Having lived in Vietnam for nearly 3 months now this book had my attention immediately. I bought it 6 months ago on a whim. There were two huge carts full of books at Goodwill and after rummaging through about 300 of them, this book ended up being my only purchase. The classic style of the hard cover and the map of Vietnam on the inside of the cover convinced me that this book would not spend it's life on my bookshelf.
A rich plot that keeps you on your toes til the last minute and, more importantly, a realistic and enchanting view of the life of a Vietnam Vet trying to find a life in the aftermath, Congressman Webb does a commendable job of creating a protaganist that is so awful we can't help but love him. It has been done better by others but this was not far from the mark. Unlike other virtuous villians, I think the reader can almost immediately see through the veil to the deep morality of Condley. Not that this is bad but some of the abrasive mannerisms and lack of social graces come across as unrealistic.
I would read more Webb but I won't spend much time seeking him out. On a cursory search, it doesn't seem that the majority of his work is centered in Post Vietnam War Vietnam. That was what drew me in most of all.
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