Jeff Shaara’s historical novel “The Shadow of War” imparts much information about the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Those desiring a “primer” on that 13-day event may find the book somewhat helpful. But those hoping for a good novel may be very disappointed. I know I was.

Most of the historical novels I’ve read tell stories about fictional characters during an important event or time in history. Sometimes those fictional characters interact with notable historical figures (as in Herman Wouk’s “Winds of War/War and Remembrance” saga), and sometimes they don’t (as in Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind.”) But “The Shadow of War” employs, almost exclusively, historical figures as fictional characters. President Kennedy, his brother Robert, Nikita Khrushchev, and the cabinet members, aides, and military men who served them take up almost the entirety of the novel.

Those characters spend most of the novel engaging in lengthy conversations, many of which are devoted to imparting information to readers rather than to creating absorbing dramatic scenes. And Mr. Shaara employs equally long narrative descriptions about the events of the crisis. The result is a book that is didactic in the extreme. I often found myself wondering whether I was reading a non-fiction history instead of a novel. I never was made to feel like I was in the midst of the story’s events and I never experienced any of the emotions (the worry, the fear, the anxiety, the anger) that many Americans felt during the crisis.

Moreover, I was never sure what was real and what was fiction. Did the Kennedy brothers and Khrushchev engage in the conversations Shaara sets forth? Or the internal ruminations he depicts? Or are they simply the product of his imagination? Yes, the major events of the crisis are set forth, as are many of the political, diplomatic, and military considerations that might/must/could have been at play. But I had trouble discerning what was actual history as opposed to the author’s suppositions.

I also had trouble believing Mr. Shaara’s characterizations of the Kennedy brothers. Of course, I never met either brother. However, I’ve seen news reports and documentaries and read various non-fiction books and articles that have portrayed the nature of their relationship as well as the style of their conversation. Mr. Shaara’s characterizations seemed at odds with the historical record.

Bottom line? For me, the book just didn’t work. Then again, other early readers/reviewers have given it high marks, so my assessment could very well be wrong.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my independent opinion.

Wow, I just finished Jeff Shaara’s new book “The Shadow of War: A Novel on the Cuban Missile Crisis”, I could not put it down. I was a small child in 1962 when the world as we know it almost came to an end. Despite knowing what happened (and many of the details) I found myself at times almost paralyzed with fear with just how close we came to a nuclear war. I kept coming back to how fortunate we were as a nation to have had President Kennedy at that time. He was the cool head in the room full of military brass who were willing to go to war in Cuba and hope that it didn’t mean the end of mankind. I remember hearing stories from my parents of the fear that they had and the plans to go to the north woods to try and stay safe (almost as foolish as those who build bomb shelters in their backyards). But we do what we think we must.

But what strikes me even more is wondering what the outcome would have been if someone else was President at the time, or if Khrushchev was not willing to back down. Having a leader who has empathy and compassion is so important in a time of crisis. I urge you to take the time and read it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've read one other book from the author, an historical fiction novel about Theodore Roosevelt that I liked, but didn't love. I think part of the problem is that I know so much about TR that reading a fictional account of part of his life was a little weird for me. But that's my hang-up.

I liked this novel going through the events that led up to the Cuban Missile Crisis much better, even though like Roosevelt, I've read and watched countless books and documentaries on the Kennedys.

I thought it was interesting to have multiple POV: Robert F. Kennedy, Nikita Krushchev, and some fictional man who lives through what had to be a very scary time for Americans.

As someone who has read a lot on the subject, I could tell when conversations were taken from actual recordings or other documentation. That didn't detract from the story, however. A good solid read.

I read Michael Shaara’s Killer Angels in college, and discovered how historical fiction could make history more understandable, even exciting to read. Jeff Shaara has followed in his father’s footsteps by authoring several novels in the historical fiction genre. Putting characters in historical WWII battles, the Korean War, the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War opens the imagination to what these conflicts could have been like.
The Shadow of War doesn’t quite make the grade as a historical fiction novel. Perhaps that’s because the Cuban Missile Crisis is from recent history, in my lifetime, and shouldn’t have to be imagined. Why not go with the straight facts? Surely, records of the tense deliberations between Kennedy and his staffers exist.
Perhaps it’s these records Jeff Shaara relied upon to write this book. But instead of painting a broad picture to flesh out scenes and dialogue, I’m left wondering, did it really happen like that?
Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy of The Shadow of War: A Novel of the Cuban Missile Crisis, in exchange for my unbiased review.

@StMartinsPress #NetGalley #TheShadowofWar #JeffShaara #CubanMissileCrisis #JFK #1960s

"The Shadow of War: A Novel of the Cuban Missile Crisis, published by St. Martin's Press (who provided me with an ARC for review purposes), and written by Jeff Shaara was something of a revelation to me. I have read most of his formidable canon as well as his father's iconic text, "The Killer Angels." and this is the first time that a comparison of the father and the son fairly leaped from the page. What I mean is, in this book, with its intensely familiar subject matter and cast of characters, Jeff Shaara seems to capture some of the fire which illuminated his father's famous book on the Battle of Gettysburg. That is a very high bar to reach, but in his use of real historical characters like John and Robert Kennedy as well as Nikita Khrushchev, and in the way he explores their shared and warring assumptions about their actions and motivations he captures the complex interplay that his father captured in "The Killer Angels." It is difficult to put this book down, not least because I can remember the events it describes as they played out in my own life (yes I am that old). The shared humanity of the protagonists and antagonists in this book is startling, and it produces an almost jolting effect on the reader as they grasp the point. The point is, of course, that our common humanity erases and trivializes the causes we quarrel about amongst ourselves when placed beside the monstrous possibility of something like thermonuclear war. This is, I think, a high point in Jeff Shaara's career as a writer. History is more vivid in his imagined fictional narrative than even our most accomplished historians could hope to make it. Reading it is like reaching an epiphany as everything comes together in a cohesive narrative to reveal the shared but deeply flawed humanity at its core.

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for an early copy of The Shadow of War by Jeff Shaara

Author Jeff Shaara's The Shadow of War may be a work of fiction but reads like a play with ever-present dialog moving the reader to the moment of ultimate confrontation with stakes never before apparent in human history. Whether one has a recollection of the events of
October 1962 or confronts the Cuban Missile crisis only in a history book, this is an account of the facts revealed through not only main characters President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev but support personnel Robert F. Kennedy, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and members of the Russian leadership as well.

Shaara begins and ends the novel with Robert Kennedy as he works tirelessly to support his brother and organizes the Excomm group of advisers who will decide the nation's fate.. They will rue the Bay of Pigs debacle and move to set the United States on a new course of toughness when it is discovered that Russia is assembling weapons of mass destruction in Cuba, much to the delight of a power-crazed Fidel Castro. The back-and-forth dealings between the United States and Russia will keep the reader turning the pages.

A parallel story focuses on history teacher Joseph Russo, a Florida resident who like so many Americans does not understand the extent of the danger and the position the world is in. Jeff Shaara shares a surprise regarding Joseph Russo at the end of the novel.

For all the power that the leaders of these countries hold, it will be the insight offered by a Russian of the younger generation that will tip the balance and convince the Nikita Khrushchev to abandon the Cuban mission.

On a personal note, after reading the text of the bulletin, I went to You Tube to listen to President John F. Kennedy's speech to the American people on October 22, 1962, outlining the events in Cuba and stating the demands the U. S. made to Russia in order to avoid a war. A youngster at the time and unable to understand its significance, I am grateful to Jeff Shaara for bringing this all-important historical novel to readers everywhere.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

This was a very informative book about the Cuban Missile Crisis, mostly told through the eyes of President Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. I had heard of this time in history, but I did not really know much about it. Jeff Shaara writes in a very understandable, engaging style. i would recommend this book to all students of history. I plan to read more books by Jeff Shaara. I like to read and learn about history, and I think he has become one of my favorite historical authors.

A very interesting and informative read. I love history and reading about true events and this book was filled with insights I wasn't previously aware of. I found it very enjoyable.

Jeff Shaara is a master at historical novels and telling the stories behind what the history books tell us. This one details the Cuban Missile Crisis and is a very interesting read for anyone interested in Kennedy history or simply the history of our country and why we are where we are at today. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I learned a lot about the time period and the events that shaped that portion of Kennedy's presidency.

Mr. Shaara hit this one out of the ballpark. Absolutely best telling of the Cuban missile crisis that I have read. His research was stellar, and his telling of the story was awesome. It is a true author that can write and make you feel like you were right there in the living room listening to the press release during Jackie Gleason or in the submarine deciding if they were just telling us they were here. I was only 6 years old, so my remembrance is what I heard tell from my family the years after, and I don’t think they ever really knew the true threat we were in.

President Kennedy and Bobby did it the right way, they did not create a true panic among Americans, they kept it as need to know. What could we have done; we have to have trust in our leaders. In the situation we have, in spring 2024, this book is so relevant. One small catalyst can ignite a keg. And I do not have that trust at this moment.

Terrific book, highly recommend if you want a really good historical read.

St. Martin’s Press along with NetGalley provided this Galley edition for no requirement other than my offer to provide an unbiased review. This one comes in with high 5 stars.

Jeff Shaara and his father are well known for writing riveting historic fiction that provide a deep dive into real events making them interesting to even non-history lovers by adding fictional pieces (dialogue and character bits). The best known are Jeff's book, Gods and Generals, and his father's book, The Killer Angels. The Shadow of War (St. Martin's Press 2024) deals with a less-known but no less important event to Americans (and really, the balance of power in the world), the Cuban Missile Crisis. The US's new young president, John F. Kennedy, is thrown into the deep end of presidential responsibilities as he is tasked to cope with a saber-rattling nuclear power--the Soviet Union--off our southeastern coast hopefully in a way that didn't end in war. The dynamics had a lot to do with the leaders involved, Kennedy and Khrushchev, as well as the American power players who made everything happen--Bobby Kennedy, Dean Rusk, Robert McNamara, and more, names that history will never forget. Not only was President Kennedy untested, guided by similarly untested people, he was also coping with America's Civil Rights struggles, the lack of trust by many for a Catholic president, and the downing of the U2 spy plane.

This is a fascinating inside look at what the conversations might have been that led to what in the end stopped just short of everyone's red line. It is recommended for those who enjoy military history, especially events that haven't been overwritten.

Shaara has written a well done historical fiction that tackles the Cuban Missile Crisis. This is the first book I’ve read that focused on this event. Shaara starts over a year in advance giving us the background to see it wasn’t a singular event, but one more block in the Cold War. It follows from The Bay of Pigs to the building of the wall in Berlin and on. And it wasn’t the only issue Kennedy was managing, as Civil Rights confrontations were heating up across the south.
Alternating between the US and Russian perspectives, we often see the same event from both sides and from those in a position of power right down to the common man.
It doesn’t paint Jack Kennedy as an accomplished president from the get go. He is having to learn on the job and knows it. He recognizes that he makes mistakes. Meanwhile, Khrushchev is trying not to repeat the mistakes of Stalin while still maintaining a firm grip on power.
Even knowing how this ultimately played out, that we averted a disaster, I was surprised at how well Shaara conveyed the sense of tension and how caught up in it I was. I really appreciated how detailed the discussions and thought processes were. The characters are all names I knew, but this was the first time I got a real sense of who they were and what stance they took. It was interesting to see how both Khrushchev and Kennedy had to be the calm in the center of the storm, as many on both sides were ready to begin WWIII. I was so impressed by the ability to foresee how the dominoes would fall.
I couldn’t help but be impressed by the difference between the news realm of then and now. I can’t imagine the various news outlets of today agreeing to hold off on reporting until after a president had spoken to the American people.
This is a deep dive into the situation and how it played out. This ticks off all my desires for good historical fiction - to teach me something, to tell a good story and give me an insight into those involved.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

The Shadow of War by Jeff Shaara
A Novel of the Cuban Missile Crisis

I was six years old during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and these are some of the things I remember from that time. Having drills in school where lines of kids had to squat down and hide our heads against our knees or crawl under our spindly legged little desks to protect ourselves from a nuclear attack. My mother being glued to the TV news every time it came on each night. Her obsession with the news was so strong nothing could keep her from watching. After reading this story I can understand her obsession as I see the worried father, Joe Russo, agonizing over the things happening as he watches his neighbor building a fallout shelter so that his neighbor and family can live through a nuclear war while those around him die. It was the next year's event that I understood a bit better as a kid. Everyone being lined up outside of school as we are told that the president had been shot and we were being sent home.

This historical fiction starts with the end of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and leads us into the Cuban Missile Crisis, putting us right there with President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and the others involved in the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM). We see things from many POVs, those of John and Robert Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, Florida teacher, father, and husband, Joe Russo, among others. At first I wasn't sure why we were seeing things from Russo's POV until I realized his POV was that of my mother and father. Watching TV and reading the news, knowing only what is being told to them, being powerless to stop those in power from making the wrong choices and destroying everyone. As scary as it is from that POV, it's just as scary seeing things from the inside. Watching John Kennedy mid term campaigning and then hopping into a car to get updated on the latest happenings allows us to see just how urgent the situation. Nuclear missiles ninety miles from the US, with the capacity to reach more than halfway across the US, knowing that Khrushchev is being pushed to not negotiate with the US, and problems on the home front, are just some of the worries of both Kennedys.

I appreciate that this book allows me to see what was going on in a way that is understandable and in a "you are there" way. Reading the history books about the Cuban Missile Crisis can put me to sleep despite how serious that time was in our history. Now I have a much better understanding of what was going on around me at school and at home back then and what was being done to prevent the human devastation of a nuclear war.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St Martin's Press Influencer program, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I love all of Jeff Shaara’s books, he is a master storyteller. I felt like his previous book on Roosevelt did not quite capture the Shaara magic. (However, as I noted in that book, a lesser Shaara novel is still leagues above all other available books.). I am happy to say this book has magic aplenty. It is unputdownable! I learned a few things I did not know before and clarified some hazy memories as well. This is an outstanding book that will be a bestseller!

I was all of ten years old during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and so only have vague memories of that time period. What two things I do remember are the great sense of unease that gripped my parents and those of my friends, and learning how to duck under my school desk in the event of a nuclear blast. I’ve not read any histories of that period, and as I’ve enjoyed many of Mr. Shaara’s prior novels, thought I would give The Shadow of War a try.

Written in Shaara’s usual style of alternating viewpoints of historical figures, the novel is told mainly from the perspectives of Bobby Kennedy and Nikita Krushchev., with other minor figures making appearances. Starting with the Bay of Pigs debacle, the book details the evolution of the crisis and observes JFK’s growth as a leader through this period of history.

I do have two minor complaints about The Shadow of War. The first is the continued repetition of the various arguments made by JFK’s advisory committee throughout the many meetings they had. For this reader, it was truly annoying. The other concern was the, at times, completely unrealistic dialogue uttered by different characters at various times in the novel. It was almost as if they were making speeches in the course of conversation.

Overall, a very good look at a moment in history when we came oh so close to a nuclear holocaust.

My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the novel.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I don't typically read historical fiction that takes place after WWII, and, with the overwhelming focus on that era in the publishing industry right now, I try to avoid WWII in general. However, I have a great admiration for Robert F Kennedy, so when I saw that his was one of the points of view included in this book, I decided to go for it.

It's difficult to write a book about avoiding war and maintain the kind of suspense that comes from action, but I could appreciate the tension on every page. Could the Americans trust the Russians? After all, they did try to set up a secret nuclear base just off the Florida coast. Could the Russians trust the Americans? After all, they acted like the Russians were on the offensive while having their own weapons pointed across the Black Sea. "Some would say we are engaged in a negotiation, but you do not negotiate the end of the world." And what if some random soldier made a rash decision that threw them all into WWIII? It's certainly scary to think about how many times our future has teetered on a point like this.

I've listened to a couple of Shaara's books on audio, so I didn't realize his habit of writing sentences with collections of fragments like, "He spun the mower around again, his careful geometry, dodged a small tree, a breath of breeze blowing grass clippings over his bare legs." The dismissal of basic grammar was a bit jarring, but I started to get used to it being his style.

I did gain an appreciation for the Russian point of view in this book, but the endless meetings & repeating the same arguments and what-ifs got a bit overdone. It was neat that Shaara injected his father into the book through the character of Russo, and I wish he had played a role that added something to the story.

The insight into the Kennedy brothers' interactions and devotion to peace was moving at times. I also appreciated the nods to speechwriter Ted Sorenson. "American history books are full of praise for presidents who win great wars. A word should also be said for those who prevent them." It's difficult to read about Jack or Bobby without wondering what could have been if they weren't both tragic victims of the violence they worked to prevent. If only we saw that kind of striving to do what is right and good in modern leaders. What would the Kennedy brothers think of what we have done with the world they saved for us?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of The Shadow of War. Opinions are my own.

As a young child, I remember hearing about the Bay of Pigs (1961) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). Although I didn't know what these events were, I did observe that the grown-ups seemed worried about them.

I'm embarrassed that my knowledge about both international incidents remained at that level for about 60 years. However, because I'd thoroughly enjoyed Jeff Shaara's book about Theodore Roosevelt ("The Old Lion"), I decided to remedy my ignorance by reading his novel about the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis, "The Shadow of War."

I found it to be well-written and compelling. I remembered the names of almost all the historical figures-- except for the spies, of course. Chapters alternate between President Kennedy and his team and Premier Nikita Kruschev and his.

This would have been a much different world had cooler heads not prevailed. I venture to say we might not have recognized it.

I highly recommend "The Shadow of War." If you're a birdwatcher and have even the slightest interest in Theodore Roosevelt, you'll want to read "The Old Lion" as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am providing an honest review.

I would like to thank Net Galley and St Martins Press , especially Stephen Erickson, for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This is an historical fiction novel about the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was 8 years old in 1962. I went to Catholic School, and we were told that when the Communists invaded, they would kill the Catholics first. I will never forget this time, although I did not understand the political maneuvers and machinations behind this 2 weeks in October. This is a well written, well researched book. Jeff Shaara combines the points of view of the politicians, the soldiers and everyday people. It brings to mind those days, and the feelings in the United States. And yes, we did believe that if we did the "duck and cover" , we would be safe from a nuclear bomb. For me, it soes not have the edge of seat, gripping feeling, but that may be because I remember it all too well. I also liked the afterword, which gave a followup on the principal players. I really enjoyed this book.

Jeff Shaara’s The Shadow of War, covers a very brief but intense period in history when the threat of nuclear war was escalated by Russia moving to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. The book is primarily told from the perspectives of Bobby Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, viewing the standoff from opposing perspectives, trying to understand the mindset of each other. I have my same gripe that I did with the other book I read by Shaara told from the perspective of Teddy Roosevelt. I never settle in to reading the story told from the point of view of such well known historical figures. I think taking this on requires doing it really well and thoughtfully, and the focus seems to be more on conveying the sense of urgency these men felt in the circumstances they were dealing with. Which were undoubtedly intense. But also a reminder of how stupid we can all be. The Russians repeatedly lied about what they were doing with the hope that they could get it done and operate from the position of “no take backsides”. And the Americans couldn’t understand what I view to be the very fair argument the Russians had about the nuclear weapons pointed at them in Turkey. An argument that you’re protecting your allies doesn’t negate the fact that you don’t want to face the same threat you’re willing to impose on your enemy. The book is also a chilling reminder of the threats increasingly being thrown around again, with no guarantee that the people in power will be in the same position to want peace and a future for the generations that could follow (because of course if we all blow each other up there may not be future generations). I understand Shaara’s incorporation of other people and how they view the events unfolding from the perspective of a person not in authority to make decisions, but it’s more disruptive to the POVs of Kennedy and Khrushchev than beneficial. The story is good in that for historical fiction it addresses an event that isn’t written about often, but it feels like it needs more polish to me.

The Shadow of War gave some really good history about Cuba, about their relations with the US and about the march of communism throughout the world during the Cold War. There was also a lot of insight about the Cold War – both sides – and how it impacted the ordinary US citizen.

IMHO this book was not as good as To Wake the Giant (about Pearl Harbor) but still enlightening. I could have done with fewer discussions between the Kennedys as most of them were either repetitious or simply expressing ineptitude. But they were probably valid. It was a scary time. I was in college then so I remember it very well.

I enjoyed the book and will recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for an early reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.