This is a fictional story about life aboard a navy combat cargo ship, where the murder of a navy skipper occurs. The main character is Lieutenant Bob Cantley, who is a maverick supply corps officer. The story takes place in the early 1980s and takes the listener from Bob's entry into the navy through his first ship and onward to his final ship, where he meets up with a ruthless navy skipper, Captain Manzack, known as the Spine Ripper. The Spine Ripper is an abusive skipper, much like Captain Qweeg in Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny.

Because action takes places in the '70-'80s, there is a lot of profanity and navy lingo. It is the way the navy was then and still is to some degree. Action takes place on board the USS San Clemente during its voyage to the Indian Ocean, where the skipper ends up missing. This novel tries to shed light on the way sailors behave on deployment. Shipboard life is not easy, and thus, rough language is used throughout. The story line tries to reflect on the many moral dilemmas that face sailors in the navy. When Lieutenant Bob Cantley meets Captain Manzack for the first time, he realizes his career is doomed.

The novel contains intrigue, sex, mayhem, and lots and lots of mischief. Bob and his navy buddies get into trouble for games they play. A court martial ensues at the end, and you will never be able to guess the outcome. Initial responses about Murder on Steel Beach by a retired rear admiral is it is interesting and has a great ending; another naval officer said it is a laugh a minute. You decide.