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Crash Dive #6

Over the Hill: a novel of the Pacific War

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The final episode in the popular Crash Dive series!

In this final, powerful episode in the popular Crash Dive series, the war to which Lt. Commander Charlie Harrison has sacrificed everything will demand far more. In return, it will teach him war’s true meaning and propel him to his destiny, one that is dark and brutal but also filled with hope.

(Synopsis intentionally vague for a period of time to avoid revealing spoilers from Book 5!)

312 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2018

226 people are currently reading
55 people want to read

About the author

Craig DiLouie

62 books1,535 followers
Craig 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.

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5 stars
399 (60%)
4 stars
193 (29%)
3 stars
51 (7%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Jean.
1,817 reviews807 followers
December 15, 2018
This is the final book of the Crash Dive Series. The book picks up where the last book ended with the sinking of the USS Sandtiger. Charles Harrison and some officers were captured by the Japanese. The enlisted men were rescued. This book tells about the Japanese prisoner of war camps and the treatment of prisoners.

I have grown to feel like I know each of the characters and they have become my friends. I feel sad to say goodbye to them. This has been a great historical fiction series about life on a submarine during World War II in the Pacific theatre.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is four hours and fifty-seven minutes. R. C. Bray does an excellent job narrating the series.
Profile Image for Josh Levine.
179 reviews
December 21, 2019
Oh my goodness, what just happened to me? I just concluded what I can easily say is my favorite military audiobook series. Craig really did a number with these six books and I honestly never thought that six little words, uttered at the end of the book, could bring me to tears. What an ending and what a series.

Prison of war, earning several top military decorations, and a tribute to the many different aspects of war, Craig nailed so many different scenarios that, while I've never pesonally encountered them, hit home for me as I know many who have.

As someone who sought to join the Navy as a submariner, but alas ended up in the Army because the Navy recruiter lost touch and didn't return my calls, I got to live, vicariously, some of the lifestyle that has been described to me by many of my sailor friends. This is a series I will definitely go back and re-listen to, especially given the complete omnibus in a single collection, and one I will also recommend to many folks who enjoy this genre.

Fictional and not based on real events, or not, this is a fantastic listen and one that, if you are a fan of military or WWII fiction, you should give a shot. R.C. Bray brought me to this series, Craig kept me hooked from very early on in book one.

An easy 5/5 for the entire series.
Profile Image for Cory "Safety Third" Brandon.
2 reviews4 followers
September 1, 2020
A beautiful ending to a great series. The emotional, physical hero we all yearn to be. Our protagonist supercedes the typical, earning more than the people heart for wounds in combat- the depth charges are felt with chest when narrated by our own, R.C. Bray. While many war narratives encroach on boarder line masochism, this series portrays not just the usefulness, but the unabsolved fact that it didn't take the Army, Navy, Air force, or Marines to the win one of the greatest wars... Not of our time, not of our ancestor's time, but of the entire world.. It gives a joint account of how mankind survived. Respect between warriors, despite nationality, how we can become wholly consumed in one cause, no matter the collateral damage. A truly great series that will make you tip your hat before suberging into a great series.
Emergency dive! Dive dive dive!
9 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2019
This book by Craig DiLouie, the sixth in the series about our underwater silent service in the Second World War, is the culmination of an exciting series of wartime exploits that I thoroughly enjoyed!
I was a bit puzzled, however, about Craig talking about the hero of the book's experiences on Saipan.
Which of these volumes had major references to the battle for Saipan? There were passive reference to that phase of the war, but I couldn't find detailed accounts of our sub's actions in that campaign. I would like to hear from the author on this.

Curious, with respect and praise,

Michael Mogilevsky
mmogilevsky736@gmail.com
3 reviews
March 22, 2019
My father was part of the story

Well written. WW2 was the story of my childhood, occurring for me between ages 7 and 11. In 1943, at the age of 34, my father was commissioned in the US Navy, eventually serving as Communications Officer aboard the USS Mississippi in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. That ship was part of Oldendorf's task force which demolished the Japanese southern task force at Surigaio Strait. She suffered 3 kamikaze hits in both battles. I truly enjoyed how you weaved your story with the precision of actual events.
Robert C. Haase, Jr.
Profile Image for Susan E Nordstrom.
47 reviews3 followers
July 28, 2018
The end of war.

I really liked this series but I wanted it to go on. I've enjoyed reading each book in the series and could hardly wait for the next. This last book with all the horrors of war makes me even more against it. Humankind needs to find a better way to settle their differences.
Profile Image for Robert W Jenkins.
59 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2019
Realism to the N’th Degree

It’s almost like being there with Charlie Harrison. Great characters you get to love. Although a lot is repetitive it never feels like it. Repeatative in the sense of commands to dive, go to periscope depth, etc. Necessary. Particularly liked the last book in the series.

Beleavieable and unbeleavable at the same time.
Profile Image for Greg Oaster.
177 reviews
October 3, 2019
Fitting conclusion

Book 6 picked up hit where book 5 left off fortunately for me, I had just finished Hara-Kari yesterday so everything was fresh in mind. While this book lacked the submarine action of the previous books, it showed what men are capable of even when everything seems hopeless.

Great way to end the series
Profile Image for Bill Bean.
8 reviews
August 23, 2025
Great series

I have enjoyed every single book in the crash dive series. Well written and historically accurate enough that there were no glaring exceptions, just a few understandable literary historical variances, even to a Pacific war enthusiast. I am looking forward to reading this author’s “Armor” series on tank warfare in Africa and Europe.
4 reviews
July 28, 2018
What a great finish to an epic story. I hated to see it finish,, having read all 6 books.
I am a vet and a former officer and have great memories of my active duty, which gave me a base to really relate.

I look forward to reading more from Craig DiLouie

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
24 reviews2 followers
October 23, 2018
Great Series / Great Saga!

Mr. DiLouie has done a terrific job in these six books! Marvelous story of a young naval officer becoming much more of a leader than he could scarcely dream or imagine. Good Show!
Profile Image for Chaplain Stanley Chapin.
1,978 reviews22 followers
April 28, 2019
A little too much!

It would be hard to recount and express the misery and the thoughts that the prisoners went through. I had a relative who was a Japanese POW, he never really got back to a normal life.
Profile Image for Jim.
282 reviews2 followers
May 17, 2019
Over The Hill

The Crash Dive series is an outstanding set of books. Books 1 - 5 were edge of the seat combat stories. Book 6 was hard to read. It was good but the story line was hard to deal with.
21 reviews
June 15, 2019
Excellent quick read series! .

This book in the series covers a seldom seen topic well. But read the series. Not mushy. Realistic. Recommend the entire (6 book) series in order.
Profile Image for Rob.
188 reviews1 follower
April 17, 2020
An stunning finale to the series. This book has a very different character to the rest, and really engages with the emotional toll of warfare. The ending is powerful and a clear reminder that the toll of war is taken for decades after the fighting stops. A really great finish.
3 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2020
Very satisfying ending to a very satisfying series.

The series is a romantic retelling of World War II’s Battle in the Pacific that manages to encapsulate all the horror, glory and confusion of the men who fought, both above and below the waves, in the “Silent Service.”
230 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2020
Outstanding conclusion to an outstanding series! I suggest to anyone who wants to try to understand the war in the Pacific to read this series. No one will ever truly understand unless they were a part of it but this series comes close.
Profile Image for Ben.
1,114 reviews
April 12, 2021
“Over the Hill “ is the finale of the WW2 novels of submarine warfare against the Imperial Japanese Navy. It is a moving story of the cruelty of warfare and it effects on those involved.
The entire series is worth your reading time and I recommend it, highly.
Profile Image for Amanda Davis.
174 reviews
June 14, 2022
Brutal! This one was a more difficult read a certain parts, but it was an important story to share. Craig DeLouie did a very nice job in crafting this story and did a good job sharing the era of our history. I'm glad that I read this series and feel better for it. Thanks!
79 reviews
March 26, 2025
The entire series is generally ok, but seems to be an attempt to cover the history of much of the Pacific campaign as the story of essentially one person. It's ok, but there are better histories of the events, both fictional and non fiction.
10 reviews4 followers
August 18, 2018
Exciting

This is a Great Finale to a Very Excellent series. Not only was this a very Exciting and Enjoyable Read, it gives a realistic look at the life of WWII Submariners.
Profile Image for Jon Nelson.
77 reviews5 followers
September 23, 2018
Excellent

Being a Surface sailor,I have read so many Naval stories, this series was one of the best, true, a CO would never do some of Charlies action, but added to the stories.
832 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2019
Very good ending to a good series

Enjoyed the whole series recommend it highly. Why do they put a lower limit on the words? Three more words.
1 review
August 14, 2021
Good series

The Pacific Theater has always fascinated me. Perhaps, because i also served there long after this. Enjoyed mixture of history and fiction
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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