5 out of 5 stars
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Watching Moses Redding develop as an empathetic character in the novel Intrepid Spirit is just part of the pleasure of reading David Tunno's newest book. The title aptly describes this naval officer who displays fearlessness even while disobeying direct orders. Whether he is saving Iranian refugees, commanding a historic ship, or fighting duels, you will be captivated by this handsome sailor.
The author opens the prologue with a battle scene in 1805. This begins the foreshadowing that allows the plot to shift seamlessly from past to present, from country to country, and leader to leader. The transitions flow seamlessly and even though the final outcome is predictable, the ride onboard Old Ironsides takes some unexpected turns.
I was drawn in by the author's use of poetic prose. The excerpt at the front of the book is an example of the carefully chosen words that describe the smell of the old ship, the alliterative sounds of creaking and churning, and the sight of the 19th-century uniforms. These sensory elements were my favorite part of the book, but I also enjoyed watching the character development of Redding as he learned about humanity from his crew members.
My least favorite part was the host of characters introduced, which were difficult to keep up with at first. However, I gradually had them all sorted out and identified as friends or foes. Switching back and forth from different locations during the climax both added to the excitement and to the difficulty level, but it was an effective technique.
The author first wrote this as a screenplay, and I think it would make a great movie to watch but probably expensive to make. The Mediterranean Sea setting would be beautiful. There are some political agendas, a mild reference to a ghost, and a simmering romance, but the universal question of "Is it ever right to do something wrong?" drives the plot.
My rating is a strong five out of five. This is listed as C/T/M/H (crime/thriller/mystery/horror), but it doesn't exactly fit any of those categories. There were some military crimes committed. There were some thrilling battle scenes. There were some mysterious behaviors, and the horrors of war were described. We can throw in some humor, romance, and friendship loyalty so that all readers should be able to find something they enjoy. I think the widest audience would be military families who could easily relate to the dynamic characters and celebrate with the victorious winners. If you need cheering up, this feel-good story is the perfect cure.
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Intrepid Spirit
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