Up Country (Paul Brenner Book 2)

First you must read The General’s Daughter. This book is about a murder that took place in Viet Nam in 1968. Brenner is contacted by his former boss to go back and investigate. Brenner has retired from the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) but he is drawn back because of the request, the murder investigation, and because his boss asks him. He has always wanted to go back to Viet Nam and this is a chance to visit. So, he accepts the assignment and flies into Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). This is his 3rd visit but first as a tourist. He comes to the attention of the Military Police and is followed throughout his assignment. It is an interesting book and one I had to finish but I hated it all the way. I thought it was too long, too wordy, and too much about scenery on the route from Saigon to Hanoi. But, I got hooked on the story and stayed with it. I’m glad I finished it. It is a complicated plot. Would like there to be a 3rd book in the series but this is probably the last one. No movie that I know of even though the author mentions a screenplay was underway. There are other books by this author that I will be reading.

A great story with history intermingled. I encourage anyone who reads this book to have a map as they follow Paul Brenner’s journey

This book, while fiction, covers a multitude of things about the Vietnam War. I'm not sure if the author was there or if he used information available in general. Either way I enjoyed reading the book and it is a scary story in a way.

This novel featuring Army Investigator Paul Brenner was superb.-the story evolved in a clever way, and continued to develop as the plot evolved. Nothing was as it initially seemed as clever people trying to architect an outcome in the name of “national security” got tangled up in underestimating the investigator and his partner. (Be careful what you wish for)-the dialog was superb with a cracking wit around and through every paragraph. New definition was provided to the term “smartass”-Nelson captured the greatness and issues of the US and Vietnamese governments, bumbling and stumbling, sinister and sincere. Smoke and mirrors and the inevitable tragedy of war was intensely described, much sarcasm was effectively deployed-the war descriptions helped put some detail on the actual conditions and hell of the war for both sides. The last war the won was WW2, we have lost the mojo and are declining as a nationI wish Nelson had continued with Paul but John Corey is no slouch.I highly recommend this book, read the Generals Daughter firstEnjoy!

20 years old but not dated. A good read. Would recommend it. De Mille has such a wide pallet. Very talented.

Nelson DeMille is one of my newest favorite authors. I love that he is a Viet Nam veteran as is my husband. I read many books about wars, Viet Nam in particular. When I saw this book, I had to order it.Even though it is fiction, the book reads like a non-fiction book about the Viet Nam war. The main character, former Army investigator Paul Brenner, is asked to return to Viet Nam for an assignment. As a VN vet, he had zero interest in ever returning. The mission was something he had no desire to do. But because of his loyalty and sense of duty to his country, he reluctantly agrees to accept the mission.There were parts of the book that reminded me of Lee Child's character, Jack Reacher, who seems to wander around the U.S. doing good, even if it means killing people, but never has to answer for his actions. Brenner does the same thing in Viet Nam in order to accomplish his mission. Expatriate Susan Weber who lives in Viet Nam, teams up with him although he really doesn't want her participation other than the wonderful sex she provides. He finds out much later than she is CIA, something that he suspected early on.Brenner finds the Vietnamese man he is searching for, but realizes the American authorities really want the guy killed. He doesn't want to do that and is rocked by the real story behind his mission. He knew from the beginning they were keeping large parts from him. The ending is amazing - you realize the mission involves a presidential candidate in the U.S. The ending is even better because there is no conclusion - DeMille leaves it to the reader to decide what happens. Genius!! I can't recommend this book highly enough for anyone interested in the Viet Nam War. It is one of the best books I have ever read regardless of topic.

I could not put the book down. I was a teenager in 1968 and only understood bits and pieces of the war. This book though fiction gives insight to the culture and complexity of the fighting that was happening.

It was over all a good book; however, I found as I read the book there was an annoyingrepetition of the plot lines. Since some of them were violent; centering on a Col. Mang whowas a part of a sort of secret police who took their passport and visas which they needed toenter/exit the country.Colonel Mang was still fighting the Vietnam War and was a very real threat to their safety whiletraveling through Vietnam. He insisted there was a very negative reasons for everything they didand he then threatened to arrest them and put them in a deep basement for torture; not letting themcontact the American Embassy. When they bought some colorful native regional clothing; he said they were consorting with the natives to start a war . . . because they wore the hats and scarves they bought!?Edge of your seat, but would have been better in my opinion without so much repetition.Gloria

Paul Brenner, Vietnam vet, is back in-country investigating a murder mystery on behalf of the US Army. The author, himself a veteran of that War, is clearly using the book to work through a few issues of his own. Brenner comes to the conclusion that the bad guys were not all bad and the good guys were not that good. This may come as a shock to some people. Veterans of that War, and other conflicts, may find that the story resonates with them. This is a big, challenging read, and if you are looking for a straightforward shoot-em-up or crime thriller, then don't bother. Personally, I loved every word of it. This is a book that's written from the heart.

i found this to be an excellent story that held my interest from beginning to end. There was drama, romance and comedy in good measure. This book gave an interesting insight into the Vietnam War from the perspective of a returning American infantryman reminiscing of his periods of duty in that country, whilst giving some thought to the experiences of the Vietnamese. A great read that i became invested in.

Well, I'm struggling with this weighty book about a third of the way though and so came back to read the reviews to see if others have had similar problems. I've enjoyed DeMille's other books such as Plum Island and Gold Coast very much but this one is really hard going. Is it just me or are some novelists having a hard time coming to terms with their protagonist's aging process? Just as it's uncomfortable to watch frankly older screen stars paired with women 20 or 30 years their junior, so it is with novels -- perhaps it's more to do with an author/studio head/ film director's fantasy to give a late-middle-aged hero a much younger romantic interest. Leaves a bit of an unpleasant taste in the mouth, though. And it's just not terribly believable, is it? And again, in these complex times I found the gung-ho, almost neo-colonial attitude about present day Vietnam, laced with lingering bitterness about the outcome of the war, hard to take. Perhaps I'll give it another go and report back again later.

Apologies to Mr. DeMille, but I'm having a hard time with this book. It's well-enough written and easy to read .... but the thing is I keep thinking there's a terrific 350-page book in there somewhere. I'm past page 700 and the plot is starting to gear up and to reveal its twists but, y'know, it's too late and I'm not sure I care.

This was more of a travel log than a novel. If the reader expects a pacey novel there is disappointment during the first 3/4 of the book. If the reader has had historical experience of the Vietnam war and is looking for connection then it's not a let-down. The characters are well drawn and the language is intelligent and engaging but Paul Brenner is not Trav Magee or Reacher so do not expect formulaic adventure from this one. This will be someone's cup of tea but not mine.