Devil’s Fire, Southern Cross

The Conclusion of the Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign, October 1943–February 1944

By: Jeffrey Cox

Narrated by: John Chancer

Bloomsbury presents Devil's Fire, Southern Cross: The Conclusion of the Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign, October 1943-February 1944, read by John Chancer.

A fast-paced and absorbing read of the final months of the crucial Guadalcanal-Solomons campaign during the Pacific War by esteemed World War II historian Jeffrey Cox.

This page-turning history examines the closing months of the vital campaign which ultimately determined the successful conclusion of the Pacific War for the Allies. But it had not been a smooth process. The campaign continued in fits and starts with both the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy making crucial errors.

But as the pendulum of war swung, there was one distinct advantage to the Allies. This was the successful efforts by the United States Army Signals Intelligence Section and the Navy Communication Special Unit to monitor, intercept, decode and translate Japanese messages. It was thanks in part to this intelligence breakthrough that victory was secured at the Battles of Empress Augusta Bay and Cape St. George as well as the bitterly contested Bougainville invasion. But it was also due to improvements in strategic and tactical doctrine on the part of the US Navy, so much so that the Battle of Cape St. George was dubbed the almost textbook-perfect battle.

At the start of the Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign the US Navy was the underdog. By its conclusion, US naval commanders had come of age. Combining first-rate scholarly research with a novelist’s flair for the dramatic, Jeff Cox concludes his brilliant quartet on this key campaign.

©2025 Jeffrey Cox (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Great research

Had no underdog the scare of the effort until this. Excellent addition to the history.

encyclopedic presentation

overwhelmed with details, numbers and witticisms that betrayed several biases. The book would have profited by including personal stories of the individuals you mentioned. all I know for sure is their name and their squadron number.

Great detail and narrative

Excellent book. Author provides rich detail about operations. Does a great job of building tension and suspense.

A bit disappointed

While this is a well-researched book, I found the flippant/joking remarks and the five minute ancient history story to be a bit too distracting to give this book a better rating. The reader mispronounced words were also a bit distracting. In addition, while Mr. Cox has written other books and should know better, a CA is a Heavy Cruiser and a CL is a Light Cruiser, not vice-versa.

Solid, enjoyable, but a bit flippant at times

I enjoy Mr. Cox’s work quite a bit and this is the first book I have wishlisted before its release. Cox’s writing style has always done a good job of weaving humor into factual works in a way that makes history entertaining. I feel like this time, however he leaned into that humor a little too hard and the result is a little off putting at times.

That said, there is clear research and passion here, so the material is good and informative. Worth the listen for sure, but prepare to roll your eyes here and there.