Robert W. Mackay Book Catalogue
This page features books authored by Robert W. Mackay and also offers insights into books he is currently working on or to be released soon.
ISBN 978-1989689752
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THE FORGOTTEN: A Novel of the Korean War
The Forgotten is the story of nineteen-year-old Charlie Black who, in 1950, desperate to prove himself to his father, joins the Canadian Army’s Special Force as part of the United Nations forces defending South Korea from an attack by the North. Leaving his family and girlfriend behind, Charlie trains hard, but is soon separated from his battalion, the 2nd Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He manages to catch up with the Patricias at the last minute as they prepare to ship out, but not before witnessing the aftermath of a fatal rail disaster. Onboard, Charlie is relegated to 13 Platoon, a group of misfits and adventure-seekers under the leadership of Frenchy, their menacing corporal. Charlie’s comrades are young, only partly trained, but eager to get into battle. When the battalion arrives in Korea, however, their role has changed significantly. China has entered the war on the other side, and allied forces are struggling to survive. What the Canadian government conceived as a semi-peacekeeping role for their troops has changed into an all-out war, and after a brief period of additional training, the Special Force—including Charlie’s battalion—goes on the offensive against terrible odds. A harrowing story of war and survival, The Forgotten helps shed a light on a brutal conflict in our nation’s history, and those brave souls willing to step into the breach
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Testimonials for THE FORGOTTEN: A Novel of the Korean War
This book is a soldiers’ story of courage, hardship, professionalism, and dedication to duty; it’s a gripping read from Canada’s forgotten war in Korea. This tale rings true and is tribute to those who fought so well under great peril. We will remember them.
—RCAF LCol (Ret’d) Keith Maxwell, formerly a PPCLI soldier
In his excellent new book, Mackay captures the essence of the life of an infantryman everywhere, not just in Korea. His dialogue is perfect; his soldiers speak like true infantry grunts. I love how he integrates real PPCLI soldiers into his novel.
—James Stanton, formerly a PPCLI soldier
A well written application of fiction techniques to illustrate the reality of a particularly nasty war. Mackay takes authentic Canadian citizen soldiers; highlights their loyalties to country, regiment and each other as they develop into an effective fighting force. He concludes by relating their extraordinary achievements in an engagement from which none should have emerged alive. This is a book that's very hard to put down.
—John Appleby
The writing style describing the terror associated with a small unit of very young men under fire from their Chinese enemy is compelling making it difficult to put this book aside the narrative in isolation from the actual history is so compelling that this book is a page turner. This novel will have wide appeal to anyone interested in military history and in particular Canada’s role in the Korean Police Action. As a former teacher of secondary school history I would not hesitate to use it in the classroom to support an overview of Canada’s role in this conflict.
—Robert W.
ISBN: 1771510811
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Winner of the Silver Medal for Military/Wartime Fiction at the 2015 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards
The year is 1962 and the Cuban Missile Crisis is brewing. Naval lieutenant Ted Hawkins is sent to sea aboard the HMCS Alert, a submarine with the express mission to shadow an aggressive Soviet submarine. Hampered by trauma-induced claustrophobia and a superior officer with a grudge, Ted struggles to maintain self-control while performing his daily duties. But when the Alert is struck by an enemy torpedo two hundred miles off the coast of Gibraltar and the boat’s commanding officer is incapacitated, Ted is forced to take control of the vessel and its crew to ensure they have a fighting chance at survival.
Terror on the Alert is an exciting military thriller that proves there are enemies on both sides of war. |
Testimonials for TERROR ON THE ALERT
A gripping adventure in the grand tradition of sea sagas, Mackay takes us one hundred fathoms deep into the life and death reality of submarine warfare. TERROR ON THE ALERT had me holding my breath and compulsively turning the pages.”
—Ian Weir, author of Will Starling and Daniel O’Thunder and The Death and Life of Strother Purcell
I have to say, in all honesty, the best writing I’ve read in yeeeears! I wasn’t just reading about Ted on a submarine adventure, I was right there experiencing it with him! It was one of those novels where I watched the pages disappearing with trepidation because as intense as it was, I didn’t want the writing to end.
—Chris Gorman
“Mackay exhibits a compelling writing style and brings his experience as a submariner to bear with great effect. The way he conveys the deadly game of hunter versus hunted under water oozes suspense and is totally believable.” …”ALERT’s encounter with her nemesis makes for a really good ride and delivers thrills aplenty.”
—WARSHIPS International Fleet Review
“Somewhere between Hunt for Red October and The Secret Sharer lies the British submarine ALERT and her motley crew. The time: Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962”….”The waters of this book are fickle and hostile as those in Nicholas Monsarrat’s Cruel Sea, the seamanship as lovingly felt as that in the books of C.S. Forester and Patrick O’Brian. And Mackay yarns with the best of them.”
—Vancouver Sun
I swore I could smell wisps of chlorine in the air. The tension was palpable. It truly was a great story and kept me turning pages from the beginning through to the last page!
—Brian Douglas
I look forward to more from this author and would also highly recommend him as a speaker. His presentation was fascinating and so informative.
−Judi C., New Westminster
ISBN: 1926741242
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Winner of the Gold Medal for Military/Wartime Fiction at the 2012 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards
Winnipeg, 1914. Tom Macrae is working on his law degree and enjoying the company of his sweetheart, Ellen. When the call to arms comes, both Tom and Ellen are torn from their secure, settled lives in the prairie city. Tom finds himself hunched in the trenches, amid the mud and horror of the Great War, while Ellen faces an uncertain future in Tom’s absence.
His prospects bleak, Tom serves with the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, in the thick of the stalemated struggles on the Western Front. In addition to the soldiers’ comradeship, Tom discovers the strong bonds of trust between the soldiers and their horses. With his own horse as his closest companion, he dodges a hurricane of shells, machine guns and swords, and in the clamour, faces his finest hour. Inspired by his own father’s story and letters about fighting in Picardy, France, Robert W. Mackay has written a novel that brings to life the great military history and traditions of the Canadian Cavalry. |
Testimonials for SOLIDER OF THE HORSE
Written in the grand ‘ripping yarn’ tradition of the high adventure story…
—The Vancouver Sun.
A lovingly crafted account of such a time—a tour de histoire, if you will—above all, a heartfelt requiem for an entire rank of the world’s youth, called upon to suffer a clash of titans in the First World War.
—Vancouver Sun
Haven’t read a book I couldn’t put down in years. It was 3:40 in the morning when I finished reading “SOLDIER OF THE HORSE.”
—Phil Green