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Jock Miles WW2 Adventure #5

Operation Fishwrapper

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June 1944: A recon flight is shot down over the Japanese-held island of Biak, soon to be the next jump in MacArthur’s leapfrogging across New Guinea. Major Jock Miles, US Army—the crashed plane’s intelligence officer—must lead the handful of survivors to safety. It’s a tall order for a man barely recovered from a near-crippling leg wound. Gaining the grudging help of a Dutch planter who has evaded the Japanese since the war began, Jock discovers just how little MacArthur’s staff knows about the terrain and defenses of the island they’re about to invade.

The American invasion of Biak promptly bogs down, and the GIs rename the debacle Operation Fishwrapper, a joking reference to their worthless maps. The infantry battalion Jock once led quickly suffers the back-to-back deaths of two commanders, so he steps into the job once again, ignoring the growing difficulties with his leg. When his Aussie wife Jillian tracks down the refugee mapmaker who can refine those fishwrappers into something of military value, the tide of battle finally turns in favor of the Americans. But for Jock, the victory imparts a life-changing blow.

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2015

584 people are currently reading
175 people want to read

About the author

William Peter Grasso

24 books75 followers
A lifelong student of history, William Peter Grasso served in the US Army and is retired from the aircraft maintenance industry. His devotion to all things historical, military, and aviation remains unabated and continues to inspire his fiction.

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5 stars
658 (57%)
4 stars
357 (31%)
3 stars
98 (8%)
2 stars
17 (1%)
1 star
17 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
465 reviews4 followers
March 21, 2016
Just cannot put these books down. I know it is listed as a five book series, but one hopes a sixth may someday appear.
49 reviews
January 30, 2018
Operation Fishwrapper is an excellent read for alternative history fans. The author's style of writing is clear and eminently readable. His characters evolve as the series evolves. He has mastered the art of making his alternative history fiction just close enough to the actual history that it seems highly plausible unlike other alternative fictions that are so divorced from the actual events they feel like they must have occurred in another universe. Like most series, this series is best read in order, but each book can stand on its own if you prefer that.
Profile Image for Greg Oaster.
177 reviews
September 26, 2018
Great series

Well written and good character development. Enjoyed reading the stories from grunts point of view. Jock Miles was the epitome of a great leader
36 reviews2 followers
August 14, 2023
great series

Just finished reading “Operation Fishwrapper” the last in the Jock Miles WWII series. I loved these books. The characters are developed so you feel like you know them. The plot is developed without holes in them. Mr. Grasso you write a book I find difficult to set down. I can’t wait to read the Moon Brothers series. Kept up the writing and I will continue to read your books.
Profile Image for Steve Minnick.
136 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2023
Great last Story in this Series!!!

I hope Mr Grasso keeps these wonderful stories.

Even those these stories are called "alternative history", they are compelling and engrossing. These stories are so well written "The You are There" saying applies to each story Mr Grasso has written.

If you like military novels, these stories are for You!!!!!!!!!!!!
832 reviews4 followers
June 19, 2019
excellent read

very good story except for a hole at the end. What happened 6 months ago?
one complaint not about the book but trying to find the next one has been a challenge. Is there a sequel to Fishwrapper or not, or is it coming soon?
Profile Image for Genie Higbee.
Author 2 books32 followers
February 28, 2022
Rick's opinion

Sad to see Mr and Mrs Miles story end. But that they come back in Korea and Vietnam books by Mr Grasso. Very well done. Now after 11 books I will take a break with the Gray man.
87 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2023
operation Fishwrapper

A fictional story but very good. Jock makes lieutenant colonel. A mystery that Jillian had to solve. This book kept me in suspense. I wonder if there would be a sixth novel of Jock in WW2? If so it would be good one.
Profile Image for Chaplain Stanley Chapin.
1,978 reviews22 followers
April 29, 2019
A WW2 action

I have read the series and either having become very familiar with all the characters or the authors overuse this did not seem as sharp as previous novels.
2 reviews2 followers
Want to read
September 10, 2019
This is a book that when you start reading it you won't put it down.really interesting book.
21 reviews
January 30, 2020
Jock Mikes

Good reading. I have read four books now and I have enjoyed them all. The author is an amazing writer.
Profile Image for ED Anthony.
206 reviews5 followers
April 30, 2022
This book was not as excellent as the previous four but an excellent read nevertheless. This story bounces around a little bit and some of the situations are a little bit preposterous for a long time military soldier to relate to. I enjoyed the earlier books in this series immensely but this one not quite as much. Maybe his books related to the Korean war will be more factually realistic.
312 reviews2 followers
June 13, 2022
Island war.

Good solid characterization. Good storyline. I stayed up till 3am reading this tale. (Yawn) it was surely worth it. Thanks to the author.
408 reviews
October 18, 2022
Outstanding

Keeps on keeping on. The good the bad and the ugly all in one book or series of books.
Rock on!
192 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2016
Viva Jock Miles! Viva MacArthur!

This may be alternate historical fiction, but it certainly isn't historical fiction where MacArthur is concerned. My wife is a grand niece of Chester Nimitz, and Nimitz had a picture of MacArthur in his office. When asked why he had it, Nimitz replied that he kept it to "remind him what a jackals looked like." Mac was a man so full of himself it could make a man cringe. A pompous, self effacing jackals, who NEVER was concerned about anything but himself and how he would be awarded, he cared NOTHING about the men who sacrificed themselves to beat the Japs. Mr. Grassy makes some, however not enough reference to that in this last book in the Jock Miles story.
Profile Image for Stan Cromlish.
Author 12 books1 follower
January 10, 2016
Another Awesome Jock Miles Adventure

I've read the entire series 3 times now and it's just as good as the first time through. I'm hoping the author adds a short postscript to the series about what happens to Jock, Jillian, Patchett, and all the surviving members of Task Force Miles. That would be the perfect way to close the book on the series.
77 reviews
November 4, 2015
That was really fun!

The paper pushers go down the drain. Our Hero does it again, and they live happily ever after. Again. The End.
41 reviews
February 16, 2016
WII Fighters

This is a book that you will not be able to put down when you start reading it. This is book five in a series of adventures.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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