The Black Bullet

By: Tom Lowe

Narrated by: Michael David Axtell

Glenda Lawson believes her husband was the only US serviceman shot and killed on American soil during World War II. But in 1945, investigators ruled that Billy Lawson died in a “mugging turned ugly.”

Sean O’Brien is learning the ropes of commercial fishing when he gets his anchor caught on something underwater. He discovers a German U-boat partially buried in sand, and inside is a frightening cargo. The media pick up the story, and a 35-year-old woman who has a haunting tale visits O’Brien. Her grandfather, Billy Lawson, was fishing one night on a Florida beach when he saw something very disturbing.

The Black Bullet is a thriller that combines an unsolved murder from 1945 and a modern-day discovery connected to America’s entry into nuclear weapons, the Manhattan Project. The last thing Sean O’Brien wants is to investigate a 67-year-old murder. But Billy Lawson’s granddaughter and his cancer-stricken widow are desperate for closure. For O’Brien to bring it to them he has to pry the lid off a secret buried with the Manhattan Project. It’s information that got Billy Lawson killed, and O’Brien soon learns the old murder and his new discovery at the bottom of the sea are inextricably knotted. O’Brien is thrust into a world where nothing is as it appears, and everything is riding on a secret Billy Lawson took to his grave.

©2012 Tom Lowe (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Action and more

Spies, detectives and fishermen make for an exciting story. The author did a great job, as well as the masculine voice of the narrator keeping me so involved with the story as the mysteries unfolded.

Great book!

I really enjoyed this book! The author told a great story and closed it up nicely (i.e., you do NOT have to buy another book to find out what happens)? I recommend this book!

Interesting premise, under researched

The basic premise, highly enriched u235 aboard a U Boat listed as scuttled today, had great possibilities, but for me was spoiled by a lack of basic knowledge of how the government reacts in these circumstances. The author either did not know about, or ignored, things like NEST, Nuclear Respnse Teams, destroyers, Naval air assets in nearby Jacksonville, Jacksonville Swat, Daytona, Swat, Coast Guard ships and air, and many other resources that would have been used at the first credible evidence of fissionables. Even before Islamic extremists
loose nuclear material was a big deal.

The possibility of the buried cache gave plenty of plot room without the need for storage lockers, while permitting a more realistic government response.

Great narrator

We listened to this book while on a road trip… The story was engaging, and the narrator was excellent at telling the story and performing the many roles. Well done!

Great Story, Beware A Bit Graphic

Would you consider the audio edition of The Black Bullet to be better than the print version?

Yes as reader brings all the characters to life. This is my 2nd book in this series, got Butterfly Forest on a daily deal, and loved the reader and went looking for more. That book had the opening teaser of this book. This is a very creative author and reader brings out all that the author wanted.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ms Max was my fave. Loved the way author brings her in at just the right time. Our hero, of course and David's role was significant.
This READER is EXCELLENT

Which scene was your favorite?

All the times Ms Max is talked about. This character soften some of the hard core facts of real life and some of the graphic scenes in this story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This author had my heart racing when the 2 college kids had dialogue and both took action in their own selfish way. This author has a way with a story to evoke great emotions and feelings. I am not sure I want to feel all that this author wants to expose. I will have to consider if I want more reads from this author as it was as stimulating as one could ask for in a good mystery.

Any additional comments?

If you love a good long tale and mystery, this author is for you.
Note: I am a core Romance listener and not yet fully ready for real graphic scenes.