“Mark Zuehlke has produced by far the best series of books about Canada's war on the ground in Italy and Northwest Europe. The River Battles only adds further proof. And perhaps final proof, because this might be the end of the line for the Canadian Battle series, unless it extends eventually to Hong Kong or perhaps the garrison of Iceland. Last installment in the series or not, this is another excellent book. Zuehlke should be proud of it, and readers should be sure to take a look. Recommended.”

- Stone & Stone

“As a Canadian military historian, Mark Zuehlke stands with Tim Cook, Ted Barris and David O’Keefe. He belongs to the elite. To write this fifth and final volume in his Canadian Battle series, Zuehlke assimilated an astonishing amount of detailed information from a multiplicity of primary sources. Building on the focused unities of time and place—six months in 1944–45 and a waterlogged plain called Emilia-Romagna—he has delivered a vivid, hard-slogging narrative.

...total casualties were 26,254. Such numbers make one wary of lightly going to war. Perhaps that is the greatest achievement of books like The River Battles.”

- Ken McGoogan, <i>The Globe and Mail</i>

“The River Battles is the important saga of the final five months of Canada’s 20-month Italian campaign from 1943–45 and the courage and skill of her 93,000 soldiers and tankers who took more ground from the enemy in Italy than any other Allied unit of British and Americans, and did it ‘while braving the worst of fighting conditions and extreme German opposition.’ 

These last battles are well-told by Victoria author Mark Zuehlke, a prolific, well-established veteran writer of our war history.”

- Barry Craig, <i>Winnipeg Free Press</i>

“In summary, readers will find that The River Battles is an interesting account of a little-known part of the Italian Campaign, and it will be a valuable resource for future historians.”

- Richard Lonsdale, <i>The Ormsby Review</i>