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Dan Lenson #5
Tomahawk
The bestselling novels of David Poyer have been read by millions around the world, and The New York Times Book Review has "Poyer knows what he is writing about when it comes to anything on, above or below the water." Now he unleashes a heart-pounding new novel combining the thrilling elements of military intrigue, Pentagon politics, Chinese espionage and human drama in his finest work to date.
It was a missile that would change the world. He was the man at ground zero.
Once Lieutenant-commander Dan Lenson had a ship and a family. Now he is on his own, deep within Washington's military industrial complex. His shepherd a controversial weapon through the Navy's testing process to deployment. But powerful forces are lined up against the Tomahawk missile-- and against Lenson. For Dan Lenson, separating his enemies from his friends is the beginning of the most dangerous war of all...
It was a missile that would change the world. He was the man at ground zero.
Once Lieutenant-commander Dan Lenson had a ship and a family. Now he is on his own, deep within Washington's military industrial complex. His shepherd a controversial weapon through the Navy's testing process to deployment. But powerful forces are lined up against the Tomahawk missile-- and against Lenson. For Dan Lenson, separating his enemies from his friends is the beginning of the most dangerous war of all...
468 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1998
96 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
David Poyer
82 books240 followersAka D.C. Poyer.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
DAVID C. POYER was born in DuBois, PA in 1949. He grew up in Brockway, Emlenton, and Bradford, in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1967. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1971, and later received a master's degree from George Washington University.
Poyer's active and reserve naval service included sea duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific, and shore duty at the Pentagon, Surface Warfare Development Group, Joint Forces Command, and in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He retired in July 2001.
Poyer began writing in 1976, and is the author of nearly fifty books, including THE MED, THE GULF, THE CIRCLE, THE PASSAGE, TOMAHAWK, CHINA SEA, BLACK STORM, THE COMMAND, THE THREAT, KOREA STRAIT, THE WEAPON, THE CRISIS, THE CRUISER, TIPPING POINT, HUNTER KILLER, DEEP WAR, OVERTHROW, VIOLENT PEACE, ARCTIC SEA, and THE ACADEMY, best-selling Navy novels; THE DEAD OF WINTER, WINTER IN THE HEART, AS THE WOLF LOVES WINTER, THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN, and THE HILL, set in Western Pennsylvania; and HATTERAS BLUE, BAHAMAS BLUE, LOUISIANA BLUE, and DOWN TO A SUNLESS SEA, underwater diving adventure.
Other noteworthy books are THE ONLY THING TO FEAR, a historical thriller, THE RETURN OF PHILO T. McGIFFIN, a comic novel of Annapolis, and the three volumes of The Civil War at Sea, FIRE ON THE WATERS, A COUNTRY OF OUR OWN, and THAT ANVIL OF OUR SOULS. He's also written two sailing thrillers, GHOSTING and THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. His work has been published in Britain, translated into Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Hugarian, and Serbo-Croatian; recorded for audiobooks, iPod downloads, and Kindle, and selected by the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club and other book clubs. Rights to several properties have been sold or optioned for films, and two novellas appeared in the Night Bazaar series of fantasy anthologies.
Poyer has taught or lectured at Annapolis, Flagler College, University of Pittsburgh, Old Dominion University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the University of North Florida, Christopher Newport University, and other institutions. He has been a guest on PBS's "Writer to Writer" series and on Voice of America, and has appeared at the Southern Festival of Books and many other literary events. He taught in the MA/MFA in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University for sixteen years. He is currently core faculty at the Ossabaw Writers Retreat, a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a board member of the Northern Appalachia Review.
He lives on Virginia's Eastern Shore with novelist Lenore Hart.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 28, 2018
Takes place entirely in the five-sided building; never goes to sea.
April 15, 2019
The career of naval officer Daniel V. Lenson continues in David Poyer's novel "Tomahawk." Dan Lenson is now a lieutenant commander and has his first tour of shore duty. He is assigned to the Tomahawk cruise missile program in Washington, D.C. Dan finds shore duty is not quite what he expected. He puts in long hours at the office. He makes frequent trips to meet with contractors as well as witnessing Tomahawk system tests. He also finds life inside the Beltway challenging, what with getting up to speed on the Tomahawk program and preparing briefings for senior staff and a congressional subcommittee. There is time for romance, though, as Dan meets a woman who is a peace activist. He also acknowledges that he has a drinking problem. He ponders resigning his commission. However, Dan rigorously devotes himself to the Tomahawk program, come what may... David Poyer has once again crafted a terrific military thriller. If this type of novel appeals to you, give "Tomahawk" a look.
October 2, 2017
I've read the other four of this series in previous years and really liked them. This one doesn't take place at sea for the most part, but is more of a history of the trial and error development of the Tomahawk missile. It's a little heavy on the technical side, but Poyer develops his characters well in this continuing saga of the life of Dan Lenson.
In this one, Lenson begins to question our nuclear program and his future in the Navy. There is plenty of intrigue and action, but in a different way than the previous four books in the series. I recommend starting with book one..The Med.
I look forward to reading number six in the series, which now has 17 books. Always nice to have something to look forward to.
In this one, Lenson begins to question our nuclear program and his future in the Navy. There is plenty of intrigue and action, but in a different way than the previous four books in the series. I recommend starting with book one..The Med.
I look forward to reading number six in the series, which now has 17 books. Always nice to have something to look forward to.
December 18, 2021
if you look at my latest "read" books you will notice that I have been on a David Poyer kick. Specifically his Dan Lenson series. This is because I read ONE book in the series (admittedly out of order) and it hooked me! Have since been trying to get my hand on every book in the series Preferring to read actual "hard copies" has slowed me down and made certain early works harder to come by. But eventually I will get them all read! And then probably start on his other works. Highly recommend this author.
December 26, 2024
A good read with quite good pace and momentum. Still haven’t caught up to book 2 in the series chronologically which takes some of the tension out but not enough to be a problem. Not as many separate story lines as some of the previous episodes which improved the narrative. Worth reading and recommended.
October 10, 2017
Excellent story and well told
David Poyer's books are interesting in that nothing is black or white. Lenson is a flawed hero but a hero nether the less.
Looking forward the next book.
David Poyer's books are interesting in that nothing is black or white. Lenson is a flawed hero but a hero nether the less.
Looking forward the next book.
February 6, 2019
Read this because I was a program manager on the Tomahawk.
But this book was a real disappointment. No one stays in the Navy who is this self destructive.
Going to be a long time, if ever, I pick up the next one
But this book was a real disappointment. No one stays in the Navy who is this self destructive.
Going to be a long time, if ever, I pick up the next one
December 27, 2019
Enjoyed reading Tomahawk. Different from the other Lenson series books I have read so far. This story takes place on land as Lenson is assigned to work on the Tomahawk project in the DC area. This story takes place after The Passage and before The Gulf.
February 4, 2018
Excellent!!
Excellent!! Enjoyed every minute of every page. This series is a mystery & a thriller. Can't put book down. Thank you for a great book
Excellent!! Enjoyed every minute of every page. This series is a mystery & a thriller. Can't put book down. Thank you for a great book
June 25, 2019
A great read. Military ops, procurement, romance, moral conflicts, etc. Exciting and thought-provoking. Way more interesting than I expected. I'll have to get some of his other books.
Read
August 16, 2022NOOK
April 20, 2023
Outstanding, love this author.
September 29, 2013
First half is dull as dirt, second half really picks up the pace. I still dislike the main character and not having read the previous four books in the series probably hurts my ability to do so. I doubt the Navy would allow someone working on a top secret project to move on with a girl on trial for sabotage, but what do I know?
April 12, 2020
Moving on to something more interesting
Dan Lenson lost his way in this book and I lost interest. At first I find myself skipping sentences and then skipping paragraphs because they hold little or no value to me. When I can skip over two or three pages it is time to stop and find a different book. I was totally bored with this one.
Dan Lenson lost his way in this book and I lost interest. At first I find myself skipping sentences and then skipping paragraphs because they hold little or no value to me. When I can skip over two or three pages it is time to stop and find a different book. I was totally bored with this one.
July 8, 2010
Lots of really complicated engineer/speak jargon, but beautifully balanced by the sensitive writing about the inner struggles of the very real main character Dan Lenson.
Shows the hard work of the military to stay on top of things in the world.
Shows the hard work of the military to stay on top of things in the world.
August 23, 2011
I am a big fan of David Poyer, this book has special meaning as I was given the rare opportunity to review his manuscript prior to the book going to print. I love David's style and how he keeps the reader on the edge of their seats waiting for the next bomb to drop on poor Dan Lenson...
May 8, 2016
#5 in the Dan Lenson series.
Dan Lenson navel novel - Around 1982, Lenson is assigned to ready Tomahawk cruise missile for shipboard use; he gets involved with peace activists and begins to question use of force.
Dan Lenson navel novel - Around 1982, Lenson is assigned to ready Tomahawk cruise missile for shipboard use; he gets involved with peace activists and begins to question use of force.
August 1, 2015
A decent "military techno-thriller" with some interesting ethical dilemmas facing the protagonist, and a touch of star-crossed romance.
August 26, 2015
strong message
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews