"The Terrible Hours" by Peter Maas

This is the tale of the heroic effort it took to save the lives of United States navy men aboard the sunken submarine Squalus. Following the successful mission, the author examines the 100+ days it took to salvage the vessel, the rebuilding of it and its subsequent missions.

Although rich in detail and at times too technical, the book failed to capture my attention to the extent ‘Shadow Divers’ did. What I found lacking was the intimate details of what went on with the survivors during the critical hours from their sinking to their salvation. In contrast, the author did an excellent job capturing the point of view of those who put together the rescue mission.

The book will find favor with all readers interested in submarines, war time stories and rescues missions. However, for a real thrill ride, I highly recommend ‘Shadow Drivers’ by Robert Kurson.

-by Simon Cleveland