If you are a fan of World War II history, you will love this book. Even if you aren't a World War II fan, you will love this book. It is written like a novel and flowed perfectly. I was hooked immediately and enjoyed every page. The story of the Indianapolis is told in vivid detail from both the American and Japanese side. The officers and crew were fleshed out and the ship was described in such detail it felt like you were there.

There is nothing dry about this book. It is very well written and very readable. I highly recommend this book.

I am ashamed to admit that I knew nothing of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during World War II until I saw a documentary on it during Shark Week on Discovery Channel in 2007. Years of history classes...many on the two world wars....for a college degree....and I knew nothing about the most disastrous sinking in US Naval history. Most stories about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis focus on the sharks that attacked both dead bodies and live sailors in the water after the sinking, but this book focuses on the entire story, not just the dramatic survival parts. Information on the ship, its officers and crew, the war, its mission just before the ship was torpedoed, the men who died and the survivors who floated in the ocean for four days before being rescued. The intent of the authors is to present the information necessary to prove that Captain Charles McVay III was not at fault. Captain McVay was court martialed after the sinking, but later pardoned. His naval record was wiped clean decades later after his death.

The authors definitely did a lot of research. The facts are presented in an interesting and detailed fashion, while still being respectful of the Sailors who lost their lives in the sinking. This book dispels a lot of rumors and misinformation caused by movies and television shows. For example, the sharks did not appear for a couple days after the sinking not instantly as portrayed in a recent movie. The animals were lured in by the scent of corpses and injured sailors in the water. A majority of the deaths after the sinking were not due to shark attack. About 300 men went down with the ship. 900 went into the water. After dehydration, injuries, salt poisoning, lack of food, exhaustion....and sharks....took their toll on the survivors, only 316 sailors survived. The book also explains why Captain McVay was not zigzagging the boat at the time it was torpedoed, and why it took four days for suvivors to be rescued. The Indianapolis had just completed delivery of top secret war materials (uranium and materials for the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan) so it's position and orders were secret. Nobody knew where the ship was and when it was supposed to return to port except for a very, very few people. It took days for them to realize the ship was even missing.

Very interesting book! I enjoyed hearing the entire story. I never knew the ship was severely damaged by a suicide bomber just months before a torpedo sank the ship. I never knew why the captain was not zigzagging, as ships were usually directed to do to make it harder to target them. Because I learned about the sinking initially on a Shark Week documentary, I thought most of the men in the water were attacked by sharks. Not true. Some were, but most died of exposure, exhaustion and untreated injuries.

All in all, a great, very informative book. I will definitely read more by these authors!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Great read, gripping story, more detail than other books on this subject. Highly recommend! Looking forward to reading more from these authors.

This book is so good. I need to qualify this review by stating that I am not a fan of "war" books. I selected this because I love history and the legal aspect of this story interested me.
This story is so well told. Despite the large number of people involved the author does an excellent job helping you keep them all straight which also helps you really get to know and care about them as individuals. Beyond that, this entire story from start to finish is a tale that desperately needed to be told. I realize there are other books about this incident and I have not read them, but the amount of research and work that went into writing this must have been immense. Beyond that, you can tell by how this is written that this was a labor of love and telling this tale was a true passion.
Such an important tale, so well told. The tragedy, resilience, tenacity, heartbreak and in the end ultimately a long-awaited triumph to right a long-standing wrong. Hats off this all of these men, in the same vein of "unbroken" what these men, dead and alive, endured is unthinkable and their story deserves to be shouted from the rooftops. I hope this is made into a movie because goodness knows not enough people read these days and this story deserves to reach audiences far and wide.

Book Review: Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man
by Lynn Vincent, Sara Vladic

Many famous books have been written about the sinking of USS Indianapolis. Movies too. Richard Newcomb, author of "Abandon Ship" was the first to realize that an injustice had occurred with respect to the ship's commanding officer, Charles B. McVay III. Of all captains in the history of the U. S. Navy, McVay is the only one to have been subjected to court-martial for losing a ship sunk by an act of war. McVay was posthumously exonerated in 2000.

Doug Stanton, author of "In Harm's Way", was the first to interview scores of survivors, then write a "survival story" that focused on the ordeal the men faced while adrift at sea.

Co-authors, Ms. Vincent and Ms. Vladic, in a lifetime's epic endeavor spanning sixteen years, assiduously narrates the ship's mission, the survival story, and the trial, scandal and exoneration of the ship's captain, all based on well-researched "primary sources". Plus, the inside story of how a superspy shepherded the core of the atomic bomb sailing on the Indy into its final assembly in Tinian, a first we are told.

Were the writers equal to the task? A third of the story is focused on the exoneration, legal proceedings and court records, and a fourth of the volume on appendices.

Neither first nor original, but overall the product makes for compelling reading, far beyond historical reportage, a well-written, chronologically-arranged "human naval history" that brings out feelings and emotions, and places the Indy and her sailors, once again, in proper historical context - one of the worst sea disasters ever.

Review based on an advance reading copy presented by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster.

5 stars

A wholly American ship, she was built between 1930 and 1932. She first sailed in 1932 and was christened the USS Indianapolis. By 1945, the Indianapolis became master of the seas from Pearl Harbor all the way to Japan. The end of the Pacific War was fast coming when she was tasked with a top secret mission at the end of July to deliver the core of the bomb that was to fall on Hiroshima. Her commander was Captain Charles B. McVay. Four days later, the Indianapolis was struck by two Japanese torpedoes and she went down. Three hundred men went down with the ship. Nearly nine hundred made it into the sea. Only three hundred and sixteen men survived the harrowing tale of endurance, determination and sheer luck.

What follows in this remarkable tale is the story of the Indianapolis’ war in the Pacific. It tells the story of the grit and determination of Admiral Spruance, the sharp wits of Captain McVay and the bravery of her men. It also tells of McVay’s court martial and the fifty-year battle to clear his name. It speaks of the lack of the Navy’s ability to admit their responsibility in the disaster, the survivors’ struggle to survive in the water against all odds in a sea surrounded by sharks and the loyalty of the surviving men to their Captain is joining the fight to clear his name.

This is an extremely well-researched story. The two authors did everything in their power to tell the real story of the Indianapolis – from her birth to her death. It is written in a clear and concise manner, not in overly technical or legalese in language. It is easy for anyone to read, whether an historian or a casual reader who is interest in the Indianapolis’ history. It is a wonderful book and very informative and interesting. I am glad that I read it. Of course, I’ve seen the Spielberg film about the ship and have seen the Jaws film where Robert Shaw speaks his immortal lines.

I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for forwarding to me a copy of this most remarkable history to read, enjoy and review.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

Lynn and Sara have written an amazing account of the sinking and horror experienced by the officers and men of the USS Indianapolis in World War II. Their research is in-depth and expansive while cutting to the salient facts in the telling. I have been interested in the tale of the Indianapolis since seeing the movie of the disaster, and subsequent reading of the novel “Abandon Ship.” Their book brings to life the reality of the horror, fear and bravery of the men who called Indianapolis home during those dreadful days.

The mistakes, negligence and lack of accountability is a story unto itself as the Navy refuses to acknowledge their part in the horrors the men experienced. The fate of Captain McVay, the last commander of the Indianapolis, is a discussion that could go on for a long time as he becomes the only Captain to undergo a court martial whose ship was sunk.

The history of the survivors is fascinating as the men try to continue with their post-war lives. Their efforts to clear the name of their Captain is touching and the loyalty to him and their fellow ship-mates heartwarming.

The writing is clear, concise and addictive. I lost more than one night’s sleep reading this wonderfully crafted, thoughtful book.

Many many thanks to the incredible authors Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC of this tour de force read. It was extremely well researched-much of it through the mouths of those who lived through that horrific experience. The authors became part of the survivor’s family and strove to know them as people, not just in order to get facts for the book. I loved the afterwards sharing so much information about the survivors and their families. My dad, who was a sailor on the USS Lexington, had told me about it when I was a young girl. I was so intrigued I went to the library and took out a book about it. When I heard about this book I was so excited to read it. I could not put it down because the men came alive for me as I read their stories. These brave heroes went through so much trauma - during and after the sinking, especially Captain Charles McVay, a true hero who was made a scapegoat. It saddened me that the Navy actually court marshaled him, ending his esteemed career and ultimately his life.
I strongly encourage everyone to read this just released very exceptional book!

I couldn’t put it down — of course I had to to sleep, bathe, etc. but it is a page turner. I think I’m usually good at figuring out endings but I was blind-sided this time. It’s a terrific story dealing with social media, marital betrayal and of course a possible murder who done it. I

This book is a true story about the U.S.S Indianapolis on a secret mission to deliver the atomic bomb in hopes of ending WWII. After the mission is completed, the ship is hit by torpedoes fired by the Japanese. Indianapolis tells the story about what happens to the remaining crew while they were waiting to be rescued during their five days in shark infested waters. It also depicts how the government held Captain McVay responsible for the sinking of the ship and the deaths of hundreds of men. The men who served under McVay were very loyal to him and they knew the government was wrong in their assessment of what happened. Because of great loyalty, Captain McVay was exonerated. It’s just a shame that McVay died before the government exonerated him.
The author did tremendous research on this book and it was wonderfully written.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

When I first heard about this book, I immediately knew that it was going to be outstanding! Indianapolis is filled with impeccable research that takes you through the lives of those men who gave their all. The stories told from survivors will instantly change your life!

I received a free Kindle copy of Indianapolis by LynnVincent and Sara Vladic courtesy of Net Galley  and Simon snd Schuster, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book as  I read a couple of other books on the events surrounding the sinkng of the Indianapolis, but this one carried it forward to the present day.  This is the first book by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic that I have read.

This is an extremely well written and researched book. The subtitle is an accurate depiction of the contents of the book - The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man. This book reads more like a piece of fiction than history making it an engaging and interesting read.

The book covers the events leading up to the sinking of the Indianapolis, the stories of the crew adrift while waiting for resuce, the rescue effort, the hearings after the war and the long fight by the crew to exonerate their captain from blame for the events that occurred. It also points out the inflexibility of the Navy in admitting that they made a mistake even after Congress cleared the captain of any wrongdoing.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a comprehensive h

5+++ Engrossing and Informative Stars!

From The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 1798 - "Water, water everywhere, And all the boards did shrink, Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink."

U.S.S. Indianapolis - She was an old girl....just back from repairs after sustaining grave damage from a 1944 kamikaze suicide attack...now, with a new (very) young and inexperienced crew....now, an unescorted, unprotected cruiser (useless against subs) was on the way back from a new mission....a highly classified special mission....having delivered a mysterious secret cargo....the components for Little Boy.

It's July 30, 1945 just after midnight...Captain Charles B. McVay is 47 today; and Submarine Commander Hashimoto cannot believe his luck as a bit of moon peeks out from the clouds. He can now see a black shape, he dives and slams two torpedoes into the unsuspecting Indianapolis.

Destruction is Catastrophic and chaos ensues aboard Indy; many die upon impact, others are severely burned or wounded. The order is given....Abandon Ship!

In the water....5 days and 4 long nights, with the constant swells of the Philippine sea, the men are spread out over great distances, but some join together in circular groups. Shark attacks, screams of pain, fear of no rescue, dehydration and few rations lead to dissension among the men. Some drink seawater causing hallucinations, swollen tongues and painful death. Madness turns to fights, blood, more sharks and unspeakable acts, but there are also times of camaraderie, prayer and heroism.

Even with Indy overdue, the rescue of the remaining 316 of 879 was indeed fortuitous as there was much incompetence and outright stupidity by navy personnel; and after a farce of a court martial and tortured life for McVay (OMG the phone calls and letters) survivor's were so outraged that together, with the help of eighth grader Hunter Scott, and William TOTI (Captain of a modern-day sub, Indianapolis) they worked tirelessly to clear his name.

"It is not right for one man to bear all the blame for the mistakes of so many others."

In 2017...72 years later, explorers got their first look at Indianapolis wreckage 3.5 miles below the surface.....an amazing find. (how in the world did I miss this news?)

The well-researched INDIANAPOLIS reads like a novel, and Lynn Vincent does a superb job of giving the reader a personalized view of various crew members and their loved ones as well as illustrations of the ship, rescue operations and survival groups in the water that lead us all the way to a well-deserved posthumous exoneration for Captain McVay. So much information here....So well written....Highly Recommend!

Charles B. McVay, III - July 30, 1898 - November 6, 1968.

Many thanks to Simon Schuster via NetGalley for the arc COMING JULY 10, 2018 in exchange for review.

Exceptional non-fiction account of the greatest naval disaster in US history -- there were more lives lost in the sinking of this ship than any other in American history (only 316 of the 1195 aboard survived).

Part of the book's great appeal is that the story is so multi-faceted, relating the Indianaopolis's last secret mission (carrying parts of the nuclear bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima), the torpedoing of the ship, the ordeal of the men who survived the sinking only to be adrift at sea for nearly 4 days before being rescued, the rescue operation, and the subsequent court-martialing of the captain and the 50-year attempt to clear his name.

The book is not only a page-turner, but is that rare book that you can't help but tell others about. And although other accounts have been written of the Indianapolis, this is a must-read -- the definitive account-- as it includes recent developments and more details from interviews with survivors than have ever before been compiled.

I've read several books on the story of the Indianapolis but this one covers a more in depth account of the history before during and after the sinking. Lives were lost but miraculously many survived. I'm in awe of the five days of survival in shark infested waters, the strength of the men that "held on". I'm also astounded by the time it took for the sinking to be realized. Also the court martial of Captain Charles McVay was a shame and a disgrace. I'm saddened to know that he passed away before he was cleared of the charges brought against him. But at least his two sons knew. He was blamed for not making radio contact but how could he when the Japanese torpedo destroyed all the equipment. It took fifty years for that to be recognized and just this last year remains of the ship were discovered. My father in law served in the navy during WWII, so anything relating to that time period is so interesting to me. Those that survived the sinking of the Indianapolis as well as those that survived the war is a true testament to the human spirit.
I received a complimentary ebook copy of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley.

Reading the book you can tell the tremendous amount of research that went into it. I didn't know much of the history of the Indianapolis prior to reading this book so for me it was an education. Nice to also see some of the human side of some of the Japanese military and the way they copped with the war. Hard to believe the manner in which the crew from the Indianapolis managed to survive that many days in the water. I think many of us would have lost courage and taken the easy way out by no longer holding on. These man including their captain where real heroes and should have been treated as such instead it turned into a real witch hunt to discredit and blaim the captain. It made me sad and mad that the brass in the Navy who should be the example to what or military stands for resorted to lies and covering up the truth in order to protecting their own mismanagement of information that if having acted upon could have avoided the disaster from happening. Even later after the ship had been sunk had even one person of many acted upon the receving of information so many more lives could have been saved. In a lot of ways this book is a real eye-opener. It isn't an easy book to read but well worth it.

This book is amazing! I am obsessed with the story of the U.S.S. Indianapolis because "Jaws" is my favorite movie and that is where I first heard about this tragic event in our history. Listening to Quint tell that story in "Jaws" gets me every time. Because of that, I read "In Harms's Way" by Doug Stanton and I recommend that book all of the time. Now, I will also recommend this book all of the time because the authors have provided such a captivating, detailed account of what happened to this ship, its captain, the men serving our country and their families.

Its a true story about the U.S.S Indianapolis on a secret mission to deliver the atomic bomb in hopes of ending WWII. After the mission is completed the ship is hit by torpedoes fired from Japanese submarine. What happens next is a story of survival and bravery until the men are rescued about 5 days later. The government essentially held Captain McVay responsible for the sinking of the ship and the deaths of hundreds of men. However, because of the fierce loyalty the men had to their captain, as well as many other people who recognized the governemnet's error, Captain McVay was exonerated, sadly, much too late.

There are so many parts of this book that I found heart warming and you could tell the authors were trying to do this story justice. I couldn't believe that the Japanese captain responsible for sinking the ship was so helpful to get Captain McVay's record cleared. What really touched me was that the authors listed all the men who served on the ship towards the end of the book. I felt like I was visiting a war memorial site as I read this book. It was so well written and I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Shuster, Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic for sending me an free electronic ARC of this book.

Most people today know the story of the Indianapolis, if they know it at all, from the movie Jaws. While hunting a great white shark, boat captain Quint tells Hooper and Brody of being on the Indy (as she was known by the crew) when she sunk, sharks circling until the men were pulled from the water after delivering "the bomb". The full story, told here for the first time, is much more complex, dramatic, and heartbreaking. Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic do full justice to the story of the Indy, her crew, and her captain in this new book, The Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man.

Vincent and Vladic have done incredible, in-depth research with only primary sources- including speaking with survivors- to piece together a saga every bit as gripping and full of personal drama as the sinking of the Titanic or Lusitania. The stories of the crew, how they lived, how they came to be on Indy in the first place, their families and plans for the future connect you to them intimately. Indy's final, famous mission was a series of coincidences and Naval negligence from first to last. Originally she was not slated to carry uranium for the first atomic bomb, but due to damage from a kamikaze strike she was in California finishing repairs and called into action because of the sterling reputation of her captain, Charles McVay III. After successfully delivering the uranium, Indy was slated to travel to Guam for training. Despite knowing there was submarine activity in the route McVay was to take, he was told by authorities the route was safe, and given no escort. The recounting of the torpedo strikes, the sinking, and the five nights the survivors spent in the water are told in a straightforward piecing together of memories. No additional drama is needed to make the tale emotional, dramatic,, and viscerally terrifying and heartbreaking.

The story of the Indianapolis does not end when the 316 survivors were pulled out of the water. Vincent and Vladic follow the crew back to the States, and then all too troubling tale of the courtmarshal of Captain McVay for negligence in allowing his ship to be sunk. It took over fifty years and an amazing amount of intense battling before this injustice was rectified and McVay's record cleared.

Thoroughly researched and deeply moving, the story of the Indianapolis is a tale of courage, strength, and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. Despite Vincent and Vladic's prose occasionally falling victim to non-fiction book's tendency of dramatically foreshadowing what is to come (the typical "it was a mistake they would soon come to regret" type of chapter ending) and the fact that they can't seem to go more than three sentences without using similes or metaphors in describing anything, The Indianapolis is a well told, compelling story.

Fans of Erik Larson's Dead Wake will appreciate the attention to detail not only from the American point of view, but the Japanese as well. An absolute must-read for military history buffs, naval history buffs, or anyone curious about the story behind the tale told in Jaws, The Indianapolis is a powerful, fast-paced, emotionally moving, account of the greatest disaster in U.S. naval history.

thank you net galley for an advanced reader copy of this novel. This was a well researched novel full of not only details but of the humanity affected. I wanted to keep reading to find out the how's and what of what happened so long ago. Great read for fans of history!

This non-fiction book reads like a novel!
It had me coming back again and again, and staying up late to get to the next section. I learned a lot and really enjoyed myself.

Obviously, being about a ship sinking and men lost at sea in shark-infested water, there are parts that may be disturbing to some with squeamish stomachs.

I would highly recommend this book to history lovers (or really anyone) over the age of 13.