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Shop nowThe Devil's Waters
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Learn moreA giant freighter in the Gulf of Aden holds secret cargo that could bring down the governments of four nations. When Somali pirates grab the ship, the order comes down: get the freighter back, at all costs.
Only one combat group is close enough to respond before the hijacked freighter reaches Somali waters: the elite US Air Force pararescue unit—the PJs—stationed in Djibouti. Though their mission is to save lives, and their oath is “That Others May Live,” the PJs are battle-tested. The team doesn’t hesitate because one of their own, Sgt. LB DiNardo, is already onboard the hijacked ship.
LB has three tasks: provide intel on the pirates, stay alive until the team arrives, and withstand the humiliation of breaking the PJs’ cardinal rule: Never be the one who needs rescuing.
At the head of the pirates is the shrewd and ruthless Yusuf Raage, a clan leader who will sacrifice anything and anyone to keep his captured ship. The PJs have a mere hour to take down the ship before the Air Force blows it up. Even if they survive the wrath of Yusuf Raage, more secrets and danger await them.
David L. Robbins currently teaches advanced creative writing at VCU Honors College. His exceptional talent is displayed through ten action-packed novels, including the classic War of the Rats, Broken Jewel, The Betrayal Game, The Assassins Gallery, and Scorched Earth. An award-winning essayist and screenwriter, Robbins founded the James River Writers, an organization dedicated to supporting professional and aspiring writers. He also co-founded the Podium Foundation, which encourages artistic expression in Richmond’s high schools. Robbins extends his creative scope beyond fiction as an accomplished guitarist and student of jazz, pop, and Latin classical music. When he’s not writing, he’s often found sailing, shooting, weightlifting, and traveling the world. He lives in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
Reviews
“The Devil’s Waters is a gripping thriller marked by explosive close-quarters action, authoritative depictions of an elite Air Force pararescue unit, and ingenious plot twists. Robbins is a masterful storyteller.” —Dan Mayland author of the bestselling The Colonel’s Mistake
“A great novel entertains and educates. The Devil’s Waters does both, brilliantly. Robbins has the mind of a scholar, his eye for historical and cultural detail is simply extraordinary. Military jargon rips across the pages with authenticity and spontaneity. Nothing is forced; all is real. America’s finest and their foreign enemies are not stick figures, but full-bodied men with all the passions and foibles of real people. Many books have been written about the remarkable courage and daring of America’s Special Forces. None have depicted the Air Force’s PJs, its elite unit of pararescuers, in such detail or captured their quiet courage and selfless devotion to duty like this remarkable novel.” —William S. Cohen, former U.S. Secretary of Defense
“On target! The Devils Waters impacts the reader right from the start mixing the realities of today’s combat with fast-paced fiction. Robbins’ ability to deploy you with a team of pararescuemen into a plausible yet extreme scenario is unmatched. Nobody builds complicated characters and situations better than him, and who could be more complicated than American Special Operatives with the mission not to destroy or kill, but to save lives and aid the injured? Fire for effect, Robbins, and keep ‘em coming.” —Lt. Col. John McElroy, USAF Combat Rescue Officer
“Using the ticking clock and life-and-death stakes, Robbins keeps the tension high throughout. Amid the action, he provides descriptions that border on poetry…Readers of The Devil’s Waters will lift off on the thrill ride they expect of this genre. But they will also get nuanced storytelling, and they will learn about a corner of the U.S. military not often portrayed in fiction.” —Tom Young for the Washington Independent Review of Books
Praise for David Robbins:
“Compelling debut…That Robbins can write as gauzily as an angel is perfectly clear.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Brilliant storytelling by an author who continues to grow and impress, and who, here, seems in complete control of his material.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Intricately plotted, insightful and deeply affecting…With empathy and beautiful prose, Robbins succeeds at evoking the vagaries and triumphs of the human heart.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Robbins has crafted an epic and compelling story…He has also successfully put very human faces on the soldiers, pilots, partisans, and tankers who are the protagonists. This superb historical novel is strongly recommended.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“Robbins has an uncanny ability to provide just the right amount of historical detail without overwhelming the plot. This talent, coupled with superior characterization and a masterful, direct writing style will provide thriller lovers with one of their best reads of the year. The powerful climax deserves the term ‘heart-stopping.’” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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