MWSA Review

Somewhere in the South Pacific is the seventh book in the Todd Ingram series of military historical novels centered on the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific and elsewhere. Not having read any of the previous books, initially, I was slightly concerned that it would be an awkward read, not being able to adequately divine the back stories of the characters as laid down in the previous books. Fortunately, this was not the case in this book, and in fact, the main character of the series, USN Lieutenant Todd Ingram, is recuperating stateside from wounds incurred during the brutal Guadalcanal Campaign and is also sidelined waiting for his next command, a new destroyer coming out of the shipyard.

Somewhere in the South Pacific tells the story of valiant, outgunned Patrol Boat, Torpedo (PT) sailors that have been called upon to make night attacks on armed Japanese barges bringing supplies and reinforcements to beleaguered Imperial forces at the beginning of the “island hopping” campaign that would bring about the eventual Japanese defeat. While the barges are no easy targets, Japanese destroyers or aircraft can pop at any time to turn the hunters into the hunted. The author more than adequately lays out the trials and tribulations of the PT crews while gradually, subtly, and obliquely shifting the focus of the story to a new replacement PT skipper, none other than Lieutenant j.g John F. Kennedy.

Tracking closely to actual history, Kennedy’s character emerges as the “new” guy who enjoys a bit of slack from his new combat-weary contemporaries for Kennedy’s performance during the past year as an instructor at the PT boat school, and as a natural sailor. Bucking his father’s manipulations of the Navy to keep him out of combat, Kennedy finds a way to get into harm’s way, both because it is the right thing to do, but also wanting to ensure he can say he saw action for future political considerations. It helps that occasionally Kennedy runs into someone who has no idea who Kennedy is, other than just another junior officer. It is only in the last few chapters that the book focuses mainly on the famous fate of Kennedy and his PT109 crew.

The story and subplots flow smoothly, and the author excels at describing the exhaustive, always-on-edge life of the PT crews operating at the very end of supply lines and fighting the multilevel threats of the tropical maritime environment, not to mention the deadly Imperial Japanese forces. This novel will be of interest to any readers interested in naval action, especially in the Pacific during World War Two, as well as those interested in the Kennedy saga.

Review by Terry Lloyd (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Inspired by the true story of John F. Kennedy’s daring naval mission at the height of World War II, this historical thriller brings the unanswered question of the past to life with fast-paced action and vivid detail.

After surviving a near suicidal mission on Mondo Mondo Island, Lieutenant Commander Todd Ingram is sent back to the States on a thirty-day leave—but the war waits for no one, and trouble is already rippling through the Pacific Theater.

Fresh from Stateside training, Lieutenant JG John Kennedy takes command of the PT 109, a torpedo boat in desperate need of repairs, for the upcoming mission to retake the Western Solomon Islands. But the war isn’t the only thing on Kennedy’s mind: he’s torn between his family’s expectations and his forbidden love for Inga Arvad, a beautiful Danish columnist who narrowly escaped Nazi occupied Germany.

When a disastrous attempt to interrupt Japanese supply lines slices Kennedy’s PT 109 in half, Ingram and his six destroyers must pick up where Kennedy left off. Can Ingram save Kennedy and his stranded men while defeating the Japanese? Ingram is prepared to fight to the end, but victory comes at a steep price behind enemy lines…

In this 7th Installment, Todd Ingram reflects back on a simpler time, when he was on leave but the war was not. This is the story of what happened during his 39 day leave following When Duty Whispers Low, and takes place between When Duty Whispers Low and The Neptune Strategy.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 292

Word Count: 80,217