MWSA Book Review

'Sweeps

Author:  Stephen Haywood Brown

Publisher:  PublishAmerica

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

Navy Story Inspired by Actual Events in the Vietnam War

Author Stephen Brown takes actual events from the Vietnam War in 1972 through 1973 and turns it into a well written action novel called “Sweeps.” It is based on a little known U.S. Naval operation off the coast of North Vietnam that provided a role in bringing home our 571 POWs. The author was actually involved in these real operations and so his writing carries a little more clout and delivers a very well told and entertaining story.

Their ship’s secret mission to Haiphong Harbor to “sweep” the port of mines was linked with the release of POWs, however, that is just the background for the story. The characters and the dialog and other events unfold in a style that keeps you concerned and focused for the safety of the crew. There is plenty of suspense, a little humor and enough action to make this a very satisfying read.

There have been many books written about the Vietnam War but very few about what our Navy ships were doing off the coast. Even though the storyline itself is fictional most of the facts about this operation ring true and mirror some actual historic facts. The author does a great job telling this story and for an old Army guy like me, it was an education and history lesson.

If you like stories about naval history, or warfare, or just wanted to learn something totally different about the Vietnam War, then Brown’s book is something you should put on your reading list!

The author uses just enough salty language at times to remind us that he was a Sailor. The book is for mature readers.