El protagonista de la historia, Alejandro M. Riley, es un veterano de la guerra civil española acosado por su pasado, que al mando de un pequeño buque de cabotaje y una fiel tripulación de prófugos de tierra firme, navega por el Mediterráneo dedicándose al peligroso negocio del contrabando en tiempos de guerra.
A finales de 1941 los ejércitos de Hitler han conquistado Francia y avanzan imparables hacia Moscú, España sufre las terribles secuelas de la Guerra Civil, y el totalitarismo en todas sus formas parece destinado a dominar el mundo.
En ese escenario, el capitán Riley y su tripulación son contratados por el hombre más poderoso de la España de la posguerra, para recuperar un misterioso artefacto de un naufragio frente a las costas de Tánger. Una misión aparentemente sencilla, pero que inesperadamente se complicará poniendo en peligro la vida de todos ellos, precipitándolos en la vorágine de una conjura internacional de la que nada sospechan. Una diabólica conspiración que, bajo el nombre de Operación Apokalypse, podría decidir no solo el futuro de la guerra sino el de la humanidad misma.

Knowingly cheesy and never less than entertaining tale of an American smuggler and his international crew foiling a Nazi plot in WW2. Has a nice vein of humour along with the thrills (of which there are plenty) and never takes itself too seriously.
I listened to the Audible version which was very well done. ( )

The best way I can describe this book is a comparison of the TV show Firefly. All the characters are there; the ex soldier of a losing war Captain, the loyal second in command during the war now second in command of a ship, the married couple crewmates, the burly mercenary that is just there for the money but still treated like family, two passengers that are hiding a secret and the love interest of the captain who is like a geisha. Throw in some action, working a job for a dangerous criminal for the potential payoff to make them all rich and you got yourself another movie... except this one takes place in 1941.

In terms of an action book it has everything there. Gunfights, treasure hunts, Nazi Submarines, sex scenes, hero gets beat up to inch of life but still able to pull off great feats of strength. If these are things you like, then this is the book for you.

This is not part of a series, but I could see how there could be turned into one... maybe cancel it after the first season. ( )

I really liked this book through the first ten and one half chapters. It reminded me of an Indiana Jones adventure: a great treasure hunt, Nazi's, a patchwork quilt crew, fights, plus a leading character who repeatedly escapes seemingly hopeless situations. Alas, I have to pan the book. First, the author throws in a meaningless intimate scene, then another. Finally, when ready to forgive and forget those pandering features, he invokes the name of a true hero and friend of the United States as a someone scheming for the destruction of an American city. I'll pass on any additional adventures of Captain Riley or other works by Mr. Gamboa. ( )