Matt McAvoy Book Review

The third instalment in Glyn Haynie’s superb Vietnam War novella series is an altogether more action-packed addition.  This time, Carter and the squad are out for full on retribution, hunting their traitorous former brother in the V.C.-infested Quang Ngai Province.  Glyn’s finest creative quality is his authenticity – being a Vietnam veteran, of course, gives him a tremendous insight and credibility, which can’t be fabricated, yet he also has an unusual ability of taking his books down a formulaic path of fiction whilst still maintaining the mundane realism of a tour of duty in this unforgiving jungle: the fear; the development of young men’s character; the foreboding natural elements.  Another of his strengths is crafting engaging and endearing personalities, whom you feel.

The whole series has been top drawer quality, almost as good as Glyn’s full-length “Promises…” series of novels, albeit in a smaller, more concise bundle.  Breaking this overriding story arc into three novellas was a smart move, and gives each one credit as a standalone narrative, whilst offering the reader a wonderfully satisfying overall outcome.  Furthermore, if you are interested in Glyn’s work but have yet to read it, this series gives you a perfect example of what you can expect from him.  A tremendously good read, definitely to be read in the right order, as the third in the series.  My advice would be to set aside three short evenings to read these novellas; I defy you then not to be hooked on Glyn’s work and move onto his feature-length books.  Exciting and gripping, this is Vietnam Wat storytelling at its best.