The Good Shepherd is an incredibly taut novella about an anti-submarine action in the North Atlantic during World War 2. Lieutenant Commander Krause is in command of a small flotilla, guarding 37 small merchantmen against a Nazi U-boat wolfpack. Over the course of 48 hours, he must defend his command against slash attacks from a deceptive and elusive foe. The book is tightly focused on Krause, on the responsibility of command and the need to make instant decisions with poor information in the strange game of cat-and-mouse. One of Forester's best books, this is well worth a read.