Dust on the Sea

Blackwood Family #4

by Douglas Reeman

It is 1943, and Captain Mike Blackwood, Royal Marine Commando, is a survivor. Young, toughened and tried in the hellish crucible of Burma, he labours, sometimes faltering, beneath the weight of tradition, the glorious heritage of his family, and the burden of his own self-doubt.For Blackwood, the horizon is not the lip of the trench seen by men of the Corps in the previous war, but the ramp of a landing craft smashing down into the sea, and the fire of the enemy on a Sicilian beach. Here, tradition is not enough, and Mike Blackwood must find within himself qualities of leadership which will inspire those Royal Marines who are once again the first to land, and among the first to die.This is the fourth novel in the Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family and the tradition in which they served.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, World War II, War, Military Fiction, British Literature

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

AKA Alexander Kent.
Douglas Edward Reeman was a British author who has written many historical fiction books on the Royal Navy, mainly set during either World War II or the Napoleonic Wars.

Reeman joined the Royal Navy in 1940, at the age of 16, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant. In addition to being an author, Reeman has also taught the art of navigation for yachting and served as a technical advisor for films. Douglas married author Kimberley Jordan Reeman in 1985.

Reeman's debut novel, A Prayer for the Ship was published in 1958. His pseudonym Alexander Kent was the name of a friend and naval officer who died during the Second World War. Reeman is most famous for his series of Napoleonic naval stories, whose central character is Richard Bolitho, and, later, his nephew, Adam. He also wrote a series of novels about several generations of the Blackwood family who served in the Royal Marines from the 1850s to the 1970s, and a non-fiction account of his World War II experiences, D-Day : A Personal Reminiscence (1984).

Series:
* Blackwood Family

Reviews

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The continuing story of the Blackwood family. Mike Blackwood a Captain in the Royal Marines is back from Burma and heading for a new commando unit. Soon he would be in the thick of the North African campaign and the invasion of Sicily and then Italy. Then there is Joanna a WRAF officer and Steve Blackwood from New Zealand: a gung-ho adventure and the future of Hawks Hill the old house in Hampshire.

It's not bad and good for three stars.

[Redfox5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I try not to, it's really hard not to judge a book by it's cover. The cover of 'Dust On The Sea' is very uninspiring. I thought I was in for boring sea battles. There are battles but they are thankfully, not boring.

This book is part of the Blackwood family saga, who have a tradition of being in the Marines. This follows Mike Blackwood during World War II, just after his father has died. We see him through various war missions and also get a little romance.

We also have a side story with Mike's sister Diane who meets her sort of cousin, another Blackwood and falls in love with him. They get engaged after seeing each other twice! Their story just didn't seem very real to me. I know people moved fast during war times but not that bloody fast! I also thought there was something a bit fishy about him proposing, I wonder if it's the family fortune he is after?

So don't be put off by this dull cover! Douglas has a way of keeping this story interesting!

[Andrew Herbert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. Reeman wrote some entertaining books. He never handled romance well, and really failed here. I haven’t read the previous books in this series, so perhaps Mike falls in love with every woman he talks to?

There’s a bunch of baggage with his commanders that was uninteresting and the one “battle” I got through was anticlimactic.

This was crap, and I probably read too much before throwing it on the ground.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was possibly my least favourite of all the Douglas Reeman books I've read , and also probably the lowest star rating that I've given one of his books .
I found it repetitive and for the most part easy to put down : gone are the twists and turns and riveting storylines that made me grow to love his books .I felt disappointed and in a way cheated as it was not the gripping and exciting book i had hoped for and expected .

[Brian Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another side of the last war that gets forgotten

Great story telling and did ntvwant to put it down always a good sign when reading a book. I would recommend it to ones who do not normally read war stories.

[Donald Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking good yarn

Fabulous story of the Blackwood family during the invasion of Sicily .With a human aspect of love woven into it

[Tim Corke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been an admirer of Reeman's storytelling for many years and have now read a couple of the Blackwood family series. I love the feeling that you're reading what could be a war film script as the accuracy and adventure are equally balanced with another straight forward storyline, in this case a blossoming romance on several fronts. It is clear that the stories are based upon Reeman's own understanding and experiences which gives all his books an honest and uncompromising glimpse into the world of Second World War Special Forces. They read as modern day history books telling the stories of ordinary people that have volunteered or ended up becoming the elite forces relied upon heavily during the military campaigns, or as with the Blackwood family being brought up as though serving in the Royal Marines is almost genetic and destined for.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read Reeman in a very long time. I selected this title because it was a little different focus--Royal Marines, set in World War II, and staged mostly in the Med. This is a much more recent novel than most of his other works that I have read. As a result, it is a little more adult in its content. At the same time, the action is descriptive without being bloody, and the profanity is muted. There are a few minor breaks in the continuity. I would have liked just a little more information. However, the novel is very well paced with interesting settings and some interesting characters. The fate of one individual is quite apparent from early in the story, and there are no twists, but as an adventure/soap opera is works very well. Highly recommend to Doc. Ken would probably like it.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Reeman. Good addition to the Royal Marines saga. The interesting thing about this family saga is the hint of depression that runs through all of the Blackwoods.

[Thomas West · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little slow, but OK.