Introduction to Steel Fear
When Lee Childs describes a new book as “sensationally good – an instant classic”, you have to sit up and take notice. Without a doubt, Steel Fear is a tense, psychological and fast-paced military thriller with a hero who has a great back-story and skills.
Synopsis of Steel Fear
“The moment Navy SEAL sniper Finn sets foot on the USS Abraham Lincoln to hitch a ride home from the Persian Gulf, it’s clear something is deeply wrong. Leadership is weak. Morale is low. And when crew members start disappearing one by one, what at first seems like a random string of suicides soon reveals something far more sinister: There’s a serial killer on board. Suspicion falls on Finn, the newcomer to the ship. After all, he’s being sent home in disgrace, recalled from the field under the dark cloud of a mission gone horribly wrong. He’s also a lone wolf, haunted by gaps in his memory and the elusive sense that something he missed may have contributed to civilian deaths on his last assignment. Finding the killer offers a chance at redemption . . . if he can stay alive long enough to prove it isn’t him.”
Chief Finn is a great character, and will surely feature in sequels. The authors provide great detail about the naval vessel and insights into the daily activities on board. The realism hits you in the face, and you can almost smell the tension. There are some great characters onboard although the characterisation of Captain Eagleberg was unbelievable (I hope!! – surely a man so incompetent would never attain such a high position).
The bodies pile up and the tension builds. The arrow of suspicion darts from one character to another. Even Chief Finn is a candidate as the killer. In a terrifying race against time, the culprit is finally collared.
In summary, this is an entertaining read with action, thrills and spills. Thoroughly researched detail adds realism, and Chief Finn’s many skills are utilised fully. A classic? Perhaps not but nevertheless an enjoyable holiday read.
