Beard the Dragon

USS Bull Shark Naval Thriller Series, Book 11

By: Scott W. Cook

Narrated by: Dave Alexander

The line between heroism and foolhardiness is most often drawn in blood…

After recovering from a harrowing mission near the island of Timor, Art Turner and the crew of USS Bull Shark have healed their wounds and are ready to face Japan once more. As 1943 begins, Admiral “Uncle Charlie” Lockwood is finally ready to spring a deadly surprise on Emperor Hirohito and Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.

In April of 1942, Colonel Doolittle flew 16 bombers over Tokyo and showed Japan that America could and would reach out from across the sea to strike. Now, however, the Navy wants to send another message… a message that the United States can do more than strike from the air… they can rise from the depths to deliver fiery, bloody death in Japan’s most protected bastion!

Art Turner, along with some new faces, is about to take his boat where no other has gone thus far… up past China, past Korea and into Hirohito’s bathtub itself — the Sea of Japan. There he and his boat and an untried new officer will face their greatest challenge yet — to beard the dragon in his den.

Yet Bull Shark won’t be alone. Turner’s mission is not just to sink every freighter, tanker and Sampan that comes his way… he’s to make contact with local fishermen and smugglers to gain vital intelligence. Intelligence that may give him and his boat the tiny edge they need to deal Japan a terrible blow… and get out alive.

Hot torpedoes scream and guns thunder in this gripping new WWII Naval submarine thriller!

©2025 Scott W Cook (P)2025 Scott W Cook

Mr.Cook does it again!

Fantastic as always! His books have got me through some tough times this last year. If you haven’t started the series, I highly recommend it!!

The Gold Standard of Submarine Fiction This is easily the best narration I have ever heard. Grit Guts and Glory pan none.

Review: USS Bullshark (Audible Series)
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Gold Standard of Submarine Fiction
This is easily the best narration I have ever heard. In terms of engagement and grit, the USS Bullshark series is unmatched—though it certainly shares some incredible DNA with the Crash Dive series.

Emotional Stakes & Future Predictions
I am heavily invested in the fates of Art and the Bullshark. However, if the author wants to create a truly haunting, eternal impact, seeing a sister sub go down during a wolfpack mission would be an emotional wrecking ball for both the crew and the listener.
A Request for the Author
Please keep this series going with the same narrator! If the Bullshark’s journey does eventually end, I would love to see a new series featuring the USS Megalodon and Captain Jarvis.
Plot Idea: Send Jarvis on a high-stakes op to Argentina and a scouting mission to Antarctica to uncover what the Germans were up to in the 1930s. Imagine the Megalodon barely escaping Antarctica with German defectors, with their report serving as the "true" catalyst for Operation Highjump.
Keep them coming! 😎🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

the characters

The variety of different characters and what they brought to the story. And also the humor that was inserted throughout the story.

love art turner

a great dance story I have read it twice so far I can't wait for the next one thank you so much Scott

Story

close to true congrats! but extremely interesting and informatived for us non sibmarimers
hoping to see a continuation
from argentina