The Detonators: The Secret Plot to Destroy America and an Epic Hunt for Justice

A great read

Very Good, well written, , ,

This is an intriguing book that covers a topic of which I hadn't heard of previously. During wartime, it's fairly routine for enemy countries to engage in sabotage campaigns against one another. The Germans only tried that once in the US during WWII (that I'm aware of) and failed miserably at it. "The Detonators" covers German sabotage activities during WWI, where they had far more success at creating a huge amount of damage by detonating the ammo dump at Black Tom Island in New York Harbor.

How no one thought to write this book until now is extraordinary. Millman found a chapter in U.S. history that eerily foreshadows the events of 9/11 and beyond, and he had the writerly discipline to avoid hitting readers over the head with it. Instead, he tells a dramtaic story of espionage and legal intrigue, in prose that's fast-paced and easily accessible without being simple or condescending. Perfect summer reading. Fall, Winter and Spring, too.

The Detonators: The Secret Plot to Destroy America and an Epic Hunt for Justice  Fascinating account of what went on in our country and how we actually became involved in WW 11. 911 was NOT the first attack on this country, good historical reading.

Interesting and seems well done (haven't finished it yet - about half way through)holds your interest

What an astonishing story. Yes, in the days before the U.S. entered WWI, German saboteurs really did blow up a munitions dump in New York harbor, shattering windows all across Manhattan and in parts of New Jersey. The mighty blast was felt as far away as Baltimore. And this is no fantasy-- men were actually tried and convicted of the crime. How strange that "nobody" knows about these events! Well-written and well documented.

The book started out very interesting and was good up until and during the sabotage. Then it completely changed to an on and on boring story of all the efforts and names of the investigation after the affair. This could have been a good book with 100 fewer pages and details.