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Dan Lenson #15
Tipping Point
The fifteenth novel in David Poyer's acclaimed series of naval adventures featuring Dan Lenson, Tipping Point is an action-packed, utterly authentic story of duty, war, and the stress of command, by the most popular living author of American sea fiction.
Captain Dan Lenson is under fire both at sea, and in Washington. His command of the first antiballistic-missile-capable cruiser in the Fleet, USS Savo Island, is threatened when he's called home to testify before Congress. There, he must defend his controversial decision to prevent a massive retaliatory missile attack by Israel against civilian targets in the Mideast.
Shaken by the near-end of his career, Lenson returns to command uncertain of his own future, but determined to do his best by a damaged ship and an increasingly divided crew. Ordered to the Indian Ocean, Savo cruises off East Africa, protecting shipping lanes from pirates. But this seemingly-routine patrol turns ominous when an unknown assailant begins assaulting female crew members.
But then, an explosive showdown begins between India and Pakistan...with Savo Island, and her unique but not yet fully battle-ready ability to intercept ballistic missiles, standing alone between two nations on the brink of the first theater nuclear war. Dan will have to battle tsunami-driven seas, incoming weapons, and a quickly tilting balance of power, as China moves inexorably in her bid to displace America in the far Pacific.
Captain Dan Lenson is under fire both at sea, and in Washington. His command of the first antiballistic-missile-capable cruiser in the Fleet, USS Savo Island, is threatened when he's called home to testify before Congress. There, he must defend his controversial decision to prevent a massive retaliatory missile attack by Israel against civilian targets in the Mideast.
Shaken by the near-end of his career, Lenson returns to command uncertain of his own future, but determined to do his best by a damaged ship and an increasingly divided crew. Ordered to the Indian Ocean, Savo cruises off East Africa, protecting shipping lanes from pirates. But this seemingly-routine patrol turns ominous when an unknown assailant begins assaulting female crew members.
But then, an explosive showdown begins between India and Pakistan...with Savo Island, and her unique but not yet fully battle-ready ability to intercept ballistic missiles, standing alone between two nations on the brink of the first theater nuclear war. Dan will have to battle tsunami-driven seas, incoming weapons, and a quickly tilting balance of power, as China moves inexorably in her bid to displace America in the far Pacific.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 8, 2015
81 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
David Poyer
81 books240 followersAka D.C. Poyer.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 23, 2020
This is a fiction book discussing what may happen between India and Pakistan and why China would get involved. There is a lot about cyberwar both on the US population and the effects on the US fleet in the Pacific. Escalation of war, like in WWI. Dan Lenson commands a missile cruiser that can shoot down ballistic missiles and even satellites. Several books follow up on this story, of which I am about to read.
January 21, 2018
In David Poyer's Tipping Point, the 15th installment in the Dan Lenson military thriller series, this novel would take you to the high seas with realistic fiction about the brink of war. Back home, Captain Dan Lenson is taking the heat from his past wartime actions with his crew on the USS Savo Island ship, and faces a grueling tribunal meeting with Congress. His wife Blair is campaigning for a hot seat in Congress and needs his support. On the water, he runs the ship on dangerous waters and deals with compelling trouble in hostile land. First it started with a complaint from one of his female crew members being attacked and assaulted by an unknown assailant in night. That started a probe and a long-dragged out discussion with everyone on board. Then everyone's feeling the crud in the ship as they lose one of their own overnight from an unknown airborn disease. While under the weather, Dan does his best to helm his boat and prepare to stop another world war between India and Pakistan. With everything going on, they help out the country of Maldives take care of disaster relief from a tidal wave and China hacks into their systems to bring the USA to a standstill. More complaints of attacks come pouring in, the crew is sick with the crud, and Dan needs some serious downtime. In the end, they prepare to buckle down and strike against Pakistan for a war, while a storm's brewing inside of his ship and more fielded complaints to stop an unknown perpetator in their tracks.
November 23, 2015
As a lucky winner of an advance uncorrected proof of, "Tipping Point," all I can say is "wow, gotta read more of this series!" This fifteenth adventure in the series featuring Captain Dan Lenson takes place in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Lenson has problems across a 360 degree spectrum. His wife is running for Congress. He's faced with a Congressional inquiry regarding his actions which the politicians are second guessing. His crew is bedeviled by an insidious, debilitating disease that's killed two of them. A rapist is stalking and assaulting female crew members. On top of all that, the experimental weapons system his ship has been equipped with is tempermental and not always reliable. Throw in Iranian mullahs, a conventional and nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan and rising tensions at sea with Red China....Lenson has more challenges to deal with than seem possible to overcome. One reviewer of a previous book in the series says "...readers paying close attention could take over the captain's chair and drive the boat themselves." I say readers paying close attention may begin to realize what modern US Navy ship commanders have to confront while trying to keep our nation safe. This book is a definite "MUST READ" for anyone interested in modern day naval activity complete with multiple layers of political complications, foreign and domestic.
December 31, 2015
I truly want to give this book a 4 star. It was a thrilling adventure at sea. At the same time, I could not completely enjoy the book as much as I would like, totally my own inability to comprehend the terminology.
The ending! .... what?
The ending! .... what?
March 2, 2020
David Poyer is the master of the naval thriller. He's been doing it for a long time and this is another excellent addition to his shelf.
December 10, 2015
This is an intense naval novel.I enjoyed the fact that many different storylines are covered and continue throughout the book.I would have preferred a resolution to the different threads but I understand why a lot is left up in the air.It compels the reader to come back for the next in the series. The only negatives for me were at times my lack of familiarity with nautical terms left me lost.Too given that this was the first book I had read in the series I was a bit lost keeping up with the characters.Overall a good action story. ######I won this book through goodreads in exchange for an unbiased review ########
February 17, 2024
David Poyer's books about a possible future war with China are probably the best treatment on this topic in fiction. However if you have read 'the cruiser', I might recommend skipping this one. The main drawback with this book is how similar it is to that book and how nearly everything of note that happens is covered again in the next book.
Like "the Crusier" this one is about the missile cruiser, Savo Island, sailing to a patrol point where it has to prevent land forces shooting ballistic missiles at each other's cities in an unclear political situation. Poyer has written numerous novels about life on board US naval vessels and what seems to carry them are the B plots involving whatever issues the crew is having aboard and Dan Lenson's trials and tribulations managing it. The main B plot this time around is a series of sexual assaults and the mystery behind them. However, by the end of the book the reader knows who the offender is but the next Lenson novel ignores this and starts the investigation from square one again. Most of the other Savo Island stuff is the same as what we read already in the Cruiser.
The political details about the developing situation between Pakistan, India and China and the looming war are all pretty interesting but it only pays off at the end of the book. The action scenes are excellent but are few and far between. This novel strikes me as an evolutionary step as Poyer moved from writing episodic stories to a multi novel war saga.
Like "the Crusier" this one is about the missile cruiser, Savo Island, sailing to a patrol point where it has to prevent land forces shooting ballistic missiles at each other's cities in an unclear political situation. Poyer has written numerous novels about life on board US naval vessels and what seems to carry them are the B plots involving whatever issues the crew is having aboard and Dan Lenson's trials and tribulations managing it. The main B plot this time around is a series of sexual assaults and the mystery behind them. However, by the end of the book the reader knows who the offender is but the next Lenson novel ignores this and starts the investigation from square one again. Most of the other Savo Island stuff is the same as what we read already in the Cruiser.
The political details about the developing situation between Pakistan, India and China and the looming war are all pretty interesting but it only pays off at the end of the book. The action scenes are excellent but are few and far between. This novel strikes me as an evolutionary step as Poyer moved from writing episodic stories to a multi novel war saga.
June 16, 2020
Despite its subtitle, Tipping Point devotes relatively few pages to a nascent conflict with China, compared to those that it expends on a Pakistan-India sideshow and confrontations with Iran, among other distractions.
While entertaining, this book features far too many sub-plot elements that are unrelated to the main story, and these all remain more or less unresolved at the end of Tipping Point. Furthermore, a fairly large roster of secondary characters appears, but in most cases the individuals lack adequate differentiation. Author David Poyer could have done well to concentrate more fully on somewhat fewer personalities and story elements.
This installment of the "Dan Lenson" series definitely presents as just another entry in a long-running set of stories, with frequent references to events and people from earlier in the main character's career. A fair amount of exposition allows an uninitiated reader to develop a general idea of this backstory, but the author clearly expects that his audience is already acquainted with the preceding fourteen books in the series.
Tipping Point concludes without resolution, which is unsurprising given that its main function is to set up the following several books in the series.
While entertaining, this book features far too many sub-plot elements that are unrelated to the main story, and these all remain more or less unresolved at the end of Tipping Point. Furthermore, a fairly large roster of secondary characters appears, but in most cases the individuals lack adequate differentiation. Author David Poyer could have done well to concentrate more fully on somewhat fewer personalities and story elements.
This installment of the "Dan Lenson" series definitely presents as just another entry in a long-running set of stories, with frequent references to events and people from earlier in the main character's career. A fair amount of exposition allows an uninitiated reader to develop a general idea of this backstory, but the author clearly expects that his audience is already acquainted with the preceding fourteen books in the series.
Tipping Point concludes without resolution, which is unsurprising given that its main function is to set up the following several books in the series.
January 1, 2016
This morning's newspaper featured a story about the Iranian navy's irregular elements conducting missile tests in the Strait of Hormuz while foreign tankers and US naval vessels were using the narrow strips of international water that allow passage through the strait. The first half of Poyer's fifteenth Dan Lenson novel describes just such a scenario, only even more aggressively done.
Dan Lenson holds the rank of Captain, USN, is a Medal of Honor recipient, and commands the missile cruiser "Savo Island." He is a deeply introspective officer who has taken many risks in his career ever since the first book in the series, "The Med." He has not had a conventional career, as he is well aware.
"Most Navy careers, successful ones, ascended as gracefully and predictably as a curve of ballroom stairs. Winding upward to greater responsibility, greater honor, greater rank. . . . his own had been tossed by downsucks and updrafts like a glider in the mountains, heading for the ground one minute, the sky the next. Questionable decisions. Courts of Inquiry. Awards. Letters of reprimand. Dangerous assignments. Unexpected promotions. The one sure thing he could say was, he'd had an eventful career (p. 92)."
And the future seems likely to parallel the past. From anti-piracy and anti-drug smuggling interdiction, to asserting international right of passage in contested areas like the Strait of Hormuz (and asserting by means of force), to preventing missile exchanges between hostile powers due to the special capabilities of the "Savo Island," Lenson is still in the middle of conflict zones, even when he returns to Washington for congressional inquiries. The Chinese claim to great stretches of the South China Sea (which brings China into potential conflict with the Philippines, Japan, the Republic of Vietnam, and, of course, the United States) increases tension levels and raises the stakes higher than ever before. The nerve-wracking issue by the end of the book is not whether there will be war with China, but whether it will expand from a six-month war to a full-scale war.
Poyer (and Peter Deutermann) writes convincingly about the challenges that face the US Navy. He describes the new kinds of ships that are being developed (somewhat like James Cobb did a decade or so ago). He describes naval combat, ship-handling, and even the humdrum of naval life at sea ("Savo Island"and in "Cruiser," before it) in ways that are breathtaking and consistently interesting. In addition to the issues that hold geopolitical significance, Lenson's command is being whittled down in efficiency by the sheer dogged work that is required to keep a fighting ship operational in the face of constant engagement while the ship is endangered both by illness and by the presence of an increasingly bold sexual assaulter. It's the latter issue that highlights the tension between middle management female career officers and the male chiefs who run the crew. And then there's the issue of communications failures. By the time that the novel ends, the Savo Island faces ever-escalating naval responsibilities while it is losing its edge. All of these complications make the next novel in the series critical in many ways.
Note: Poyer includes a fairly fascinating short appendix detailing his research for this book.
Dan Lenson holds the rank of Captain, USN, is a Medal of Honor recipient, and commands the missile cruiser "Savo Island." He is a deeply introspective officer who has taken many risks in his career ever since the first book in the series, "The Med." He has not had a conventional career, as he is well aware.
"Most Navy careers, successful ones, ascended as gracefully and predictably as a curve of ballroom stairs. Winding upward to greater responsibility, greater honor, greater rank. . . . his own had been tossed by downsucks and updrafts like a glider in the mountains, heading for the ground one minute, the sky the next. Questionable decisions. Courts of Inquiry. Awards. Letters of reprimand. Dangerous assignments. Unexpected promotions. The one sure thing he could say was, he'd had an eventful career (p. 92)."
And the future seems likely to parallel the past. From anti-piracy and anti-drug smuggling interdiction, to asserting international right of passage in contested areas like the Strait of Hormuz (and asserting by means of force), to preventing missile exchanges between hostile powers due to the special capabilities of the "Savo Island," Lenson is still in the middle of conflict zones, even when he returns to Washington for congressional inquiries. The Chinese claim to great stretches of the South China Sea (which brings China into potential conflict with the Philippines, Japan, the Republic of Vietnam, and, of course, the United States) increases tension levels and raises the stakes higher than ever before. The nerve-wracking issue by the end of the book is not whether there will be war with China, but whether it will expand from a six-month war to a full-scale war.
Poyer (and Peter Deutermann) writes convincingly about the challenges that face the US Navy. He describes the new kinds of ships that are being developed (somewhat like James Cobb did a decade or so ago). He describes naval combat, ship-handling, and even the humdrum of naval life at sea ("Savo Island"and in "Cruiser," before it) in ways that are breathtaking and consistently interesting. In addition to the issues that hold geopolitical significance, Lenson's command is being whittled down in efficiency by the sheer dogged work that is required to keep a fighting ship operational in the face of constant engagement while the ship is endangered both by illness and by the presence of an increasingly bold sexual assaulter. It's the latter issue that highlights the tension between middle management female career officers and the male chiefs who run the crew. And then there's the issue of communications failures. By the time that the novel ends, the Savo Island faces ever-escalating naval responsibilities while it is losing its edge. All of these complications make the next novel in the series critical in many ways.
Note: Poyer includes a fairly fascinating short appendix detailing his research for this book.
February 20, 2019
I don't know how I find myself doing this. I'm directing this review at Mr. Poyer's "Dan Lenson" books. Pretty long history of anti-war activism on my part. Maybe it is because I love my older brothers and I think the military brought them home with a different and perhaps more thorough understanding of "honor." Not that honor is restricted to people who fight war, but there is something I find fascinating in reading well written stories about how things can work within the confines of a ship.
I believe that if you are opposed to war, but on occasion find yourself reading "techno-thrillers," or whatever category these books find themselves in, Mr. Poyer is well worth a read. He explores topics like how women and minorities see the military in a sensitive and worthwhile fashion. He avoids ridiculous dogmatism about war, many times I disagree with his fictional arguments, but I feel invited into the discussion. This isn't a Tom Clancy style. Don't be surprised to see conflict over important geopolitical issues and subjects like, military command, discrimination and sexual harassment. You can even trace some of Mr. Poyer's speeches (go to his website) to the military about changes that he is concerned about, changes where the military more openly takes political sides, and get a glimpse into the complexity that shows up in his books.
I guess I just feel invited into these books. I've read them all. We aren't talking Ghandi here, but I feel that at the end a thoughtful person might be confronted with some valuable insight. I'm still for getting the US out of stupid and never ending wars. I still believe that human beings, given the choice, will find ways to disagree without using atomic weapons. I still believe, actually more than ever, that our politicians are a poor representation of the good people I've met around the world.
I'm also waiting to read his latest book in this series. You might find it interesting to begin by reading his first "Dan Lenson" book, "The Med."
I believe that if you are opposed to war, but on occasion find yourself reading "techno-thrillers," or whatever category these books find themselves in, Mr. Poyer is well worth a read. He explores topics like how women and minorities see the military in a sensitive and worthwhile fashion. He avoids ridiculous dogmatism about war, many times I disagree with his fictional arguments, but I feel invited into the discussion. This isn't a Tom Clancy style. Don't be surprised to see conflict over important geopolitical issues and subjects like, military command, discrimination and sexual harassment. You can even trace some of Mr. Poyer's speeches (go to his website) to the military about changes that he is concerned about, changes where the military more openly takes political sides, and get a glimpse into the complexity that shows up in his books.
I guess I just feel invited into these books. I've read them all. We aren't talking Ghandi here, but I feel that at the end a thoughtful person might be confronted with some valuable insight. I'm still for getting the US out of stupid and never ending wars. I still believe that human beings, given the choice, will find ways to disagree without using atomic weapons. I still believe, actually more than ever, that our politicians are a poor representation of the good people I've met around the world.
I'm also waiting to read his latest book in this series. You might find it interesting to begin by reading his first "Dan Lenson" book, "The Med."
November 19, 2015
The weight of command is like the theory of unintended consequences. Captain Dan Lenson, Commanding Officer of USS Savo Island discovers this reality as he and his crew are thrust into multiple crises and the men and women who serve under him struggle with the burden of every decision. Some of those decisions don’t sit well in the halls of Congress or even with his old professor, Dr. Szerenci, and the missiles flying are as much friendly fire as they are hostile. Every order from leadership pushes the ship, and Lenson, to the breaking point. Lenson finds himself Monday-morning quarterbacking decisions he has yet to make. From a freedom of navigation run to the Indian Ocean against the Iranians, to finding his two-ship task force at the leading edge of war between Pakistan and India, Lenson navigates through turbulent waters. His officers and chiefs are divided. A nasty “crud” has sickened a third of the crew, including him, skimming away operational effectiveness. A mysterious man is attacking female members of the crew. Lenson finds himself on the dark edge of exhaustion but must fight on as his ship barely escapes a tsunami and he’s appointed the leader of a massive response and recovery effort. Before he can make headway with the hundreds of thousands who need aid, Savo Island is diverted as Pakistan and India renew acquaintances. In the fog of war, Lenson is forced to take drastic measures that may do more harm than good. The end is near, however, fans of Captain Dan Lenson will have to wait for the next saga in the series to find out whether he can help the U.S. Navy avoid a global nuclear war. This story illustrates the demands of a captain and his crew, depicts accurately the hard life of sailors at sea, and demonstrates the realities of command and the decisions that go well beyond a single ship. Strap in, stand by for heavy rolls, and prepare yourself for one hell of a ride.
May 31, 2021
With "Tipping Point," David Poyer's Dan Lenson series goes in a different direction. No longer chronicling the career of Daniel V. Lenson, USN in individual stand-alone books, Poyer is focusing on a chilling and all-too-possible story arc: building tensions in South Asia between India and Pakistan erupt into armed conflict, secure communications are being tampered with, and The People's Republic of China is exhibiting a decidedly belligerent posture. Dan's command, USS "Savo Island," an antiballistic missile-capable cruiser, is going to be playing a key role in any possible hostilities. The ship, though, is plagued with a bacterial infection that takes its toll on the crew, Dan included. The ship is also plagued with an unknown assailant who assaults female crew members. Dan certainly has his hands full in getting his ship fully combat-ready... It will be interesting to see how Poyer develops this story arc, to be continued in "Onslaught."
April 11, 2018
Ready, Aim....
Tipping Point is a well-researched and thoughtful book. Dan Lenson continues his perilous journey with the Savo Island. Moving from the Mediterranean to the Arabian (Persian) Gulf to the South China Sea; Savo Island and Lenson continue with their multitude of problems, now including a molester/rapist, communications that have been hacked and the continued issue of the civilian John Hopkins technical support that is more a “nay sayer,” than one that helps the situation. Poyer continues to write very well and keeps the story moving…let’s be honest, if he were to accurately describe a “normal” day at sea, his books would not sell. Another book that you can not put down from start to finish.
Tipping Point is a well-researched and thoughtful book. Dan Lenson continues his perilous journey with the Savo Island. Moving from the Mediterranean to the Arabian (Persian) Gulf to the South China Sea; Savo Island and Lenson continue with their multitude of problems, now including a molester/rapist, communications that have been hacked and the continued issue of the civilian John Hopkins technical support that is more a “nay sayer,” than one that helps the situation. Poyer continues to write very well and keeps the story moving…let’s be honest, if he were to accurately describe a “normal” day at sea, his books would not sell. Another book that you can not put down from start to finish.
June 1, 2023
I read the first four books in the Dan Lenson series many years ago, but got away from Lenson while waiting for more books in this series to appear. A recent trip to the library allowed me to return to the life and times of Dan Lenson with book #15 (alright, already. I skipped several in the interim). I'm obviously older now and can appreciate David Poyer as a terrific and knowledgeable writer in this particular genre. As usual, now-Commanding Officer Lenson is faced with a myriad of problems aboard his vessel and throughout the ship's surrounding environment. He therefore needs to make quick life and death decisions that affect not only himself, but his entire crew. This is a great read.
July 31, 2019
I mentioned in a previous review that I'm glad the author has gotten back to his roots and focusing on Lenson and the Navy. I enjoyed this book, but considering I've enjoyed the series, that was not a surprise. He really left us with a cliffhanger and I'm guessing the next book is going to be a doozy as all hell is about to break loose worldwide and the Savo is in the middle of it with a ton of problems of its on. I'm looking forward to it.
July 12, 2017
Action
As all o David Poyer's books h brings it right into the action and to the thought and decision that a commander goes though. It is did not contain a lot of technology talk that adds nothing to be sorry as some writers do.
Keep up the great work. Can not wait for the next book.
As all o David Poyer's books h brings it right into the action and to the thought and decision that a commander goes though. It is did not contain a lot of technology talk that adds nothing to be sorry as some writers do.
Keep up the great work. Can not wait for the next book.
May 10, 2018
Another think arousing book by an amazing author. Seems much too similar to real life situations and possibly blunders and mis-understandings. Too dependent on technology can lead to crippling a force. Hopefully enough older ways will be maintained. Looking forward to the next in this series. Kudos to David Poyer and all the researchers for this installment.
November 28, 2018
Really solid military fiction
I've never read a book quite like this before. It's very detail oriented, almost too much so. It good really use an appendix to explain all the Naval acronyms used in this book. However, the story is pretty exciting and David Poyer writes well. The book moves along briskly which I really appreciate.
I've never read a book quite like this before. It's very detail oriented, almost too much so. It good really use an appendix to explain all the Naval acronyms used in this book. However, the story is pretty exciting and David Poyer writes well. The book moves along briskly which I really appreciate.
June 19, 2020
Getting back into this series... or actually started this series after reading the Circle when it was first published.
Overall, a good book and I don’t completely understand Captan Lenson’s motivation or character, but i guess that makes him a more realistic character. I have the next book ready to go to see how the war with China goes.
Overall, a good book and I don’t completely understand Captan Lenson’s motivation or character, but i guess that makes him a more realistic character. I have the next book ready to go to see how the war with China goes.
February 18, 2024
Hooked
Retired defense industry exec, Blasting though the entire series, (book after book) very impressed with the level of technical detail, interplay between the characters and the action scenes.
Super series
Retired defense industry exec, Blasting though the entire series, (book after book) very impressed with the level of technical detail, interplay between the characters and the action scenes.
Super series
April 12, 2025
another great episode
One does tend to wonder whether Dan Lenson is the luckiest or unluckiest captain in the USN. Poyer continues to provide action packed stories, generally believable characters and realistic scenarios. Highly recommended.
One does tend to wonder whether Dan Lenson is the luckiest or unluckiest captain in the USN. Poyer continues to provide action packed stories, generally believable characters and realistic scenarios. Highly recommended.
September 25, 2017
Very good military fiction. Looking forward to reading the next book!!
January 27, 2018
Too Busy but still good NAVY Fiction
July 21, 2018
Great page turner with intelligent nautical storyline.
July 30, 2018
Good not want to put down techno thriller about naval warfare and China. You gots to pay attention or you'll get lost fast. Lots of military terms and ranks. It helps if you are a retired E-9.
September 25, 2018
Good read but no ending. If it were a movie, it just setup the sequel.
September 26, 2018
A couple sub stories as it shifts the theme around from "hip" topics and finally settled on being a precursor to a real current threat, war with China.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2019
it read like a bunch of short stories and not as a cohesive novel.
October 30, 2019
Captivating and excellent character development.
February 22, 2022
Great Story line for Lenson but it does jump around a little bit, creates some holes and leaves you to think where did that come from!
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