Alan

An unusually worthwhile listen.

Revisado: 08-19-18

I have a reasonably good lay knowledge of the political & military history of WW1: the archduke, trench warfare, etc. But this firsthand account by a British war correspondent who experienced the whole thing from beginning to end provides a much more personal and up-close account. Very worthwhile, and wonderfully written and performed.

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Grim but good.

Revisado: 07-19-17

If you like Luke Smitherd books (I do), then you don't expect happy. And once again, you won't be disappointed with this one. I mean, with a title like that, you should know what to expect. It's the same reason people ride on roller coasters, or do skydiving.

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This is an important book.

Revisado: 05-07-17

In my view this is an important and prize-worthy book.

What would it be like for a civilian child to be caught up in a big nation's war against a small enemy? What would it be like for that child to fear truly random death from drones in the sky? What would it be like to be a refugee from the war and have one's family slaughtered in a refugee camp? What might that child do, and why?

Setting this story in an American future brings home the awfulness of these questions and answers in a way that the news cannot.

I hope this novel wins a Nobel prize. It's that good. And that horrible.

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I was surprised

Revisado: 08-17-16

Fictional account of two journalists making a journey across America 5 years after a limited nuclear exchange between the US and USSR. Written in the mid 1980's, it provides an insightful account of the long-range effects on all aspects of American life. This is a cautionary tale the I would put in the same category as Upton Sinclair's "It Can't Happen Here." Thought-provoking and well worth reading/listening.

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I guess I'm now officially a fan

Revisado: 01-25-16

I started with The Stone Man, which I found by accident, and liked a lot. That led me to A Head Full of Knives, which I loved. Which led me to In The Darkness, which I found the best of the lot. So I guess I'm a fan.

There were a few minor glitches in the audio editing (repeated sentences here and there), but not out of hand. For narration, I'd give it at least a B+.

I personally found the epilogue a bit sappy and off-putting, especially given the hard-nosed nature of the story itself, and also the unsentimental endings of The Stone Man and A Head Full of Knives. But that's just me.

So I'll now be moving on to The Man on Table Ten. And looking forward for more from Mr. Smitherd.

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A fine line

Revisado: 06-10-14

I love this series, but there's a fine line between "cliffhanger" and "trolling." I'm not certain which side of the line this one falls on. Nonetheless, I'm on the hook.

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I miss Frank Muller

Revisado: 06-08-14

Will Patton is imprinted on my brain as the voice of James Lee Burke. He does a fine job with Stephen King as well. But oh my, do I miss Frank Muller.

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A Screed

Revisado: 08-04-13

Ayn Rand meets Ted Nugent. If that's your cuppa, then go for it. But not for me, thx.

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My Choice for Frank Muller's Best

Revisado: 10-13-12

I wish it were possible to award six or seven stars for a book and reader. This would be my choice for that combination. Listen and weep.

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A tough coice for audio

Revisado: 06-01-12

Any additional comments?

This is a somewhat less-than-great presentation of a great story. It documents what is likely the most amazing feat of sustained intelligence analysis ever performed against a target that should, by all rights, have been unbreakable. The intellectual level achieved by people like Alan Turing, as well as the selfless efforts of hundreds of others at BP are nothing short of amazing in retrospect.

The presentation is factual, detailed (some might say dry), and often hard to follow due to the lack of photos, numerical tables, and other information that is not conveyed by the audio alone. For example, if you can visually picture an Enigma machine after having listened to the written descriptions only, I congratulate you. I cannot. But I will now go seek out the photos, and I will know what I am looking at.

If you are looking for an action-packed war adventure, this book is not for you. If you are looking for thoughtful account of a crucial aspect of the war in the North Atlantic, you will like this one. I certainly did.

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