Return to Nineveh weaves a tale of fiction through the WWII history of 1942/1943, mingling romance and suspense, as the refugees of Helen's Landing, Malaya that have ambiguous ties to the destroyer Mariah, move into an uncertain future. Allied forces are in retreat from the Java Sea to the ancient cities of North Africa, while the Japanese continue their lightning quick occupation throughout the South China Sea and Pacific basin. A daring rescue brings the Mariah into dangerous waters near Java during a clandestine mission to transport to safety an Anglican priest, his daughter, and their rescuers, Major Wesley Vilmont and Captain Arthur Nance, friends of Mariah's commander. While the friends of Helen's Landing and their new friends from Java work at the newly established hospital near a small coastal town in Australia, Wesley's unit trains for desert war, as the Mariah sails into new battles with the Axis navies. The daily BBC news broadcasts keep the friends wondering if their sons, brothers, lovers are taking part in the desert battles or encounters at sea-until given a short time of happiness-when their warriors return until the next operation calls them to Return to Nineveh.