What do you think?
Rate this book
Dan Lenson #17
Hunter Killer: The War with China: The Battle for the Central Pacific
The war with China escalates—the dramatic and all-too-real seventeenth novel in the Dan Lenson naval-thriller series.
World War with China explodes in this seventeenth thriller featuring U.S. Navy hero Dan Lenson–newly promoted to admiral, at least for the duration. In Hunter Killer, the United States stands nearly alone in its determination to fight. China's naval and air forces utilize advanced technology and tactical nuclear weapons to devastate America's traditional sea power, while its massive army swiftly forces humiliating treaties on Japan, the Philippines, and other crucial allies.
Commanding a combined US–South Korea force, Lenson wonders if his embattled group can possibly keep sea lanes open in the Central Pacific, to turn the tide and buy time for the Allies to regroup. But when his own flagship comes under ferocious attack, he must leave it to assume command elsewhere—without knowing when he’ll be able to return. In the meantime, SEAL operator Teddy Oberg, escaping from a hellish POW camp, heads west through desolate mountains toward what he hopes will be freedom. And in Washington, DC, Dan’s wife Blair Titus helps formulate America's military and political response to overwhelming setbacks in the Pacific and at home.
Filled with dramatic battle scenes from massive ship, submarine, and air warfare to desperate hand-to-hand Marine Corps combat, and informed by the author's own background as a Navy captain and defense analyst, Hunter Killer is a powerful, all-too-believable novel about how the next world war might unfold.
World War with China explodes in this seventeenth thriller featuring U.S. Navy hero Dan Lenson–newly promoted to admiral, at least for the duration. In Hunter Killer, the United States stands nearly alone in its determination to fight. China's naval and air forces utilize advanced technology and tactical nuclear weapons to devastate America's traditional sea power, while its massive army swiftly forces humiliating treaties on Japan, the Philippines, and other crucial allies.
Commanding a combined US–South Korea force, Lenson wonders if his embattled group can possibly keep sea lanes open in the Central Pacific, to turn the tide and buy time for the Allies to regroup. But when his own flagship comes under ferocious attack, he must leave it to assume command elsewhere—without knowing when he’ll be able to return. In the meantime, SEAL operator Teddy Oberg, escaping from a hellish POW camp, heads west through desolate mountains toward what he hopes will be freedom. And in Washington, DC, Dan’s wife Blair Titus helps formulate America's military and political response to overwhelming setbacks in the Pacific and at home.
Filled with dramatic battle scenes from massive ship, submarine, and air warfare to desperate hand-to-hand Marine Corps combat, and informed by the author's own background as a Navy captain and defense analyst, Hunter Killer is a powerful, all-too-believable novel about how the next world war might unfold.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2017
209 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
David Poyer
82 books240 followersAka D.C. Poyer.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 22, 2017
I have read nearly all of David Poyer's books and I like his detail, character development and the stories he weaves. This book should merit higher marks and a more positive review from me except for two major flaws; first is Hunter Killer is only 1/2, or 1/3 or perhaps only 1/4 of this story. This book ends abruptly with a "to be continued!" The second flaw is that the subsequent book hasn't been published yet.
I for one feel victimized when a book suddenly ends without closure. "To be continued" is a polite way of telling the reader that you now need to buy the next book to find out how this story ends. Mr. Poyer isn't the first to employ this trick on the reader, but in in most cases the author "ties up" elements of the story creating a temporary "rest stop", so even though the reader is disappointed there was some degree of satisfaction. To tell me that I have to now purchase the next book, which isn't even available compounds the offense.
Hunter Killer is the equivalent of reading a much longer version of the Amazon sample book that you have to pay for and if you really enjoyed it you need to wait a few months and watch for the book to become available.
I for one feel victimized when a book suddenly ends without closure. "To be continued" is a polite way of telling the reader that you now need to buy the next book to find out how this story ends. Mr. Poyer isn't the first to employ this trick on the reader, but in in most cases the author "ties up" elements of the story creating a temporary "rest stop", so even though the reader is disappointed there was some degree of satisfaction. To tell me that I have to now purchase the next book, which isn't even available compounds the offense.
Hunter Killer is the equivalent of reading a much longer version of the Amazon sample book that you have to pay for and if you really enjoyed it you need to wait a few months and watch for the book to become available.
January 31, 2022
As a Navy Veteran I am drawn to Naval stories; unfortunately, this book was a disappointment. Admiral Dan Lenson is the main protagonist. The story is about the United States in a war with China. Admiral Lenson is command of the U.S. and South Korea naval force. Although Mr. Poyer is able to draw from current events between the USA and China, the story was, in fact, boring to me. None of the characters in the book were believable.
November 17, 2021
Poyer is pretty good at what he does, but I thought this installment in the Dan Lenson series felt a little incomplete. There is plenty of action, but it ended in the usual cliffhanger to get you to buy the next in the series. The action on land is far more interesting than the sea battles. Land action is more like conventional warfare. The sea battles are primarily fought on computer screens with all sorts of navy jargon and acronyms being tossed about. It was hard sometimes to know what was going on, or who even won.
I think Poyer should maybe invent a World War 2 character and put him in the Pacific on a destroyer or something. Less technology and more humans.
I think Poyer should maybe invent a World War 2 character and put him in the Pacific on a destroyer or something. Less technology and more humans.
August 12, 2019
Damn good scenario of how a war with China would unfold in the Pacific. Warning this is the second part of a three book narrative and ends with an annoying cliffhanger.
January 5, 2018
Didn't care about characters. Perhaps if I'd read earlier ones I'd feel differently. Short-hand for weapons system left me uncertain about what their functions were. Read 70% and quit. Never felt I understood the overall situation. I was hoping for another Tom Clancy but found myself disappointed. Little question to writer knows the details of a naval engagement.
Didn't care about characters. Perhaps if I'd read earlier ones I'd feel differently. Short-hand for weapons system left me uncertain about what their functions were. Read 70% and quit. Never felt I understood the overall situation. I was hoping for another Tom Clancy but found myself disappointed. Little question to writer knows the details of a naval engagement.
Didn't care about characters. Perhaps if I'd read earlier ones I'd feel differently. Short-hand for weapons system left me uncertain about what their functions were. Read 70% and quit. Never felt I understood the overall situation. I was hoping for another Tom Clancy but found myself disappointed. Little question to writer knows the details of a naval engagement.
January 8, 2018
Really a collection of chapters from a much longer work. The author is a solid writer, but the editorial decision to spread the narrative over many many books was disappointing. I was left with the feeling that there was no particular beginning or end to this work. Multi-volume stories can be well done. This one was not.
February 14, 2022
David Poyer's "Onslaught" saw the start of a war between China and the United States. China struck the first blow with a nuclear missile launch that destroyed a U.S. Navy task force. "Hunter Killer" continues the saga with the United States contending with China along with Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea. Dan Lenson, the central character, is given a battlefield promotion to Rear Admiral Lower Half. With the upgrade, Lenson commands a task force with a single purpose: retaliate by attacking the Shanghai-Ningbo maritime complex. Another character, SEAL operator Teddy Oberg, escapes a Chinese prison camp with five other prisoners. Oberg and his fellow prisoners head toward what they hope is freedom. A new character, Hector Ramos, joins the Marine Corps. Ramos' unit deploys to attack a Pacific island (code name: Lifeline) held by Chinese forces. Poyer does a masterful job of keeping the story flowing, adding action and tension to a harrowing narrative. The war between China and the United States is a major story arc in the Dan Lenson series and continues in "Deep War."
February 17, 2024
Another excellent novel in the War with China series. Everything that was great about the previous novel, continues in this one. The standout is the battle that the book is named after. It strikes me as a great scenario for wargamers, the same way that some of the naval battles in Red Storm Rising were. There is more cool technology in this one and we see how as the years pass, the two sides develop new weapons to counter each other's advances, even as their economies fall apart.
One issue with the novel is the marine combat scenes are a surreal mess. It's certainly a stylistic choice but it's not consistent with the naval combat which is extremely well done. The land technology is cool and the scenarios make sense. The Marine POV character is compelling enough. But it's bit of a missed opportunity and it would have been interesting to see how Marine strategy and tactics are employed in a near future war like we get to see with the Naval combat scenes.
One issue with the novel is the marine combat scenes are a surreal mess. It's certainly a stylistic choice but it's not consistent with the naval combat which is extremely well done. The land technology is cool and the scenarios make sense. The Marine POV character is compelling enough. But it's bit of a missed opportunity and it would have been interesting to see how Marine strategy and tactics are employed in a near future war like we get to see with the Naval combat scenes.
January 13, 2018
Want to know what a war with a peer adversary might be like, a war in which we cannot just declare victory and walk away when it becomes difficult? One in which we do not have overwhelming strength? This book continues the evolving war between the US and China which began in "Tipping Point" with a regional war between India and Pakistan, with China joining the fray in "Onslaught"... meticulously researched, I will vouch for the naval technicalities and scenarios, but this is much, much more... one just hopes that David Poyer is not too prescient. At the end of this book, the US is longer losing badly, but turning the tide is a long way off, a war at sea, on land, in space... and a cyberattack that cripples the US economy, civilian and defense industries, and much of the high tech items with which we are accustomed to fight.
January 16, 2024
Extremely realistic
Not only does Poyer continue the story of Lenson and his career, but there are parts of this book that are so.....so real that I would think he has experienced war at sea first hand. I was in the Royal Navy and fought in the Falkland Islands. Reading this book, I could hear again the scream of the whistle coming through the Ops Room hatch. The shout "Vampire, vampire, vampire" as Exocets were launched at us. I once more smelt the propellant from the 4.5" gun, heard the barks of the Oerlikons and the sound of the brass from the port gun hitting the deck just above my head and, as the aircraft came close, the GPMGs joining in. Thousand pound bombs coming down, aircraft cannon going full blast, the scream of the aircraft engines as they flew over and around us. On one occasion the sound of artillery shelling us from shore before we took them. It left me shaking, in tears, unable to sleep for a few nights. It took me back from being a highly experienced, 40 year seaman to a scared 17 year old kid in his first ship. Yes, it's a great book, but it can be bloody scary and it can take you to places you may not want to return to.
Not only does Poyer continue the story of Lenson and his career, but there are parts of this book that are so.....so real that I would think he has experienced war at sea first hand. I was in the Royal Navy and fought in the Falkland Islands. Reading this book, I could hear again the scream of the whistle coming through the Ops Room hatch. The shout "Vampire, vampire, vampire" as Exocets were launched at us. I once more smelt the propellant from the 4.5" gun, heard the barks of the Oerlikons and the sound of the brass from the port gun hitting the deck just above my head and, as the aircraft came close, the GPMGs joining in. Thousand pound bombs coming down, aircraft cannon going full blast, the scream of the aircraft engines as they flew over and around us. On one occasion the sound of artillery shelling us from shore before we took them. It left me shaking, in tears, unable to sleep for a few nights. It took me back from being a highly experienced, 40 year seaman to a scared 17 year old kid in his first ship. Yes, it's a great book, but it can be bloody scary and it can take you to places you may not want to return to.
August 14, 2019
Dan Lenson is getting long in the tooth and the same may be said for David Poyer? I've read many enjoyable Dan Lenson adventures through the years, but this one is marginal. If I werent fully invested in the character, I'd probably give this an "OK" rating. The book literally ends with a "to be continued". Not sure if Mr Poyer is just going through the motions at this stage of his life, but clearly Dan Lenson is at the tail end of his career. I'll snag the continuing book via my library, but not sure I can recommend anyone spend hard earned cash on Dan Lenson at this point in the series.
December 3, 2021
I first got into David Poyer's books back when I was still in the Navy. His early books in the Dan Lenson series had characters I could identify with, instead of the straightforward heroic people that populate most military novels. Lenson is constantly battling himself and his struggles reflect the military that I know.
That said, this novel is heavy on the military technology and it exists in a world where we're at war with China and other countries. The character development is still there and enjoyable. David Poyer is a damn fine writer and I like following his characters. This book ends on anther massive cliff-hanger that leave me looking forward to the next one in the series.
That said, this novel is heavy on the military technology and it exists in a world where we're at war with China and other countries. The character development is still there and enjoyable. David Poyer is a damn fine writer and I like following his characters. This book ends on anther massive cliff-hanger that leave me looking forward to the next one in the series.
August 7, 2022
I found Hunter Killer to be disappointing with incomplete characters with a flawed story line. Without giving away any of the plot the idea that a NCIS investigator would be dropped onto a ship in the middle of a battle and then become annoyed that the crew is to busy to leave their battle-stations during a series of attacks to meet with her is preposterous. Then there is the thought by Admiral Lenson that there maybe "more" Iranian saboteurs hiding on the ship, yet he never orders a search of the ship? Then there was that event with the German supply ship and the follow up by the German government, which was never fully developed. In short, a weak and gappy novel.
December 8, 2017
I have long been an avid reader of David Poyer and this series. But, sadly, it appears that like far to many authors today he no longer writes stand along books but only one continuing story. I like series, but only when each book stands alone as a completed story where this one leaves all the principle characters adrift and hanging in the air, as is the reader.
The battle and story line is great, gripping and forces you not to lay down the book, only to be crushed at the end with an unfinished story!
The battle and story line is great, gripping and forces you not to lay down the book, only to be crushed at the end with an unfinished story!
March 26, 2018
David Poyer is not the first war author to write of China and it's ambitions to rule not just the people of it's nation, but also all of Asia and perhaps even more. The question that arises is whether the USA should fear China and it's desire to rule Asia or to let it slowly overtake the countries that surround it. Quite a quandary.
It is not so much a quandary when China in as a part of it's goal wreaks war and death upon the USA. Once that happens Dan Lenson and the troops of the United State become true heroes in my mind.
It is not so much a quandary when China in as a part of it's goal wreaks war and death upon the USA. Once that happens Dan Lenson and the troops of the United State become true heroes in my mind.
June 24, 2023
Excellent read, as usual, from this gifted author of modern warfare on the high seas. The fictitious (hopefully) war between the U.S. and its allies versus China and its allies is in full swing, and (now temporary) "Admiral" Dan Lenson is in the middle of the action (naturally). The Chinese have proven worthy adversaries and the U.S. suddenly finds itself behind the proverbial "eight-ball." The story moves between Dan, his politically active wife Blair, a young marine recruit named Hector and a veteran Navy seal who recently escaped from a Chinese prison camp. Lots of exciting chapters.
March 29, 2018
I am writing this for Goodreads. This book is one of a continuing series. Do not worry that you must read the previous books to enjoy this one. Like the Hornblower and Master and Commander books this book is character driven. The characters are well developed and each is interesting on its own. The technology and tactics are current and the action is believable. Well worth reading. I will be looking in my bookstore for the rest of this series.
July 16, 2019
I have enjoyed this series as well as the Tipper Galloway books. This Dan Lensen series is so very interesting. It is clear that the author knows his subject inside out. For landlocked old ladies like myself, the technical jargon and “navy speak” is way over my head. I’ve learned to skim over that stuff. The action is heart stopping though. The characters are what keeps me coming back for more, and I just might learn a new thing or two.
November 18, 2021
Perhaps the best author of naval thrillers
David Potter is not just an exceptionally knowledgeable writer of naval thrillers. He is an outstanding craftsman of narrative fiction. His prose has a rhythm pleasurable to read. His plots have an internal logic and storylines that hold the reader's interest. The protagonist, Dan Lesson and his love interest are human and sympathetic. Plus the series uses copy editors lacking elsewhere.
David Potter is not just an exceptionally knowledgeable writer of naval thrillers. He is an outstanding craftsman of narrative fiction. His prose has a rhythm pleasurable to read. His plots have an internal logic and storylines that hold the reader's interest. The protagonist, Dan Lesson and his love interest are human and sympathetic. Plus the series uses copy editors lacking elsewhere.
December 1, 2017
Finally, the next installment has arrived! The quality of writing and the excitement of the story are just as good and fulfilling as the prior entries in the series. I just wish we did not have to wait a full year for the next installment. Please, Mr. Poyer, can we have the next installment in six months instead?
January 27, 2018
I never received my copy that I won in a GOODREADS giveaway back on Sep 12, 2017. I've reached out with no response. Sadly, I need to clear my reading queue & shall assign a 1 star rating. I was excited to have won & looked forward to reading. If I ever receive it, I'll read & post corrected review.
May 5, 2018
I don't like into a story in the middle,but I picked this up at the library so I don't have to buy the whole series. It's a good yarn and develops good characters. Now I have the fun of looking backwards through the book stacks to find the earlier work. it isn't quite as good as discovering Tom Clancy.
,but it'll do.
,but it'll do.
August 4, 2018
I knew this was gonna happen!!!!
An intense read that leaves you out in the cold at it's end . I would've bought the next book immediately but it's not available till December this year!!!!!
I enjoyed the read very much and so will everybody who's into the series just be ready to go through withdrawl symtoms.
An intense read that leaves you out in the cold at it's end . I would've bought the next book immediately but it's not available till December this year!!!!!
I enjoyed the read very much and so will everybody who's into the series just be ready to go through withdrawl symtoms.
March 23, 2019
What I like about these books is that it is exciting and well-paced but also possesses the grimy edge of realism regarding the descriptions of people in battle, injuries sustained, mental fatigue etc. There is no glossing over what the people are going through, no “walking off” a gun shot or stab wound either. I very much appreciate that and look forward to reading the next book.
December 18, 2017
As an exploration of a modern war between super powers this book succeeds brilliantly. As a novel, not so much. I was alternately bored and horrified. I've read the entire series, and most of poyers other novels. I'll continue as long as he keeps writing them. but for me, this was a clunker.
December 21, 2017
I love reading Poyer. Dan Lenson is a great and flawed leader, but also a true hero. This is a very good continuation of the series. However, I hate books with no real ending... until next time?
When is the next installment due? I’ll be looking...
When is the next installment due? I’ll be looking...
January 25, 2018
The war in China
It is the first book I have read about this writer ad I am quite impressd with it a good story about China, Koea and the USA it kept me interested with the storyline I look forward to reading a few more of the books.
It is the first book I have read about this writer ad I am quite impressd with it a good story about China, Koea and the USA it kept me interested with the storyline I look forward to reading a few more of the books.
September 30, 2018
The book took a change from the prior 2, with 4 plot lines: 1 E&E of former POW's, 2 new US Marine Recruit, Captain/Admiral hero, and Politician/Wife. The story seemed believable with trends in current media reports on known enemy focus on tech coupled with US tech focus. I look forward to #17.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2018
Excellent novel that seems to be relevant with all the discussion of China currently in the news. This so could happen. Exciting action, well written with a cliff hanger at the end making it impossible not to continue on with the next installment.
November 1, 2018
Almost unreadable
A mishmash of technobabble that jumps from subplot to subplot with little regard for continuity. As seems the trend, nothing is resolved, wait until the next book...and the next, and the next....
A mishmash of technobabble that jumps from subplot to subplot with little regard for continuity. As seems the trend, nothing is resolved, wait until the next book...and the next, and the next....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews