cover image Hunt of the Sea Wolves

Hunt of the Sea Wolves

John E. Chadwell. CreateSpace (www.createspace.com), $10.99 trade paper (248p) ISBN 978-1-4637-6687-0

When terrorists commandeer a vessel shipping spent nuclear material, four brothers launch separate attacks against the West. After a cruise ship is destroyed by a nuclear weapon, the Department of Homeland Security puts together a team to stop the remaining three brothers. Chadwell%E2%80%99s debut%E2%80%94with its abundance of brutal but beautiful fight scenes and excessive historical and political exposition%E2%80%94is hampered by a lack of coherence and an underdeveloped narrative arc. The author is unafraid to show death from the gritty perspective of the dying and, as a veteran of the U.S. Navy, his knowledge of the subject adds tremendous detail and creditability. However, Chadwell fails to produce nuanced characters, and his attempts to give them emotional depth come across as halfhearted and read more like addendums. Unfortunately, the well-choreographed action sequences fail to adequately mask the barren emotional landscape, indulgent exposition, and unconnected plot lines.