Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly The fourth novel from the writer of historical military thrillers (The Last Lieutenant, A Code for Tomorrow) combines two actual events from 1943 the killing of Isoroku Yamamoto and the introduction of proximity fuses into antiaircraft artillery shells which the author (himself a veteran naval officer) highlights as watershed moments in the Pacific theater of WWII. Opening in the wake of the Japanese withdrawal from Guadalcanal and the attendant brutal naval battles, the novel follows the story of Comdr. Jerry Landa and Lt. Todd Ingram, the skipper and executive officer, respectively, of the U.S.S. Howell, a destroyer on patrol in the notorious "Slot" of New Georgia Sound. Landa's brother, Josh, working on top-secret proximity fuses for American antiaircraft shells, is killed during a research accident. When ammunition with the new fuses turns up at the Howell, the grieving Landa prohibits their use in his ship's guns. Predictably, the Howell is crippled in a Japanese air attack and forced to beach on an island. A subsequent battle with Japanese Marines and a dramatic evacuation by PT boat leads to a race between navies to get to the store of the new ordnance in the Howell's hulk. Extensive subplots featuring the cast's many principals (Landa's romance with the widow of one of his KIA friends and Ingram's stalking by a U.S. government assassin over a security breach) round out the action, but it is the convincing historical detail from the grim Guadalcanal mortality chart to the "monster" battleship Musashi and the famous victory missive"Pop Goes the Weasel" that really distinguishes this book from the competition. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal The sequel to A Code for Tomorrow, this is Gobbell's third book featuring Lt. Commander Todd Ingram and his exploits during World War II. It begins with Ingram as the executive officer of the USS Howell, a destroyer in the South Pacific. As the war takes its toll of men and ships, he must make some important decisions: will he take command of his own destroyer or accept a post at home to be near his wife? Ingram must also resolve whom to trust his old friend and commanding officer, Jerry Landa, or the navy's rising star, Captain Ashton. The battle scenes are frequent (there is a war on, after all), straightforward, and realistic. Gobbell knows how to keep the story moving without overdoing the mayhem. In fact, things frequently get muddled when the action breaks and characters are left to interact with one another; they repeat themselves and quarrel for no good reason. While this may be true-to-life behavior, it's a drag on the narrative. Thankfully, the battles soon resume, and the book regains its edge. Fans of World War II fiction and David Poyer's novels will enjoy this latest entry. Recommended for all public libraries. Patrick J. Wall, University City P.L., MO Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist This is the third book in a solid series focused on the naval war in the Pacific in WWII. This time it's 1943; the Japanese have been defeated at Guadalcanal, but the New Georgia Sound in the Solomon Islands, called the Slot, is still a dangerous place to be for Lieutenant Commander Todd Ingram. He's executive officer of the destroyer Howell when it is cut in half by a dive-bomber. Gobbell, a former destroyer man himself, always uses some real event in his novels. Here, it's the development of proximity fuses for antiaircraft guns on U.S. warships. The combination of careful research, fascinating back story, and the author's own experience makes this series--and this installment--a real winner. Fans of naval adventure will almost smell the fetid jungle of Tulagi and be deafened by the ship's guns. They will be infuriated by the corrosive careerism of various self-aggrandizing officers. Gobbell's books are naval kin to W. E. B. Griffin's hugely popular army series. Buy this one, and put the Griffin junkies out to sea. Thomas GaughanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Review "Gobbell's books are naval kin to W.E.B. Griffin's hugely popular army series. Buy this one and put the Griffin junkies out to sea." -Booklist"The battle scenes are frequent, straightforward, and realistic. Gobbell knows how to keep the story moving. Fans of World War II fiction and David Poyer's novels will enjoy this one."--Library Journal"Dramatic...convincing historical detail that really distinguishes this novel from the competition."--Publishers Weekly"Readers can smell the smoke and sea water, hear the explosions and screams and feel the relief of surviving a Japanese air strike. This is an exciting read by an author who knows how to spin a story."-Tulsa World From the Back Cover With The Last Lieutenant and A Code For Tomorrow, John J. Gobbell has established himself as one of today's leading authors of epic war novels. Now, Lieutenant Commander Todd Ingram faces his biggest challenge to date... It's 1943, and the U.S. Navy is caught in a fierce battle against the Japanese in the South Pacific. At stake, is the Allies' newly won Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. But Isoroku Yamamoto, admiral of the Combined Fleet and architect of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, desperately wants Guadalcanal back and prepares to launch a series of bombing raids in the Solomons.In response, the Allies introduce the proximity fuse to the fleet-a top-secret antiaircraft detonator that can greatly assist the U.S. Navy in their fight against Japanese dive-bombers and torpedo planes. But in the heat of combat, Commander Jerry Landa refuses to use the fuse, and the USS Howell is torn in half. Lieutenant Commander Todd Ingram confronts Landa, questioning his authority. As the two become enemies in the midst of war, Yamamoto directs the raids that will return him to the glory of December 7, 1941-raids that will facilitate the recapture of Guadalcanal and will cripple the U.S. Navy forever. "The battle scenes are frequent, straightforward, and realistic. Gobbell knows how to keep the story moving. Fans of World War II fiction and David Poyer's novels will enjoy this one."--Library Journal"An exciting read by an author who knows how to spin a story." -Tulsa World About the Author JOHN J. GOBBELL is a former Navy Lieutenant who saw duty as a destroyer weapons officer. His ship served in the South China Sea, granting him membership in the exclusive Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club. As an executive recruiter, his clients included military/commercial aerospace companies giving him insight into character development under a historical thriller format. The Last Lieutenant is the first of six stand-alone novels in the Todd Ingram series. The most recent is: Dead Man Launch, A novel of the Cold War. Altogether, John has written eight novels involving U.S. Navy action and is currently at work on his ninth, At Danger's Ebb. He and his wife Janine live in Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at [email protected]. Read more