SHARKMAN SIX

A heartfelt opening vow by Lt. Gavin Kelly not to lose any of his men during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia sets the tone for this strong first-person novel about peacekeeping. The young Marine finds himself dealing with reporters, warlord gangs, and restrictive rules of engagement as he leads his platoon on a mission to feed Somalis. Lee Sellars makes both Kelly's inner struggles and the horrors around him real and gripping. There's lots of bloody action, but this is not a thriller--Owen West strives to re-create the experiences of Marines in a hostile land. Both writer and narrator succeed in making this novel compellingfrom start to finish. J.A.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]