Hunt for the Peggy C: A World War II Maritime Thriller

(Hardback)

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John Winn Miller's THE HUNT FOR THE PEGGY C, a semifinalist in the Clive Cussler Adventure Writers Competition, captures the breathless suspense of early World War II in the North Atlantic. Captain Jake Rogers, experienced in running his tramp steamer through U-boat infested waters to transport vital supplies and contraband to the highest bidder, takes on his most dangerous cargo yet after witnessing the oppression of Jews in Amsterdam: a Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution. The normally aloof Rogers finds himself drawn in by the family's warmth and faith, but he can't afford to let his guard down when Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, a brutal U-boat captain, sets his sights on the Peggy C. Rogers finds himself pushed to the limits of his ingenuity as he evades Brauer's relentless stalking, faces a mutiny among his own crew, and grapples with his newfound feelings for Miriam, the young Jewish woman whom, along with her family, he must transport to safety. In the end, Rogers makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the people he has grown to love - he uses his beloved ship and the highly explosive fuel it is carrying to vanquish Brauer for good. THE HUNT FOR THE PEGGY C is a masterpiece laced with nail-biting tension and unexpectedly heartwarming moments that any reader, not just fans of naval fiction, will enjoy.

Reviews

"The tumult of World War II is an endless source of inspiration for crime fiction and historical authors, but it takes a lot of dedication to craft a story that not only feels true to the era but gets readers to engage with the characters and the things they represent. That's where the effort has been focused in The Hunt for the Peggy C, a maritime thriller and debut novel for John Winn Miller. Miller is no stranger to writing. He's a veteran journalist who has worked in the US and Europe. He's also written scripts and been involved in four film productions. All of that experience has gone into The Hunt for Peggy C, and then some...It's got battle action, suspense, brutality, and a love story. Are you ready Sound the foghorn..."
--Crime Fiction Lover, by Co-founder Garrick Webster, Touting the Peggy C on His Rap Sheet Along with Cormac McCarthy's Latest

"EDITOR'S PICK: This superior maritime thriller finds an American captain smuggling Jewish refugees as Nazi prowl. Great for fans of: Nicholas Monsarrat's The Cruel Sea and Alistair MacLean's HMS Ulysses."
--BookLife (Publishers Weekly Offshoot)

"In this World War II novel, an American captain of a cargo ship gets paid to smuggle a Jewish family to safety and ends up doggedly pursued by Nazis... It is a dangerous mission given that the 'heartless sea' is swarmed by 'trigger-happy U-boat captains," a perilous situation thrillingly portrayed by author Miller... The action--and there is no shortage of it--is electrifying. Further, the author's knowledge of the relevant historical material--in particular, the naval aspects--is extraordinary... A captivating, action-packed thriller that's historically astute."
--Kirkus Reviews

"The settings are immersive. The interactions between members of Rogers's crew are rich and entertaining... Captain Rogers evolves as a leader ... Miriam is a vibrant secondary character... The novel's suspense increases thanks to the simmering threat of mutiny. Moving through unpredictable, dramatic twists, its tension is resolved via gripping action scenes and moments of sacrifice, helping to make The Hunt for Peggy C a riveting historical thriller about the risk that a steamer captain takes at sea for the sake of duty and love."
--Foreword (Clarion) Reviews

"John Winn Miller is a writer I appreciate: longtime journalist (like me), and now a novelist with great attention to detail (also like me). We even share a publisher (Bancroft Press, which initiated my movie review book, VIOLENT SCREEN). Based on his maiden novelistic voyage with The Hunt for the Peggy C, I see smooth sailing ahead for John in his new career."
-- Stephen Hunter, NYT Bestselling Author of Game of Snipers: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel, and Pulitzer Prize Winner for (Film) Criticism

"All-round, a fantastic story that is highly recommended to all adults, young and old. FIVE STARS". -- READERS' FAVORITE

"The Hunt for the Peggy C is a vivid inspection of moral, ethical, social, and political changes set against a thrilling backdrop of confrontation and revelation that will reach not only historical novel readers, but those typically attracted to thriller and action stories. Library collections on the lookout for vivid World War II accounts and lively plots will find The Hunt for the Peggy C a winning attraction." --Midwest Book Review

"Miller's scenes are so vivid readers will wonder if they are reading a novel or watching a movie."--Independent Book Review

"A rare book indeed! A very well-researched and informative tale about an often overlooked place and period in history, yet the story never gets lost in the details. Instead, this is a tense, fast-moving, and stirring account of men called upon to overcome about the most daunting situations imaginable."
--Don Keith, Author, Warshot, Only the Brave, and numerous other works of WWII History

"Pack your seabag and prepare for adventure! This exciting tale is a page-turner from its opening line and will leave the reader breathless with all the action. This is a must read for historical naval fiction lovers!"
--Matt Zullo, Retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and author, "The U.S. Navy's On-The-Roof Gang" Series

"THE HUNT FOR THE PEGGY C is an extraordinarily good read. In fact, it's not just the best book I've read in two to three years, but is reminiscent of THE NIGHTINGALE. The PEGGY C story is intriguing and clever. The author's in-depth research is much in evidence, with many facts scattered throughout, which are interesting and lend authenticity. This is an outstanding work by Mr. Miller and I anxiously await a sequel."
--N. Thomas Rice, reviewing on Booksirens.com

"The Hunt for the Peggy C shows us the Battle of the Atlantic from an unusual perspective, that of the ordinary sailors who faced death from the guns and torpedoes of Hitler's U-boats. Miller takes us on an adventure from the Channel to the Eastern Mediterranean, as an obsessed U-boat commander pursues the equally obsessed captain of a tramp steamer. It's a story Bogart and Bacall would have been proud to star in."
--Dr. Robert Farley, Author of The Battleship Book

"Kudos to John Miller for this riveting and suspenseful tale. I was on the edge of my seat reading it! Impeccably researched, this intense sea chase has at its heart a wonderful love story that will keep you glued to your chair until the very end! I could not put it down until I found out how it was resolved. I highly recommend this book!"
--Robin Hutton, Author, The NY Times Bestseller, SGT Reckless: America's War Horse

"The Hunt for the Peggy C is a tour de force of historical research that has pace, clarity, suspense, fascinating historical data woven in with the narrative, and perhaps most importantly, heart."
--Chris Evans, former Random House Editor and Author of A Darkness Forged in Fire and Of Bone and Thunder

"The Hunt for the Peggy C delivers action, excitement, and romance from the very first page! Amazing in-depth research buttresses this exciting tale of believable people facing unbelievable odds. Occurring during a period of history that few know about, the story both thrills AND educates! Recommended--this is a good one!
--Roger Maxim, Author, The Long Gray Target

Author Bio

John Winn Miller is an award-winning investigative reporter, foreign correspondent, editor, newspaper publisher, screenwriter, movie producer, and novelist.

As a reporter at the Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader, Miller was part of a team of reporters that wrote a series that helped trigger educational reform in Kentucky. It won the Society of Professional Journalists'1990 public service award, top honors from Investigative Reporters and Editors, the first $25,000 Selden Ring award, and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

He also was a reporter at the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal/Europe; executive editor of the Centre Daily Times in State College, PA, and the Tallahassee (FL) Democrat as well as the publisher at The Olympian in Olympia, WA, and the Concord (NH) Monitor. In 2012, he was elected to The Associated Press board of directors and selected as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize for the second year in a row.Miller, a Lexington, KY native, has also produced four films, including Band of Robbers, written and directed by Adam and Aaron Nee (who recently wrote and directed The Lost City). He and his wife, Margo, live in Lexington. Their daughter Allison Miller is an actress-screenwriter-director currently starring in the ABC series A Million Little Things.