J.E. MacDonnell

 Close and Investigate

by

J.E. MacDonnell

Lieutenant-Commander Jim Brady has finally achieved what he fought his way up from the lower deck to earn: command of his own destroyer. But aboard HMAS Circe, there will be no gentle introduction to command.

In the dangerous waters around New Guinea, Brady joins Captain Peter Bentley's destroyer flotilla in the hunt for a mysterious Japanese cruiser guarding a terrifying secret. The enemy ship is impossibly fast, refuses to fight when challenged, and carries a weapon unlike anything the Allies have ever faced. When that weapon is unleashed, hardened steel melts, men die within seconds and Circe is caught in its deadly beam. Suddenly Brady's first command has become a desperate fight for survival.

With the Japanese cruiser closing in and conventional tactics offering little hope, Brady must trust his instincts and risk his ship, his crew and his career on one audacious attack. Driving Circe through rain, shellfire and point-blank danger, he prepares to take on an enemy that should be unbeatable.

For Jim Brady, there can be no turning back. It is time to prove that he belongs on the bridge…and that sometimes the only answer to impossible odds is to attack.

This is a solid entry into the series. Brady had joined Bentley's flotilla and they are tasked to investigate what could be a Japanese secret weapon. There is plenty of action with submarine and cruiser engagements, plus Brady is still finding his feet in his first ship.

Well written if not the strongest instalment. However it is still enjoyable and worth the read. 4/5.

Available on Amazon or from Piccadilly Publishing.