The Longest Battle

by Jeffery H. Haskell

SOME WARS CAN'T BE WON WITH A BATTLE.

The Caliphate has done the unthinkable. Millions dead, and the Alliance is to blame. The war cannot continue.

With a new president elected to end the war, and a new cabinet to help her, Spymaster Wit DeBeck is out for good. He has one last shot to end the war on his terms. He just needs an experimental ship and a Captain with the skill to pull it off.

After a year assigned to training command, Jacob is ready to get back in the hot seat. However, the navy wants to ground him after he lost the battleship 17 on the outskirts of Alexandria. Only a naval inquiry can clear his name, but he has to wait on half pay for the better part of a year to know the results, or...

Wit offers him a chance. A chance to end the war and force the Caliphate to surrender. Not with a battle, but a secret mission to pull off the impossible, using hidden starlanes to drive deep into Caliph space and end them once and for all.

He's the only man who can do it, and the only captain expendable enough to be allowed to try.

If Jacob T. Grimm can't pull off the impossible one last time, the Alliance will fall and with them, the last grasp of freedom in the galaxy. Take commands, grab your ELS, and suit up with the crew and buy The Longest Battle now.

From USA Today bestselling author Jeffery H. Haskell comes book nine in the military science fiction epic in the tradition of Honor Harrington and Star Trek.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2026

About the author

Award-winning Journalist and USA Today bestselling author Jeffery H. Haskell thinks he should always be himself… unless he can be Spider-Man. Then, he should be Spidey. He’s a lifelong lover of comic books and science fiction, and he owns his geek status by quoting Aliens and Star Trek at every given opportunity. When he realized he could make a living writing about his obsessions, he jumped at the chance. With the incredible support of his amazing wife and spectacular children, Jeffery lives the dream of bringing his imagination to the page and on occasion, he writes about love and marriage.

Reviews

[Joe Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple but elegant, The Longest Battle stays true to the series' roots and gives readers all the things that make the Grimm's War series a standout. Great character development, a strong dual plot that stays consistent and strong, enough combat to satisfy, and stakes that keep the tension high.

Jacob remains the kind of captain you'd love to see in a Sci-Fi movie, harkening back to favorites like Kirk, Picard, and others but with a stronger military background. The teamwork he inspires and commands is what really makes these stories work, as it's never just one person or even a small group that make everything work. Even the lowliest spacer's apprentice can have a massive impact, and it's a ripple effect that starts with Captain Grimm and makes its way all down through the crew. Ideally, this is how a military gets it done.

Grimm's personal victories also add a human touch to the book/series, and a sense of completeness as he becomes more than a collection of medals and victories. We want our heroes to have complete lives and enjoy the just desserts of what they fight for, so this one truly doesn't disappoint on any level.

Best of all, we have a couple of hooks left in the narrative that may do more than open doors for future books, but also spinoffs and one-offs. This was a fantastic addition to the series that ramps up momentum rather than bringing it to a close. So grab this one, sit back, and enjoy.

[Reader]

**Some wars can't be won with a battle.**The Caliphate has done the unthinkable. Millions dead and the Alliance is to blame. The war cannot continue.With a new president elected to end the war, and a new cabinet to help her, Spymaster Wit DeBeck is out, for good. He has one last shot to end the war on his terms, he just needs an experimental ship, and a Captain with the skill to pull it off.After a year assigned to training command, Jacob is ready to get back in the hotseat. However, the navy wants to ground him after he lost the battleship 17 in the outskirts of Alexandria. Only a naval inquiry can clear his name, but he has to wait on half pay for the better part of a year to know the results, or...Wit offers him a chance. A chance to end the war and force the Caliphate to surrender. Not with a battle, but a secret mission to pull off the impossible, using hidden starlanes to drive deep into Caliph space and end them once and for all.He's the only man who can do it, and the only captain expendable enough to be allowed to try.If Jacob T. Grimm can't pull of the impossible one last time, the Alliance will fall and with them, the last grasp of freedom in the galaxy.

[Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this consistently enjoyable series! An election ushers in a new President with radically different goals. The outgoing SECNAV proposes a secret mission that could deliver enormous benefits for the Alliance, but is extremely risky. Naturally, the SECNAV and the President reach for Captain Jacob Grimm and his crew for this impossible mission. New ship technologies provide new options, yet also complicate the action. New members must fit into the existing team. The author uses all these elements to ensure Book 9 is a fresh and exciting addition to the series. I eagerly look forward to Book 10!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chance for Captain Grimm to end the war and force the Caliphate to surrender. Not with a battle, but a secret mission to pull off the impossible, using hidden starlanes to drive deep into Caliph space and end them once and for all. He's the only man who can do it, and the only captain expendable enough to be allowed to try. Lots of military space fun with Grimm and his crew. A little slower than some of the series, but still good.

[Slugpuppy3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!  THE LONGEST BATTLE is powerfully character driven and beautifully plotted despite multiple complex story lines. The author flawlessly stitched it all together into an exciting adventure with military space battles, assassins, honorable heroes, hiss worthy enemies, and even a bit of romance. Bravo!
  I reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book with no strings attached.

[Mick Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

GrImms war continues

Once again we find out Hero Captain Grimm sailing into enemy territory. But he didn't expect to be on the Interceptor, a newer version. But will he complete the task he has been given, and end the war? I fully recommend this series, you will enjoy the ride. I sure did, and look forward to reading more.

[Carol Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Orders

Grimm married again, his new wife is his reincarnated Nadia, since Nadia "died" in an accident while he was on his last mission a new identity was needed. She just found out she is now pregnant.
Grimm is sent new orders for a new ship and has to leave his wife for an unknown time, probably missing the whole pregnancy. Good Read.

[Beach Bum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Progressing along nicely

Picks up nicely from book 8. With a few surprises thrown in along the way
The main storyline is a war ender, or at least the Alliance hopes it is. No spoilers as to the end result
Home life takes a twist and I can see that forming a distraction for Grimm in his future adventures
Speaking of future adventures, no idea where the story goes from here

[David William Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series!

This was one of the rare series that I've read where I was so mesmerized by the unfolding story that I literally could not put my tablet down. I literally spent three days reading nine books.

[Chuck Woodbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Another great Capn Grimm story. Interesting finish to the Caliphate war and some new mysteries added. Who built the control collar facility and what’s with the faint SOS? Hopefully we will find out in 10!

[John T Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

This was a great story real page turner. Well written as always. Lots of action. Took forever to get released, at leased seemed that way lol. Can't wait for the next installment.

[Kaywood Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. Can't wait for the next.

This whole series as been great. Can't put the books down. Well done Jeffery Haskell. For anyone who like books about space, war and life ,these are the ones for you.

[Bethany Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consistently great story line and enough twists in the plot to keep you guessing

Consistently great story line and character development. Enough plot twists to keep you guessing. Jeffery Haskell continues to develop as a writer and in this series. I will keep reading for sure.

[Jennifer Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

Fantastic book. I've read the previous 9 series and enjoyed each one of them. If you're a Sci-Fi geek, why not? Good characters. Real bad guys. And real good guys... And girls!

[Donald Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome as always!

Love the crew of this ship. The story telling is incredible. Keep up the good work Mr Haskell and Godspeed to you and your family.

[william p. burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome 9

Enjoyed the Book and the books in the series as the books roll along they seem to get better and better
Thanks so much Jeff !

[Camilla Neilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

A great story. We waited a long time. It was worth the wait. The character development is excellent. Hope there is another book coming.

[Don Parmely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Again Jacob T. Grimm shows what it takes to be a great leader and gets the job done. A great ride.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite good!

[More Books Than Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the books in this series are good, multiple characters, decent writing, fast pacing and plots that don’t end. This is one of the best. Most series get stale after a few books, this one improves.

[John Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

the longest battle

Very enjoyable read. I thought the battle scenes were especially good. I will definitely read the next book in this series

[Steven P Falb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the rest

Just as good as the previous novels. Grimm and Nadia continue to keep the Alliance alive by punching the Caliphate in the nose.

[Stephen Levesque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!

[Callum McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic as always

Really enjoyed this book and the entire series so far. Great characters and just a fun enjoyable read. Highly recommend

[Dannie Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!

Well written, fun new technology for his ship, gritty performance by his crew. Could not put it down during the last half!

[Gerbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

Another good one in a really fun series. That characters and world building is great an I can’t wait for the next book.

[John Mchale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing a good series. Love the intro where there is a presi of what has gone on before rather than chapters that try to reintroduce the background which breaks the flow of a new book.

[DONALD TERRELL. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot wait for the next book

[Christopher Morgan, · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm

The book list a star because it had Danny cannon back in the story. He should be written out of the story of killed as he is the least likable and worst character in the series.

[Chris Banhidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

grimm

Nice and short. Story line went As expected but fun to read and enjoyable. Happy to re read the earlier books.