Operation: Snare Drum: A WWII Submarine Adventure Novel

USS Bull Shark Naval Thriller #1

by Scott W. Cook

December 7, 1941 - America is attacked by the Japanese and dragged into a worldwide struggle for power unlike anything ever seen on Earth.

While the United States and the Navy reel from the devastation of Pearl Harbor, the Nazis begin a brutal campaign within sight of the shores of the nation. U-boats prowl the American coast from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, sinking shipping seemingly unopposed!

Now, one young and untested captain is given an experimental new submarine and sent on a top-secret mission. The German operation "Drumbeat" is well under way and it's up to Lt. Commander Arthur Turner and the crew of the USS Bull Shark to draw a thin blue line.

Somewhere off our shores, a secret Nazi ship lurks. This disguised enemy vessel is directing the U-boat attacks and she must be stopped. Can Captain Turner and his untried boat and crew sink the Nazi plan before Germany cripples the American war effort in the Atlantic?

Exciting combat, deadly intrigue and a desperate struggle for power bring Turner and the Nazis together in an explosive and very personal contest that can have only one victor!

What readers are saying:
"I liked this tale very much. Wii was very much part of my early life..."

"I just finished all the books in one series and was looking for another series with the same fun and adventure. Well here it is..."

"Captivating story with interesting situations. The insight into the intracasies of the handling of a sub and going into combat were very mind boggling."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, World War II, Fiction, War

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2021

About the author

A full-time author who lives in Florida's sunshine, Scott W. Cook is and has always been a lover of good stories. When he's not hard at work composing new tales, Scott loves the Florida lifestyle - sailing, surfing, kayaking, fishing and if you can throw in a great waterside bar and grill and good tunes, you'll find a happy man!

As a voracious reader, Scott loves an engaging story… and as a voracious writer, his passion is capturing your interest and keeping a satisfied smile on your face!

Scott has a wide variety of writing passions and there’s something for everyone. His Florida private detective series is loaded action, suspense and will put a smile on your face, too. His multiple WWII series take you back to one of the most extraordinary times in history and brings it to life through vibrant scenes and entertaining characters.

And if you, like Scott, have a sweet tooth for horror… then you’ll love his short story collections, his Immortal Dracula series as well as other goodies to tantalize and raise the gooseflesh! And that’s just the beginning.

To learn more visit Scott at his website. Peruse his catalogue and grab a free sample when you join the crew:
www.scottwcook.com

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loy of action, good plot, but some what I call elementary writing, especially in minor parts of the story.

[Mark Sileikis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 and a half stars

Spoiler alert!

A good read, fast paced and great dialog. Sailors speaking like sailors (I was one once). A couple of stretches though, the wife of the CO doing what she did? Come on, really? You can drop her down to just being a good Navy wife of WW II and still have a great story. Also all the giving of names and military info over the open airwaves, never happen. Also Ultra would not be revealed to a LCDR. I look forward to the next book in what I hope to be a good series.

[Mike Hanford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh....it started well. Had a nostalgic feel for the period of the Greatest generation. OK...some contemporary slang did get mixed in...not a big thing. And yes, the broad strokes for both a US Balao class, and a type IX U Boat were right on the money. However, the US sub never seems to file any reports, or, receive any orders while at sea. And, the Captain on more than one occasion hazards his boat to deal with survivors.

On the German side, the notion that the Kriegsmarine, which was taken by surprise when war began, and miles behind in its strategic fleet construction program; would divert huge resources for a single, elaborate, Q ship is a stretch. And how this ship could launch, and recover a Type 37 Torpedo Boat simply boggles the mind. Just one issue, how did this Q ship get past the Royal Navy to get out of the Baltic, or across the North Sea? How about their endless fuel supply for a torpedo boat, a two- screw merchantman, and an Arado 196?

Where the author finally lost me was the absurd kidnap plot by the evil Chermins ...right under the noses of the USN, the Coast Guard, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Boy Scouts. Even the writers of Don Winslow and the Navy would have snickered at this outlandish idea.

Unless you are accepting of military fairy tales, don’t bother

[Charles Nordstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good, but flawed war story.

This is a decent war novel that starts off with a bang and ends with a bang. In between, though, the story becomes somewhat tedious, but still interesting. Then, for some inscrutable reason, the author swerves into an implausible crime novel. I won’t give any details in order to preserve the suspense, but I almost quit reading at this point.
I understand that the author also writes a well received detective/crime novel series. I have seen the two genres, detective/crime and war stories, mixed, but, in this case, I don’t think the author succeeded in doing so well.
Nevertheless, despite my inclination to put the novel down, I persisted and I am glad I did. Overall, the author has spun a good seafaring yarn with plenty of technical detail to satisfy the most nerdy technocrat. The ending is well worth the wait and I do recommend the novel to fans of naval warfare fiction.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Operation Snare Drum is a book about war, and more specifically about World War II. Reminiscent of movies like The Hunt for Red October or Das Boot, much of the action involves subs taking part in secret maneuvers. This novel is full of exciting, pulse-pounding combat sequences. Anyone who likes war movies or books should enjoy it, though it may be a little too harrowing for some.

World War II is a time in America’s history that is much glorified today, and with good reason, as there was some incredible heroism that took place during those years. What is sometimes ignored is the cost of the war on common soldiers, or marines, in this case. This book does an excellent job of detailing what it was like to be stalked by enemy combatants in a deadly game of hide and seek in the Atlantic Ocean.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a Bad Yarn, But-

Just too many factual errors. His research obviously didn't include The Blue Jackets Manual or study of navy ratings (jobs) and who does what. He has the sonar officer manning donate Wrong! He has an engineering officer putting electricians mates to work to repair torpedo firing circuit that he called a fire control circuit.. Not hardly. Torpedo, gunnery and fire control are all under auspices of the gunnery officer and they fix their own stuff. He calls a fireman apprentice a seaman second. Then there's all the erroneous helm commands and calling the special sea detail (mooring, getting underway folks) something I have never heard of.
I spent ten+ years in the navy, mostly in submarine service and just can't believe the mistakes made in this yarn.

[Valery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Operation: Snare Drum: A WWII Submarine Adventure Novel (USS Bull Shark Naval Thriller Book 1)
by Scott Cook is solid historical fiction that is well written and engaging. Get to know the crew in this engaging book that details a lot of what happened in WWII in a way that is not just history but fun to read. You will find interesting characters wrapped up in this narrative that leaves you both excited to read, while you learn something too. Plenty of action and excitement keeps the pace going well and you get to know the bad guys too and what it took to win. Great book and highly recommend for an inspiring read.

[Patrick MacGuire · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was nearly too awful to finish. First of all, it is just conceivable that an experimental new sub might have had radar in 1942, it's highly unlikely. My grandfather worked on the early radars, at MIT's Radiation Lab. While all US submarines had the SJ radar by early 1943, it was very undependable. Likewise, no US subs had a snorkel mechanism until mid to late 1945. The really tedious thing about the book was the regional slang, which was cringe worthy, as well as modern usage which crept in. This is basically not a bad book, but when authors neglect basic research and then introduce unlikely, if not fantastical scenarios, they lose me very quickly.

[Rocio · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Operation: Snare Drum" by Scott Cook presents a narrative that captivates you and immerses you in the turbulence of World War II, focusing on the submarine battle between the United States and Germany. The depiction of key historical events, such as the attack on Pearl Harbor and the brutal campaign of German submarines along the American coast, sets a tense and suspenseful stage that kept me hooked from start to finish. The introduction of young Arthur Turner and his secret mission aboard the USS Bull Shark added an element of intrigue and danger to the story. It's a gripping read that I recommend to military history enthusiasts as well as those who enjoy action-packed tales.

[CATHY BARBER · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Tubes Ready

A well written , exciting story about submarine warfare and final I cal Nazi idealists. Book is fun and yet realistic in terminology and crew actions. Scoot Cook has written a gift icons story but added ed enough realism and fa t to make this a hard boo to put down. The characters a true to life and believe able. The style of writing makes it easy to get engrossed in the people and story. Literary licence is taken but it adds to the flavor of the story. A series would be a good follow up.

[Rob Robbins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be ok for some

I can see how the book might be ok for someone who knows little or nothing of WW2 naval history. Example: author moving the timeline for a Balao class on patrol up by months...ok not so bad. .Adding snorkeling for US subs years ahead of reality...not so good.
In general, too much fiction/poetic license. Characters just didn't pull me in either. This was my first book by the author, so I will try another one in a different genre and hopefully enjoy it more.

[Mia C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Scott Cook’s narrative is really good and engages the reader from page one. I was hooked on the story from beginning to end. This is a terrific beginning to the series called the USS Bull Shark Naval Thriller.
Characters and scenes were well developed and described; sometimes, it was really easy to make a mental picture of what was happening due to the narrative style the author has.
This is a story not to be missed; I already want to keep on reading the following one in the series. I will recommend reading it without any doubts.

[Santiago Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging

This is a great beginning in the USS Bull Shark Naval Thriller series.Operation: Snare Drum: A WWII Submarine Adventure Novel by author Scott Cook is a book that hooks the readers from the start. I liked the story a lot really; I was engaged from the very beginning because the story is dynamic and has the reader on the edge of their seat most of the time.
The story is adventurous and engaging and has some turns that add a lot. I liked the author’s narrative because it makes the pages flow by and when I least expected it, I was about to finish reading it.

[D. Richard Eunice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This was a good adventure as war stories although a bit far fetched. A female did not serve on ships in WW 2 and even if they had been aboard for what ever reason would not have taken the duties of a trained sailor. There were others that would have stepped into the required position. I thought it got a bit carried away with the wife on a sub that rescued her. Nice story for tv not reality.

[Robert W Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Blood in a Huge Conflict

WW2 was begun the way American wars should begin not like today when the President (Pentagon and arms manufacturers) begin a war where troops are killed with no action taken by congress, This book shows why these men and women are called “The Greatest Generation”. Well written and with characters who are well developed and believable. I’ve read two of this series and am looking for the forthcoming one.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an OK book but for those who listened in Audible it was awful. The reader was terrible and his voicing of the Germans was ridiculous as were his voicing of several of the american types. His reading distracted from the actual novel. The plot was OK but too many ridiculous events like the wife of the commander helping run the boat during attack. I probably will not listen to the next Cook submarine novel if it is read by the same reader

[Carlos Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly Predictable

There is nothing wrong with the writing skills of the author but there are many better novels out there about the popular subject of WW ll. There was one wrinkle that surprised me enough that I continued reading the book, so it’s not entirely predictable. However, some of the German characters were merely stereotypes and most characters were not well developed as they could have been. Sorry, I’m just spoiled by better novels.

[Corbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written backwards--Read Run Silent, Run Deep first.

In this book airplanes have yolks and you get caught with you're pants down. But beyond the sloppy beta readers is the plot line. Info about what acronyms mean and other basic info making the story much easier to follow begins in chapter 16. The characters are solid and the plot line can be followed. I strongly suggest the reader enjoys Run Silent, Run Deep in book form to get a really sound Dolphins book.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical submarine story!

I saw the ending several chapters prior to the end of the book. What I enjoyed the most about this story was the details put into the training of the crew and the mechanics of operating a ww2 submarine. I have read many a naval saga but, never with the details the author described in his storytelling. WELL DONE, SIR!! I feel that I have earned my "virtual Dolphins".

[Denzel Struchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sea story

As a former cold war submariner and a silent service history buff this tale is spot on. Though some license was taken, the author admitted he was going to do that up front. Excellent narrative and gripping tale. It describes life on a diesel boat and how command can make or break the outcome. I also enjoyed his opening up what was normally whitewashed, about Nazi invasion of the east coast and gulf. Great Job

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of action under the waves……

A story told by a master weaver of action. The character development grew with each page and the integration of other characters was perfectly woven into the fabric of the story. A book that defied being put down easily. Time flew and it was past 4 a.m. and I had to get some sleep before 8 a.m. Well, putting the book down didn’t work out and so I had a long and tiring day. But it was well worth it !!

[Cynthia Kareski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to read a book for entertainment, not lectures on race equality. I lived the 60's race problems and now I hear it in the media. Yes, we had race problems during WWII and the military was very stupid what was done. But do we need to be reminded of that in fiction books? This book and a few others I read from Scott W. Cook were OK but bringing up the race factor of over 70 years ago is not very entertaining. This will be the last book of his that I will read.

[Cynthia Herod · Rating 5 out of 5]

A need for a new idea

It's World War II and German submarines are patrolling the American eastern coastline sinking ships at will with minimal opposition. Then, an Admiral devised a secret plan with a new American submarine captain to seek out the opposition to regain control of the eastern coastline. The cat and mouse game and intrigue keeps readers seeking more as they battle for supremacy.

[Kenneth R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

More war fantasy than historical fiction

I had to stop reading about halfway through, the historical inaccuracies and outright bs became too much for me. The Balao class sub didn't show up until later in the war and US subs didn't begin using snorkels until after the war.
I thought I was reading historical fiction, instead I found myself reading some action-adventure story that only paid lip service to historical accuracy.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Submarine Attack

German U boats are plying the United States east coast to prevent vitally needed supplies from reaching England. A new commissioned submarine free with green crew is sent to find the U boats and the the supply ship. Very good book with likable characters and interesting story and I recommend this book.

[Don Crumbley]

Interesting Read

A lot of detail, some useful and other not necessary. Found the use of the CO's wife as part of the main battle scene beyond the pale of believability. Lots of information about the workings of a submarine that is helpful withe rating, otherwise it would be 3 stars. Expect the next novel will improve.

[R Locke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mission Implausible

You've got to suspend disbelief to read this through; starring with the captain's wife in submarine combat. The author telegraphs his punches (e.g.Millie the nazi spy).
I wanted to give more stars for technical details but I had to deduct star every time the sonar operator gave an instant range from passive hydrophones. Realty?

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not A Good Read

Up to page 55 it was okay. Not great but it had possibilities. On page 56, the author started virtue signaling, invoking regional and racial stereotypes, and forcing a 2021 style rant on political correctness into a story set in 1942. The sermon was still going on page 58 so I gave up.

[gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An investing read

The Nazies had very little chance to do much damage to our eastern coast, especially with our a!ert Navy, but this story demonstrates it could have been worse. I did find the kidnapping in this story a bit far fetched. Having lived around military men, I doubt a navy commander would let his wife help navigate the sub back in 1942.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing war story

There was so much to read. There was funny parts, sad parts. I would never be on a submarine. My father was in WW11. When you read this book you can imagine yourself being in the submarine with all sailors. I love US navy. It show you how to think on their feet to get the job done