Rating: 
Summary: Real life sub stories
Review: Captivating at times, but lacking a final punch this book traces mostly undercover sub ops from the middle of the century until today. What the book lacks in a strong ending it makes up with very interesting stories and a good dose of background information in the last pages.This book caught my eye because the stories seemed credible (they are) and because it brought the cold war alive with its many stories of Soviet-American underwater cat-and-mouse play. I recommend it to all interested in reading about undercover sub ops.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read for anyone interested in submarines
Review: I submit this review simply to register 5 stars for this book. I defer to Wayne Smith's review (below) as a better review than I could write. I would simply add that the true stories cover the span from the late 40s to the days of Perestroika (late Reagan years), with notes that go beyond. Hence, we witness character-based submarine espionage transition from "primitive" diesel subs to the very best nukes we've got. That historical progression adds a very meaningful element to the book. I'm glad these guys spoke up.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! A nonfiction book that reads like an action thriller!
Review: I never have been much into "war stories" or political nonfiction, but picked up this book mainly due to an interest in submarines. Although it was a little slow in places (the discussions of the "behind the scenes" politics of the Navy didn't interest me much), the majority of the book very easily held my interest, so much so that I stayed up way too late for several nights reading it. If you have any interest in submarines, or particularly in the development of the technology in these remarkeable machines, you'll definitely enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Ho hum
Review: The authors obviously did a great deal of research. It's too bad the book reads like a USAToday article. The was so much potential here and then they wrote a simplistic story of a very compicated situation. What a letdown this book is.
Rating:
Summary: The Action and Adventure are Real....Thrilling and Moving
Review: This book is a series of long vignettes about submarine spying and operations during the Cold War. That these collections of stories are able to be told are a testament to the author's research and abilities to remove submariner's from their oaths of silence. The fact that they are writing about still classified events means Blind Man's Bluff lacks a central story line or continuous chronology. The authors could only relate those events that participants chose to disclose and describe. Thus, the book is very episodic as oppossed to being a neat history of the subject. That being said, the stories are fascinating and moving. Thank a submariner the next time you run into one. These men risked (and still risk) a cold and silent demise in pursuit of their missions -- missions that contributed greatly to ensuring that the Soviets would not be tempted to go nuclear during the cold war due to our constant ability to keep ahead of their technology, strategy and tactics and general war fighting ability. The stories are thrill rides of missions in Soviet waters, collissions between U.S. and Soviet subs, the loss of both Russian and American boats (with all hands), and close to shore cable tapping by our navy that is as breathtaking as anything Tom Clancy could dream up. The authors do sometimes go overboard in their "breathless" writing as some of the other viewers write, but I found this only a minor annoyance. The stories of the men and machines themselves are the focus and the authors write them well. (The only thing that nagged me through the book was the realization that so many of our naval personnel were willing to talk about events that they swore never to reveal. The authors do not spend much time on this issue. My hope is that the Navy has given the quiet ok to these veterans as a way of acknowledging their historic service. The alternative is that a large number of sworn men broke their commitment and may be making it more difficult for current submariners to perform their necessary missions.) This is fast paced, exciting and will stir your pride in our country's armed forces.
Rating:
Summary: Blind Man's Bluff
Review: Next to a fictional noval (Clancy) this is one of the best historical / anectodal / books I have read on espionage / and the history of the submarine service. Fortunately, I had read extensively on this subject, and found the cover and subject intriguing. So, I picked it up ... I suggest you do too!
Rating:
Summary: So Much For The "Silent Service"!
Review: I bought this book for my father as a gift. He served on the first nuclear-armed cruise missile submarines in the 1950's. Here is what he wrote to me: "It was common knowledge among the sub crews. I was surprised a couple of the traitors talked. Too bad they were on their death beds. An oath is an oath. So much for the SILENT service." With a statement like that, the book must include some real tricks of the submariner trade.
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced stories that keep you reading!
Review: This book is tremendous! I have flown through it because as a result of the sequence of short stories. Once I start a chapter, I just fly through it! If you like this book, you'd love "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich. (and vice versa)
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Dry; Longer Than It Needs To Be
Review: I found this book to be a little stretched out in some parts. The insight into submarines is only marginal. There is no real plot, just a series of somewhat related stories. I would pass on it.
Rating:
Summary: Historical Analysis and Overview
Review: The authors do a very nice job of investigating and compiling records from military and civilian sources and then provide an entertaining account of Submarine Espionage from it's infancy at the close of WWII, through the cold war, to present. It is understandably vague when dealing with current information as not much has been declassified or otherwise made available. The authors could have been a little more careful pointing out the timeline. I found it very interesting to note the shifts toward an increase in politician involvement in military decision making. Which also seemed to be increasingly self serving. Decisions, policies, procedures etc have increasingly shifted toward use of the military for 'political capital' on both the national and international fields. If you like military history and strategy, READ this one.
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