Review: Really Engaging Read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 16, 2013
I wasn't sure about the premise of the book - the first female submariner on an attack submarine - but decided to take a chance.  I'm glad I did.  So, OK, she has an IQ of 170+, an eidetic memory, was an Olympic-class swimmer, is fluent in Mandarin, is certified in SCUBA, conveniently has worked on every critical piece of equipment that breaks down, etc., and she immediately does something that will earn her a Navy & Marine Corps Medal, then does something else that will get her a second one, then does something that will get her a Silver Star, if not the Navy Cross.  In short, she's sort of Superwoman!  Still, it worked.  Lots of suspense.  Not to be trite, but even gripping.  My only nit is the sexual tension beyond that to be expected on the sub.  I won't do a spoiler, and I wasn't surprised, but it would have worked better had it been toned down.  I'm not saying it was heavy-handed, just that the book would have been improved with a bit mire subtlety in that regard.  My only other comment is that the NSC has to have people who are trained to ask themselves, "Is this a red herring?  Is someone trying to distract me?"  Still, I've ordered the sequel and look forward to it.