A Ship Possessed

Amazon blurb:The USS Triggerfish--an American World War II submarine--has come home over fifty years after she was presumed lost in the Atlantic. Now her dark gray hulk lies embedded in the sand of a San Diego beach, her conning tower barely above the breaking surf. The submarine is in the wrong ocean, her crew is missing . . . And her half-century absence is a mystery that's about to deepen. For the Triggerfish has returned, but she has not returned alone. Something is inside her -- something unexpected and terrible. To J. D. Stanton, retired Navy captain and historian, falls the task of solving the mystery surrounding a ship possessed. What he is about to encounter will challenge his training, his wits, and his faith. Complicating his show more mission is a ruthless madman bent on obtaining a secret artifact stolen from the highest levels of the Nazi regime. And poised in the middle is a young woman, a lieutenant who must contend with invisible forces she never knew existed. A Ship Possessed is a story of faith, courage, and determination in the face of unexpected and unknown evil.

I found this paperback in a used bookstore in North Carolina, in a mixed fiction box on the floor. It was the cover that drew me in. I am a sucker for a submarine story. The Hunt for Red October, Crimson Tide, Below, U851... I have watched so many. But it was the mention of Nazis that sealed the deal. I was also intrigued that it was printed by Zondervan publishing house. Of all the Christian Fiction genres, I do enjoy action and thriller the most, so I decided to give it a chance. It really surprised me how much I enjoyed the story. I remarked to myself several times how well I thought it was written, how much I was engaged with it and where was that bloody Nazi? He finally showed up, as all madmen do. I will look for more Gansky to read! show less

When the diver, who was introduced to the reader and given a short backstory, was torn to pieces two pages later by the submarine motor driven by demonic forces, and in his own POV to make it more bloody, this book seemed more like a horror story than anything else. I fail to see how reading about demons and supernatural forces committing violent acts is helpful to me. Is this supposed to help me grow in my faith? The scene with the spirits visibly backing up evil men with guns had a Christian theme, but using worldly means to do it. It all comes down to this being a horror story, and if I had known that, I would not have picked it up.

When the diver, who was introduced to the reader and given a short backstory, was torn to pieces two pages later by the submarine motor driven by demonic forces, and in his own POV to make it more bloody, this book seemed more like a horror story than anything else. I fail to see how reading about demons and supernatural forces committing violent acts is helpful to me. Is this supposed to help me grow in my faith? The scene with the spirits visibly backing up evil men with guns had a Christian theme, but using worldly means to do it. It all comes down to this being a horror story, and if I had known that, I would not have picked it up.

You can read my full review on my blog, decemberjoy.wordpress.com

A Ship Possessed takes place off the coastal shore of California and the main character of the book is a ship, the USS Triggerfish. The Triggerfish was a submarine that disappeared back in World War II…but is now back, fifty years later! The arrival of the submarine is full of mystery. What happened to it and where was it for all those years? Better yet, why has it returned? These are the questions J.D. Stanton, a retired Navy captain, is asking. But as he begins his investigation, he is drawn into a whole new world that involves the spiritual; something that Stanton has never encountered before.

The story Alton Gansky created is very engaging and it keeps the interest of show more the reader. I found myself drawn into the story and in the mystery of the ship and those who were aboard her when she disappeared. Throughout the story, Gansky kept the mystery alive by delaying the inevitable opening of the submarine. The suspense of the story was also enhanced by the past which was told in increments; enough insight to guess on possible scenarios but not enough information to know if your assumption would be the correct one.

And yes, there were creepy parts…those paragraphs that made you look around your room, just in case. Not enough to terrify me, or to overshadow the possible reality of the story, but an ample amount to keep the supernatural part intriguing. Weird noises, changes in temperature, and seeing things one minute that were not there the next are but a few examples of the haunting of the Triggerfish. show less

I liked the book. Can't imagine why I've avoided reading it for so long... It must have been hiding :-)

The navy, an ancient submarine, greed for power, evil powers, war, with those ingredients this cocktail of a book was written.