Teeth

by Timothy James Dean

1945: WWII may be over in Europe, but in the South Pacific, it beats on, hammer-and-tongs. Johnny Willman is a 20-year-old soldier in Supreme Commander MacArthur's Army. He is sent on "Operation Teeth" - a rescue mission into New Guinea's heart of darkness.

Johnny travels with two Australians - Dingo, the veteran Major, and Footy, their colorful pilot. It's supposed to be a three-day piece of cake. It turns out to be anything but. They almost die getting there. And then they're attacked by "the Father," 4,000 lbs. of man-eating crocodile (based on a real man-eater from the period). It mauls his group and Johnny wounds it. From that instant, it hunts him relentlessly, until the hair-raising confrontation on the beaches of the South Pacific.

Johnny captures Katsu. The P O W has only one possession left - his ancient Samurai sword. The men run from the great reptile, directly toward the "Valley of the Cannibals," home to the most bloodthirsty headhunters on the Stone Age island.

Then there's the lovely Gwyndolyn. She nursed Johnny back to health, but to have a chance with Gwyn, he must meet the challenge she sets for him. That launches an inner odyssey as perilous as the very real physical one.

Johnny is consumed by hatred for Katsu and all Japanese. Then there's the rivalry with his companions. Will he be able to overcome it all in order to survive? Is it possible to learn respect for one's enemies - and even find friendship - while a world battered by the most horrific war in history tries to forge peace?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Ebooks, Monsters, Adventure, Novels

445 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2009

About the author

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
I grew up in the South Pacific; New Guinea, the Philippines and Australia. I spent the better part of a decade on the great island itself, and developed a lifelong fascination for the place, the people, and its flamboyant history.
As a documentary television producer, director and writer, I returned many times. I've also explored Asia, revisiting the haunts of my childhood, and adding Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and more. Today, the territories I knew as a boy are now the proud nation of Papua New Guinea, or PNG.
To see a little of my documentary footage, as more than 40-million viewers of You Tube have, and millions more around the world, search the site for "Timothy James Dean." I'll meet you there, and you'll get up close with the giant crocodiles and penis-gourd wearing warriors who populate this novel's pages.
This is the 2nd Edition of TEETH. I first conceived of the saga as a series, but now present the entire South Pacific saga in 3 books within this greatly expanded 620-page 2nd Edition, including the much-anticipated climax to the love story.
TEETH is an epic monster novel in the tradition of the great whale, shark and dinosaur books. It is also a war story of the South Pacific, an action-packed jungle adventure complete with violent confrontation with cannibals, and a chance for friendship between former enemies.
It is also a love story -- you'll have to read to find out. "TEETH - The Epic Novel of War and Love." https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQLNRJWZ/

Reviews

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB · Rating 5 out of 5]

TEETH is an unforgetably gripping adventure which is set in the South Pacific. The Main Character -Johnny -a 20-year-old American soldier on "Operation Teeth," a mission in New Guinea is one of the most finely drawn characters I have ever read. He is both very real and one you find yourself rooting for. "The Father" a 4,000lb man-eating crocodile is the most ferocious and terrifying creatures I have read since Jaws. Mr. Dean knows just how to grab the reader early in his book- making it all but impossible to put this soon to be classic down!!! I felt like I was truly a part of the story- not merely a reader- which VERY few books have been able to acheive.The supporting character of Footy, a very unique Aussie is a perfect companion to Johnny. DONT MISS THIS GEM!!!!

[Giovanni Gelati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just to get to this first: Thanks to my Goodread’s friend Steven; he was nice enough to send me this novel to read. He basically told me he thought this novel was so much fun, that he was willing to put his hard earned money to use and UPS this rip roaring ride of a novel to me. Kudos, props and thanks again my friend. I took one look at this novel, shook my head a few times, said, “Really?” a few times, and then dove into it not really knowing what to expect out of it. Let’s get to meat of the matter and see what is beyond the over the top cover art in this novel billed as “The Epic Novel With Bite” :
“"MOVE OVER MOBY-DICK, JAWS AND JURASSIC Park; HERE COMES THE FATHER!" It is 1945. WWII may be over in Europe, but in the South Pacific, it beats on, hammer-and-tongs. Johnny Willman is a 20-year-old soldier in Supreme Commander MacArthur's Army - but he's no greenhorn. He's been a sniper in the hellish jungles of the South Pacific for three years. Johnny wants above all else to be sent with the General on "Operation Downfall" - the imminent invasion of the Japanese Empire. But before that can happen, there's a little thing called "Operation Teeth" - a rescue mission into New Guinea's heart of darkness. Johnny travels with two Australians - Dingo, the veteran Major, and Footy, their colorful pilot. From the beginning, things go wrong. They're attacked by "the Father," 4,000 lbs. of man-eating crocodile. It kills a soldier, and Johnny wounds it. From that instant on, it hunts him, until the final heart-stopping confrontation on the beaches of the South Pacific.
With Johnny's group is Katsu, their prisoner. Katsu has only one thing left — his family heirloom samurai sword. The three run directly for the Valley of the Cannibals — home to the most bloodthirsty warriors on the entire Stone Age Island. The lovely Gwyn saved Johnny's life, but to have a chance with her, he must meet her challenge to rediscover his heart.”
Okay to get to the nuts and bolts of this novel, and once I took some muscle relaxers to ease the pain from shaking my head in wonder at what I was about to enter into, I really enjoyed it. The style is pretty amazing. You can definitely get the feel that Timothy James Dean did his homework on the subject matter. The plotline is definitely unique, and fun. It is rare one gets to read about (and this is in no particular order): an enormous crocodile, surfers, cannibals, headhunters, WWII, and samurai’s. I was waiting for a ringmaster from Cirque De Solei or Barnum and Bailey to show up and start narrating it for me. This is your basic circus of fun and frolic. If you are looking for an entertaining read, scarf this up, have some popcorn, cotton candy, corn dog and water ice handy; this is just the thing.
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[Anna Hardesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as the cover says; A novel with EPIC bite. This book was excellent! What bummed me out though was at the end I come to find out there are going to be two more after this. Therefore the book ended with a great hanger. Mr. Dean did in excellent job in his writing to make the reader feel like they are off in New Guinea with the characters. Every time I indulged in the book I new I would be swept away to the New Guinea bush.

I would in no way compare this to the Odyssey on the account that Teeth is 10x better. In Teeth you get to know the characters in depth and enjoy their epic journey through New Guinea encountering the various people in the bush on their journey home.

You can tell Timothy James Dean has a vast knowledge in the fields he is writing about, of course he was raised in New Guinea, but the expertise in which he writes is amazing. I would recommend this to anyone. Do not let the tittle scare you away from reading this, yes it is about crocodile but thats just the main plot and there are many other adventures in this amazing book.

Timothy James Dean has out done himself and I eagerly await the next two books in the trilogy.

[Ellen Maze · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you pick up this book, be sure your bags are packed and there's plenty of gas in the car because you're going to be taken for a wild ride!

Author Timothy Dean weaves us an epic tale that defies strict category guidelines and will entertain and delight readers of all genres. Part true-to-life monster tale and part historical tome, this novel taught me as much as it thrilled.

I recommend it wholly to World War II history buffs, Wartime Paramedic, Nursing and medical buffs, Jungle Culture/Indigenous Peoples buffs, Japanese, Australians, Americans and New Guineans... and let's not forget the people who like to read monster tales such as Jurassic Park and Jaws. The Father is the it-could-really-happen giant crocodile in this story who is always hungry!

A curious and fully satisfying aspect of this story is that Timothy not only allows us access to the point of view of the various main characters, but he lets us into the head of the Father. From the croc's birth and as he shows up as an adult in various scenes, we often get to know what he is feeling, what he experiences, and what his reptilian brain thinks of these humans who are so dangerous yet so fragile at the same time. I've never been inside a croc/monster's head until now, and Timothy has me totally convinced that he has channeled this mythical beast!

A great time, an adventure from your reading chair--you cannot be disappointed.

Ellen C Maze
Author Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider
A Uniquely Spiritual Vampire Tale, Paperback and Kindle

[Donald Kirch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moby Dick has nothing on this creature!

There is a certain amount of magic within the pages of this book. As a child, I had heard of New Guinea. The name caused one to think of a Pacific Paradise, native women, and sun set beaches. Through the writer's words, we also learn something else -- this is a great setting for one hell of a thriller. Dean loves what he is writing, and it shows.

Characters are important to any story, and the people in this book are quite believable. We get to know each of them, share their hopes, dreams, and mainly their fears. This is not your ordinary "Monster Story." There is depth here. There is purpose.

The story takes place during the latter days of the Second World War, and it helps to remind all of us, that no matter how important we may take our politics, nationalities, and causes, there's always "something" out there more dangerous, powerful, and uncaring. I do not want to give too much away, but Teeth has quite a powerful "bite." There's something within the waters of this tropical paradise, caught within the terrors of war, that cares not for what is happening around it. Villagers and soldiers alike are taught valuable lessons on who is really at the top of the food chain.

The story starts off slow, allowing the reader a chance to really get to know the characters before the action starts. This is a quality most books seem to have lost over the years. Dean is a wonderful writer, who allows you the chance to really care for his people. This makes the book more terrifying as the story unfolds.

Teeth is a wonderful book full of thrills, grisly terror, and a chance to know both sides of a terrible war. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Donald Allen Kirch, author of "Manchester House," for Lit Fest Magazine.

http://www.litfestmagazine.com/Site/N...

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! WHAT A FANTASTIC, WELL CRAFTED, SUSPENSEFUL THRILLER!! I have a hard time fathoming that this is the author's debut novel. He writes like a veteran novelist. "Teeth" grabbed on tight and would not let go until the final page was read.

I am happy he heeded the advice of James Clavell to write and write some more. With a story that includes a ferocious 4,000 pound crocodile, New Guinea ( an unexplored frontier with many tribes), cannibalism and an excellent plot to weave all this expertly together.

Operation "Teeth" was a covert operation involving Johnny a crack sniper, Footy the pilot and Dingo a valuable guide who knew the dangerous jungles of New Guinea. The plan was to send them in to rescue some priests who feared for their lives and indeed in dire trouble.

When the cargo plan crashed the small group had to try to make it back to the coast to be rescued. They encountered many different tribes, a dangerous jungle and the "Father" who hunted them all the way. One would have to read the novel to see for themselves if any survived the many ambushed attacks from the human destroyer.

The novel more than surpassed the many endorsements. The author, Timothy Dean, grew up in New Guinea which first hand provided all the background information of this untamed land. I CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL THE SECOND OF THE TRILOGY IS RELEASED. Recommended highly as a goodread that anyone would enjoy.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m hooked on creature books – from Jaws to Meg to Loch Ness – novels I can really sink my teeth into (pun intended). When I opened up “Teeth” and saw the picture of the crocodile that inspired the story, I knew I was in for a fun ride.

“Teeth” did not disappoint – I loved this book and can’t wait for the second one. Not only do you have the creature portion but Dean weaves a story so full of psychological issues that you are sucked in from the start. From realistic characters that you can actually care about and root for (or against), a series of mishaps that have you grinding your teeth and talking out loud to the characters in the book, “Don’t go down there,” or “Don’t file that away, it’s important!”

“Teeth” isn’t just about a battle between man and mother nature, it’s a love story, it’s a thriller, it’s a mystery. Mortal enemies become allies, allies become enemies, war rages, love blooms, a simple three-day mission becomes a months-long marathon of twists and turns … this book will leave you breathless and (like me) chomping at the bit for the next book.

[Jeffrey Crimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Teeth and have to warn readers. After section 1 is read, Parts 2 and 3 are a run as fast as you can speed read with a Raiders of the Ark, Anaconda, Spielberg Lucas mix of story telling and fast action adventure that will leave you breathless on the beach. The problem is you cannot lay on the beach very long. Something big may come out and ruin your day. If I ever get to that part of the world again I will never go into the water.

Timothy Dean said that Salt water crocs are even in India and when I was surfing there in 1971 and 1974 I may have been just lucky not to have been on the menu. I have a new respect for that pre historic animal an hope I never meet one other than from behind the bars at a zoo.

That was a great summer read.

Jeff Crimmel
Author of "Living Beneath the Radar"
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Beneath-...
2010

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me in 20 different directions at once, building up to an amazing ending.

Mr. Dean kept this complicated tale moving forward while adding spice to every twist and turn. I wanted to get to the end but I did not want it to end.

I eagerly await this authors next offering.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunt and be hunted, eat and be eaten. Teeth will grab you by the hair and drag you along on an exciting odyssey of thrills, vengeance and camaraderie with some fine repasts thrown in. I hope the ensuing novels are as wild as this one has proven to be.

[Donnie Light · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bite done Right!

I just finished the novel TEETH by Timothy James Dean and was absolutely overwhelmed by the scope of this story. "Epic" may be too small a word to describe the adventure of a small party of military personnel sent on a rescue mission to the island's interior during World War 2.
Things go terribly wrong as the mission gets underway, and the small team find themselves stranded among hostile enemy forces. Their initial escape only leads them to even more formidable foes, which include the island's cannibal and headhunter tribes. But most intimidating of all, is "The Father," a saltwater crocodile of immense size. The team encounters the Father many times as they follow the great river to the coast, where they hope to be rescued.
The author does an absolutely incredible job with every aspect of this book. The characters are so realistic that you will miss them when the story ends! His first-hand knowledge of the island and its inhabitants lend a level of realism rarely achieved in a novel. His descriptions are cinematic, and the action is fast. His treatment of the primary foe, the "Father," is visceral and engaging, revealing in a very unique way the thoughts and motivations of the great beast in shocking detail.
This adventure tale reveals much about the honorable men involved, on all sides of this conflict. Perceived enemies can become allies when the common goal is survival. A love story also unfolds under the harsh reality of the world at war, and friendships are forged under the most demanding of circumstances.
My hat is off to Timothy James Dean, and I thank him here publicly for bringing this incredible story to the world. This book now ranks among my very favorites of all time, and I look forward to more from this gifted author.

Donnie Light, author of Dark Justice

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading through the pages of Teeth, it becomes evident that Dean has a love for what he writes (or, at least, a very deep fondness). You can really tell that he enjoys describing not only New Guinea, but also its culture and the culture of the characters we follow in the story. That enthusiasm rubs off on the reader. Which is good, because culture is a very important part of Teeth.

While very much a monster story and a tale of adventure, this is primarily a story about people. A great deal of attention is given to who the characters are, where they come from, their ideals and their motivations. Everything that happens in the book carries extra weight because of what we know about who these people are and how they came to be that way. This is what keeps Teeth from being just a typical adventure story and makes the exposition heavy Part 1 totally worth it when all is said and done.

If I have any problem at all with the book, it's that an important part of the story lacks a resolution. (For the sake of keeping this review spoiler free, I won't go into detail on the specific plot point). While there is an upcoming sequel (and threequel) which I'm sure will address my issue, it would have been nice to see this plot thread tied up in the book. This complaint, however, can be chalked up to my bittersweet relationship with trilogies, as opposed to a problem with the novel itself.

Teeth is a pretty darn good book. It has a fearsome monster, fast paced action, great characters, and even some decent humor. An easily recommendable novel. Now I just have to wait for the sequel.

*Received via Goodreads First Reads*

[Kerry Nietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be tempting—given the title and stated premise of this book—to assume Teeth is just another mindless action title, a newcomer knockoff of the “man versus predator” books written by the likes of Steve Alten or Peter Benchley. But such an assumption would be very, very wrong. Teeth is fathoms deeper than any run-of-the-mill actioner.

Oh sure, there is action here aplenty: man versus giant crocodile, man versus man, man versus nature—and ultimately—man versus himself. Enough variety and episodes to make even Daniel Defoe (the author of Robinson Crusoe) proud.

But such dangerous exploits are not where Teeth shines brightest. Its strength is in the depth of its characterizations. By the end of the book you will know the characters like old friends. You will understand their outlook on life and their motivations, their flaws and their strengths. You will have lived history through their eyes, seen life as it might have been on New Guinea during the Second World War.

Which highlights another strength of the book for me: I loved the history and culture the author infused within its pages. Some of this undoubtedly came from personal experience, but I’m sure a colossal amount of research was involved, as well. As a reader, I greatly appreciated this effort. It gave the book a truly authentic feel. And I learned something!

I look forward to what Timothy James Dean has in store for us next. I hope he’s busy writing.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up after not winning it from Goodreads. The book starts off slowly as the author is establishing the main characters and the events happening in the world at this time. This pays off when the group gets into the jungle, things don't go as planned, and our heroes are forced to trek through hostile territory to find a location where a rescue might be possible. Oh yeah, and they have to do this while being chased by a giant, relentless crocodile. I liked the pacing of the story. There would be intense action sequences followed by episodes of "normality" (as normal as things can get while stuck in the wilds of New Guinea, anyway). These down times allow us to learn more about the characters and see how their interactions change as they endure the hardships they face. It also builds the suspense as we know something is going to be right around the corner, we just don't know when it is coming or in what form.

I like historical fiction, and thought the tail end of World War II in New Guinea was an interesting setting for a book. Most of the WWII books I have read dealt with Nazis, so this was a nice change of pace. I didn't really know all that much about the Pacific part of the war, so I was able to learn a bit as I read which is always a nice bonus. I look forward to the other books in this series.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I'll be honest here, I may not have purchased this book on my own. And I didn't. I won it via the book giveaway through Goodreads. Having said that it turned out to be a very entertaining read. Actually I was a little surprised that I read the whole thing because for me an unknown author or the subject involving a crocodile is not one I would select to read. I'd never heard of the author Timothy James Dean and I believe this is his first and only novel. Now I'll be waiting for the next 2 installments of the trilogy.
The story is good with believable characters nicely fleshed out with ordinary life backgrounds. The plausible plot set in a part of the world I personally know nothing about which always makes the story a little more interesting. The situations Johnny finds himself in are mostly believable and the action scenes are exciting. The portion of the story involving the cannibal tribe maybe stretched the imagination a bit but then one can't lose the main characters of a trilogy in the first book. And how does a crocodile think? I for one haven't a clue. The war scenes ring true and the military screwups are typical SNAFUs. Overall the book was an enjoyable read and like I said earlier am looking forward to the next volume of the New Guinea Trilogy. Thank you Timothy.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant historical adventure story that has a slow build and a big bite! Johnny is a teenager at the start of WWII. Like countless other young men, he is tossed into the war and forced to grow up too quickly. A rescue mission takes him to the wild island of New Guinea, a jungle still inhabited by cannibal tribes and overrun with man-eating crocodiles.

Dean does a tremendous job bringing us back to the time of WWII. His seemingly effortless descriptions plant us on the island with the characters, giving us a panoramic view of life in an uncivilized jungle. His characters are unique and so real that at times you expect them to pop off the pages. This is a fascinating read, sure to make you think twice before jumping into the ocean!

[Shawn Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timothy James Dean does a wonderful job of putting the reader into his novel Teeth. Though the title and back cover description puts the reader into believing that the story is mainly about a gigantic crocodile hunting down a rescue party. It truly is about life and survival in New Guinea during those final weeks of World War 2. I found myself impressed with Timothy’s style and genius, and gladly read deep into the night to see if the novel’s heroes would be victorious in their mission or die at the hands of the headhunters that thrived across the New Guinea countryside.
Shawn Weaver – Author Sense of Honor

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a hold of this great epic novel! Its a great book to sink your teeth into and not let go till the end and then wish for more. Dean takes the reader on a great adventure ride that starts at the end of World War II. There is a love story, cannibles, a prisoner of war and a 30-feet and 4,000 pounds of man-eating crocodile called Father by the natives that chases Johnny, a 20-year-old American soldier, with Johnny is Footy, an Aussie, and their Japanese prisoner, Katsu who has only one thing left - his family heirloom samurai sword. An epic tale with true history and fiction adventure that mingle very well. It will leave the reader with an appetite for more!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, this book was amazing in so many ways. There is no one word to describe this book. It's got everything in it from horror, to action/adventure, drama and such a cast of characters that the reader developes a personal connection with. This book grabs the reader's attention and fills their mind with wonder while taking them on a roller coaster ride through the war torn country of New Guinea.
I highly recommend this book to all and especially to educators. This will have students interested and reeled in like fish to the worm on a hook.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads and this is just my type of story! There is action, adventure, horror, history and much more! I can't wait to read the next book!

[Chandler Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Haikaa Yamamoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't stop reading the book, the narrative is very exciting and enticing.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was given a copy of Teeth by the author outside of a Goodreads contest, I didn't know what to expect. I have been trying to broaden my horizons about the types of books I read since I have been getting bored recently, so I thought "What the heck?" Teeth definitely is not the type of book I normally read. Many reviewers before me have stated that the book starts out slow, and this is true. The buildup takes a long time and I will be honest in saying that I almost gave up around here, but I managed to press on and slowly but surely the action began to happen. While reading this book I was going through some difficulties in life (deaths in the family, job search, etc), which probably slowed me down more than average, mind you.

This review will be honest because I believe as a writer myself that you do not get better without recognizing your faults! So bear with me. I hope this helps.

It is obvious that the author is writing about something he loves immensely, and a lot of research clearly went into this book. My complaint with the book, other than the slow ending, would be the fact the book at times is overly wordy. I think that an editor going over the book with a fine-toothed comb would work wonders to tighten up the book and bring together pieces. The heart and soul of the book is there, though, and the author imbues his book with passion and his own personal excitement, and this carries over to the reader. The last half of the book is great and exciting and I flew through it. The issue for me was the first half, which I understand was slow for a reason.

There was plenty of action, tension, and excitement once you get to the meat and bones of the story, and this is where the heart of the novel is. You just have to get past the beginning, which might be a task for some. Or it might be easy and this was just me.

I enjoyed the book, but for a few reasons, I wish I could give this a 3.5 instead of a 3. Since there are no half stars, I will round down because I really do think that another round or two of editing would make this book PERFECT. I am not one to give out perfect scores, either, unless the book was a masterpiece or something I have read a dozen times. The author definitely has something here, that's for sure. There's just a lot of it, including superfluous stuff that comes off as filler more than needed plot material. I'll be passing this book to someone I know will love it, though, so there we go.

[Marta Dunphy-Moriel]

All the best with the book^^

[David Carne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adventure, a thriller and ...
an odyssey.

One of the things I like most about reading a good book is to be able to escape to another world, and participate in an adventure. This certainly happened for me with "Teeth".

I became totally engrossed in this adventure, and was taken on a journey; but much more than just an ordinary journey. It was an odyssey where you travel for what seems like a lifetime, with so much to experience and learn. It went from Port Moresby, through the primitive jungle, along the mighty Raub River and then finally an idyllic beach.

The author has woven so much fascinating information into the novel. I learnt about the wildlife (especially crocodiles!), the jungles and primitive tribes of New Guinea (Cannibals, head-hunters, cargo cults, mixed races, missionary impact), Japanese culture, WW2 history, wartime aircraft, medical conditions (maggot debridement, amputations, killer dysentery), "sirens", underwater wonders, and much, much more!

I loved the exciting drama of the "hunt" as it evolved through the book. It certainly kept me eagerly anticipating the next bit, and there were plenty of surprises! However, much more, I loved the discovery of the characters partaking in the odyssey together. The author gave a wonderful picture of these characters becoming aware of things about themselves, and each other, as they travelled. I got to know them and could feel their joy, pain, relief, anticipation, disappointments and excitement, as they went. Getting that involved with fictional but believable people really makes reading a book such an enjoyable experience, but it really helps you learn things about yourself too.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who simply enjoys reading ... you won't be disappointed!

[Jeff French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teeth is set during World War 2 in New Guinea. It tells the tale of three men, with little in common, who are stranded there and have to survive the untamed wilderness.
The novel starts at a snail's pace. There is plenty of character development, and background creation and due to this, had trouble holding my interest. The story really takes off when Footy's plane crashes, and the survivors are stranded. From that point on, the pace and tension really ramp up, and it was hard to put the book down.
Teeth is a classic adventure novel, but what I found as equally as enjoyable as the action sequences was the friendship that develops between Johnny, Footy and Katsu. These are three men from different backgrounds, that have little in common, but through various trials and life-threatening situations become good friends.
Dean did some research into New Guinea and I enjoyed reading about the tribes that inhabited the area, the terrain, the wildlife and some of the background of the island itself. It was cool that the giant saltwater crocodile, named The Father, was based on a real specimen. I thought that the size of the animal had been exaggerated, but after doing some research, I learned that it is possible for a crocodile to reach that size. Note to self: Never visit New Guinea! hehe.
Despite the slow start, Teeth develops into a rip-roaring adventure novel with some great characters, fantastic locations and history, and a killer antagonist.

[Misfit]

Not for me, but it is free on kindle at the moment.

[Mark Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to like it but started pretty slow and some of the back stories were pretty long. Once the story got going about 1/4 thru it really was well done but it still wandered a bit

[Thomas Heffner]

Must read book in these times of war-please read