Rites of War

I've read just about every naval techno-thriller out there and although some reviewers whine that Mobley pushes the edge of "factual" possiblities, we ALL know that given human behavior and past national and foreign actions, nothing is REALLY impossible. What I like here are the characterizations, the people --- how they handle the ethical, moral, and human dilemmas and the overarching, awesome power and potential of technology, regardless of whether or not it is factual or possible. Hey, you have to keep SOME national security! What's crucial here is to suspend disbelief and ask, "When and if this happened, how would I respond?" One reviewer said the author tried too hard on the "women in the military" area. Again, ever been a woman in the military? Ever been a woman anywhere? It ain't as easy as it looks ... The tensions between the lead, Cmdr. Jerusaha Bailey, and the other characters are subtle and intriguing. And, believe me, they too are possible. Especially the woman to woman dynamics. Been there! I give it a BZ 2! Keep this one writing!

This novel is a fresh idea of how a future major (world) war might develop. My hat is off to the author for true political insight, and for integrating this insight to an exciting plot coupled with page turning action. Spasibo, Tovarishch!!!

Rites of War is one of the most riveting true-to-life novels of possible war scenarios and military intrigue that I've read--since Tom Clancy. C.A. Mobley is definitely a writer to watch, and I've already advance-ordered C.A. Mobley's new one, RULES OF COMMAND. Mobley is a phenomenon, in my opinion, because she writes better than anyone out there. Try Mobley's books!

This is one big bestseller of a novel! I started reading it thinking it was probably going to be a mindless journey but was hooked right from the start. Rites of War is one of the best military thrillers I've ever read. I started to suspect that Mobley was a Clancy pen name, it's that good.

Mobley's book is full of joys, from the detailed technical descriptions of subs and ships to the tension between "real" Navy and Naval Reserve folks. The author delivers on the nuances of life at sea while telling a story that grabs our attention from the first torpedo to the last near-miss. Jerusha Bailey is a character who is entirely human and at the same time worth following. She deals with international politics, post-Cold War realities, and the challenges faced by a woman in command. I loved it. Run out and read this--so you can tell your friends that you discovered Mobley before the name was synonymous with Clancy! I can't wait for this author's next book.