What is it about submarines that ignites my obsession? Ever since I caught a glimpse of Hunt for the Red October in 1990—my nine-year-old self glued to the screen—I’ve been hopelessly captivated by these underwater giants. I may not have donned a Navy uniform, but my respect for our service members runs deep. I’m a voracious reader, gravitating toward any book adorned with a submarine on the cover, seldom bothering to read the blurb before diving in. And don’t get me started on submarine movies; I’ll brave even the corniest plots just for a taste of that underwater thrill. So, once again, I find myself pondering, "What is it about submarines that fascinates me so?" Is it the intriguing elements of a spy thriller? The claustrophobic entrapment of deep-sea existence? These musings flooded my mind as I devoured Bloodline of Redemption by Brian Dickinson, which just launched today. If you’re intrigued at all, do yourself a favor and grab a copy ^[*] to support this inspiring debut.

Now, let’s roll into the plot: We have a rogue Russian submarine lurking in the depths, a buried Cold War grudge resurfacing, and a hunted American aircrew fighting tooth and nail for redemption, all while navigating treacherous waters across the Pacific and scaling the snowy peaks of the Cascades.