Reviews
"What distinguishes Indianapolis from many previous books on this tragic voyage is the placing of that storied warship in her proper historical context. This is a brilliant, highly readable, and ultimately groundbreaking account of a proud ship's life and times, not simply a rendering of her tragic ending. Absolutely superb." --James Stavridis, U.S. Navy Admiral (Ret.), Supreme Allied Commander at NATO (2009-2013), and Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, "Simply outstanding . . . Indianapolis is a must-read . . . Sea battles, adventures, the secret mission to deliver materials for the assemblage of the atomic bomb to the Pacific Islands, tragedy, disaster, an epic ordeal--sharks included--in the open ocean, courtroom drama, political intrigue, and the uphill battle by the band of survivors to exonerate the ship's captain will all have readers unable to put this book down. . . . Vincent and Vladic have produced a tour de force of true human drama." -- Booklist (starred review), "Sharks, torpedoes, deadly secrets . . . In Indianapolis , Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic expose what really happened that day in 1945 when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the Navy cruiser." -- New York Times Book Review, "Our hearts quickened while racing through this page-turning book, as if it were us who had just plunged from the port-side rail of the listing USS Indianapolis into the inky, shark-infested waters of the Western Pacific. You may think you know the story of the worst seafaring disaster in the history of the United States Navy. You would be wrong. As Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic's propulsive narrative segues from wartime action-adventure to riveting courtroom drama, their newly unearthed mountain of details encompassing this tragedy and its shape-shifting aftermath will not only enhance your understanding of the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of the American sailors so evocatively portrayed in Indianapolis , but shine a light on their dogged pursuit of truth and justice. It is astonishingly rare when such a significant work of history also brings tears to your eyes. Vincent and Vladic's ultimate tale of redemption accomplishes just that feat." --Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthors of Halsey's Typhoon , The Heart of Everything That Is , and Valley Forge, "Vividly detailed . . . In a brisk, fact-based narrative, Indianapolis mixes horror and scandal. . . . With diligent reporting and sharp writing, Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic have accomplished a daunting chore facing writers of historic nonfiction: take a story whose outline is known to the public and craft an account that is compelling yet comprehensive." -- Los Angeles Times, "The voices of the Greatest Generation come alive in Indianapolis . Through first-person accounts we hear horrific stories of fear, pain, and anger but also of resilience, hope, and courage. Stories of the friendships the sailors forged with each other on board and the sacrifices they made for each other in their darkest hours are inspirational. Ultimately, Indianapolis is about the sacrifice these men made for our country at a time of unparalleled risk and of their lifelong search for justice for the captain of their ship. It's a beautifully told and incredibly detailed narrative that brings this famous disaster to life." --Kate Andersen Brower, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Residence and First Women, "This is an absorbing book. The attention to detail is superb, the clear result of lots of plain hard work. Yet the detail doesn't get in the way, but rather serves, along with a driving narrative, to get the reader as close to experiencing this most tragic episode of World War II as is possible without living through it. The book is hard to put down." --Karl Marlantes, New York Times bestselling author of Matterhorn, "Valuable and illuminating. Vladic and Vincent's work brings to life the history of this valorous and extraordinary ship." --Doug Stanton, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of In Harm's Way and The Odyssey of Echo Company, "The story of USS Indianapolis is movingly and vividly captured in this visceral account, the result of more than a decade's research and interviews conducted by its authors. . . . This is an eye-popping book, with as many twists and turns as an airport thriller. . . . Vincent and Vladic's extraordinary book morphs from high seas adventure to courtroom drama and congressional hearing. . . . It is a work of serious naval history and a detective story, told with passion." -- The Times (London), "Enthralling . . . Meticulously researched . . . A gripping study of the greatest sea disaster in the history of the U.S. Navy and its aftermath." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review), "Haunting . . . Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic do a fabulous job of bringing this tragedy to life and setting it in its proper context." -- Christian Science Monitor, "It was the worst sea disaster in U.S. naval history and Indianapolis , by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic, tells the grisly story without flinching. Their tale has almost everything. There's a secret mission, an honorable enemy and a scapegoated captain. There's madmen, heroes and cannibals. There's enough in this tale for several movies." -- San Diego Union-Tribune, "Simultaneously a gripping narrative, a convincing analysis, and a pitiless exposure of institutional mendacity . . . The systemic oversights and misjudgments that enabled this tragedy remained obscure until this investigation, which drew upon new sources clarifying how the file was amended. This exposé will be valuable for scholars and general readers alike." -- Publishers Weekly, " Indianapolis is a gripping and emotional read. You may know part of the story from the famous speech in Jaws , but this book goes far beyond that. The product of extraordinary research, it is a brilliant, stunning, and stirring book." --Don Winslow, author of The Force and The Cartel
