Splinter on the Tide

April 19, 2021
This enjoyable if tension-free sea adventure from Parotti (Fires in the Sky) spotlights a seldom-seen aspect of WWII—the escort ships that protected ocean travel along the U.S. East Coast from German U-boat attacks. Capt. Ash Miller, an earnest, hardworking seaman, takes command of a new sub chaser in early 1942 after surviving the sinking of his first ship. The untested Ash, previously an ensign, supervises an equally inexperienced crew. Together, they successfully steer thousands of ships to safe harbors, blow up mines planted by the Germans, and occasionally pick up sailors left in the water after their boats were sunk. They even run into a U-boat every now and then, dropping a depth charge or shooting at its periscope. The action is always brief and undramatic, and it all goes as planned for Ash. He eventually gets promoted and marries a great gal, who’s exceptional in the kitchen and hints at being good in bed, too. Some readers may wish for more conflict or that the waves were a little choppier for Ash and crew. Others will find this low-key thriller a refreshing change of pace.