This is an attractively designed and printed book with four maps/diagrams and 16 pages of black and white photographs on nice glossy paper.

Marine News

This book describes the moves and countermoves made by the protagonists as Fraser tracked Scharnhorst in harsh Arctic conditions, eventually cornering and sinking on Boxing Day after an epic battle with the loss of all bar 36 of her crew. It examines the performance of the two commanders, and provides a good overview or the last sea battle to be fought between capital ships.

Ships Monthly, Feb 2013

The author, as profilic in his works as his publisher is in their list, has provided a clear and exciting narrative of a fascinating and dramatic action. The maps are very helpful to the reader in following more clearly the author's subsequent account.
The book's structure, a chronicle of each day from December 20-26, emphasises the drama of the two sides' actions as they moved towards their climax.
The author very competently uses a wide variety of sources. He clearly understands the variables f naval warfare and, rightly, commends the skill, thoughtfulness and judgement of British CinC, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, whose manoeuvers, dispositions - and calculated risks - drew Scharnhorst to her destructions.

The Grove Review

This is one of a series of high quality military history books published by Britain's Pen & Sword Books. The hunting down and sinking of the magnificent German battle cruiser 'Scharnhorst' was on of the epic actions of World War Two. The fact that it mostly occurred in freezing conditions beyond Cape North at the top of Norway and that all but 37 of the ship's 1900 crew went down with her only added to the drama. No officers survived. It was, in the end, a very one-sided battle. British casualties and damage were slight. It also marked the effective end of the German surface navy, the Kriegsmarine. It was never again a serious threat. That fact combined with "Black May" seven months previously, when the U-Bootwaffe, was finally smashed, saw the beginning of the end. Although a brief book of only 160 pages, it tells the story very well. It is a stirring one.

Work Boat World March 2012