Shadow Divers

The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II

By: Robert Kurson

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1991, acting on a tip from a local fisherman, two scuba divers discovered a sunken German U-boat, complete with its crew of 60 men, not too far off the New Jersey coast. The divers, realizing the momentousness of their discovery, began probing the mystery. Over the next six years, they became expert and well-traveled researchers, taught themselves German, hunted for clues in Germany, and constructed theories corrective of the history books, all in an effort to identify this sunken U-boat and its crew. During that time, three of their colleagues died exploring the wreck, including a father and son team. In 1997, when it all seemed in vain, the two divers came up with a final plan, so dangerous that the book ends with this last dive.

Listen to an interview with Robert Kurson on C-SPAN Booknotes from July 11, 2004.

©2004 Robert Kurson (P)2004 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2005

"While Kurson doesn't stint on technical detail, lovers of any sort of adventure tale will certainly absorb the author's excellent characterizations, and particularly his balance in describing the combat arm of the Third Reich. Felicitous cooperation between author and subject rings through every page of this rare insightful action narrative." (Publishers Weekly)
"A fascinating look at the sometimes communal, sometimes bitterly competitive psychology of wreck-divers, weekend warriors in wet suits whose dangerous hobby is often an antidote to the frustrations of the workaday world." (Booklist)
"The story told in Robert Kurson's new book features undersea thrills, a gripping mystery, incredible discoveries, true-blue friendship, life-or-death crises and history unfolding....Written with great you-are-there intensity and dynamic verve." (The New York Times)
"From U-boat history to the mortal dangers of diving (disorientation is so common that you wonder only three men drowned on this quest), Kurson explains it all, even as he's spinning a fantastic yarn that happens to be true. All he leaves out are the boring parts." (Newsweek)

Fascinating.

Whether you dive or not, you will find this book to be thoroughly fascinating and engrossing. This book puts you with the divers and allows you to experience the thrills, disappointments and fears they experience with each dive and discovery. At times it drags a bit, but overall, it is well done, and gives a nondiver a decent education into the thrills and hazards of the sport, (or in this case, passion). If you know a diver, this is a must read.

The best I've ever read (heard?)

This story is gripping from begining to end. Even if you are like me amd know nothing about any kind of diving you will learn and enjoy being with each diver on his date with danger. The reader is skilled at reading this book with so many details and holding the listener's interest. I found my self feeling a part of the deep ocean wreck divers club. The bravery, tenacity and determination of the main characters in unraveling the mystery of a Nazi U-boat no one seemed to know about was facinating! I loved every minute of this book. I keep hoping to find another book like this one to listen to -- I liked it so much I checked out the hard copy from the library and read it as well. It has to be the best story and best book I have ever read! Just the reading was an adventure of a life time.

Couldn't stop ... One of the best Audiables...

I couldn't stop listening to this book and was sad when it was over. I wanted more, but the story itself is complete and wrapped up. It's that good. You won't be disappointed.

Couldn't stop listening to it.

I was reading another book the author wrote, Rocket Men, and thought if his book is half as good it'll still be great, I wasn't wrong. I loved the mystery and history behind the sunken sub and how the two main diver worked for a common goal. I knew nothing about diving and felt as if I was right there with them on every dive. Great book.

Honor the warrior

Great real life story. Interestingly shows why we continue to keep statues of warriors and should not tear them down. Cool interview in the audio edition with the two divers at the end.

Wow, what a great adventure!

Another book by Robert Kurson that I was very sorry to have end! This is an amazing story with the perfect amount of history and technical bits! Loved it!

Outstanding!

This book is about much more than just two men's search for a sunken U-Boat. It is a look inside the hearts and souls of the men who sailed them, the men who hunted them during WWII and the men and women who hunt them today.

If, like me, you listen to audiobooks as a way to lessen the drudgery of sitting in traffic... this book has a problem. I could not stop listening to it. I found myself sitting in the parking garage at work not wanting to get out of the car... and then in my driveway at night doing the same.

The story is fascinating, the characters are human, the mystery is real. The unabridged version is definitely worthwhile. Don't do what I did and go to the internet before you have finished the story. Finish the book first... then go out to see the websites (of which there are plenty).

Beatifully researched and interesting story

I have been an audible.com member for over 8 years and have listened to over 200 books. I can litterally only count 8 books so far that I have given 5 stars. This is definitely one of them.

Excellently researched and engaging story. The narrator takes a little getting used to. He is a bit dry - older caucasion male? Being a casual diver myself, I loved the physiology lessons about deep sea diving and the implicit dangers associated with it.

So Good, I bought and read the book too.

This was a very good book, and you feel for the divers in the story, and get caught up in their adventure. I had a hard time turning off the store, and when I bought the book I found that even though I had listen to it I also had a hard time putting the book down.

Absolutely loved it!

I am a commercial diver in Gulf of Mexico oilfields. This book drew me in as if I were on water stops with them. The book captured the setting, divers lives and the story of the U-boat crews lives in a way that really drew me in. The narrator is awesome as well. The interview at the end is an added bonus.