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.

I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. The author includes voices from all sides of the Cuban Missile Crisis, greatly adding to my understanding of the event. It wasn’t simply the “dad fiction” I was anticipating. There was a great deal of personal detail and drama showing that events with tremendous international impact often come down to the very human decisions of a few individuals. This was fascinating and involving historical fiction, and i would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Cold War.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was engaged the entire time even though I know it turns out. I appreciated the multiple points of view and thought it was very nuanced overall. Great narrator!

Thank You to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jeff Shaara for the advanced audio book! I leave this review honestly!

Another great book from Jeff Shaara! I enjoyed learning about a time period that is somewhat relevant to my family as my father was in the 101st Airborne and almost went to Cuba during Bay of Pigs. This was a fascinating book with a narrator that brought these characters to life.

It's a 4 for me! Thanks so much!

Informative and well researched. I enjoyed hearing more about the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. I found the different points of view to be an interesting way to get different angles of history. Born in the 1980s, I was not alive during this time period, but nonetheless, it was not yet covered in my history classes. Having read Fallout by Steve Sheinkin, I did not go into the book completely ignorant. However, my understanding on the topic was greatly enhanced by this title.
I will continue to read Jeff Shaara's books. My boys are huge fans of his father's original title on Gettysburg and the son's continuation of the series. However, I have one qualm with the writing that I did not previously have. That is the current trend to capitalize Black and not White. Both, not one or the other folks. In my opinion this is an agenda that I would not allow as a writer from my publicist.

Thank you goes to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

Excellent narration and fascinating inside look at the two weeks in October 1962 when the US and USSR were at the brink of a nuclear war. So many of the real life people are memorable even today, especially Kennedy and Khrushchev. I learned so much about this time and was mesmerized throughout. . The narrator was great.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Jeff Shaara, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

A long-time fan of Jeff Shaara, I was quite eager to get this ARC audio of his latest novel. Those familiar with the author will know that he mixes historical accounts of some military or political situation with varied perspectives of the event, both well-known players and civilian. Shaara tackles the Cuban Missile Crisis in this book, which explores the heightened tensions between the Kennedy Administration and Soviet Premier Khrushchev, pushing the world to the brink of nuclear war. Told with intensity on all sides and keeping the reader on edge throughout, Shaara shows once more why he is at the top of the genre.

As the pressures of the Cold War mount, US President John F. Kennedy seeks to quell the communist sentiment in the Americas. His plan, led by a overly confident CIA, is to invade Cuba and take out its leader, Fidel Castro. When the Bay of Pigs turns out to be a massive failure, Kennedy is left wth egg on his face and trying to recover, as the CIA distances itself from its bad intel.

Focussing on the weakness of their mortal enemy, the Soviets look to take advantage and heighten their power base. Premier Nikita Khrushchev seeks to make a radical move by placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, pointed at America. This mirrors the placement of nuclear missiles in Turkey by the Americans years before. This move will have to be secretive and completely off the radar, so as to keep the Americans from reacting until it is too late. Khrushchev tries to entice the Cuban leader by showing that this will be a protection for his small island nation.

When news of the missile building makes its way to the Kennedy Administration, they are livid and demand that. the missiles be removed. Khrushchev refuses to stand down, citing the need and threatening to use force to show his power. The Kennedy-Khrushchev showdown over a period of thirteen days leads to what would almost certainly have been nuclear war and disaster.

All the while, American professor Joseph Russo watches through news coverage how the US tumble in Cuba, but turn things around during the standoff. Russo explores his own views, as well as those around him, to better understand the civilian angle to the Cuban Missile Crisis. While there is no clear knowledge of the intensity of the events between Kennedy and Khrushchev at the time, Russo offers up the naïveté of public sentiment until everything was done and the missiles left the Cuban territory. A gripping story told from many angles, Jeff Shaara leaves the reader in awe at how history took such a turn over such a short period of time.

Jeff Shaara is a master at the unique narrative presentation that fuels all of his books. Exploring a historical event with political and military undertones and providing views from many sides, Shaara tries to offer a complete story. His narrative is fueled by fact and uses direct quotations to add depth and the fiction flavouring of the story. As the story gains momentum, there is a push to discover unknown aspects to the Cuban Missile Crisis, found in the research aspect and civilian perspective of the story. Shaara’s strong storytelling brings the book to life and keeps the reader enthralled.

While books based on historical events make it harder to develop plot points that have surprises, Shaara does not fail here. He does well to build up the tension and keeps the reader wondering by added lesser-known storylines in the larger piece, as well as grounding things through the civilian aspect. Shaara’s able to keep the surprises and the unique angles while also making sure that he sticks to the history and leaves the soap box preaching for others.

While I do not usually comment on the narrator of audiobooks, I would be remiss if I did not mention Paul Michael’s work on this piece (and all other Shaara novels I have listened to over the years). Michael breathes life into the story with the accents, clear narrative delivery, and strong variety of pacing. I love Shaara books even more because Paul Michael is at the helm, leading me through the story.

Kudos, Mr. Shaara, for another stunning piece of history that comes to life.

I am in my Cold War era. This is the second or third book this year set during the Cold War. This one happens to take place during the stressful 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
While I’ve read Michael Shaara, this is my first book by Jeff. I will need to read more. This was a novel, and in some ways, it read like nonfiction because I often felt I was a fly on the wall in the Oval Office and Moscow. How did he do that?! Of course, I know how it ends, but I still felt some stress when Kennedy got correspondence from Moscow or when the U2 was shot down.

Paul Michael narrates. He does a fantastic job distinguishing between characters; I thought there were multiple narrators!

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the advanced Audio for a book on my 2024 must-read list.