The Depths of December is a short and punchy (12,000 word) treatment of one of the most pivotal naval battles in World War II, when the British Far East Fleet found itself pitted against the Mitsubishi Bombers of the 22nd Flotilla Imperial Japanese Air Service off the coast of Singapore and Malaya. It is narrated in an engaging and high-energy style by the author of the book.

For years, Britain and Japan had followed different strategies for warfare: big guns for the former, air strike power for the latter. On December 10, 1941—just a few days after Pearl Harbor—it was proof of concept time. The Depths of December is classic Stuart Lloyd storytelling, because he uses first-person quotes from those in the thick of the battle action to drive the narrative along.

We get a ringside seat in the waters off Kuantan, Malaya. For example: “The vibration and speed of Repulse was truly unbelievable,” said said Seaman Matthews. ”Our skipper had us falling over everywhere in his attempt to comb the incoming torpedoes.… I began to notice that the bombers were starting to fly directly overhead after they’d dropped their torpedoes. It was as if they were taunting us. I could even see the pilots’ faces quite clearly.”

Ian Hay was part of this frantic action, ordered to dash between ready-ammunition storage areas and the exposed gun mounts as an ammunition bearer. “The run back along the deck was terrifying. It had now claimed the lives of three of our delivery party, all by machine gun fire. It was like playing some crazy game of dare.” Stuart is at his passionate, storytelling best in this audiobook.