Neptune's Inferno by James Hornfischer
 

A well written and tension filled account of the US Navy battles around Guadalcanal from August through November 1942. The Navy was clearly not ready for prime time in tactics or leadership. Four separate night surface actions resulted in two clear Japanese victories, one draw and one (charitable) Navy victory. Nevertheless, the Japanese march through the Pacific was checked. Iron bottom sound was littered with wrecks and the bodies of almost 5000 sailors.

Another good book by Hornfischer is Last Stand of the Team Can Sailors. This is the story of one surface action in 1944 during the landings in Leyte Gulf when and under gunned task force was left to deal with a substantial Japanese squadron after Adm. Halsey led the main fleet on a wild goose chase.