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In the summer of 1940, a defeated Europe lies in the hands of Nazi Germany. Britain stands alone. Under the threat of imminent invasion, it is the Royal Navy and their battle in the English Channel that keep the enemy at bay. Into these dangerous waters comes the new destroyer H.M.S. Brackendale, and her rebellious young commander, Richard Thorburn. His orders are to take the fight to the enemy, to ‘Seek, Engage, and Destroy’. With little preparation, Thorburn finds himself thrown into the desperate, close-range skirmishes of the narrow seas. From the Straits of Dover to the northwest of France, from east to west, they face a ruthless foe. For Thorburn, when given the challenge of a new and hazardous mission, devotion to duty calls. In spearheading a clandestine operation, the ship, the crew and her captain, always in danger, deep inside enemy waters, are pushed to the limits of endurance. Courage is the order of the day.

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2015

109 people are currently reading
43 people want to read

About the author

Graham John Parry

5 books4 followers

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5 stars
479 (60%)
4 stars
231 (29%)
3 stars
65 (8%)
2 stars
9 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
138 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2023
Just OK, with numerous unlikely events and a lazy author who did not do his homework.

Examples: If the German Commander wore his Iron Cross at his throat, he would have needed a bootlace to hold it on. Only the Knight’s Cross was worn at the throat. Also, the German commander was given a rank that did not exist in the Kriegsmarine. HMS Hood was, unfortunately for her crew, not a battleship, but a poorly armored battlecruiser.

A Royal Navy warship commander jumping in to man a gun? Unless the crew was reduced to five men, unlikely. The circus made of the effort to extract folks on shore was ludicrous. With the whole of the French shore, they could ONLY be extracted from a location with German artillery and troops? A “secret” operation?

Not likely to continue with this annoying series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
5 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2021
First book well written in series

Most war novels are ok but this author did better than just ok. Central character was balanced between psychological doubt and realistic assessment of his abilities. Battle scenario was one of the best I've read recently. I know sailors use profanity freely but this author wove a good story without resorting to lurid sex scenes to pad the story or excessive amounts of cursing to achieve realistic action. Thanks
84 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2021
This is the first novel by this author that I have read. It won't be the last.

There are a number of novels about the Royal Navy destroyer force, but this, for me, was one of the finest. The depth of character development was splendid. I enjoyed learning about the Hunt class destroyers and not about the older WWI destroyers.
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478 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2022
Great First Book

Of the series, if the remaining three are half as good I will be content.
Well written story that rips along at a good pace, good characters all in all a good read.
Recommended
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59 reviews2 followers
May 23, 2022
Some unlikely Probabilities

One always has to suspend belief when one reads fiction but the story line was excellent and the characters well drawn. I will certainly read his other books. Well done Graham Parry.
28 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2022
Sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it!

This story of adventure on the high seas has been told many times. Mr. Perry has gifted us with a new way of telling the story. I found the telling of the story to be very entertaining. Now, on to round two!
Profile Image for Iain Stewart.
Author 4 books6 followers
April 6, 2023
Derringer do at sea in WW2

Well written and well researched with an engaging plot and well crafted characters. If you want to experience a destroyer at work in the English Channel in the 1940s, read it.
8 reviews
October 15, 2023
Very good read

Decided to read another navy war book, not having this author before I decided to give it a try. If it has been awhile since you've read a good navy book give this one a try. Pretty sure you will like it also!!!
Profile Image for Don.
81 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2024
This is a fast paced and at times gripping adventure story. The author seems to really bring his characters to life in a very similar way to Douglas Reeman (who is one of my favourite authors ) and I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
1 review
April 12, 2019
Good action

Action was good but characterisation a bit superficial, hope to get to know characters a bit better in latter books.
66 reviews
July 21, 2021
Terrific Naval action

One of the best WW2 tales of English Navy heroism in the early year of the war. Looking forward to more from this author
1 review
April 10, 2022
Excellent Read

You'll like your're a part of all the action and intrigue with book. It'll leave you wanting more from this author.
5 reviews
April 23, 2022
Wonderful Read

This book made you feel a part of the action. An easy and fun read. I hope a great set up for the rest of the series.
454 reviews
June 21, 2022
Interesting book about submarine warfare during WWII
113 reviews3 followers
April 7, 2023
fast paced WWII destroyer action

Enjoyed this book and will look for others by this author. Realistic descriptions and outcomes which kept me reading this until completed.
1 review
May 31, 2024
Fun read.

Fun and absorbing read. Good war at sea epic. First read with this author and will look for his other works as well as the next in this series.
345 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2024
Cracking stuff

Excellent first novel in the series.Plenty of action etc.Onwards to the next instalment in the series. Hope the next instalment is as good
218 reviews6 followers
October 6, 2023
Good story, needs proofreading

Graham Perry has written a good story about the Royal Navy in the first years of World War Two. However, errors make it difficult to read.

The name of the German admiral Erich Raeder is consistently misspelled. Repeatedly, “its” is written “its”. Preyed for prayed, wining for winning, and various sentence fragments interrupt the flow of the story.

Having a beta reader who could spot such errors and correct them would give the story a fourth star.
53 reviews
October 5, 2020
Very entertaining

I wasn't sure about this novel, I guessed right though. It was one of those you couldn't put down.
I usually prefer actual history when it comes to WW 2
This was a fun read suffered very few Kindle conversion errors.
Great Read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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