set during the war years, there are deaths which affect both characters and the reader, sometimes as a result of the character’s own hubris or selfishness.
The big surprise for me in Back to Battle is how much the social-climbing, narcissist (Verschoyle) has grown as a person. Oh, he still has his sarcastic sense of humor such as when he describes classified orders as: “‘Orders stamped To be destroyed before being read,’ Verschoyle commented sarcastically.” (p. 158). Indeed, Hennessy’s own humor shows in one of my favorite descriptions of Spanish Civil War combatants: “grenades which swung in bunches from their waists like the bananas that Josephine Baker had used in her nude shows.” (p. 45).
There is also a running theme throughout these books about the accepted or traditional naval doctrine versus those which evolve of necessity. For example, “The newspapers had perpetuated the legend that the Luftwaffe was out of date and even the Prime Minister had said that Hitler had missed the bus, so that wishful thinking and self-deception had continued to hang over the country like a miasma.” (p. 86). On the other hand, sometimes old tactics work as, at one point, Maguire saves a convoy with maneuvers worthy of Nelson.
The trilogy ends on a worthy note, though not without an awareness of the cost of victory. One particular scene below decks still haunts me: “Impi’s doctor, soaked with oil and water so that his shorts clung to him like part of his skin, was moving among the injured men with a sort of desperate devotion, refusing to change his clothes or even stop to swallow a mug of tea. He was pallid with strain and shock but he was full of confidence and vigour.” (p. 234). I could smell, see, and feel the fatigue and desperation as I read that moving description.
I enjoyed these books more than the Halfhyde adventures I used to read, but I still think there’s something special about “fighting sail” novels that work better for me. Maybe the Kelly Maguire novels are just too close to the modern world for me to be able to get the distance of “suspended disbelief” that I get in the “fighting sail” novels.
The big surprise for me in Back to Battle is how much the social-climbing, narcissist (Verschoyle) has grown as a person. Oh, he still has his sarcastic sense of humor such as when he describes classified orders as: “‘Orders stamped To be destroyed before being read,’ Verschoyle commented sarcastically.” (p. 158). Indeed, Hennessy’s own humor shows in one of my favorite descriptions of Spanish Civil War combatants: “grenades which swung in bunches from their waists like the bananas that Josephine Baker had used in her nude shows.” (p. 45).
There is also a running theme throughout these books about the accepted or traditional naval doctrine versus those which evolve of necessity. For example, “The newspapers had perpetuated the legend that the Luftwaffe was out of date and even the Prime Minister had said that Hitler had missed the bus, so that wishful thinking and self-deception had continued to hang over the country like a miasma.” (p. 86). On the other hand, sometimes old tactics work as, at one point, Maguire saves a convoy with maneuvers worthy of Nelson.
The trilogy ends on a worthy note, though not without an awareness of the cost of victory. One particular scene below decks still haunts me: “Impi’s doctor, soaked with oil and water so that his shorts clung to him like part of his skin, was moving among the injured men with a sort of desperate devotion, refusing to change his clothes or even stop to swallow a mug of tea. He was pallid with strain and shock but he was full of confidence and vigour.” (p. 234). I could smell, see, and feel the fatigue and desperation as I read that moving description.
I enjoyed these books more than the Halfhyde adventures I used to read, but I still think there’s something special about “fighting sail” novels that work better for me. Maybe the Kelly Maguire novels are just too close to the modern world for me to be able to get the distance of “suspended disbelief” that I get in the “fighting sail” novels.
November 7, 2019
Hastings continues the saga of now Commander Kelly Maguire through Britain’s involvement in The Spanish Civil War and events leading up to and through World War II.
As Kelley’s reputation grows within The Royal Navy, he continues to receive challenging assignments. As a destroyer captain, he is charged with removing
British citizens from Spain while its civil war was raging. Having again accomplished his mission successfully, he attended flight school and earned his wings. However, when Britain declared war on Germany for invading Poland, he was put in charge of a flotilla of destroyers on convoy escort duty in the Atlantic.
His language skills and reputation landed him at Dunkirk to assist in the evacuation of British and especially French troops from the continent before the advancing German army could swallow them up. As a flotilla commander, he sees more action in the Mediterranean and the coast of Norway.
Single after two failed marriages he reunites with Charley, his childhood sweetheart, only to be rebuffed in his marriage proposal. Charley realized that the only wife Kelly could ever sustain was the Royal Navy. But after Charley falls off the grid for some time, Kelley gets news of her whereabouts. Would he seek her out or forever regret the choices he made in his life?
Hastings’ use of British vernacular and idioms continues to be distracting and a puzzlement to American ears (and eyes) to those not familiar with the jargon. It made following the nuances of the story much more difficult at times.
John E Nevola - Author of The Last Jump, The Final Flag and Revenge of the Pearl Harbor Survivors.
U.S. Army Veteran – SP/5
Military Writers Society of America
As Kelley’s reputation grows within The Royal Navy, he continues to receive challenging assignments. As a destroyer captain, he is charged with removing
British citizens from Spain while its civil war was raging. Having again accomplished his mission successfully, he attended flight school and earned his wings. However, when Britain declared war on Germany for invading Poland, he was put in charge of a flotilla of destroyers on convoy escort duty in the Atlantic.
His language skills and reputation landed him at Dunkirk to assist in the evacuation of British and especially French troops from the continent before the advancing German army could swallow them up. As a flotilla commander, he sees more action in the Mediterranean and the coast of Norway.
Single after two failed marriages he reunites with Charley, his childhood sweetheart, only to be rebuffed in his marriage proposal. Charley realized that the only wife Kelly could ever sustain was the Royal Navy. But after Charley falls off the grid for some time, Kelley gets news of her whereabouts. Would he seek her out or forever regret the choices he made in his life?
Hastings’ use of British vernacular and idioms continues to be distracting and a puzzlement to American ears (and eyes) to those not familiar with the jargon. It made following the nuances of the story much more difficult at times.
John E Nevola - Author of The Last Jump, The Final Flag and Revenge of the Pearl Harbor Survivors.
U.S. Army Veteran – SP/5
Military Writers Society of America
February 11, 2025
I have really liked this series of Kelly Maguire, from his early days throughout the first World War, then through peace or not so much as peace time where he became a Captain and now in this last book he is faced with all sorts of problems with World War II.
After a devastating loss in the Battle of Narvik he washes up at Dunkirk during the great evacuation of 1940, only to find that he has to once more prove his worth. He finds himself together with his known associates in the Med at the Battle of Crete and then ploughed into the great but tragic Normandy landings and then back at at home where the Luftwaff are still bombing Britain.
It is a story well told, quite precise and to the point with no argy barging about. The Battle scenes are really well written both intense and gripping. I like the authors style he really knows how to pull you into a story and so I now look forward to reading his RAF Trilogy which looks like once again it crosses the two World Wars, great stuff. 4/5
After a devastating loss in the Battle of Narvik he washes up at Dunkirk during the great evacuation of 1940, only to find that he has to once more prove his worth. He finds himself together with his known associates in the Med at the Battle of Crete and then ploughed into the great but tragic Normandy landings and then back at at home where the Luftwaff are still bombing Britain.
It is a story well told, quite precise and to the point with no argy barging about. The Battle scenes are really well written both intense and gripping. I like the authors style he really knows how to pull you into a story and so I now look forward to reading his RAF Trilogy which looks like once again it crosses the two World Wars, great stuff. 4/5
July 18, 2019
World War II
This is the final chapter in the trilogy of the two epic wars that takes us into the final phase of the decline of the British Empire. It is a tale of declining fortunes for the empire. The battles are terribly bloody and eventually it becomes clear that Britain might actually not be able to stand alone (not positive this is historically accurate). While the warfare continues to take the lead, there is also a subplot where the romantic part of the plot comes to fruition. The hero’s triumph is all but complete as he achieves flag rank, but his career is cut short by an accident just as the war is winding down.
I felt that the ending was excellent, although there was rather more plot than I expected.
This is the final chapter in the trilogy of the two epic wars that takes us into the final phase of the decline of the British Empire. It is a tale of declining fortunes for the empire. The battles are terribly bloody and eventually it becomes clear that Britain might actually not be able to stand alone (not positive this is historically accurate). While the warfare continues to take the lead, there is also a subplot where the romantic part of the plot comes to fruition. The hero’s triumph is all but complete as he achieves flag rank, but his career is cut short by an accident just as the war is winding down.
I felt that the ending was excellent, although there was rather more plot than I expected.
August 12, 2024
The Captain Kelly Maguire Trilogy book 3 Back to Battle
This was another novel of the career of Kelly Maguire, who ended up as an Admiral of the fleet towards the end of World War II, with him finally married to Charley. He is in the hospital after something causes the plane to break up and get on fire on takeoff. Not knowing what caused the problems with the airplane is disappointing.
I didn't like all of the sex in this book and the others, but at least it wasn't described. Foul language is limited. The stories are interesting and well written, but there are technical British terms that I couldn't find.
It did mention my father's ship, the Arkansas, in the part about the Invasion of Normandy, which was interesting eme.
This was another novel of the career of Kelly Maguire, who ended up as an Admiral of the fleet towards the end of World War II, with him finally married to Charley. He is in the hospital after something causes the plane to break up and get on fire on takeoff. Not knowing what caused the problems with the airplane is disappointing.
I didn't like all of the sex in this book and the others, but at least it wasn't described. Foul language is limited. The stories are interesting and well written, but there are technical British terms that I couldn't find.
It did mention my father's ship, the Arkansas, in the part about the Invasion of Normandy, which was interesting eme.
April 8, 2021
Final part of the trilogy. World war 2 arrives. The main character would be in his mid to late 40s in age and probably ought to be a quite senior captain. I would expect to see him leading a anti-submarine escort group in the North Atlantic at some point. We'll see.
This is the best of the three books, mostly because it contains the least amount of the rather to very unconvincing personal life. The "action" scenes are generally well written and very believable and provide a realistic impression of naval warfare. What the books don't do is to give the impression of the long periods of high stress, but largely uneventful periods of time that also happened.
The ending was poorly done imo and more than a little derivative, although it was a good reminder that unexpected and unlucky things do happen.
This is the best of the three books, mostly because it contains the least amount of the rather to very unconvincing personal life. The "action" scenes are generally well written and very believable and provide a realistic impression of naval warfare. What the books don't do is to give the impression of the long periods of high stress, but largely uneventful periods of time that also happened.
The ending was poorly done imo and more than a little derivative, although it was a good reminder that unexpected and unlucky things do happen.
August 4, 2020
Possibly the best of the Maguire series
I thought the writing, the author’s use of language, was especially good in this one, as was the story line. It was very hard to put down. I have just one complaint. Although Kelly is very human when it comes to messing up relationships, I wish he (and his comrades) were a little more human, that was is a little more flawed, in battle. For that I would give this third book 4-1/2 stars rather than the full 5. But don’t let that deter you from reading it - it’s still one great book!
I thought the writing, the author’s use of language, was especially good in this one, as was the story line. It was very hard to put down. I have just one complaint. Although Kelly is very human when it comes to messing up relationships, I wish he (and his comrades) were a little more human, that was is a little more flawed, in battle. For that I would give this third book 4-1/2 stars rather than the full 5. But don’t let that deter you from reading it - it’s still one great book!
September 16, 2019
I have now read all of the books with the “Captain Kelly Maguire Trilogy” and enjoyed the series! However like his series on aviation over the same time frame, the stories are “wordy” and drag in some sections. Both series have the same basic story line, but one about the Royal Navy, while the other is centered around the RAF. This should not stop anyone from reading either series because I have enjoyed both series and recommend both! 😎
June 6, 2020
Not just a book but a fitting finale to an amazing saga.
I read the trilogy, one book after another without a break. The books are so well researched they filled in gaps in my knowledge of our history between 1914 and 1945. The tension and excitement generated by the author's incredible descriptions of battle scenes make the books nigh impossible to put down! If you survive reading these books without crying you have a hard heart. I strongly recommend this trilogy.
I read the trilogy, one book after another without a break. The books are so well researched they filled in gaps in my knowledge of our history between 1914 and 1945. The tension and excitement generated by the author's incredible descriptions of battle scenes make the books nigh impossible to put down! If you survive reading these books without crying you have a hard heart. I strongly recommend this trilogy.
November 27, 2020
This is the third book in a trilogy about a British naval officer. I have not read the first two books, but this one was excellent. Lots of naval action, but also lots of talk about what is going on in Europe and
to North Africa. This book covers from about 1937 to about 1944. The characters are believable and sympathetic. Very good read. I have since bought Kindle copies of the first two books in the trilogy. Recommended.
to North Africa. This book covers from about 1937 to about 1944. The characters are believable and sympathetic. Very good read. I have since bought Kindle copies of the first two books in the trilogy. Recommended.
June 11, 2019
I enjoyed all 3 of these books. This one is not as action packed as the earlier ones, but what I liked about it is the involvement in those aspects of the war that were not generally written about. It pulls no punches about the failures and doesn't over emphasise the successes. The characters are believable and sometimes frustrating, but in the end it all works out. Although I' not very big on the air wars, I'm considering reading his books about the air wars.
July 4, 2021
Second Reading As Good As The First
This is the sort of book you can read, enjoy, and put on the digital shelf for a few months. Then "pick" it up again and find you liked it as much as you did the first read. Personally, I can't say that about very many authors' works but Hennessey joins my favorites with this trilogy.
This is the sort of book you can read, enjoy, and put on the digital shelf for a few months. Then "pick" it up again and find you liked it as much as you did the first read. Personally, I can't say that about very many authors' works but Hennessey joins my favorites with this trilogy.
June 7, 2023
Canadians omitted
I’m guessing Max Hennessy places Canada as a colony rather than an independent participant in WW2. Nowhere in this book is there a mention of Canada’s various contributions. At war’s end, Canada had the world’s third largest navy which supplied the bulk of transatlantic convoy shipping.
And just to more accurate, the Brits and Yanks weren’t alone on D Day. About 16,000 Canadians took and held Juno Beach on D Day..
I’m guessing Max Hennessy places Canada as a colony rather than an independent participant in WW2. Nowhere in this book is there a mention of Canada’s various contributions. At war’s end, Canada had the world’s third largest navy which supplied the bulk of transatlantic convoy shipping.
And just to more accurate, the Brits and Yanks weren’t alone on D Day. About 16,000 Canadians took and held Juno Beach on D Day..
April 3, 2019
Nice ending. Would like at least one more book.
Nice ending. Would like at least one more book. Sometimes I thought author was too wordy, but liked the action. Would read the series again.
Nice ending. Would like at least one more book. Sometimes I thought author was too wordy, but liked the action. Would read the series again.
May 8, 2019
Fabulous. Great read. Characters are alive. Feel like I am there. Couldn't stop reading!
Would recommend to anyone interested in great characters and history of war and it's impact on those fighting. Couldn't put book down
Would recommend to anyone interested in great characters and history of war and it's impact on those fighting. Couldn't put book down
May 29, 2019
Kelly gets his girl!
5 stars chosen as a reflection of the brilliance of the trilogy as a whole, which although being a 'pongo', I have thoroughly enjoyed ...... & of course KELLY GOT HIS GIRL!
5 stars chosen as a reflection of the brilliance of the trilogy as a whole, which although being a 'pongo', I have thoroughly enjoyed ...... & of course KELLY GOT HIS GIRL!
June 27, 2019
Good Read
Always like a book with a happy ending.
Interestingly contained elements of history from a practical perspective. Action coupled with romance and a good plot is a good structure for a successful yarn.
Always like a book with a happy ending.
Interestingly contained elements of history from a practical perspective. Action coupled with romance and a good plot is a good structure for a successful yarn.
February 3, 2020
Excellent trio of books
I have to say that I have not enjoyed reading a trilogy of books this good for along time. Right up there with Fullerton and McClean for action and underlying plot based on facts. Well done - from a “Light Blue Job”
I have to say that I have not enjoyed reading a trilogy of books this good for along time. Right up there with Fullerton and McClean for action and underlying plot based on facts. Well done - from a “Light Blue Job”
June 19, 2020
Review
Let me out of this goddamn review. Does this meet your requirements for 20 words. Screw you I’ll stop it it is really annoying that I can’t get out of this without writing this review
Let me out of this goddamn review. Does this meet your requirements for 20 words. Screw you I’ll stop it it is really annoying that I can’t get out of this without writing this review
March 3, 2021
A damn good read, I have read the first two of the trilogy so had a rough idea how this would end, but must admit it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the end.
This is as good as any Douglas Reeman that I have ever read.
This is as good as any Douglas Reeman that I have ever read.
March 15, 2021
Great story!
I have just finished the last of the series. The only thing that bothered me was the English sarcasm that was used,it was hard to understand. The story was great though.
I have just finished the last of the series. The only thing that bothered me was the English sarcasm that was used,it was hard to understand. The story was great though.
March 20, 2021
Final book in trilogy
Enjoyed the book. As it covered WW2 which us a period I have read a lot of there wasn't a lot new to me in the story of the war but by this stage of the series I was interested in the characters and how there stories would end.
Enjoyed the book. As it covered WW2 which us a period I have read a lot of there wasn't a lot new to me in the story of the war but by this stage of the series I was interested in the characters and how there stories would end.
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