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Review by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ONCE again, Robert Radcliffe, acclaimed author of Under
An English Heaven, has chosen World War Two as the setting
for a novel. But there, all similarities end.
Upon Dark Waters focuses upon the Battle of
the Atlantic, in particular, upon the crew of H.M.S. Daisy, a
Flower Class Corvette escort ship.
It's a cleverly interwoven story that shifts effortlessly from
one storyline to another; sometimes annoyingly so, I have to say,
as the eventual outcomes remain tantalizingly elusive until almost
the end.
Guaranteed to keep you reading, of course, and the mark of a
great storyteller.
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Told through the eyes of Midshipman Stephen Tomlin, Upon Dark
Waters vividly recalls the bravery, loyalty and sacrifice of men
like Second-Officer Michael Villiers.
Born in Montevideo, to a British Diplomat father and beautiful
Uruguayan socialite, Michael spends his infancy and early childhood
at the family ranch on the pampas of Uruguay, a far cry from the
freezing North Atlantic and the terrifying threat from German
U-boat attacks.
It's a story filled with suspense - the action sequences, especially,
are so well written that you almost feel a part of them - and
surprise, things not always being what they seem. To say more,
though, would ultimately spoil a gripping and thought-provoking
read.
And if you enjoyed Under An English Heaven, watch out for a cameo
appearance by Lt. John Hooper, a well thought out and cleverly
inserted episode.
Upon Dark Waters is an outstanding tribute to the men whose bravery
should never be forgotten. Through his totally believable characters,
Radcliffe has done much to cement their place in history.
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