South by Java Head

Alistair MacLean's wartime adventure follows a mixed group fleeing the fall of Singapore in 1942 aboard a small boat, pursued by Japanese forces through the seas of the Dutch East Indies. Tension builds with each stage of the escape, and the story includes betrayals, sabotage and sea battles.

Fans of MacLean and of classic wartime thrillers will find the familiar pace. It suits those who like survival stories at sea. The book keeps to MacLean's habit of a small cast under pressure, with the sea as the main threat.

Practical, outward-looking, growth-minded, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?