A Ship Possessed

J.D. Stanton #1

by Alton Gansky

The USS Triggerfish--an American World War II submarine--has come home over fifty years after she was presumed lost in the Atlantic. Now her dark gray hulk lies embedded in the sand of a San Diego beach, her conning tower barely above the breaking surf. The submarine is in the wrong ocean, her crew is missing . . . And her half-century absence is a mystery that's about to deepen. For the Triggerfish has returned, but she has not returned alone. Something is inside her -- something unexpected and terrible. To J. D. Stanton, retired Navy captain and historian, falls the task of solving the mystery surrounding a ship possessed. What he is about to encounter will challenge his training, his wits, and his faith. Complicating his mission is a ruthless madman bent on obtaining a secret artifact stolen from the highest levels of the Nazi regime. And poised in the middle is a young woman, a lieutenant who must contend with invisible forces she never knew existed. A Ship Possessed is a story of faith, courage, and determination in the face of unexpected and unknown evil.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Christian, Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction

329 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Alton Gansky is the author of 30 books--24 of them novels, including the Angel Award winner Terminal Justice and Christy Award finalist A Ship Possessed. A frequent speaker at writing conferences, he holds a BA and MA degrees in biblical studies. Alton and his wife reside in Southern California.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inspirational horror story, which on the face of it seems a bit odd, but there are plenty of ghosts, devils, demons, and monsters in the Bible, so I rolled with it.

A haunted U-Boat, lost in the Atlantic Ocean, surfaces in San Diego. The Naval authorities investigate, and the descendents of one of the Nazis tries to get the sub, and its cargo.

Pretty good. Not as gory as most modern horror books, but very readable.

[Ieva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Izrādās, ka kristīgas var būt ne tikai lubenes, bet arī šausmenes. Nu kāpēc gan ne, Bībelē dēmonu un apsēstību ar tiem netrūkst. Grāmata strādā ar teroiju, ka eneģeli un dēmoni mūsu pasaulē ienāk no citām dimensijam un uz tām reizēm aizvelk kaut ko līdzi, tā skaidrojot daudzus mīklainos spoku kuģus un Bermudu trijstūri. Man patiešām patika.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It had a little of everything. It was like Stephan King, Dan Brown, and Tim LaHaye got together and wrote this book.
It's about a WII sub that went missing in the Atlantic Ocean during the war, then appeared on a San Diego beach at present time.
The book skipps aroung telling three stories at once. You learn what happened to the sub 50 years ago, you follow the Navy officers who are investigating the appearance of the sub, and you follow people who are trying bring the world into domination.
The story is a classic tale of good vs. evil. It involves ancient artifacts which people through the centuries have sought. It brings in many Bible references, and faith in Christ is a pivotal part of the story.
It was one of those fun books, that keeps you reading and saying, "just one more chapter, then I'll quit for now."

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Ship Possessed" is a Christian thriller involving the paranormal (mainly demons/fallen angels) and modern terrorists. The novel was fast-paced and kept the tension high. Parts were downright creepy and one section was heart-breaking. I came to care about the characters even though they didn't have a lot of depth (as in, the nosy, arrogant reporter was always nosy and arrogant, etc.).

The story switched back and forth between the modern section and the events leading up to the 1943 disappearance of the "Triggerfish." The two story lines were easy to follow. The world-building was excellent; details about the navy and WWI submarine warfare were woven into the story without slowing the pace.

There were a lot of point-of-view characters all introduced with full backgrounds. That did serve to build their characters, but I began to get these details mixed up which concerned me since I wasn't sure how important it was to remember these details correctly. It wasn't important. Despite the subtitle, this was a thriller not a mystery.

There wasn't much mention of God until the second half of the novel. Though the reader is briefly lectured on someone's pet theory (see below), it's more about physics than the Bible. However, profession of faith in Christ was critical to the story so most non-Christians probably wouldn't care for it.

I had minor problems with some theological issues brought up in the story. I don't think the Bible supports the idea that demons usually reside in another dimension like that described in the story. I also would have been more convinced by the ending if Stanton had been even a slightly more committed Christian throughout the novel. However, I still enjoyed the story.

The rare bad language was of the "he cursed" style. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel as well-written and suspenseful clean reading.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scary Christian fiction story about a submarine that shows up 50 years after it disappeared.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a spiritual warfare tale than a mystery novel, Alton Gansky's premiere volume in the J. D. Stanton series is enjoyable if not what I expected.

[Georgann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woot! Creeped me out! Scary. I couldn't get through it fast enough. Yikes!!

[Symon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Ship Possessed is Book 1 in the J. D. Stanton Mystery series (trilogy) – A series in which a retired navy captain/historian (Stanton) is called upon to investigate paranormal occurrences relating to the armed forces.

Military + Paranormal + Christian worldview = Definitely my kind of series.

The Back Cover blurb from A Ship Possessed follows:

The USS Triggerfish–an American World War II submarine–has come home over fifty years after she was presumed lost in the Atlantic. Now her dark gray hulk lies embedded in the sand of a San Diego beach, her conning tower barely above the breaking surf. The submarine is in the wrong ocean, her crew is missing . . . And her half-century absence is a mystery that’s about to deepen. For the Triggerfish has returned, but she has not returned alone. Something is inside her — something unexpected and terrible. To J. D. Stanton, retired Navy captain and historian, falls the task of solving the mystery surrounding a ship possessed. What he is about to encounter will challenge his training, his wits, and his faith. Complicating his mission is a ruthless madman bent on obtaining a secret artifact stolen from the highest levels of the Nazi regime. And poised in the middle is a young woman, a lieutenant who must contend with invisible forces she never knew existed. A Ship Possessed is a story of faith, courage, and determination in the face of unexpected and unknown evil.

This book is a cleverly crafted mystery, alternating between 2 stories separated by 5 decades: The happenings on a submarine during world war 2, and the happenings when the same sub suddenly appears 50+ years later. The two stories eventually intersect, and all is revealed (as would be expected in a mystery novel), in the final chapters.

I cannot say much more than what’s on the back cover without spoiling the story, but suffice to say – this is a genuine ghost story, not the disappointing rational-explanation-man-in-ghost-costume-scooby-doo plot.

Gansky has an amazing knack for developing characters and atmosphere which are totally believable. Some books, inbetween sittings, stay with you (in your mind) – and this story was definitely one of those. It also single-handedly rekindled my childhood interest in submarines, resulting in another viewing of the classic 'Das Boot' ;-)).

A Ship Possessed is an intense read and has some genuinely unsettling/scary moments (depending on the readers’ imagination), and Gansky’s take on ghosts and other paranormal entities is thought-provoking to say the least.

Not an epic, nor classic, but a very enjoyable/engaging read nevertheless.

[P.A. Pursley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of Alton Gansky's books and am never disappointed. A Ship Possessed is exactly as it is titled. The story of a WWII submarine that was lost during a mission comes back unspoiled and looking new as if it had been abandoned only a few hours prior. It takes Captain Stanton and his crew to try to figure out what happened.

It is creepy and action packed. I truly enjoyed reading this one and look forward to reading more of Gansky's writings.

If you enjoy supernatural mystery and possession...this book is for you!

[Elaine Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new author to include in my list of favorites, Alton Gansky. He writes similar to Frank Peretti, dealing with angels and demons.

A Ship Possessed is the first book in the J.D. Stanton trilogy. A 1940's submarine has surfaced in San Diego 60 years later. It is in pristine condition. Where has the submarine been for the last 60 years and what has happened to her crew?

I like the way a chapter deals with present day circumstances and another chapter goes back in time to 1943. It's that way throughout the whole book. I have already ordered the other two books in this trilogy.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A submarine lost in 1943 appears in modern San Diego, apparently unaged. J. D. Stanton is called up from his retirement by the Navy to investigate. But what lurks in the sub?

A weird story, but really interesting. I finished it in 2 days. The action moved along really well. I wish Gansky had gone into a bit more background on both Stanton and Donna, but I still really enjoyed the book. Now to read the second book in the series.

[Rita Maqdas Khoury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay.... This book was a rollercoaster ride to me. The story was Amazing, what drove me crazy was that multiple stories all related to this Submarine ship, and the sense of horror and dread was there. Everytime people in this book are close to find out what happened, it will jump to another story. It drove me bananas!! 😂 overall, the book was Amazing and I really enjoyed the ride!

[Karen Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather suspenseful split-time novel that details the events surrounding the disappearance of a World War 2 American submarine. Although Gansky is a Christian author, he is never preachy and in fact, I thought he could have come on a bit stronger. My husband and I listened to this together during a car trip and we both enjoyed it. Alton Gansky is an author I would read again.

[DAVID Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner! So excited to discover this author. Suspenseful writing doesn’t have to be crass or distasteful; this was well-written and had a plot that kept me awake for hours after I finished the book. Looking forward to more of Captain Stanton in book two!

[Lt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and captivating at the beginning, but towards the end, it wasn't as good because the action moved too fast to be believable. It was creepy at times, but it should be when talking about spiritual warfare.

[Scott D · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my first experience reading contemporary Christian fiction, with a bit of apprehension I might add due to my love for nonfiction, I was not disappointed. Gansky’s writing, plot, and delivery were on par with A Ship Possessed.

[Devyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good up till the end. By the end it just became to preachy to tolerate.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good Christian adventure book that has actions without the bad language. I would recommend this book to middle schoolers to Adults. It moves quickly.

[Chase Bowyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a good read. It failed to meet its potential due to some interesting twists and plot development but, still not bad. There were some unanswered questions at the end - or at least a few things that weren't thoroughly explained.

[ANDREW]

I really enjoyed this book in the series, could not put it down. Although I read this quite a number of years ago, I have kept a copy as I will re-read this whole series again.

[Julie Bump · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many different view points in different chapters and that I found very creative and engaging. Story line kept me wanting to read more.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a WWII submarine that gets into trouble with the Nazi desire for occult objects.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not what I expected. In terms of possessed, I thought about it being a ghost ship. It was in a sense...but the ghosts were forces, beings from another demension...demons. The main character, Stanton, is a retired navy captain called back to investigate the return of a submarine thought lost in the Atlantic over 50 years ago. It has turned up in San Diego looking as it did the day it sailed for war. Mysteries surround it...where has it been? why has it turned up now? Is it dangerous? Where is the crew? Stanton is assisted with Lieutenant Donna Wilcox, who is having a difficult time suppressing her fear in regards to the sub. She finally tells Stanton what she is seeing and hearing and feeling. After speaking to his brother-in-law, Navy Chaplain Walsh he is being led in a more spiritual, intuitive direction to explain everything. Walsh's friend Hawking Strieber who has a PHd in physics. He talks about other dimensions and whether or not the spirits that are being felt by Wilcox are in fact beings from another dimension. Simultaneously, we are brought back to 1943 when a Karl Kunzig is rescued by the very ship beached in San Diego. Mr. Kunzig is a german soldier who has escaped from his ship and has stolen what is believed to be the very spear to pierce Jesus's side. It is thought to give the owner power to accomplish all the wish to achieve. His great grandson Hermann is another side story explaining his search for this ship and the contents it may contain. The beings haunting the ship are searching for him because they feel they can posses him...control him...use him.

In the end, I liked the story, but it seems to mix science and Biblical stories together. These evil beings look for those who can be filled with there darkness and Christians cannot be filled if they are already whole with Christ. The concept of a ship coming back through dimensions to draw the people to it that are needed to be possessed is strange and somewhat farfetched. However, the thought that Christ can help ward off evil makes sense. Wilcox was almost overcome due to her lack of belief. Stanton seemed to repel the demons with their fear of what was inside of him. I enjoyed it, and may look for more Staton mysteries because I really liked Stanton. he was tough but fair, strong but controlled and logical without being dismissive. Good man to have in a situation where thinking outside the box is necessary.

[MaryEllen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review, please visit my blog: http://decemberjoy.wordpress.com/2012...

A Ship Possessed takes place off the coastal shore of California and the main character of the book is a ship, the USS Triggerfish. The Triggerfish was a submarine that disappeared back in World War II…but is now back, fifty years later! The arrival of the submarine is full of mystery. What happened to it and where was it for all those years? Better yet, why has it returned? These are the questions J.D. Stanton, a retired Navy captain, is asking. But as he begins his investigation, he is drawn into a whole new world that involves the spiritual; something that Stanton has never encountered before.

The story Alton Gansky created is very engaging and it keeps the interest of the reader. I found myself drawn into the story and in the mystery of the ship and those who were aboard her when she disappeared. Throughout the story, Gansky kept the mystery alive by delaying the inevitable opening of the submarine. The suspense of the story was also enhanced by the past which was told in increments; enough insight to guess on possible scenarios but not enough information to know if your assumption would be the correct one.

And yes, there were creepy parts…those paragraphs that made you look around your room, just in case. Not enough to terrify me, or to overshadow the possible reality of the story, but an ample amount to keep the supernatural part intriguing. Weird noises, changes in temperature, and seeing things one minute that were not there the next are but a few examples of the haunting of the Triggerfish.

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

My eye lit on the title of a book in the library, Vanished and so I looked again, it appealed to my sense of mystery. But then I saw it was II in a series, so I looked at the books on either side, and saw this one. So I took it out and began to read it. It's a sort of mystery-suspense-horror story, with both bodily and spiritual villains.

I very much like the novels of Charles Williams, whose works have been described as spiritual thrillers, and have often wished that someone else would write books in the same genre. I wondered if this might be such a book, but it isn't, not really. I don\t know if Alton Gansky intended to write in that genre, but I suspect not, though at times there are echoes of it. In some ways it is a bit closer to the writings of Frank Peretti, though quite a bit better than those. But those who like Peretti's books might like this one.

It's not a bad book, and an entertaining read, but Williams it isn't.

[Donna Siebold · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book in the JD Stanton Mystery series. Stanton is a retired Naval officer called back to active duty to investigate the odd reappearance of a WWII submarine. Something mysterious surrounds the reappearance, the boat looks like it is in perfect condition, not many decades old. How did the submarine arrive unmanned on the coast of California when it was last known to be headed towards Scotland? The mystery revolves around ancient artifacts that appear to be possessed by evil demons. It was mildly interesting, the writing jumped from the "live action" of WWII to the present. At times it was a bit difficult to follow. The resolution involves faith and the book gets a tad preachy towards the end but it is a solid first entry.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

So maybe this was a little more than just liked it. So lets just say three and a half stars and we will call it good. A WWII sub shows up on the shores of modern day San Diego, seemingly in fine condition. What happened to this sub and it's crew? Well that is a mystery for a Navy Captain assigned to figure it all out. Good stuff that runs into the supernatural realm. Also runs into the Christian type of novel just to let you all know. The book bumps along pretty good, just a bit slow. Say like 33 and a half as opposed to 78 RPM. And the ending seems to come on pretty quick. Yet it all still works out very nicely.

[Beckie · Rating 1 out of 5]

An American WWII submarine mysteriously appears on a California beach in 2000-something. It was presumed lost over 60 years ago, and has nary a scratch, ding, dent, or rust spot. The hatches are in perfect working condition, but the investigators hear demonic sounds and some experience strange ghostly sightings.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alton Gansky writes some very "skeery" books. A good page turner.

[Becca]

This book was so freaky! But very good at the same time :) Definitely a thriller!