Let Not the Deep

The British Military Quartet #1

by Mike Lunnon-Wood

One of the most thrilling novels of the sea to have been written, Let Not the Deep tells the story of a tumultuous night in the storm-ravaged seas off the Scilly Isles. The freighter Caledonia is carrying not just a cargo of steel plate, but also a group of schoolboy passengers on an educational trip. When she suffers an engine breakdown in a terrifying hurricane, the cargo is bound to shift, and the need for rescue is all the more urgent since one of the boys is the son of the Prime Minster. To the volunteers on the Maeve Corrigan, the Scillies Lifeboat, it makes no difference at all that the eyes of the world's news media are following their every movement. Their sole aim, along with the RAF helicopter crew scrambled to the stricken vessel, is to save lives. It falls to John Nichols to command the Caledonia in this horrifying crisis. With the cargo shifting, the Caledonia foundering and the storm exploding around him, the night is very long indeed. Let Not the Deep is a story of cowardice and courage, of deeply felt emotion and powerfully realized drama.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Military Fiction, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 1998

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 31. Let Not The Deep by Mike Lunnon-Wood, narrated by John Telfer

Duration : 11 hours 9 minutes

This is another favourite book of mine. I have read it as a physical book and listened to it as an audio book several times for each now.

This is a story of a heroic rescue by an RNLI lifeboat from the Scilly Isles in hurricane conditions. Tasked with rescuing 56 people from a sinking freighter in the English channel.

This book is intense, emotional and absolutely enthralling.

I will never get bored of reading or listening to this book, and I can't recommend it enough.

This book is a story of heroism, but also has an element of tragedy in it.

Like the author's other book I have read, Angel Seven, the author has a character who is from West Sussex which is where my home town is.

Whilst writing this review, I learnt that there is a company in my home town who used to build lifeboats for the RNLI, including the Arun class which is named after the river which runs through the middle of my home town and which the Maeve Corrigan (the lifeboat in this story) is a member of. I would like to think that if the Maeve Corrigan wasn't a fictional boat, that she could have been built in Littlehampton.

I would actually quite like to visit the island of St Mary's after reading so much about it.

I will never get bored of this story and will eagerly read or listen to this book again and again.

I can't recommend it enough.

5*
*****

[Les Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually go into this genre, but so glad I read this book. Well documented and well written I would like to give it 6*

[Gerry Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read. Outstanding book. I never before had the "can't put it down," certainly got it with this book. Cannot praise it enough.

[Lindsey Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are quite a few places in the book where the author's phrasing is somewhat awkward or grammatical errors are made, which can make the meaning a bit obscure without re-reading the relevant passage, sometimes more than once. Perhaps a greater problem is the use of punctuation, or the lack of it. Commas occur where they don't need to be and frequently don't get added where they should be, which again can be a bit confusing and forces the re-reading of a sentence to get the real sense, breaking the flow of the narrative. Typos also occur now and then. However, the story itself is a good one and the author does manage to build tension and drama as he takes us to an imaginitive, exciting and fitting climax to the story. We are mostly told the characters back stories, rather than being shown during the course of the narrative and they tend to be a little less than three dimensional, but this is not surprising in this kind of story, where the events take place over a short period of time and mainly focus, as they should, on the central drama. There is still enough depth there to empathise with the characters. I enjoyed the story enough to buy the author's other three books and enjoyed them just as much, despite them suffering to much the same extent from the same flaws. That is not to say that the author's writing was not developing, nor that he has any lack of talent, and it is sad that his career and his life were cut short. It is a shame that his publisher has not seen fit to give the books the decent edit they deserve. Despite their shortcomings I would recommend them to all with an interest in this genre.

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full disclose, I gave up half way. I can't bring myself to finish this incredibly boring, surprisingly disjointed, confusing book. People seem to love it, but honest to god, I was half way through and it STILL felt like I was in the first chapter. It was introduction purgatory.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book, one where you really felt every wave in this battle against the sea

[Lee Penney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one I picked up in a deal because it sounded interesting, and there weren’t many other options.

This apparently forms part of a quartet about the British military, but it focuses on the saving of a merchant ship by the RNLI, neither of which form part of the military — although it does feature various actors who are.

I will start by saying that this book was originally published in 1998 and the gender-roles were probably outdated at the time, now they just seem archaic — the men do all the heroic stuff and the women are left behind to fret.

It’s very much a a ‘boys-own’ adventure — with big, tough (but caring) men battling the elements and saving lives. It’s also very old-school in it’s handling of the mental states of those involved — buck your ideas up and keep your upper lip rigid no matter what internal turmoil.

The action was good and, despite being filled with stoic characters, the twists at the end did wrench me, so clearly it did a better job of engaging me than I’d thought.

It also did a very good job of showing the dangers at sea, the efforts a bunch of volunteers make whenever they’re called upon (I hope never to need the RNLI but you can’t doubt their commitment) and how people pull together in times of need — which seems somewhat resonant at the moment.

A good read if you like some action and bravery, but be prepared for some backward gender stereotyping.

[John A. Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author, but I’ve already got two more stacked up in my Kindle unread folder.
The story centres around a crippled cargo ship, which has lost power and is drifting into an oncoming storm, and efforts to rescue the ship. The key protagonists are the crew of the cargo ship, along with reference to a special passenger aboard, a lifeboat crew and a reporter. It’s a simple story really – a rescue in the most trying of circumstances.
A couple of minor quibbles – it does get a little repetitive in terms of the detailed descriptions of the ship handling on the lifeboat. Also, I was a bit surprised as it being part of a series called the Military Quartet – the cover picture shows a helicopter, but that is barely part of the rescue. This is more about the RNLI, which (I don’t think) are military.
It is well written, and as I mentioned, I’ve already purchased another two books by this author. The descriptions of the ferocious sea, and the rescue are first class and I am looking forward to book 2.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An Awesome Story Of Surviving A Savage British Storm At Sea"

I read on my Kindle and listened to the outstanding audio of this amazing story which takes place off the coast of the British Isles. It's a spell-binding thriller about the bravery of rescuers to save people. A cargo ship has it's engines shut down just when this vicious storm is about to engulf it. Readers get to know the vivid characters in the beginning of the story and you, too, will be swept away with the wonderfully written story by Mike Lunnon-Wood. He was an amazing author and a few more of his books are still available. Unfortunately, he has died years ago from cancer. I think this awesome story would make a great, mind-blowing movie on the big screen.

[Anthony Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gripping and exciting book. I have read a lot of nautical tales and in my opinion this is the best sea rescue I have read in 65 years. You really felt you were there. The characters and scene setting was brilliant, you could smell the sea and feel the force of the wind, with the beating rain in your face. A well thought out and constructed story. Highly recommended.

[Valerie Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of chapters in I was unsure whether to carry on with it. However I am so glad I did. Brilliantly written story for men and women. Without giving anything away the ending left me emotionally drained.

[Hevonly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audio book, what a fascinating story. I googled it because I was convinced it was non fiction, but alas it's entirely fictional. The descriptions were vivid and during the rescue I felt like I was a fly in the wall in the eyes of a lifeboat man

[Kira]

A recommended book. For me it had a bit too much on the schematics and technical side of things (if you’re a naval/ship person holy cow is this your book), but understanding a bit more about the different ships and procedures did help flesh out the rescue.

[Darren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I did not finish, although I managed about 10 chapters which all seemed to be a continuous introduction. The story didn't actually develop and lacked any depth, which is ironic since it's a book about the deep.

[Mr WB Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read, very difficult to put down. It and the other books in the Quartet are Must Reads for everyone. As a Cornishman with good Cornish blood in my veins it was particularly poignant.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an excellent thriller that will keep you wondering. A real page turner.

[Anthony Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

An uplifting tale well told. Well defined characters who live whilst one reads. I look forward to the next book.

[Mr A M Slinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable

Never have I been so gripped by a book, it is a masterpiece of excitement and emotion. Bring on the next 3.

[PETER HALL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I cannot remember when as a cynical 74 year old man I have been so moved to tears by a book. Amazing writing should be read by everyone!!!

[Sam Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking story of bravery at sea - really enjoyed it

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those that go down to the sea ships, and do business in great waters.

Liked this a lot.

A story around the rescue the loss of a ship.

[Mark Tuma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, a gripping read throughout.

[Ronaldo]

Absolutely Brilliant. The descriptions of bad weather at sea were frightening. The rescue was dramatic. The movement of ships written by someone who knows the sea,

[Jack Mulcahy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So engaging......I felt like I was there.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting and interesting listen .
Good narration

[Brendan Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Very detailed in all aspects. Need to enjoy the sea to be fully into it. Lots of twists and turns.

[Frank Topham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great boys own adventure. Characters are great as the plot rolls along like a juggernaut. Now looking forward to another book from the same author.

[Kevin Rontree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Awesome read throughout, leads you into the storm with everyone else. Thoroughly recommended. Proud of the Maeve and everyone else.

[Nigel Copeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sea has no respect

This is the second time of reading this book and was well worth the read. How volunteers put themselves at risk is shown in the story.

[Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Great writing. Fantastic story. Well worth it.