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Crash Dive #1
Crash Dive
A WWII naval thriller in the tradition of the Hornblower series ... October, 1942. The United States and the Empire of Japan are at war. Charlie Harrison, a young and ambitious lieutenant, reports for duty aboard the S-55, a worn-out WWI-era submarine. While the Battle of Guadalcanal rages on land, air, and sea, the captain plans a daring attack against Rabaul, the heart of Japanese power in the South Pacific. There, the hunter will become the hunted. With a foreword by John Dixon, author of Phoenix Island.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2015
601 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Craig DiLouie
62 books1,517 followersCraig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 4, 2016
Craig DiLouie is a new author for me. I understand this book is a new genre for him. He is an award winning horror genre author who has also written some sci-fi books. This is a book of fiction. Our protagonist is Lt. Charlie Harrison fresh out of sub school. Harrison had served several years on a destroyer in the Atlantic Ocean hunting U-boats prior to volunteering for submarines. Harrison reports to the Pacific command for duty on “pig boat” S-55; the crew call her Frankie.
The book is well written. The pace is fast; the plot is standard for the genre. The characters are most interesting and really make the story. DiLouie places the reader into the old pig boat; you can smell the stale, fuel fumed air and feel the depth charges rattle the boat. The suspense builds constantly throughout the story. As the depth charges rain down, the reader keeps focusing on the boat being old and no longer can go very deep; leaks keep popping up with each shaking of the boat. The story is action packed. I enjoyed the WWII history that is woven into the story. The book is short just under 5 hours. It is a great get away from it all book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. R. C. Bray does a great job narrating the book. Bray is a stage actor and voiceover artist and is an Earphone Award-winner and Audie-nominated narrator of audiobooks.
The book is well written. The pace is fast; the plot is standard for the genre. The characters are most interesting and really make the story. DiLouie places the reader into the old pig boat; you can smell the stale, fuel fumed air and feel the depth charges rattle the boat. The suspense builds constantly throughout the story. As the depth charges rain down, the reader keeps focusing on the boat being old and no longer can go very deep; leaks keep popping up with each shaking of the boat. The story is action packed. I enjoyed the WWII history that is woven into the story. The book is short just under 5 hours. It is a great get away from it all book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. R. C. Bray does a great job narrating the book. Bray is a stage actor and voiceover artist and is an Earphone Award-winner and Audie-nominated narrator of audiobooks.
July 8, 2020
Excellent action. Great to exercise to
June 2, 2022
This is my first Craig DiLouie book, and I was not disappointed! I was searching for a good, patriotic book to read on Memorial day. This book is well written. I read this as an audiobook. R.C. Bray is an excellent narrator! For being under 5 hours, this is a very well developed story. I didn't want to push pause at any point! The characters are very well developed. Anyone interested in WW2 history, patriotisms, duty, and action... this is the book for you!
July 4, 2022
Rating is a very peculiar judgment system. What do you rate? Did I enjoy this book? Immensely. Is this a good book? Jesus, no! It's an action movie on paper. But if you are not in the philosopher mood. If you accept the lack of literary depth. If you are just looking to a simple, fast, predictable plot, like a Tom Cruise movie, then here you are. Enjoy! On my part I'm in. But rating? No way to go much high.
June 30, 2025
A quick, fun read in what felt like a more modern take on the Horatio Hornblower series (modern in that it takes place during WWII and not the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800’s.)
The book follows Charlie, a young lieutenant in the US NAVY, who is assigned to his first submarine during the Pacific War.
Nice pace and tons of action, made this a breeze to finish.
The book follows Charlie, a young lieutenant in the US NAVY, who is assigned to his first submarine during the Pacific War.
Nice pace and tons of action, made this a breeze to finish.
December 21, 2024
2023 Review 116. Crash Dive Series #1 Crash Dive by Craig DiLouie, narrated by R.C. Bray
Audiobook Length : 4 hours 45 minutes
This was a fantastic story.
You can tell that the author has done his home work as this was a great submarine action story.
Lt Charlie Harrison is joining the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which bought the USA into World War II.
His first posting is to an old S boat, the S55. Assigned to a normal war patrol, it seems like it's going to be an uneventful patrol until the captain decides to take them into combat at a massive Japanese naval base.
I could tell the author has done his research on the operation of World War 2 submarines and their technology.
R.C. Bray did an outstanding narrating this book as he made an incredible effort to be able to differentiate different characters.
There are 5 other books in this series and I am thoroughly enjoying them so I know I will definitely listen to them again in the future.
If you enjoy submarine thrillers, then this series will be for you.
5*
*****
Audiobook Length : 4 hours 45 minutes
This was a fantastic story.
You can tell that the author has done his home work as this was a great submarine action story.
Lt Charlie Harrison is joining the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which bought the USA into World War II.
His first posting is to an old S boat, the S55. Assigned to a normal war patrol, it seems like it's going to be an uneventful patrol until the captain decides to take them into combat at a massive Japanese naval base.
I could tell the author has done his research on the operation of World War 2 submarines and their technology.
R.C. Bray did an outstanding narrating this book as he made an incredible effort to be able to differentiate different characters.
There are 5 other books in this series and I am thoroughly enjoying them so I know I will definitely listen to them again in the future.
If you enjoy submarine thrillers, then this series will be for you.
5*
*****
November 24, 2019
This is a book that makes me wish my Navy recruiter would have called me back after I sought to enlist as a submariner working in the nuclear field. This book was action-packed and filled with interesting factoids that I found myself looking up as the book continued playing, forcing me to slip back a bit and catch up on parts I missed. Having worked in the joint military community for some time now, this was a great lesson about the tactics and methods used on a submarine, along with the positives (comradery, the desire to do anything for your fellow teammate, the tight-knit relationships which form and never dissolve despite years apart at different duty stations) and at times gruesome realities of military (deaths, time away from loved ones, the impacts that acts of war can have on an individual).
This was such a powerful story and I can't wait to continue with the audiobook version of book two. Bray, as always, did a wonderful job and I don't think the author could have picked a better narrator.
This was such a powerful story and I can't wait to continue with the audiobook version of book two. Bray, as always, did a wonderful job and I don't think the author could have picked a better narrator.
November 22, 2016
This was an ok book but I was on the boats and there were a lot of things that were not correct but and distracted from a good story. If you have never been on a diesel boat then it would have been better reading.
July 28, 2022
Very story driven. Which is just as well because the characters and descriptions are of a lesser quality - a good thing there were helpful maps. As WW2 submarine stories go, David Black's "Harry Gilmore" serie is better.
August 9, 2024
Think of the Horatio Hornblower series, but instead of being on the sailing ships of Nelson’s navy fighting the French, Crash Dive is the first in a series of six novels set on American submarines fighting the Japanese during the Pacific campaign of the Second World War, a series that follows the naval career of Charlie Harrison.
At the start of Crash Dive, Harrison, a junior naval lieutenant, (who has just been transferred from destroyers to submarines), ends up on the near obsolete US submarine S-55 based in Brisbane about to go on patrol against the Japanese forces marshalled around Guadalcanal in October 1942. The crew even nickname their ship “Frankie” short for Frankenstein because of the numerous patch-work repairs to her hull. The author Craig Dilouie makes a real effort to create a realistic depiction of life on a knackered submarine. In an interview Dilouie states “my goal is to put you aboard a submarine and have you fight alongside the crew, experience what it was like through the eyes of our hero, Charlie Harrison.” He even includes helpful diagrams and maps to illustrate key moments within the narrative. The author also creates some memorable characters alongside Harrison, my favourite being John Braddock the wise-ass machinist’s mate.
I was trying to work out why I enjoyed this book so much and then I realised that a year before reading Crash Dive, I had read a solid historical account of the Pacific campaign called The Depths of Courage: American Submariners at War with Japan, 1941 to 1945 by Flint Whitlock and Ron Smith that I had picked up in a Manhattan bookshop. This book not only detailed the human cost of submarine warfare, but it explained the development of the technologies that changed the Pacific campaign. Consequently, when I came to read Crash Dive a year later, it was crystal clear that Dilouie had a strong grasp of the complex challenges faced by US submariners. At times in Crash Dive, you really feel the tension, the pressure, and even the foul odours when operating deep in the Pacific Ocean within a near airless steel can. This atmosphere reminded me a little of a packed year 9 Latin class that I had to teach during my teaching training year at a boy’s school late on Thursday afternoons, an environment that was also tense and pressurised, and the classroom I can promise you didn’t exactly smell of Chanel number five.
If you prefer Audible, there is a very good audio version of whole six book series narrated by the voice actor R.C. Bray. It would have been great if the people at Audible had used some dramatic sound effects for the tense depth-charging episodes, but then again there is always your imagination.
At the start of Crash Dive, Harrison, a junior naval lieutenant, (who has just been transferred from destroyers to submarines), ends up on the near obsolete US submarine S-55 based in Brisbane about to go on patrol against the Japanese forces marshalled around Guadalcanal in October 1942. The crew even nickname their ship “Frankie” short for Frankenstein because of the numerous patch-work repairs to her hull. The author Craig Dilouie makes a real effort to create a realistic depiction of life on a knackered submarine. In an interview Dilouie states “my goal is to put you aboard a submarine and have you fight alongside the crew, experience what it was like through the eyes of our hero, Charlie Harrison.” He even includes helpful diagrams and maps to illustrate key moments within the narrative. The author also creates some memorable characters alongside Harrison, my favourite being John Braddock the wise-ass machinist’s mate.
I was trying to work out why I enjoyed this book so much and then I realised that a year before reading Crash Dive, I had read a solid historical account of the Pacific campaign called The Depths of Courage: American Submariners at War with Japan, 1941 to 1945 by Flint Whitlock and Ron Smith that I had picked up in a Manhattan bookshop. This book not only detailed the human cost of submarine warfare, but it explained the development of the technologies that changed the Pacific campaign. Consequently, when I came to read Crash Dive a year later, it was crystal clear that Dilouie had a strong grasp of the complex challenges faced by US submariners. At times in Crash Dive, you really feel the tension, the pressure, and even the foul odours when operating deep in the Pacific Ocean within a near airless steel can. This atmosphere reminded me a little of a packed year 9 Latin class that I had to teach during my teaching training year at a boy’s school late on Thursday afternoons, an environment that was also tense and pressurised, and the classroom I can promise you didn’t exactly smell of Chanel number five.
If you prefer Audible, there is a very good audio version of whole six book series narrated by the voice actor R.C. Bray. It would have been great if the people at Audible had used some dramatic sound effects for the tense depth-charging episodes, but then again there is always your imagination.
July 28, 2025
I don't write reviews often and I read historical fiction even less. My dad and I are WWII history nerds which is how I stumbled onto DiLouie's series. Ever the multi-tasking millennial I will usually buy Audible versions and listen to a sped up narration, chasing a clean sweep of my "to read" list. I never could speed this one up. You are on the bridge with Charlie and handing wrenches to Braddock. I could hear the destroyers passing overhead. I now have it in three formats, Audible, Kindle and I have ordered the hard copies as well. My grandfather served in the Pacific and I'm giving this series to my dad for Christmas. I read a lot. I've read a lot of good and I've read a lot of hard to read. I can't imagine the bravery it takes to put a work of any writing out into the world at the mercy of people you don't know. But, in case CD ever actually reads his reviews....and without a better way to say it, you brought it all to life, every bit. This series will have a home on my bookshelf for good. Thank you.
September 23, 2018
“A masterful re-imagining of the old WW2 movies of the 50’s and 60’s in novel form. A truly enjoyable and exciting read!”
Growing up watching films like “Midway”, “Tora Tora Tora”, “Battleground”, and others, I felt at home in this novel.
And yet gone were unrealistic heroes and with them was the sterile consequence free experience of war for those who fought it.
Mr. Dilouie has captured the essence of what a WW2 action story should be.
The naval action is well paced and the characters are deeply fleshed out. The technical details are there but are integrated without feeling like info dumps. Enemies are real and the dangers are authentic. And yet neither fall into cliches. War has consequences for the men and women who experience it, and each character deals with them in unique and era plausible ways.
In “Crash Dive” the WW2 action adventure has grown up and matured. And it is all the more exciting and entertaining for it!
Growing up watching films like “Midway”, “Tora Tora Tora”, “Battleground”, and others, I felt at home in this novel.
And yet gone were unrealistic heroes and with them was the sterile consequence free experience of war for those who fought it.
Mr. Dilouie has captured the essence of what a WW2 action story should be.
The naval action is well paced and the characters are deeply fleshed out. The technical details are there but are integrated without feeling like info dumps. Enemies are real and the dangers are authentic. And yet neither fall into cliches. War has consequences for the men and women who experience it, and each character deals with them in unique and era plausible ways.
In “Crash Dive” the WW2 action adventure has grown up and matured. And it is all the more exciting and entertaining for it!
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February 5, 2020 Deep Dive into a War
While not the most sophisticated of war novels set at sea in submarines, this novel is full of action. In re-creating this time period in our history of the Pacific war, we are aboard an out of date barely capable S class sub at sea in the Pacific. This was the reality for our servicemen who were forced to fight with old equipment against a very well equipped Japanese fleet. It's a tribute to these men who, in the wake of the Pearl Harbor disaster, accomplished so much in the early days of the war with so little.
While not the most sophisticated of war novels set at sea in submarines, this novel is full of action. In re-creating this time period in our history of the Pacific war, we are aboard an out of date barely capable S class sub at sea in the Pacific. This was the reality for our servicemen who were forced to fight with old equipment against a very well equipped Japanese fleet. It's a tribute to these men who, in the wake of the Pearl Harbor disaster, accomplished so much in the early days of the war with so little.
December 20, 2023
It's ok I guess. Quick paced, short, exciting. Unsophisticated writing style and plot, reads like a young adult novel.
I'm fairly certain it gets some details wrong but I don't know that for sure as I haven't learned as much about American WWII subs as I have about German ones. I do suspect it's unlikely that a US Navy crew would refer to warships as "he" instead of "she" though. It broke the immersion for me.
If you're looking for a short, fun, unabashedly patriotic book on the Pacific war it's probably worth a look at least.
I'm fairly certain it gets some details wrong but I don't know that for sure as I haven't learned as much about American WWII subs as I have about German ones. I do suspect it's unlikely that a US Navy crew would refer to warships as "he" instead of "she" though. It broke the immersion for me.
If you're looking for a short, fun, unabashedly patriotic book on the Pacific war it's probably worth a look at least.
August 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the Cruel Sea. A tyro sub-lieutenant joins the boat and does his best to hide his lack of skills. In this case the Lieutenant junior grade is taken by the executive officer and given some hard love. Soon after they sail to the battle front. The descriptions of the depth charges, torpedo attacks, leaks and the human frailties were very real. I felt the fear of the sailors. I could not put this book down.
November 5, 2019
Great story but.....
Excellent story but some glaring technical errors. On a submarine the word "fire" is NEVER used unless something is burning. The term is "shoot " it may seem to be a trifle but it grating to sub sailor. On a nuke boat if it has vertical tubes the term is "launch." Still looking forward to the next book
Excellent story but some glaring technical errors. On a submarine the word "fire" is NEVER used unless something is burning. The term is "shoot " it may seem to be a trifle but it grating to sub sailor. On a nuke boat if it has vertical tubes the term is "launch." Still looking forward to the next book
May 22, 2021
Fast paced. And I DO mean FAST.
I have read quite a few WW2 historical fiction books over the years and am drawn mostly to the U.S. Navy's Pacific theater submarine service and the British RAF exploits in the early years of the war. Mr. DiAlogue has written a well researched and compelling story that I heartily recommend.
I have read quite a few WW2 historical fiction books over the years and am drawn mostly to the U.S. Navy's Pacific theater submarine service and the British RAF exploits in the early years of the war. Mr. DiAlogue has written a well researched and compelling story that I heartily recommend.
November 23, 2021
This is a new author for me. I was very impressed with his writing style. It's concise and pulse pounding. You can hear the sounds of the depth charges, feel the tension of the sailors in the S55.
It's a fun story and an easy read. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.
Good-bye Frankie!
It's a fun story and an easy read. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.
Good-bye Frankie!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2021
Fantastic WWII naval submarine adventure. Think Horatio Hornblower but in the 1940s and on subs.
These are short and very digestible, exciting reads.
My family member works for Electric Boat And I would cross reference all the details of the book to him. I was blown away by how accurate all the details were. Incredible storytelling. Incredible heroism.
These are short and very digestible, exciting reads.
My family member works for Electric Boat And I would cross reference all the details of the book to him. I was blown away by how accurate all the details were. Incredible storytelling. Incredible heroism.
May 9, 2018
Took me a while to start this, wasn't sure I would be into it. Great book, really enjoyed. Bought the 1-3 omnibus at a later point and listened to the first again and enjoyed just as much. First listened to Craig DiLouie's Suffer the Children, also read my RC Bray.
August 11, 2020
A fast paced book with excellent character development. It makes me want to learn chess. The mental exhaustion and moral complexities that challenge the protagonist in addition to the actual war bring the novel into the modern times.
October 20, 2020
The dog would not go out enough to do his business
I really liked this book it made going out at night to do the dogs business an exciting time and made sleeping hard to get back too
I really liked this book it made going out at night to do the dogs business an exciting time and made sleeping hard to get back too
April 10, 2021
I was completely blown away by this book(excuse the pun). I picked it at random and it was exactly what I needed and wanted at the time. Action packed, fast paced and full of the nautical detail that I’m always after in Submarine warfare books.
The best news is.....there are five more to read!
The best news is.....there are five more to read!
September 12, 2022
Good
This is a Good Book. It was slow reading for me until about half way thru and then it picked up and I started to get into it. I have downloaded and started reading Book # 2 Silent Running in the Crash Dive Series.
This is a Good Book. It was slow reading for me until about half way thru and then it picked up and I started to get into it. I have downloaded and started reading Book # 2 Silent Running in the Crash Dive Series.
June 9, 2025
Finished this one in a day. Second time I’ve read the series. I can’t believe I didn’t write a review the first time. This is a dang good sub yarn. Obviously some liberties taken and suspicion of belief to make the story juicy but still a good read.
February 28, 2018
Exciting
Well written. Excitment from the first chapter on. The sailors serving in the 2nd World war had it tough. This book does a great job of bringing those times to life.
Well written. Excitment from the first chapter on. The sailors serving in the 2nd World war had it tough. This book does a great job of bringing those times to life.
May 12, 2018
A fast moving WWII submarine thriller. This is the first book in a series of 6. I am looking forward to number 2.
July 14, 2018
Review on book three Battle Stations to correspond with Omnibus 1-3 version.
July 19, 2018
A little slow to catch my attention, but picks up by the end of the book.
November 29, 2018
Crash Dive
An outstanding story. At times when the crew was submerged I found myself holding my breath. I can't imagine what it was like to serve on a submarine during WW 2.
An outstanding story. At times when the crew was submerged I found myself holding my breath. I can't imagine what it was like to serve on a submarine during WW 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews