Tipping Point

September 14, 2015
In Poyer’s engrossing 15th Dan Lenson novel (after 2014’s Cruiser), the skipper of the USS Savo Island faces challenges as old as those confronted by Horatio Hornblower and as new as the latest military sexual harassment charge. In particular, Lenson, a capable officer who wears the Medal of Honor, must explain to the politicians in Washington, D.C., why he chose to shoot down an Israeli missile during an incident while on duty in Middle Eastern waters. On the personal side, he’s having problems with his wife, Blair, who’s running for Congress. Back at sea, sexy, sandalwood-scented Lt. Amarpeet “Amy” Singhe, Lenson’s strike officer aboard the Savo, isn’t helping him concentrate on his mission, which takes him from the Indian Ocean, where India and Pakistan are at odds, to the South China Sea, where the Chinese are aggressively expanding their influence. Lenson must also contend with attacks on female crew members. While readers may be upset by the nonending, they’ll certainly look forward to the next entry in this series that sets the standard for naval action thrillers.

October 1, 2015
Poyer's Navy Captain hero, Dan Lenson, might have reached his tipping point on the first page in this thriller. He's fighting with his wife because he's always at sea, and a decision he's made may have put his job in jeopardy. With an uncertain future, he reassumes command and takes his ship to the Indian Ocean. Crew issues on board, plus potential health concerns, prove distracting while the world falls apart on shore. The authentic feel of life at sea, mixed with political strife at home and abroad, provides the appeal here. Though this is the fifteenth novel in the series, prior knowledge of the earlier novels is not necessary to enjoy this fine military thriller.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)