Vertical Dive [Paperback]

Michael DiMercurio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2005

During NATO exercises, the French navy unveils a nuclear submarine so advanced that it can elude any radar system in the water. But France's maritime marvel becomes its own worst enemy when a band of Algerian terrorists hijacks the boat-and threatens to wipe Paris off the face of the earth before turning their missiles against America and Russia.

Two NATO subs are called into action: the USS Hampton, captained by veteran sub warrior Burke Dillinger, and the USS Texas, commanded by the iron-willed Peter Vornado. With Paris being evacuated and time running out, the coming conflict will pit the ultimate in technological weaponry against the courage, skill, and determination of Dillinger and Vornado.

Editorial Reviews

Review

DiMercurio plunges you into the sea of undersea warfare. -- C.A. Mobley, author of Code of Conflict

DiMercurio really knows his subs...His characters step right off the sub deck and onto his pages. -- Larry Bond

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (December 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451412036
• ISBN-13: 978-0451412034
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,163,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not his best, but a decent read, January 14, 2006

By 

D. Crain "nanohead" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vertical Dive (Paperback)

I've read all of Michael DiMercurio's books, and this one is kind of weak unfortunately. It is competent, well written and standard DiMercurio fare, but not as action packed as most of his works. I think he had a bad year personally last year (as he points out in his personal comments in the book), and quite possibly it ended up on the pages of the book.

Having read all his other works, it seemed as though he never really got where he wanted to go. The action didn't really start until nearly 75% of the way through, and then it was decent sub warfare. The beginning 75% was very detailed, and the book could have been a good 300 page longer if the back end of the story was as complete as the front end. But this time it was not. No big deal, I still love his writing and will still buy his books. I pre bought this one as soon as it was announced on Amazon.

I love submarine action, and other than Joe Buff, Michael DiMercurio is the tops in this game.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Predictable, Depressing, and Bloody, December 22, 2005

By 

Ian Kirby (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vertical Dive (Paperback)

Bought this book for reading material on a business trip. I found it very slow to get going and strangely depressing. The plot - terrorist hijackers, as usual - didn't get under way until almost halfway through the book. The first part was a lot of run-of-the-mill potboiling and military exercise. The action section was really gory, almost to the point of making me wince. Not in a good way either. I didn't really see the point. All in all Vertical Dive is a pretty hack pulp fiction testosterone trip without anything new to say. Spend your eight bucks elsewhere.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quite a Let Down, January 18, 2006

By 

Hugh R. F. Campbell (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vertical Dive (Paperback)

The authors divorce, some details of which he shared with me in an email, seems to have made his mood even more dark than usual. It was very hard to get into, something his other books have not been. I thought it was me as I kept putting it down to do other things but it was just difficult. Hopefully, Patty will become a memory and Michael can return to his normal form. He is an excellent writer but this was not a great example. Get well soon.