Darkest Before Dawn

by George Wallace, Don Keith

In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, four young submariners are thrown into the chaos of war.

December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor lies in ruins, the U.S. Pacific Fleet is crippled, and Japan sweeps unopposed across the Pacific. America, no longer able to stand aside, rests its hope on rust-covered submarines manned by young, untested officers and crew.

Four friends, newly commissioned from the U.S. Naval Academy, are thrust into the heart of the conflict.

Alistair, a rich, entitled playboy, becomes a reluctant leader after his boat is sunk. Stranded on a remote tropical island, he and his crew wage a desperate guerrilla war against overwhelming odds. Stan, sidelined by a devastating injury, is pulled into the depths of naval intelligence. With cunning and perseverance, he struggles to unravel the Japanese naval code JP-25 and feed the vital knowledge to the sailors while staying one step ahead of the onrushing Japanese Army.

Meanwhile, Fred and Brad fight the war onboard America’s latest submarines, pioneering deadly tactics beneath the waves to halt the enemy advance and rewrite the rules of warfare.

Amidst the brutal reality of naval combat, these young sailors must overcome impossible odds. Armed only with bravery, resilience, and brotherhood, they confront a ruthless enemy, determined to prove victory isn’t dictated by firepower alone.

A gripping WWII naval thriller packed with action, brotherhood, and resilience. Perfect for fans of W.E.B. Griffin, Lee Jackson, and Tom Clancy.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Born and raised in Eastern Ohio, Commander Wallace received his commission in the US Navy and a degree in engineering from The Ohio State University. After the obligatory and memorable interview with Admiral Rickover, he was accepted into the nuclear power and submarine communities. He served on two of Admiral Rickover’s famous “Forty One for Freedom”, the USS John Adams SSBN 620 and the USS Woodrow Wilson SSBN 624, during which time he made nine one-hundred-day deterrent patrols through the height of the Cold War.

Commander Wallace served as Executive Officer on the Sturgeon class nuclear attack submarine Spadefish. Spadefish and all her sisters were decommissioned during the downsizing that occurred in the 1990′s. The passing of that great ship served as the inspiration for “Final Bearing.”

Commander Wallace then commanded the Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine USS Houston SSN 713 from February 1990 to August 1992. During this tour of duty he worked extensively with the SEAL community developing SEAL/submarine tactics. Under his command, the Houston was awarded the CIA Meritorious Unit Citation.

Commander George Wallace retired to the civilian business world in 1995, after twenty-two years of service on nuclear submarines.

Commander Wallace lives with his wife, Penny, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second installment in the Tides of War Series. I was honored to receive an ARC book. The book follows the exploits of four sailors who met at the naval academy and became best friends just prior to the start of WWII. They all joined the submarine service and this book follows their exploits at the beginning of the war. From old “S-Boats to modern Fleet-Boats they show a submarine service in transition with the “men” of the Navy trying to manage the chaos. to me this book, beyond being a good historical fiction novel, is a “coming of age” novel. It follows their individual growth in maturity and responsibility of both our four protagonists and the submarine service. Highly Recommend