Starting with a desperate mission to reinforce Fort Pickens in Florida, Lt. John Richards commands the steam sloop U.S.S. Cohocton during the turbulent early days of the Civil War. The young Lieutenant Commanding gains success and recognition while enforcing Lincoln's blockade and combating rebel gunboats, weather and boredom. But when Cohocton is assigned to Hampton Roads, he faces the prospect of fighting his best friend and the rebel's ultimate weapon - the ironclad Virginia. "A Sudden Thunder" and "The Narrow Fury" are the first in The Richards Line of novels dealing with the naval history of the Civil War - or the War Between the States. They combine a deep knowledge of the naval aspects of the Civil War to paint the first years of the war through a combination of actual historical events combined with typical actions to present a personal view. Beyond the war, these are also the stories of men's service to their countries and the impact on their lives, friends, family and loved ones. Future novels will show the progression of the war, presenting the views of both northern and southern participants, and how life continues even under those harrowing circumstances.