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Donald Cameron Naval Thriller #2
Dangerous Waters
In 1941, on her way to support the evacuation of Crete, the British destroyer 'Wharfedale' receives secret orders from London to pick up two men who have information capable of altering the course of the war. Sub-lieutenant Donald Cameron and a handful of sailors appear to have an impossible task; assault a guarded German stronghold, escape before the Nazi advance into Southern Crete, requisition a boat when thousands of troops are swarming the beaches, and rendezvous with the 'Wharfedale' - all in the space of a few hours…
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1980
About the author
Philip McCutchan
149 books32 followersaka Robert Conington Galway, Duncan MacNeil
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 3, 2024
"‘You’re being thrown in at the deep end, Cameron. First ship as an officer. . . . it’s going to test you out. How d’you feel about it?’ ‘Scared, sir!’ Sawbridge laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘I’ll bet you do! So do I. It’s not a bad feeling to have. It’s the best way of being kept on your toes. And I’ve no doubt at all you’ll cope.’"
The Axis powers are trying to claim the Mediterranean Sea for themselves, and the Brits are being pushed out of Greece. While the Italian navy makes things difficult for the Allies, the Nazis are using both air and land initiatives to finish the conquest. Some VIPs are in need of rescue and Cameron’s destroyer is sent to fetch them. Who is going to lead this “away team?”
"(Cameron) you’re my least valuable officer. Any Captain would be bound to say that of his newest joined sub-lieutenant. Understand?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Good.’ Sawbridge smiled and seemed relieved. ‘That is, at sea. But you can be bloody useful ashore and do a job that has to be done as well as anyone else. In short, I’m sending you ashore tonight to make the rendezvous and bring off our man. All right?’
‘Yes, sir,’ Cameron said again, and felt a surge of excitement run through him."
This is another in McCutchan’s series of WW II naval thrillers. The stakes continue to be raised; the consequences are greater than initially represented: "now the very name of Winston Churchill had the effect of making this whole mission into one of much greater significance. Success had more than ever to be achieved; but Cameron was under no illusions as to the odds against him. Not only had he to penetrate the German line twice, but he had to get Razakis to the coast and then hide him away until Sawbridge brought the destroyer back in. That would be difficult once the escape was known."
The story takes liberties with historical fact, but not in any substantive way. There is a non-aggression pact between the Nazis and the Soviet Union (Molotov-Ribbentrop) that the Nazis are planning to violate. McCutchan places Cameron right in the middle of an effort to make Stalin aware of the Nazi plans to abrogate this pact. "But if your Cameron fails to bring the German off, then he will face the anger of Winston Churchill himself, do you understand that?’ Sawbridge grinned at the words and the furious face of the Greek. ‘I understand,’ he said. ‘I have every confidence in Cameron.’"
4* for the following:
An interesting historical event;
A nice continuation of Cameron’s skill sets;
A bit of a thriller with almost continuous action.
The Axis powers are trying to claim the Mediterranean Sea for themselves, and the Brits are being pushed out of Greece. While the Italian navy makes things difficult for the Allies, the Nazis are using both air and land initiatives to finish the conquest. Some VIPs are in need of rescue and Cameron’s destroyer is sent to fetch them. Who is going to lead this “away team?”
"(Cameron) you’re my least valuable officer. Any Captain would be bound to say that of his newest joined sub-lieutenant. Understand?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Good.’ Sawbridge smiled and seemed relieved. ‘That is, at sea. But you can be bloody useful ashore and do a job that has to be done as well as anyone else. In short, I’m sending you ashore tonight to make the rendezvous and bring off our man. All right?’
‘Yes, sir,’ Cameron said again, and felt a surge of excitement run through him."
This is another in McCutchan’s series of WW II naval thrillers. The stakes continue to be raised; the consequences are greater than initially represented: "now the very name of Winston Churchill had the effect of making this whole mission into one of much greater significance. Success had more than ever to be achieved; but Cameron was under no illusions as to the odds against him. Not only had he to penetrate the German line twice, but he had to get Razakis to the coast and then hide him away until Sawbridge brought the destroyer back in. That would be difficult once the escape was known."
The story takes liberties with historical fact, but not in any substantive way. There is a non-aggression pact between the Nazis and the Soviet Union (Molotov-Ribbentrop) that the Nazis are planning to violate. McCutchan places Cameron right in the middle of an effort to make Stalin aware of the Nazi plans to abrogate this pact. "But if your Cameron fails to bring the German off, then he will face the anger of Winston Churchill himself, do you understand that?’ Sawbridge grinned at the words and the furious face of the Greek. ‘I understand,’ he said. ‘I have every confidence in Cameron.’"
4* for the following:
An interesting historical event;
A nice continuation of Cameron’s skill sets;
A bit of a thriller with almost continuous action.
December 5, 2020
This is an exciting story about British sub-Lieutenant Donald Cameron, serving aboard a Destroyer during World War II, specifically the Crete campaign in May of 1941. In this case the “sub” means lower in rank than a lieutenant. It has nothing to do with submarines. Sub-lieutenant Cameron is assigned to lead a special mission on the island of Crete. He must rescue a Crete partisan leader from German capture and bring him back to the ship. This partisan leader, who is a communist, apparently has critical information about upcoming plans Germany has for invading Russia. The mission is dangerous with many narrow escapes and filled with life and death decisions that Cameron must make regarding the safety of the small force of sailors that he is leading on this rescue mission. It is a very realist presentation of men in war and the danger they faced. Doing one’s duty despite the danger is a calling these British sailors embrace and carryout at their own peril.
February 23, 2023
Donald Cameron is a newly commissioned sub lieutenant in the British Navy, assigned to the destroyer, HMS Wharfsdale, in the Med. He is assigned to land covertly on Crete to rescue a Greek partisan. The Greek has valuable information to pass to the British and Russian governments concerning German plans to attack Russia. Cameron succeeds in his mission but loses the majority of his men to the Germans. He subsequently lands on a Greek island to rescue a German official. The task then is how to get the Greek and German into Russian hands. An interesting story with lots of action.
June 22, 2024
Not bad, but parts of this story seem so far fetched that they take away from the rest. The good parts have to do with the ship under attack at sea. The story of the Greek partisans and the warning about Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union just ask a little too much suspension of disbelief from the reader.
August 12, 2018
I don't know if this is historically correct but it makes for a good story.
Lots of twists and turns, excellent read. Story well told and fast action with lots of drama mixed in. Great
Lots of twists and turns, excellent read. Story well told and fast action with lots of drama mixed in. Great
January 21, 2020
Translucent Transparency
Churchill, Nazis, young love,and raging Greeks. Wonderful, implausible adventure. A stirring read. Cameron grows in stature as a man, officer, and force of nature.
Churchill, Nazis, young love,and raging Greeks. Wonderful, implausible adventure. A stirring read. Cameron grows in stature as a man, officer, and force of nature.
September 26, 2020
Just OK
This book, number two in the series , did not come up to to the standards of Book one. The plot was a little far fetched. Having a new inexperienced officer given such responsibilities was not believable.
This book, number two in the series , did not come up to to the standards of Book one. The plot was a little far fetched. Having a new inexperienced officer given such responsibilities was not believable.
June 13, 2021
As Good As The First
Again I thoroughly enjoyed Cameron's story, the second in the series. Not as fast paced as the first but nonetheless a good story in its own right.
Looking forward to the next in the series.
Again I thoroughly enjoyed Cameron's story, the second in the series. Not as fast paced as the first but nonetheless a good story in its own right.
Looking forward to the next in the series.
June 2, 2022
Meh
Not one of the author’s finer efforts. The plot wasn’t neither interesting nor gripping. The story, in places, requires suspension of disbelief. I didn’t care much for any of the characters and they were rather 2 dimensional. The ending was abrupt and not satisfying.
Not one of the author’s finer efforts. The plot wasn’t neither interesting nor gripping. The story, in places, requires suspension of disbelief. I didn’t care much for any of the characters and they were rather 2 dimensional. The ending was abrupt and not satisfying.
January 10, 2023
great series. will keep reading.
Great series. Will keep reading. Seems like each book is a different “mission” for the main character, as compared to the Peter Harding series where there are many missions in each book. Still great. Still recommend to others.
Great series. Will keep reading. Seems like each book is a different “mission” for the main character, as compared to the Peter Harding series where there are many missions in each book. Still great. Still recommend to others.
April 21, 2019
Good navel story
One more in a great series onto book 3 which I'm sure will be just as good great value books
One more in a great series onto book 3 which I'm sure will be just as good great value books
July 12, 2020
Another good read.
Good story about moving a Greek patriot from Crete to Russia to provide vital information to be the Russians avoid defeat by the German attack. A page turner.
Good story about moving a Greek patriot from Crete to Russia to provide vital information to be the Russians avoid defeat by the German attack. A page turner.
August 18, 2021
Meh!
I prefer a more mundane and less preposterous storyline.
D d d d d x d d d d d
I prefer a more mundane and less preposterous storyline.
D d d d d x d d d d d
March 10, 2022
Smart writing
I liked the characters. I liked the storyline. Much happening. Goals met. War with many issues to worry about. Few guidelines.
I liked the characters. I liked the storyline. Much happening. Goals met. War with many issues to worry about. Few guidelines.
November 22, 2022
just not interesting for me, perhaps for a younger reader
May 12, 2016
What a story!
I must say that Mr. McCutchan has quite an imagination. As a "novice" student of World War II, I am aware that upon the German invasion of Russia, Stalin was so upset by Hitler's treachery that he as not seen in public for a period. It is hypothesized that he had a minor heart attack upon being
stunned by the German invasion, so for whatever reason, the German and Greek passengers never got to tell their tale, so perhaps Mr. McCutchan might use that information to write another book explaining how that meeting never came to pass.
I must say that Mr. McCutchan has quite an imagination. As a "novice" student of World War II, I am aware that upon the German invasion of Russia, Stalin was so upset by Hitler's treachery that he as not seen in public for a period. It is hypothesized that he had a minor heart attack upon being
stunned by the German invasion, so for whatever reason, the German and Greek passengers never got to tell their tale, so perhaps Mr. McCutchan might use that information to write another book explaining how that meeting never came to pass.
March 10, 2016
Enjoying this new series
I am enjoying this new WWII British navy series. The main character is developing and the secondary characters are better developed than in the first book. Fun action, of course.
I am enjoying this new WWII British navy series. The main character is developing and the secondary characters are better developed than in the first book. Fun action, of course.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews