Books about history can go one way or another. Either it’s a fascinating read that keeps a reader glued, or a book that reads drier then a dessert. Chad Millman’s THE DETONATORS: THE SECRET PLOT TO DESTROY AMERICA AND AN EPIC HUNT FOR JUSTICE starts out as a member of that first group.
It’s a true-life tale of a terrorist attack that occurred on U.S. soil just prior to our involvement in World War I. That most people today don’t even know about the incident, thinking terrorism began with the Oklahoma City bombing or 9/11, is a shame. Back in 1916, a group of German spies working for their government blew up Black Tom Island, which served as an ammo depot in New York Harbor. The explosion was so large that its effects would have registered as a 5.5 on the Richter scale.
There is a list of characters at the start of DETONATORS and it helps to keep referring to it, since people are introduced so quickly, and come and go just as fast. The first part introduces to the men who would become responsible for the Black Tom assault. The first half slowly builds, with us learning about the inner workings of this spy network, from basic recruitment to the mundane process of acquiring supplies. Their plots start out small, first forging passports and setting up supplies to send back to Germany, to the point where one of them travels across the country recruiting men to blow up factories to slow down any American progress. Remember, this was long before America joined the fight.
Once it builds to what you would call their greatest achievement – the aforementioned destruction of Black Tom – is also where THE DETONATORS slowly dries up. At this point, the book switches to the investigation of this event, telling us in great detail about the commission set up to settle disputes and claims as a result of the war. It’s a captivating read, but one that drags on a bit too long, especially since most people thought finding the culprits was a lost cause.
Throughout the hearing, the Germans responsible attempted to roadblock the investigators any way they could, including trying to discredit every witness brought up. Even when the Germans finally admit their guilt, their government still drags its feet in aiding investigators. I found the book fascinating, in that here is a part of American history that’s basically been forgotten in today’s world. History buffs will grab THE DETONATORS and devour it. Those who might get taken in by the spy angle will enjoy at least the first half, but once the investigation starts, their interest might fade. –Bruce Grossman
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