Scan barcode
A review by billblume
The Devil's Waters by David L. Robbins
5.0
For those who love a good military action novel, David L. Robbins' new book THE DEVIL'S WATERS is Christmas come early. A group of paratroopers take on Somali pirates, and as much as you'll want to see the "good guys" win, you'll be hard-pressed not to pull for the pirates, too.
It's only fair I admit at the outset that I'm a friend of the writer, but I can recommend this book with a clean conscience. David ranks among the best writers I know, and he's upped his game with this book. He's bid adieu to his historical war novels, and as much as I've enjoyed those books, he's put together something really awesome with THE DEVIL'S WATERS.
The main character is First Sergeant DiNardo whose call sign is "LB," and the explanation for his nickname sets up a great punchline at the end of the first chapter. It's tough not to like LB. This is the first in a series of novels David will focus on the PJs, and it's clear he's chosen a main character he loves a lot. LB plays perfectly to David's voice, with a blend of humor and intensity that's sure to keep you reading.
On the opposite side is pirate Yusaf Raage. As villains go, he's a brutal and intelligent foe and exactly what I've come to expect from David. I know David never subscribes to making a character evil for the sake of being evil, and as much as readers will love the PJs, they'll want to cheer for Yusaf, too. Everything he does makes perfect sense, and in many ways, he is less of a villain and more of a man drawn into a conspiracy beyond his ability to control when he is tasked with capturing the freighter Valnea and its top secret cargo.
What works in this novel? David displays his skills as a storyteller, easily dropping in all the jargon of the paratrooper's trade in a manner which never confuses the reader. Where something isn't outright explained, the circumstances make it clear enough for the reader to infer what's being said. David also keeps the tension mounting from the very start, as he builds to the pirates' capture of the Valnea (which makes for one of most exciting sections of the novel) and then moves into the showdown between the pirates and the PJs. That it's all built around a conspiracy with global consequences is gravy.
What doesn't work? I will admit that during the big showdown, I sometimes had a hard time tracking some of the PJs. By virtue of what they do, they aren't all that different from one another, and that can make for a bit of confusion. I would sometimes forget which individual plot threads applied to each PJ. David takes several steps to help the reader with this, but he's working with a lot of players on both sides of the conflict.
Perhaps one of the best touches in this book comes midway through when LB discusses his past, that he's killed people and why he became a paratrooper. It's a nice moment that really gives death its due, and in a book with a high body count, that's an important touch to give weight to what the PJs are being asked to do: kill the pirates. That sacrifice becomes even more important in the end when David puts all of the underlying conspiracy's cards on the table.
If you enjoy your action with a heavy dose of testosterone or know someone who does, then this is the book to get this Christmas. I'm already planning to buy a copy for my dad (hopefully, he won't read this review ahead time!).
It's only fair I admit at the outset that I'm a friend of the writer, but I can recommend this book with a clean conscience. David ranks among the best writers I know, and he's upped his game with this book. He's bid adieu to his historical war novels, and as much as I've enjoyed those books, he's put together something really awesome with THE DEVIL'S WATERS.
The main character is First Sergeant DiNardo whose call sign is "LB," and the explanation for his nickname sets up a great punchline at the end of the first chapter. It's tough not to like LB. This is the first in a series of novels David will focus on the PJs, and it's clear he's chosen a main character he loves a lot. LB plays perfectly to David's voice, with a blend of humor and intensity that's sure to keep you reading.
On the opposite side is pirate Yusaf Raage. As villains go, he's a brutal and intelligent foe and exactly what I've come to expect from David. I know David never subscribes to making a character evil for the sake of being evil, and as much as readers will love the PJs, they'll want to cheer for Yusaf, too. Everything he does makes perfect sense, and in many ways, he is less of a villain and more of a man drawn into a conspiracy beyond his ability to control when he is tasked with capturing the freighter Valnea and its top secret cargo.
What works in this novel? David displays his skills as a storyteller, easily dropping in all the jargon of the paratrooper's trade in a manner which never confuses the reader. Where something isn't outright explained, the circumstances make it clear enough for the reader to infer what's being said. David also keeps the tension mounting from the very start, as he builds to the pirates' capture of the Valnea (which makes for one of most exciting sections of the novel) and then moves into the showdown between the pirates and the PJs. That it's all built around a conspiracy with global consequences is gravy.
What doesn't work? I will admit that during the big showdown, I sometimes had a hard time tracking some of the PJs. By virtue of what they do, they aren't all that different from one another, and that can make for a bit of confusion. I would sometimes forget which individual plot threads applied to each PJ. David takes several steps to help the reader with this, but he's working with a lot of players on both sides of the conflict.
Perhaps one of the best touches in this book comes midway through when LB discusses his past, that he's killed people and why he became a paratrooper. It's a nice moment that really gives death its due, and in a book with a high body count, that's an important touch to give weight to what the PJs are being asked to do: kill the pirates. That sacrifice becomes even more important in the end when David puts all of the underlying conspiracy's cards on the table.
If you enjoy your action with a heavy dose of testosterone or know someone who does, then this is the book to get this Christmas. I'm already planning to buy a copy for my dad (hopefully, he won't read this review ahead time!).