The Eagle's Claw: A Novel of the Battle of Midway

by Jeff Shaara

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In a “riveting” ( Booklist ) tale that picks up where To Wake the Giant left off, Jeff Shaara transports us to the Battle of Midway in another masterpiece of military historical fiction.

Spring 1942. The United States is reeling from the blow the Japanese inflicted at Pearl Harbor. But the Americans are determined to turn the tide. The key comes from Commander Joe Rochefort, a little known “code breaker” who cracks the Japanese military encryption. With Rochefort’s astonishing discovery, Admiral Chester Nimitz will know precisely what the Japanese are planning.

But the battle to counter those plans must still be fought.

From the American side, the shocking conflict is seen through the eyes of Rochefort and Admiral Nimitz, as well as fighter pilot Lieutenant Percy “Perk” Baker and Marine Gunnery Sergeant Doug Ackroyd.

On the Japanese side, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is the mastermind. His key subordinates are Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, aging and infirm, and Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, a firebrand who has no patience for Nagumo’s hesitation. Together, these two men must play out the chess game designed by Yamamoto, without any idea that the Americans are anticipating their every move on the sea and in the air.

Jeff Shaara recounts in electrifying detail what happens when these two sides finally meet, in what will be known ever after as one of the most definitive and heroic examples of combat ever seen. In The Eagle’s Claw , he recounts, with his trademark you-are-there immediacy and signature depth of research, one single battle that changed not only the outcome of a war but the course of our entire global history.

The story of Midway has been told many times, but never before like this.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Audiobook, American History

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

JEFF SHAARA is the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of seventeen novels, including Rise to Rebellion and The Rising Tide, as well as Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure—two novels that complete his father's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, The Killer Angels. Shaara was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was never one to get excited about war, there’s something about Jeff Shaara and his writing that always invigorates me. It could be that I come away with a new perspective, no matter the story, or that Shaara breathes new life into battles and maneuvers that have long since been presented in history books, but the pieces of fictionalised military history always seem to pull me toward them, no matter who is front and centre. This is another novel set in the Pacific Theatre of the Second World War, where the Japanese have recently bombed Pearl Harbor. The Americans are still reeling from it, unsure where to point all the fingers of blame, though they must be careful. The Japanese are not resting on their laurels at all, knowing full well that the American enemy is far from permanently crippled. However, perhaps one key strike at Midway could truly bring the giant to its knees, but it will have to be executed precisely and in complete secret. June 4th, 1942 was the Battle of Midway and what a skirmish it was! Shaara is brilliant in his writing again and fans of his work, or war history with a slight fiction twist will love this piece as well!

The attack on Pearl Harbor was like nothing the Americans could have expected. As the country and its military reels at the surprise attack, America must dust itself off and face an enemy that fights in ways European militaries have never considered. Sly, cunning, and without bluster, the Americans face Japan and its slow, yet methodical, military forces that seek to claim control of the seas and the Pacific with a deliberate attack system, based on surprise.

While the Americans refuse to bow down in the Spring of 1942, they are unsure of what to expect from their new foe. Peering out along the Pacific, Japan has already claimed much of the Asian islands and is inching towards Hawaii. This is less the aggressive tactics of the Nazis, but could be equally as troubling, when US ships and planes have nowhere they can be safe on the open waters.

The Japanese refuse to relax after a successful attack on Pearl Harbor. They seek to keep making their presence known and have utilised some key military planning to choose their next target, in hopes of drawing the Americans into battle. It will have to be both a surprise and calculated, using codes that the Americans could never decipher. Key military commanders have an idea, choosing the island of Midway, but it will not simply fall because someone wishes it. This will have to be calculated and thoroughly planned to ensure success.

Clashes between these two military giants have been ongoing, with submarines lurking below and eyeing the battleship and aircraft carriers, making sure to strike when the need arises. However, the battle is not always below the waters, as Navy pilots are scanning the skies and military men scan radio transmissions as well, all in an effort to report to their higher-ups to receive new orders in this game of chess that is being played in a methodical manner, much different than the land battled in Europe around the same time.

As both sides inch closer, the prowess of the Japanese is key, with their tactical leaders and determination. However, it will be an American code breaker who learns of the plan and ensures those in leadership (and in the region) are able to prepare for the attack. What follows is not only a battle of military might, but wits and patience, as both sides fight for their survival in a clash that many have said turned the tide of things in the Pacific theatre. Told with sensational detail and using wonderful characters, Jeff Shaara proves that he is a master in the genre and readers with an interest in military history will surely devour this, even if the end result has been renounced many times before.

One need not be obsessed with the military to enjoy these stories, though an interest in battle and movement of troops and tactical efforts surely helps. Shaara takes these battles that have been key to American military growth and breathes a new life into them, creating characters who live them. It is a ‘now you are here’ approach that allows the reader to feel a part of the action, while still being surrounded with names and locations that may be familiar to them from history texts and recounting of key skirmishes during wartime. I love it and it truly teaches me while entertaining in equal measure.

As with many of his books, Shaara mixes actual historical figures with invented characters. This enriches the book and keeps it exciting for the reader, while also permitting constructed dialogue that may or may not have happened. Shaara’s approach to look at both sides and utilise plots in both military camps helps to give a well-roundedness to the story, adding depth and intrigue. By providing actual historical context in the Afterward, Shaara permits the reader to see where fact met fiction with all those who played a meaningful role in the story itself.

I knew little about Midway and even less about many of the men who starred in this piece, but Jeff Shaara made sure I did not leave with the same misunderstandings. His rich delivery of history in an exciting manner left me excited and wanting more, never worried about missing a key part of the narrative. Told from many perspectives, Shaara makes sure the story is thoroughly recounted from all angles, never siding with one group over the other. Each chapter is rich with information, both of the military manoeuvres and those actors involved in things, to the point that the reader can see how much angst and struggle went into the decisions and that this was not simply two sides, hungry for blood and seeking to destroy the other in a sick game. Shaara has always been my go-to for military history with a personal touch and that has not changed. I am happy to invest my time and efforts into his writing. I eagerly await what else he has in store for his large collection of fans.

Kudos, Mr. Shaara, for another winner. You dazzle like no author I’ve known in the genre and I appreciate it greatly.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaara attempts to give the reader a multi-sided drama of how the battle evolved. Here is his re-creation of Admiral Yamamoto’s perspective on the early air raid on Tokyo, America’s first response to Pearl Harbor:

"My country is injured, my emperor, all of our perfect world has been wounded. I predicted that the Americans would send us their bombers, but I never believed it would happen so soon. We have won every fight. Until now.”

Shaara has done his research and here he has a drama that plays out on multiple levels. There are calculations and emotions and rivalries and secrets aplenty.

“Sir, this was hardly a fight. A raid, by a small squadron. Their damage was minimal, they accomplished nothing of importance. I spoke to several people in the ministry who all confirmed that it was no more than fifteen or sixteen aircraft, twin engine variety. They passed through Tokyo and the other cities and seemed headed west, toward China. That is no victory, sir. It is an attempt at mockery, and this time they were lucky. But I am convinced that what it will do is ignite a fire in our people, inspiring calls for revenge. It will serve us well, sir.”
Yamamoto looked at him now, fought to stand straight. “You are wrong, Matome. Anyone in Japan who believes that is wrong. There will be consequences. Decisions have been made that will now be changed by what the Americans have done."

"If the Americans were to be prevented from sending planes over Japan, it would be necessary to eliminate the vehicles that brought them close enough to make war: their aircraft carriers. And that was the backbone of Yamamoto’s planning for the capture of Midway. They would create a lure that the Americans could not resist, offering them a target they would have to engage with their carriers. At Pearl Harbor, Japan’s targets had been offered to them by default—the American battleships. That mission had been mostly successful, but to Yamamoto, the mission had been a failure; no matter how many battleships the Japanese planes sent to the bottom of the harbor, the American aircraft carriers had escaped altogether. They simply weren’t there."

Pearl Harbor to the Coral Sea to Midway Island the USA attempts to hold back the surging Japanese forces.

"“Sirs, I have presented to you what I know. I assume you gathered here because it mattered to you what the Japanese were planning to do. Intelligence is not science. Nor is it tactics. It cannot manufacture battleships and airplanes, it cannot train airmen, nor can it produce artillery shells, bombs, or torpedoes. I have done the best I can to provide you with an accurate assessment of what is about to happen. That’s my job.” He paused. “I’m good at my job.”"

Below is one of the typical exchanges from this book’s recounting of the Battle of Midway:
"Nagumo looked at him, blinked, then again. “I know what my duty is. If we send the strike planes out to attack the American ships, we will do so without adequate fighter cover. Too many of the Zeroes are in need of fuel and ammunition. Is that correct?”
Kusaka nodded. “Completely correct, sir. But the bomber pilots would gladly sacrifice themselves to American fighters for the opportunity to assault an American carrier.”
Nagumo crossed his hands at his waist. “What carrier is that, my friend? I have heard no confirmation from our scouts that the Americans are sailing past with anything other than cruisers.”
There was a sharp knock on the wardroom door. Kusaka hesitated, but Nagumo motioned weakly. “Yes, enter.”
It was Captain Aoki, and he glanced at Kusaka, then said, “Admiral, we have received another report from the Kone’s scout. He now says there is a single carrier astern of the American task force. We have no way to confirm this, of course, but I believe this requires us to act decisively.”
Nagumo nodded. “Thank you, Captain. I shall consider it. Continue to switch the bomb types as rapidly as possible. We cannot attack that carrier without torpedoes or armor-piercing bombs.”
Aoki’s voice grew higher in obvious frustration. “Of course, I know that, sir. Why do we wait? We can launch an attack with only a part of our forces.” Nagumo looked at him. “Part? No, we must launch the attack with our entire attack force. It has always been that way, and it shall be right now. Return to your bridge, Captain.”"

History can be a dull recitation; historical fiction better not be! This is one of Shaara’s better efforts.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things that I enjoy about Jeff Shaara's novels is that he makes history come alive. You are right there as events unfold. There is nothing glorious about war or being in the middle of one. In his novels you are often with a young man who one day was at home playing baseball, going to school, working odd jobs. The next thing you know you are in mortal combat. People around you dying. You are in the room with historical figures as they had to make decisions that impacted everyone.

The United States was reeling following the attack on Pearl Harbor as well as Japanese attacks on Wake Island, Guam, the Philippines. Now Japan was planning to lure American aircraft carriers into a trap and occupy Midway. Commander Joe Rochefort was a cryptanalyst stationed a Pearl Harbor and he, along with his team, helped break the Japanese code. In doing so the were able to learn the date and plan for the Japanese attack on Midway. They learned this when they released an unencrypted emergency warning of a failure of the water supply on Midway Island in hopes of provoking a Japanese response thus establishing whether Midway was a target. Tall about fake news! I knew the Battle of Midway was a turning point in the war in the Pacific but had never heard this story. Or heard of Joe Rochefort.

In addition to historical figures such as Admiral Chester Nimitz you meet fighter pilot Lieutenant Percy "Perk" Baker and Marine Gunnery Sergeant Doug Ackroyd. On the Japanese side you meet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the mastermind, and his subordinates Admiral Chuichi Nagumo and Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi. Each chapter tells part of the story from the characters viewpoint.

Overall a fascinating account of a major battle that helped turned the tide for the United States and provided some new insight.

[Donna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaara is one of my favorite authors, and so I was delighted when I received an invitation to read and review. My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine; this book is for sale now.

Like everyone else, I bring my own experiences and biases to this novel, and this one is a potential hot potato. I am married to a Japanese citizen, and my in-laws still reside in Japan. The implicit, and at times overt racism that many authors bring to this topic—the Pacific theater of World War II, between the U.S. and Japan—ruins my mood for days, and consequently, I won’t even go near most nonfiction or historical fiction that focuses on this aspect of American history. When Shaara published To Wake the Giant, I signed on to read and review with great trepidation; I was afraid that I would not only hate the book, but emerge from it unhappy enough to abandon the author entirely. Imagine my delight when I found the opposite was true.

Shaara’s signature format is to portray the events that unfold through the eyes of key participants, delivering staggered narratives that include admirals and pilots on both sides as well as a code breaker on the American side. Shaara sticks to the truth, and by now I know this, so I’m not distracted by the need to fact check information that is new to me. His research and attention to detail is matchless, and his capacity to develop characters on the page makes me feel I would know these men if I ran into them on the street. My review copy, sadly, did not have the maps added, merely noting on what pages they would later be added; however, I once more defer to this author’s track record. I would bet my last dollar that the maps are also excellent.

One aspect that is usually a deal breaker for me is the frequent use of the period’s predominant racist slur, when Americans mention the Japanese. There are three syllables in this word, and they should be used. For those that plead that the one syllable word is authentic to the time and place, I would invite them to imagine a similar tale featuring a hypothetical African enemy during the same time period. What would be the expected, authentic term by which Caucasian Americans would refer to such enemy combatants, and to the government from which they hail? For the obtuse, I’ll tell you, it would be the N word. So would you just go ahead and drop it in there for the sake of accuracy, or would you use greater sensitivity and explain the alteration in an author’s note? You’d do the latter. Of course you would. In fact, likely it would be the only way your novel would see the light of day, and rightly so.

But here as well, Shaara gets a pass from this reviewer despite his use of the term I abhor, and the reason is his candor, addressing the racism of the time period right up front. Though you might think it obvious, I have never seen a successful author of World War II historical fiction do this, and he is absolutely clear about it. In fact, I began highlighting the introduction—don’t skip it! And when it was done, I found I had highlighted nearly all of it.

Whether you are drawn to this book from a love of history and the desire to learn a few things painlessly, or for the escapist entertainment that great novels provide, you can’t go wrong here. This is a damn fine book. I highly recommend it to everyone.

[happy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage Shaara - This is the story of the Battle of Midway. He tells the Japanese story through the eyes of the Admirals Yamamoto and Nagumo. The American side is told through the eyes of Admiral Nimitz and the head of the Radio Intercept Station in Hawaii - Cmd Rouchfort.

The above are all actual people. As with all of his books, Mr Shaara tells tells the story for the Grunt level with fictional characters. In this case the two main ones are a Marine Gunny, part of the Midway's Defense force and a fighter pilot off the USS Yorktown. The film director John Ford makes a cameo appearance. He was actually on Midway during the battle and made a Academy winning documentary of the Battle.

The time frame of the novel is from Doolittle's Raid on Tokyo in April through the aftermath of the battle - June 1942,

I would put this somewhere in the middle when rating Mr. Shaara's books. Still a solid 4 star read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very well written and a very important topic to study for those of us who have not become familiar with the Battle of Midway for one reason or another. The anniversary in August is coming up and I wanted to educate myself on this topic I know so little about. However...I am getting too upset reading it and have to put it aside for another day, another attempt. I recall watching news coverage last August from Japan but I also remember some ugly incidents when I was very young. I was born in 1945 and prejudice was alive in the US when I was a youngster. I will return to the book later when able.
Part of my problem is the writing is very dynamic and takes the reader into the immediacy of the action.

One quote in intro: "If the enemy is efficient--prepare for him. If he is arrogant, behave timidly, to encourage his arrogance. Advance when he does not expect you." Sun Tzu, The Art of War, 500 B.C.


Library Loan

[Dubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read Jeff Shaara before. My friend Kevin has been recommending him for years, and I even bought one of his Civil War titles, but have not gotten to it yet. A big reason I didn't get to it is because I've been reading NetGalley ARCs over the past few years. As I was demonstrating NetGalley to Kevin a few weeks ago, The Eagle's Claw came up, which grabbed his attention. I put in a request for it and was approved -- thanks, NetGalley and Mr. Shaara's publisher!

A synopsis of The Eagle's Claw is straightforward -- an historically accurate re-telling of the pivotal WWII Battle of Midway, seen through the eyes of participants on both sides, all real-life figures. The historical emphasis is on the psychology of the Japanese invasion plan, in reaction to the symbolic impact of the Doolittle raid on the Japanese homeland, and the decisive work of U.S. Navy cryptologists in breaking the Japanese code, thus knowing their movements in advance.

But what makes this new re-telling interesting is the literary point of view -- taking real-life characters, from well-known admirals down to unknown pilots and marines, and presenting them as literary characters, with internal monologue, inter-personal dialogue, emotion and personality, action and reaction. Shaara has done an especially good job with the Japanese characters despite significant cultural differences.

The pace is brisk, the book is not overlong like historical fiction can sometimes be, and the action is never gratuitous, with strategy getting more attention than tactics, creating a nice balance between the two. The last few chapters are among my favorites, returning to some of the key characters in the aftermath of the battle to examine the impact on their psyche.

My only quibble is that some key moments occur too quickly. Trying to explain this without spoilers, it's not clear how the dive bombers went from being so vulnerable to being so deadly, and it's not clear whether lead cryptologist Joe Rochefort was a technical genius or just lucky to be so intuitively correct. I'm particularly vexed at how Yamamoto could plan the invasion of Midway from what he considers a realistic mindset rather than the fantasy that the Japanese were invincible, and yet make so many blunders based on underestimating the Americans and overestimating his own plan.

The story of Midway has not gone previously untold. John Ford filmed some of it live in 1942 and created an 18 minute documentary -- watch it on YouTube and get visual images to put alongside Shaara's literary images, even including one of the characters in the book, fighter pilot Jimmy Thatch. In fat, in a nice touch, Shaara gives Ford a couple of cameos in this book -- his complete WWII story is in the excellent book Five Came Back, about five big time Hollywood directors who supported the war effort via filmmaking (also a good Netflix series).

The 1970's movie is nonsense, but the 2019 version has been lauded as a faithful history. But Shaara excels by getting inside the heads of participants, making this more than a faithful recreation of events but also a credible depiction of what it was like to be part of it all. He has the benefit of the long form of literary convention compared to cinematic language (although the movie has the benefit of visual spectacle and special effects).

My friend Kevin has read many of Shaara's books, but not this one, as it hasn't been released yet. It is currently the only one I've read, although I will be reading more, having already acquired the Pearl Harbor story that precedes this one. So after all of Kevin's recommendations, I can now say to him: read this one, you're gonna like it.

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As long as Shaara keeps writing, I'll keep reading. With the exception of his book on the Cuban Missile Crisis, I have read all of his collections. The Japanese were extremely arrogant, thinking they were invincible. The smallest victory was blown out of proportion by the Japanese press. Perhaps that is where our 'fake news' of today originated. Our military was so obsessed with the fact that Pearl Harbor would be attacked again, perhaps even the U.S. West Coast that they paid little attention to a small group of code breakers who didn't believe it for a minute. These people were taken seriously by a small group of high-ranking military officers. There was a great loss of live on both sides, but ultimately the Japanese suffered enough casualties that they returned home.

[Kaetlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaara does an amazing job of telling the story of the Battle of Midway through the eyes of American and Japanese officers. This writing starts at the attack on Pearl Harbor showing American devastation and Japanese celebration. Following Pearl Harbor, Shaara brings to life the careful planning from both sides and finally the battle of Midway.

The Battle of Midway is an amazing event that brought new tactics, new officers, and new people together to place the US as a force to be reckoned with. Though the fleet and skills were inferior, planning and determination place the US on top. A proposed headline? “The samurai has been given a bloody wound by the claws of the eagle.”

Not everyone who was involved, but those who we heard their stories:
On the American side: Admiral Nimitz, Capt Rochefort, Capt Buckmaster, Commander Thach, Admiral Fletcher, Lt Baker, and Gunnery Sgt Ackroyd
On the Japanese side: Admiral Nagumo, Admiral Ugaki, and Admiral Yamamoto

[Jerry Kolwinska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow up to To Wake the Giant.” Some of the characters show up in this novel.

While not as intimate as some of his earlier novels, you do get to understand the motivations of the characters and to identify with them.

Midway was a critical turning point in the war. Shaara does a great job in drawing the scene and bringing the battle into focus.

If you enjoy historic fiction, I think you will enjoy this book.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a military history buff, the Battle of Midway is a well-known story. Historians have claimed that Midway was the most complete naval victory since Horatio Nelson’s near annihilation of the Spanish and French fleets at Trafalgar in 1805. In May 1942, Japan was the premier naval power of the world. The attack on Pearl Harbor the previous December left America’s Pacific fleet in tatters, with one notable exception: the United States still had her carriers. The key to turning the tide comes from Commander Joe Rochefort, a little-known “code breaker” who cracks the Japanese military encryption system. Now Admiral Chester Nimitz knows precisely what the Japanese are planning. In typical Shaara style, he recounts in electrifying detail what happens when these two sides finally meet outside a small atoll northwest of Hawaii. With the sinking of four Japanese carriers, the battle will become the turning point of the war in the Pacific. As always, Shaara throws in plenty of interesting tidbits of unique military history – new facts even for those who fully know the story – justifying the price of admission.

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eagle's Claw is a well-crafted and engaging novel that helps to recreate the atmosphere that prevailed in both the U.S. and Japanese military circles 6 months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, that led to the U.S. entry into World War II.

The novel begins with the daring Doolittle Raid by 16 U.S. Army Air Force B-25 Mitchell bombers in April 1942 from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on the Japanese home islands, culminating in the Battle of Midway (June 4, 1942), which, despite heavy odds, resulted in a U.S. victory that proved to be a pivotal turning point in the Pacific War.

Jeff Shaara, as in his other historical military novels, credibly evokes here several real life figures who figured prominently in the Battle of Midway. For example, Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet who conceived the battle plan for Midway; his aide Admiral Matome Ugaki, as well as Yamamoto's subordinates Admirals Chuichi Nagumo and Tamon Yamaguchi, who both commanded the Japanese carrier forces who took part in Midway. And on the American side: Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor; Lieutenant Commander Joe Rochefort, who headed the U.S. Navy's cryptanalysis team at Pearl Harbor, which had broken the Japanese naval code, thus giving Nimitz a way of accurately anticipating Japanese offensive operations in the Pacific; Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, who commanded the U.S. Navy Task Force 17, from his flagship, the carrier USS Yorktown at Midway; and Commander John "Jimmie" Thatch, a fighter pilot and squadron commander on the Yorktown who helped develop fighter tactics for effectively combating the Japanese Zero fighter, which in several respects, was superior to the rugged Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat with which the U.S. Navy's fighter arm was then equipped.

Shaara also inserts in the novel two fictional characters, Lieutenant Percy "Perk" Baker who flew with Thatch in the Battle of Midway as his wingman and veteran Gunnery Sergeant Doug Ackroyd, United States Marine Corps (USMC) who commanded a group of Marines charged with the defense of Midway Island against a likely Japanese attack. Both characters help to bring to the reader a tangible authenticity to the novel by conveying the real emotions of people put in positions of peril before, during, and after a battle.

All in all, The Eagle's Claw comes highly recommended.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Shaara examines the Battle of Midway and writes about it as a historical fiction in this novel. Historical fiction transports readers to another time and place, either real or imagined. Writing historical fiction requires a balance of research and creativity, and while it often includes real people and events, the genre offers a fiction writer many opportunities to tell a wholly unique story. There are parts of this story that were interesting and some not so much. The decisive work of Joe Rochefort and his U.S. Navy cryptologists in breaking the Japanese code, thus knowing there movements in advance aided the U.S. military in winning the Battle of Midway had me glued to the book. The closeups of the pilots on both sides was interesting and fair. As a novelist, he has license to wander off on any number of tangents, or build the characters in interesting ways but I felt there was to much babble going on each chapter, as this was constant theme throughout the book, and it was irritating and confusing at times. At times this babbling didn't add much to the plot of the story and had me rereading chapters to understand what the story was about. Maybe that is one of the challenges of writing historical fiction. While every story succeeds or disappoints on the basis of these elements, historical fiction has the added challenge of bringing the past to life. Sharra also frequently choose to explore notable historical figures in these settings, allowing readers to better understand how these individuals might have responded to their environments. The depictions of Yamamoto and Admiral Nimitz I felt were very different from what other biographers and historians have discussed about them. For an overall perspective on what happened the book is fine yet, I had high hopes for this one but it fell short. I am not sure where it missed my mark but it seemed flat. No spark, snap or lightening like some of his other book he has written.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I've complained many times, for those who even care to read some of my reviews, I am skeptical of historical novels, particularly the placing of words and thoughts in the mouths/minds of real-life people turned into characters. This Shaara's father perhaps did it better and more accurately than just about any in the genre, but I feel in my gut that Jeff is not quite as good. The story is not bad, mind you, and I think he gets a lot right, but every once in a while I doubt . . . and although I am no specialist on this battle or the participants in it, and even one misstatement can make one doubt the rest, even if you know it is fiction. Thankfully it is not alternative fiction, which I would like to put a stake through the heart of. For instance, as far as I recall (and I looked it up too), Lovelace did not die in an accident on the Yorktown deck. He disappeared on his flight and was listed missing, presumed dead. Anyway, younger readers might like this, and perhaps it will inspire some to read further and perhaps become historians of the war, or of other areas.

[kevin moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A number of excellent books cover this greatest of all US Naval victories. While this is not one of them it takes a different enough approach to be interesting.

Historical fiction - using well researched facts and actual participants but fictionalized dialogue - seems to trade depth on what happened and why for the dialogue. Probably a good trade for a reader new to the story. For me too much left on the cutting room floor; and, just so much ambiguity of whether the author is reading each participant correctly for the words being attributed.

but, interesting.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II in the Pacific features names that have endured through 80 years: Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Midway, and others. For Midway, the battle was mainly fought in the air over open ocean by carrier-based planes from American and Japan. Shaara gives his reliably excellent account of the battle and the major players from both sides. Of particular interest is his examination of the American cryptographic intelligence unit that deciphered the Japanese military code and allowed the US Navy to catch the Japanese fleet unprepared. Happening just six months after Pearl Harbor it was a much needed victory for the Americans that had lasting consequences for the balance of naval power.

Shaara has made his name with accurately portrayed military historical fiction and to his credit he never glamorizes the horrific actions and losses of battle. The Eagle's Claw joins his impressive lineup of books on WWII.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Walter Lord's "Incredible Victory," Jeff Shaara makes the Battle of Midway, the turning point" in the Pacific Theater, come alive...I'm always rankled that Shaara is relegated to the historical fiction section because of his meticulously, researched and constructed dialogues make it on the fiction end of history, but, nevertheless, this is a good read!

[Abby Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the shortest Jeff Shaara book I've read so far, but it was great! It had a good mounting tension, great characters, and a good ending. It wasn't my favorite, but definitely a worthwhile read.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure what was different about this book when compared to other Jeff Shaara books, but I really had a hard time getting in to this one. It was probably my least favorite of his books.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite a full month since reading Jeff Shaara's wonderful account of Pearl Harbor, To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor, this was merely okay by the same standard.

The reasons: (1) In spite of Midway being a complex series of events, Shaara made a novel that was not even 2/3 the length of what he wrote about Pearl Harbor. The characters were rushed with not enough depth to get to know any of them. (2) After showing us Pearl Harbor through experiences and observation, Shaara has once again resorted to the formula of late: officials in a room engaged in talk-talk-talk. This is what really dragged down The Frozen Hours, and it's annoying here too. (3) With Pearl Harbor, Shaara made us feel the terror of the action with nearly every explosion and casualty. With Midway, it flashes forwards at times. We experience one air carrier for each side with minimal detail. (4) Specific to the audiobook versions: After using Mark Bramhall as a narrator for To Wake The Giant in such a thoroughly satisfying performance, for some reason the Shaara team felt compelled to return to Paul Michael for this book. Paul Michael isn't a bad narrator, but he isn't nearly the same skill as Bramhall, and worse: It's at least his 10th Shaara book from no fewer than 4 different wars that are covered, and he makes every last one of them sound exactly the same.

2.5 stars but I'm rounding up because (sorry, but here's another list): (1) I'm giving benefit of the doubt that my frustration with the narrator affects some of the other flaws, and (2) Midway is an incredible historical event that is worth reading.

[Spectre · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a modern day Kenneth Roberts, Jeff Shaara's historical fiction serves as a terrific starting point for anyone who has an interest in wars and significant battles fought by the United States military ranging from the Revolutionary War through the Korean conflict. His historical insights allow the reader to understand a particular conflict and, through further reading and study, understand the battles from the point of view of Generals and Privates and those in between. His narrative of the battle that turned the tide in the Pacific Theater, The Battle of Midway, is no exception to his excellent work.

[John Raine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book really hoping to like it, but I can't say that I did. I have enjoyed many of Shaara's previous works and the Battle of Midway is an historical event that fascinates me and I have read a lot about. Maybe that is one of the reasons that it fell flat, in that I knew enough about the story that I was hoping for different viewpoints or arcs that never came to fruition.

Shaara's best books combine a high level overview from the generals and then have a lot of the common soldier's view. I don't think that Midway leant itself as well to this treatment because the battle area was so large and no one person or area could really showcase enough of the story. It ended up having too many POV characters whose arcs were too short. I also wish that Spruance had been a POV character as to me he is the most fascinating character in the Pacific war.

Ultimately while this one was a disappointment for me, I still look forward to reading other books by Shaara.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a battle I heard of but didn’t know much about. It follows almost a typical American war story. The unstoppable foreign Navy vs. a smaller American fleet. The Americans are weary and don’t have enough equipment but they got spunk.
What I like about all of Sahara’s book is that he has Admirals and flyers. He had computer people and the Japanese Navy. So you don’t just get one view, you get so much of what’s going on from each viewpoint.
In the end, both sides take a beating. So you get to see war isn’t just like the movies. Oh wait, Hollywood is here filming for news and propaganda.
Another recommend from this author.

[Charles Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those of you who have never read anything about the Battle of Midway you'll like The Eagle's Claw. Shaara is pretty good with historical fiction though I still have found his books about the Civil War far better than his books about World War II.
For those who have read some history about Midway, partlicularly Craig Symonds "The Battle of Midway," a non-fiction historical account, you might be disappointed.
Midway was one of the great sea battles in human history. It occured about six months after Pearl Harbor when it looked like Japan migh defeat the U.S.
The non-fiction version was edge-of-your-seat reading. How American code breakers were able to figure out the Japanese Navy's movements, and then with courage and luck, the Americans turned the tide of WWII in Asia, makes thrilling reading. But The Eagle's Claw to me loses some of that excitement in endless dialogue that does not move the action ahead. His actual battle scene were less dramatic that Symonds's excellent history.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn’t stand out or anything but I was entertained to a certain extent. I don’t enjoy all the fake conversations between historical figures, but since this is tagged as fiction, all right I’ll let it slide. Tells the story of midway pretty well, although you would benefit from reading some history books (non fiction) for better telling. It’s fun to see cameos by some faves like Nimitz, Dick Cole (Doolittles copilot) and Joe rochefort.

[Michael A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of perhaps one of the most overlooked battles in the Pacific,perhaps because it occurred early in WWII and was overshadowed by future events. Not my favorite Jeff Shaara book. The Japanese perspective is interesting but becomes redundant. I think I prefer Shaara’s other books which occur over a longer time frame and are not limited to a single event.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

share does a great job of bringing history to life. Yes, this is fiction but, as far as I can tell, historically accurate. The fiction is that we can listen in on conversations that happened years ago before most of us were born. Most will learn more than they new previously about what happened at Midway, about the role played by good intelligence, and about the role shear luck played in the outcome. You will also learn how many faced almost certain death to fight for our country and the future of democracy.

I really enjoy how after the end of the novel he reveals some information about the real lives of the characters, real people, we have been reading about,

[Steven J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Jeff Shaara fan, but found this book to be was just OK. Very enjoyable with great description of the preparations and execution of the battles for Midway. I found the dialogue of Yamamoto very tedious and repetitive. Maybe he was actually like that, but it got old.

[John Lomnicki, · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but the PEARL HARBOR book was great

Different insight into the battle, felt like I was watching the Midway movie without Charleton Heston. Maybe a bit too much soul searching. Still I enjoyed it and am waiting for the next book.

[Marc V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Shara’s novel The Eagles Claw tells the story of the Pacific war from Pearl Harbor to the Emperor’s surrender. The battle of Midway, it's a primary focus. In typical Shara fashion, the story is told through the eyes and words of his individual characters.