"The story of the first 'smart' weapon . Holmes is a meticulous historian . Fascinating . with an exciting finale."-- Kirkus Reviews "Rousing and carefully researched . Holmes maintains a brisk pace, highlighting the human drama . This entertaining chronicle rescues a tale of American wartime ingenuity from obscurity."-- Publishers Weekly "A fascinating account of the evolving specter of war, replete with biographies of important figures who may not have been world leaders, but whose work altered it forever.

"-- Booklist "Perhaps the greatest praise I can offer as an author is to admit to wishing that I had written this book myself. Jamie Holmes takes an arcane chapter of World War II science and reveals it to be a story full of drama and intrigue, an engrossing narrative that keeps you turning pages . Holmes's storytelling is exquisite. Absolutely superb." --Gregory A. Freeman, best-selling author of The Forgotten 500 and Sailors to the End "A tale of science, spycraft, and ingenuity--a ripping yarn from start to finish." --Larrie D. Ferreiro, author of Pulitzer Prize finalist Brothers at Arms "Holmes writes like a dream .

it all unfolds with the pace of a thriller." --Peter Bergen, New York Times best-selling author of Manhunt and Trump and His Generals "In his eye-opening marvel of a book, Jamie Holmes reveals the fascinating story of the humble proximity fuse. It turns out to be not so humble, but rather a mighty war-winner and soldier-saver--and all thanks to an eccentric and eclectic band of tinkerers, hobbyists, and geeks who overcame enormous obstacles to turn what was once science fiction into a reality." --Alexander Rose, New York Times best-selling author of Washington's Spies and Empires of the Sky "Holmes vividly demonstrates what American military leaders knew well by the close of World War II: the atomic bomb ended the war, but the proximity fuse won it." --G. Pascal Zachary, author of Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century.