Loved this one! I loved the different perspectives that this book gives on the Cuban middle crisis you get to see this historical event from different angles that you don’t necessarily know about before reading this book! Loved how this book played out it felt very easy to read and held my attention from start to end! I’ve wanted so much more about this event from this book!

This book took me quite by surprise, as I did not expect to like it so much. As a student of American history, I was quite familiar with much of the contents of this book. But truthfully, I did not know what to expect to read "a novel of the Cuban Missile Crisis," told from the perspectives of both Kennedy brothers, Khrushchev, and a motley assortment of other characters, including an officer aboard a US vessel, a Russian operative, and others. The novel imagines the conversations of these people, beginning with the embarrassing Bay of Pigs fiasco. Interspersed among these imagined conversations are real accounts, drawn from newspapers, televised speeches, and other sources. The book is impressively detailed and researched.

My favorite character was Russo, a professor of English in Tallahassee, Florida, who witnesses much of these famous events on television with his wife and children. They watch the special news broadcasts of JFK, of Adlai Stevenson in front of the UN, while eating tv dinners and discussing the local issues with the ongoing civil rights movement in the south. These NPC interactions to me were the best parts of the book.

I also really liked Khrushchev's folksy personality.

My thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publishers, for allowing me an arc of this book. My apologies that my review is so untimely.

Another excellent book by Shaara who brings historical figures to life with simple but accurate dialogue centering on famous events in History.

After many volumes in which Jeff Shaara added a personal touch to almost every war that the United States ever participated in, he has now told another story, the story of what was almost the last war we were a party to. Although the events of October 1962 are now fading into obscurity, for a few days the earth was the closest it had ever come to what the pundits call Mutually Assured Destruction. A single rash act by a Russian or American military officer could easily have triggered a chain reaction that ended in a global catastrophe.

It is easy to joke about in-home bomb shelters and duck-and-cover drills sixty years after the fact but these things actually existed. I was born in DC and attended elementary school in nearby Bethesda, and I still recall the air raid drills. Later, when we moved to Colorado, our next-door neighbors had a bomb shelter. It’s ridiculous to think that any of these would have provided any protection but people were terrified and felt that doing something, anything, was preferable to doing nothing.

If the Cold War really was a war, then the Cuban Missile Crisis is the closest we came to turning it into a hot war. As Shaara ably portrays, a young and relatively inexperienced President John Kennedy went head-to-head with the wily and pugnacious Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in the most consequential game of chicken ever played. Kennedy, still smarting from the Bay of Pigs debacle, was considered by many on both sides to be unqualified for the kind of brinksmanship that was needed in dealing with the Soviets. Khrushchev wanted to support Cuba, their new ally in the Western Hemisphere and also, by installing nuclear missile batteries on our doorstep, achieve parity with the missiles that we had installed on the Russian border with Turkey. He gambled that if the Americans learned about the project, Kennedy would take no actions other than complain loudly. It’s what the Americans had done in the past and likely would do again.

This is where Sharra’s skillset is so valuable. Although much information can now be gleaned with serious research of memoirs, presidential archives and other sources, no transcripts existed of what was actually said. Almost everything that happened in this story happened behind closed doors and in the highest levels of secrecy. I know this because at the time this was happening my father was a deputy director of a certain ‘Agency’ and for several days he didn’t come home from work. No reasons or excuses were given, just a call to say he wouldn’t be home.

Bottom line: Shaara’s exhaustive research combined with his ability to turn historical documents into human drama. I particularly enjoyed his interpretation of Nikita Khrushchev, one of the most entertaining premiers that the Soviet Union produced. Not only is this a well-written, compelling story, it should remind us today of the perils of inept statesmanship.

*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.

FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.

Although I remember the tension in our home, and the stark black and white images on TV of a serious man my parents said was "my president", it was brought back to life with Jeff Shaara's book The Shadow of War: A Novel of the Cuban Missile Crisis . Having been a kidlet at the time, this visit back through the pages Shaara provides makes it very plain there was every reason to be scared and concerned. What is even more dismaying is how much the public didn't know - how much was kept tight and quiet amongst a very few decision-makers. What came across in this book were the deliberations tested and weighed by an overriding need for what would be best for not just the US, but what would be best for the entire world. A scale of right and wrong was constantly being considered, discussions and debates engaged in, counsel from experienced others actively sought. That gave me comfort.

What followed was my utter terror as to how similar decisions will be made now - when there are only parties whose interests are wrapped around themselves and their self-interested acolytes who pander. Who's listening to counsel, hearing other perspectives or seeking wisdom that goes beyond ego and flattery?

These days are full of some of the self-same dangers the world faced in 1961. It would behoove us to read with teachable hearts.

*A sincere thank you to Jeff Shaara, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

I recently finished “The Shadow of War” by Jeff Shaara, and while I was initially drawn in by the premise of a novel set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, I found myself struggling to stay fully engaged. Shaara is known for his historical accuracy and detailed storytelling, but this one didn’t quite hook me like I hoped it would.

The intricate political and military maneuvers were fascinating at times, but the pacing felt slow, and the characters didn’t capture my attention as much as I wanted them to. The historical backdrop is rich, but I was left wanting a bit more depth and emotional connection to the narrative.

If you’re a fan of Shaara’s historical novels or deeply interested in the Cuban Missile Crisis, it might resonate more with you, but for me, it didn’t quite deliver the intensity I was expecting.

This is clearly a meticulously researched novel. The history here is fascinating and I loved the insights into the minds of Kennedy and Khrushchev, and the behind the scenes diplomatic procedures. However, this was more like reading a textbook than a novel - dry and without emotion. As history, this is excellent. As a novel, I think it struggles. It lacked the sense of urgency that I grew up hearing about. I never felt any of the panic that I know was felt by people like my mom.

Jeff Sahara knows how to get the reader inside history. This well-written book about the Cuban Missile Crisis reflects his talent. John F. Kennedy didn't have any good choices in 1962 when he found out the Russians were building missile launch sites in Cuba. Every day the U2 photos showed quck progress on the sites. Blockade or attack. Kennedy chose the least confrontational in a blockade. The rest is history. Read this historic account of the days that made history and proved that presidents need their own trusted advisors at times that are crucial. A part of modern American and world history you will not want to miss. A world on the brink where every decision will mean more than it seems. Loved this book!

The book documented the time, place and currnt issues but the flow of the characters interaction was stilted and could use polishing. The history was well carried on through the book.

A masterful retelling of The Cuban Missile Crisis. The author was able to blend historical accuracy with masterful storytelling, creating a gripping and engaging novel. The novel also explores the psychological and emotional toll of the crisis.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Shaara is unrivaled in his works of historical fiction. Absolutely loved this novel and will recommend it to everyone I can.could not put it down!

The Shadow of War chronicles the tense period in world history where the Soviet Union and America were on the brink of nuclear war. Jeff Shaara takes on the perspective of Robert F. Kennedy to detail what was happening on the American side and Nikita Krushchev to cover the Soviet Union. Shaara also adds the perspective of a person on the ground in Florida, Joseph Russo, who watches as the high stakes politics impact the ordinary person on the ground living close to Florida. The book begins with the failed Bay of Pigs invasion through the slowly escalating tensions as military operations are moved to Cuba, through the end of the crisis. Shaara's research is great and he effectively uses a lot of the major speeches and public statements of the period to ground the interior actions of his narrators. The book crafts an easy to follow narrative about the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis, walking through the events and motivations of the people who started and eventually ended the crisis. I was not as familiar with the details of the time period, so the book was a great insight into how close we got to the nuclear buttons being pushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of The Shadow of War in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

Just a word of thanks, to both netgalley.com, as well as St. Martin's Press, for an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Shadow of War is another wonderful work on "fiction" by Jeff Shaara that deals with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Shaara has written a number of excellent reads dealing with the Civil War, World War II, to a novel on the life of Theodore Roosevelt. I have not read all of Shaara's books, but the ones I have are truly enjoyable and interesting reads that deal with some piece of American history.

I put in quotes the word fiction - because this is a work of fiction. Shaara truly researches the topic - in this case how John and Robert Kennedy dealt with Nikita Khrushchev and the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although Shaara tells the reader what actually historically happened, he invokes some fiction in how he believes the characters were feeling, thinking, etc. The novel begins with the blunder than was the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the failed attempt by the United States to remove Fidel Castro from office. From the novel, readers get a sense of the anger from John and Robert Kennedy. We move on from there with the escalating move to war between the United States and the Soviet Union with the Soviets aiming to arm Cuba with nuclear missiles.

The main characters in the novel go back and forth between the Kennedys and Khrushchev, but Shaara adds a third character - an English professor at Florida State University, Joseph Russo. Russo's piece in this novel is how he has fears over what he is hearing about a possible nuclear war with the missiles in Cuba. Shaara paints Russo as a Kennedy supporter in a Republican-heavy area of Florida, and how Russo's family deals with the tension that the Cuban Missile Crisis entailed.

Well-researched and certainly interesting, this, to me, was a quality novel on a topic that I truly knew little. Shaara continues to write interesting pieces of history that are enjoyable to read.

An easy reading fictionalized account of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The book focuses on JFK, RFK, Khrushchev and a fictional American citizen. The book conveys the tension that existed in every household in America, with children going through duck and cover drills in school and people putting fallout shelters in their back yards.
Thank God for wise men like the Kennedys and even Khrushchev who were not willing to cast the world into a nuclear holocaust to save face. The details of the event are even more frightening now that I know the true facts.
The author lived through the time as a young child and honored the wisdom of his father who refused to give in to blind patriotism. Hopefully our current and future leaders will show the same wisdom.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this in exchange for an honest review

I highly recommend anything by Jeff Shaara. I have found all of his works to be well researched and presented well. (I personally prefer my historical fiction without a lot of people falling in love in the middle of a battle zone, so his stuff is always up my alley. ) It also seems like if you are younger then the 70's there's a chunk of history just left out of your school books. I thought that I knew kinda the basics of the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban crisis, and I have to admit that everything I knew was wrong.

It was interesting to see the back and forth between the Russians and Americans in a high stakes game of chess. It could have just as easily gone differently, and indeed many key players on both sides wanted it to go differently. To see the back and forth so clearly laid out and the case for each building at each step- I felt like I could understand and follow what was happening. (And I loved the part about Stevenson in front of NATO!)

Shaara offers an in-depth analysis of the Cuban Missile Crisis from inside the White House, the Kremlin, and an American living in Florida. Although I am fascinated by Cold War History, and especially John F. Kennedy's presidency, this book is so much more. Shaara can write a narrative about history like no other. Most history books are a bit dull, almost like a laundry list, but Shaara brings these historical characters to life on the page. HIGHLY recommended!

Jeff Shaara shows once again his power to take a difficult topic (Civil War, WWII) and Cuban Missile Crisis and make it compelling reading. This is such an excellent book and provides so much historical context to a topic that I am sure I learned about in multiple levels of education, but never really focused on all the challenges and personalities involved to stop this from ending our world. Thank you to NetGalley and the published for providing me with an ARC of this amazing book.

Definitely a book I wanted to read as I’ve enjoyed the authors previous works and those of his father.

The inside look at the Cuban Missile Crisis was well researched and a compelling read. For any history fan, this narrative is a great addition to the background of the Kennedy Administration and the difficulties faced.

I never knew much about the Cuban Missile Crisis so this one caught my attention fast. It is very detailed and is not going to be for the average reader, but those of you who love details will enjoy this one. I will admit, that parts were a little long and tedious and I found myself drifting off, but I am not blaming the writer, I am blaming the subject matter....it's just hard to make a potential Soviet invasion fun.

I did learn things, especially about Bobby Kennedy, he is stronger than I ever knew. I just pictured him as a pretty guy who got a job because his brother was President. He actually is sharp!

Overall, if you were an adult during this time, you would relive some of the feelings you had during that time. I went back and forth with the text and audio version and the audio is the way I will recommend you read this novel. The narrator is very easy to understand and soothing.

"In Europe and America
There's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets

Mr. Khrushchev said, "We will bury you"
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too

How can I save my little boy
From Oppenheimer's deadly toy?
There is no monopoly in common sense
On either side of the political fence

We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too... "

Sting "Russians"

I went into this book knowing two things: 1. that I love Jeff Shaara's books/writing, and 2. that I knew *ALL* about the Cuban Missile Crisis. By the end, I again knew two things: 1. I still 100% love Mr. Shaara's writing, and 2. I knew close to *NOTHING* about the Cuban Missile Crisis [think 1%]. Unfortunately for me, that made some of this book difficult to understand as I had no frame of reference and wished I had read, at the very least, Robert F. Kennedy's book "Thirteen Days", if not other books from this time frame as well. There were definite moments where I felt completely out of my depth.

That said, this is still a stellar book, with detailed writing and impeccable research [I'd expect nothing less from this author], and I am left , amazed at 1. just how close we came to nuclear war with the [former] Soviet Union, 2. how diplomacy and a firm hand CAN work in one's favor when dealing with someone [even a world "leader"] who is acting like a petulant child, and 3. how thankful I am for the level heads that prevailed over the course of those thirteen days [given how fraught things eventually got and how much some really wanted war].

This read has really sparked an interest [for me] in this time period, and I will be reading RFK's book [a long with whatever else I can find] sooner rather than later.

Very well done: I highly recommend this book!

I received an audiobook ARC for this book and it was narrated by one of my favorite narrators, and he did an excellent job telling this story [I give him a billion stars for capturing the unique voices of both JFK and RFK so well]. I highly recommend this awesome audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jeff Shaara, Paul Michael - Narrator, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.