Book Review: Darkside

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

Darkside     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
P. T. Deutermann
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Military   Thriller   Government Agency   Police Procedural
St. Martin's; 2002; 510pp

It is near the end of the school year at Annapolis, and almost 'cap-throwing' time. The seniors are concentrating on graduating and assuming their Navy careers. For Professor Ev Markham, it is a time of final exams and anticipating his daughter's graduation. For Naval Academy civilian security chief Jim Hall, it was another day on the job until a plebe fell from the sixth floor and became a puddle on the concrete. Then it was time for NCIS.

The Academy, and of course the Navy, wants the 'incident' closed as quickly as possible - preferably ruled as 'misadventure' rather than suicide, and definitely not homicide. And there is pressure to do just that. The graduating senior that seems to be involved just happens to be retired Navy aviator Ev Markham's daughter. And Jim Hall [also ex-Navy] already has good reason to know that the truth is not necessarily what matters to the 'Darksiders' - the brass.

This was my first Deutermann novel, and it certainly isn't my last. I was hooked from the beginning, and lost a lot of sleep. The twists and turns aren't only in the underground tunnels underneath the Academy! Deutermann gives the reader a glimpse into the world of the service academies and the US Navy in particular in a story that will keep you on the edge of your chair.

Webspinner - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Webspinner - RAM