Vertical Dive

Peter Vornado #2

by Michael DiMercurio

When a band of Algerian terrorists hijacks France's new nuclear submarine, which can elude any radar system in the water, two NATO subs--the USS Hampton and the USS Texas--are called in to save the world from annihilation. Original.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Michael DiMercurio is an honors graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and has served as a paratrooper, Navy diver, and as a lieutenant and Chief Propulsion Officer aboard the U.S.S. Hammerhead.

Reviews

[Bryan Brown]

DNF

Got about halfway through.

This book was much the same as the first Peter Vornado book but it doubled down on the parts of the previous book I didn't like. LOOOOOOONG pages of exposition relating the history of some dude, or describing the physical characteristics of a woman, or panning lovingly over a piece of machinery. I forgive the ones describing the submarines because that is so much like my beloved starship porn when the camera sweeps over the curves and nacelles of a Starfleet ship.

The part that made me DNF though was after a surprisingly graphic sex scene, a characters wife and three children including an infant were terrorized. That was just too far. I was already getting weary of the story for the above reasons but the over the top sex followed immediately by over the top violence against children triggered my ick factor and I threw it across the room. Throwing is a 100% declaration of I will not finish.

I've got all but one of the next series he wrote and I'll read them. I have reason to believe they go back to the format of the Michael Pacino stories. At least I'll cross my fingers that they do.

[Eric]

I read most all of DiMercurio's books several years ago; yet I came across this book recently and realized it was one I had missed. Even though it has been several years since I read DiMercurio's work, I quickly came to remember why I enjoyed reading him so much. Action packed, yet also detailed development of characters. Each page was filled with great military intensity and human struggle. With the growing threat of terrorist activities in our own day, this book makes the hair on ones neck stand up with the very credible story line presented; DiMecurio is perhaps prophetic as well. The author brings is own military experience on submarines into his writing as he describes things with precision and realism..

For any reader who enjoys military, or specifically submarine, thriller works, this is a book you do not want to miss. Highly recommended!

[Michael L Wilkerson (Papa Gray Wolf)]

The term, ad nauseam comes to mind regarding the completely unnecessary amount of detail offered by Mr. DiMercurip about things that have nothing to do with the story of this book. Add that to the ghosts appearances and the juvenile sex scene, the tired use of the split second save at the last moment and I find that I could not give this even a second star.

This is listed as the 2nd of the Peter Vornado series but Vornado was little more than a bit player in the story. So much of the 1st Vornado book was alluded to and strongly referenced that they should have been one book.

Needless to say, more of DiMercurio's work will not be on my to read list.

[Ian Birtwell]

It was a really engaging read this one. A plot that at first might seem a bit ridiculous and impossible at first evolves until you buy into it. The final battle in the story is well handled although there are a couple of things that you might think are a 'bit of a stretch'. All-in-all, it's well worth a read although it took a few pages to get into it initially.

[John Arrington]

Intense Moments

Overall an excellent read. However way too much technical detail and the continuous relationship issues were a bit much and unnecessarily extended the length of the book. Expected more sub to sub combat then there was.

[John Taussig]

A little over the top.

Like all his books - a ton of technical info. I didn't like all the details on the terrorists - a little too much. Plus running the French sub with only one person basically - seemed a little too much.

[John]

A lot of things happen when Algerian terrorists hijack a French nuclear submarine and threaten not only Paris, but other world capitals. Interspersed with the naval action are the human relationships between crew members of the various vessels involved and their families.

[Rod Gardner]

Review

Overall an interesting story line. As a nuclear submariner, it’s far fetched to believe 1 person could successfully operate a nuclear submarine. One thing I was disappointed in was the number of typos throughout the book. Your proof reader did a poor job.

[Alexander F. Contini]

Great last 50%

Too much detail on
the first half. Suspenseful
second half despite details. The word "smirk" was over used and improperly used.

[Tim Lowe]

Rape, Murder, Child Torture! This is sick and twisted, and I will never be able to get it out of my head. Please save yourself and do NOT read this!

[John Ioannou]

A bit boring and predictable

Going on and on and repeating stuff just to make the book longer. Detailing characters that are not important .

[William F Kimpflein]

My review

A really enjoyable read Hoping there is another book to come in this series. Discovered the author by accident, and I love his style.

[Geoffrey John Fergusson]

Was a great read, highly recommended to those who enjoy his books. Read then in sequence tho.

[Jake]

I had never really planned to read this, but I had some time to kill and up until this point had not been able to read anything for enjoyment since about a week before spring finals. DiMercurio's novel contains a great amount of detail on the subject of underwater warfare. Submarine layouts are given a high amount of detail in this book. This helps feed the imagination for anyone who has never served in any naval force. Unfortunately, it also hinders Vertical Dive's pacing. Personally, I think anyone who has ever served in any navy would have a far greater appreciation for Vertical Dive than I ever could.

There are very brief, albeit pivotal supernatural elements that were quite unexpected. I'm still processing it along with the author's acknowledgements. I had suspected that whoever wrote the book was experiencing something very unfortunate in life. I'm not happy about being correct about that observation. It is a very dark book. It spawned from someone having to experience realizing who the love of their life was too late. The limits of deterrence via nuclear subs are pushed to the edge and the main villain is simply evil. Too evil. Anytime children and so many innocent are terrorized in a story I'm out. Just not my flavor of book.

I'll end saying that this author can write underwater warfare and relationships between characters really well aside from a sex scene that seemed out of characteristic to the flow of the novel.

[Stefan Vucak]

After reading DiMercurio’s ‘Emergency Deep’, I looked forward to the continuation of his new series with ‘Vertical Dive’. Finishing it, the book left me with mixed feelings. I liked the characterization, but I feel it was overdone. Although DiMercurio’s knowledge of submarine procedures is undeniable, the excessive detail and constant repetition during action sequences got to be distracting, impeding the flow of the story. I also found some of the plot elements somewhat unreal. Rachel is divorcing her husband Peter Vornado because he failed to tell her about his top secret CIA mission, while having an eye on his best friend Dillinger – and he doesn’t pick up clear hints she is interested in him, even while he is burying his wife of nine months. I expected more from DiMercurio.

[Gabrielle]

also a slow start like Emergency Deep which you should read first, but definitely picked up and was suspenseful... again, very technical if u can stand it, though it's good

[SewUnicornish]

Thank you ghost wife, for appearing to me to let me know I don't have to feel guilty for moving on and getting with my best friends wife.

No I did not finish this book. I cant remember how far I got. I at least got to the part where the vertical dive happened. Which was pretty fun. Actually there was not enough submarine in this for me. I would have been fine if the whole book was about undocking the sub, rather than the ridiculous characters and their shambles of relationships. I did not care about the bad guys family relationships either...yet...there they were. As much as I loved the sub stuff...I just could not stomach the silly plot or the characters.

FYI I don't really throw books in the trash can.