Rating: 
Summary: Demille At His Best!
Review: This book brings out everything that a Demille fan expects from him: great story line, page-turning intrigue, and most importantly, Demille's own inimitable sardonic dialogue that is unmatched by any author. If you liked John Cory in Plum Island and Lion's Game (which any Demille fan does), then you'll really appreciate Ben Tyson in this one. Even better, he gets a sidekick (his attorney) who's just as bad/good as he is.The story is built well, providing ample, but not too lengthy background of the main story - a civilian murder in Vietnam. This is NOT, however a Vietnam War story as much as it is a trial of an upwardly mobile family man from New York. AS you move through the book, you will find the pages turning faster adn faster, especially the last 100 pages. Plum Island was my favorite until this read. Truly excellent!
Rating: 
Summary: DeMille Delivers
Review: Nelson DeMille knows of what he writes. As a Lt. in the service in Nam and a keen human observer--we are given over 700 pages that draw us into a world we Americans sometimes do not like to revisit. The central character, Ben Tyson, is a modern day commuter with a cushy job in NY, a family out in the 'burbs and a sense of honor that is about to be tested to the inth degree. Somone has written a well selling book about the atrocities at Hue. The author's two witnesses have made Ben Tyson culpable for his unit's macabre killing behavior at a French hospital during the war. And now the government plans to make him their scape goat. After 20 years of living with the past, the truth starts to come out. Slowly, in stages, as DeMille builds the tension with episodes between Tyson's wife, his lawyer, his reunion with his men, the author who revealed his secrets, and a cout-martial trial. I always appreciate DeMille's well researched novels. Mixing actual events with fiction using humor and pathos is his baliwick. Characters you want to know and dialogue that snaps. A moving read of war, adventure, and trust.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Demille
Review: This is a fantastic novel, the characters are practically three dimensional. Demille really knows how to write. This is a good book for a vacation, it's exciting yet has some depth to it, it's not just a pure thriller that moves along at the speed of light.
Rating:
Summary: A Phenomenal Book...Maybe Demille's Best
Review: I have read all of Demille's books. I have enjoyed all of his books. I do not think that any can compete with Word of Honor. First of all, he truly allows the reader to understand the central character, Benjamin Tyson. I would catch myself on numerous occasions, understanding in certain situations exactly how he felt. His character development is flawless and the reader truly gets to know the characters. The plot itself was incredibly interesting with the Vietnam war backdrop against a modern family in Long Island. In addition, a military courtroom drama is an uncommon trait in modern fiction. In reality, the last one I read was the Caine Mutiny. I could not put this book down, and it's pretty long. I think I read it in just two sittings (not bad for 700+ pages). Demille truly engages the reader, unflods the plot in small steps, and keeps the reader on his toes. In addition, the detail of all aspects is incredible. I would recommend this book to everyone and have actually purchased it twice because when I lost it I could not live without it.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Compares to Military Honor
Review: When a movie is about to come out, as this is, I am always excited to see how different reading the book was from watching it on the screen - time will tell. In the meantime, this is one of many wonderful DeMille novels, because the character development is well developed. Benjamin Tyson, a corporate man, who on the outside appears to be one of the most balanced people around, one day is faced with his past. He, like many men, and especially military men, are conditioned to disown emotions, to get on with the present moment. He took a solemn oath between himself, and the men who served under his leadership, 18 years prior. His honor is about to be tested as he sits on the commuter, heading for work, in New York, when he reads a story in the daily newspapers. This story explores what really happened in My Lai, 18 years prior to the date of this article. Also, a book is about to be released, during the time that this story hits the news wires. And Benjamin Tyson is suddenly faced with the conflict between his honor as a married man, who is prosperous, and looked up to by all, versus, his duties as a Platoon leader, 18 years prior. He has no control over the perception that the reporter and author place on his past. The army gets involved, because this is what they do, to save their bacon. But, his wife decides that this is not what she bargained for, in marrying him. And to maintain his sense of military honor, Tyson doesn't even tell his attorney the entire truth. His platoon had sworn to never tell the world what they had done. And the only person who could reveal enough details, to set Tyson free is someone who is not military, who was there, during this massacre. This is a wonderful look at male psyche, military law, the power of the press, and what happens when one denies the painful past. DeMille's books are excellent - I've read at least 10 of them. And I place them in a league with Leon Uris and Jeffrey Archer.
Rating:
Summary: Just Doesn't Get Any Better.
Review: I'll make this review short and sweet. This is the best fiction I have ever read. It had me gasping out loud in some spots. Just the best read ever.
Rating:
Summary: The past has no hold on the present.
Review: Well. That may not be true when you consider the Vietnam War, a backdrop for many DeMille characters either directly or indirectly. This is my favorite DeMille novel. In many respects it may be the one in which he comes the closest to accurately describing the truth of the pain and haunting memories that all of us who served there or who had brothers, sons or daughters who served there, feel. Relentlessly. Over and over again. Ben Tyson has come back from his tour "across the pond" whole. At least visibly. Married. Corporately knighted. Great wife. Great sex. Great house in the 'burbs. All that smell of blood and death locked up in a padlocked footlocker somewhere in the basement. But as it turns out, now, years later, a book is about to be released about an event he participated in almost a score of years earlier. We all recall My Lai and Lt. Calley and Captain Medina. This is like that, although geographically venued at a French hospital "60 clicks north of Danang and 30 clicks south of Quang Tri" in Hue. (Those are my quotes not DeMille's. I know where Hue is. I spent a year there.) DeMille brings us along slowly, drawing from vast personal experience. Tyson gets called back in to stand trial. Clearly the military wants to distance themselves from the war, savage Tyson, and go back to making those "Army of One" commercials. (This is only 10-12 years after the the war and life was still unpleasant for the professional military person.) Tension; Tyson's life upturned; marital strife; a wife that wants out who 'didn't sign on for this;' a Military Court Martial; his guilt . . . all of our guilt. Great story. The resolution is rewarding but it is the journey that teaches all of us, them that did and them that didn't, how we all lost innocence never to be found again. You might want to read DeMille's "Up Country," written 15 years later, about returning to Vietnam. It's a long journey. The reader has a chance to embrace great writing and learn a lot as well.
Rating:
Summary: great writer
Review: I listened to the unabridged audio cd version of this book, and it was wonderful. My only complaint is, having grown up in Ohio, Karen Harper should not have sounded like she was from South Carolina. midwest and southern accents are not the same. Other than that tiny detail, I highly reccomend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting!
Review: I keep wondering what book those critics who say, "This is not a Vietnam War book" are reading? For those of us who remember that damned war all too well, this is indeed a (perhaps THE) Vietnam War book! It was hard reading--hard to have to relive and remember those times, hard to think about the shameful actions here at home and over there--even hard to think about the brave actions at home and in the war zone. That war scarred everyone it touched, and reading this novel, all of those scars reopened and bled. I grieved for Ben Tyson, admired him and came to appreciate his stubborn honor and courage. I don't understand the reviewers who say they disliked him or were, "God forbid," like him! Didn't they get the point? Ben did everything possible to prevent the massacre and, afterwards, did everything possible to live honorably with what he had been a part of. Ben's wife Marcy says it best, "This is a good man." I didn't think any novel could top CHARM SCHOOL or RIVERS OF BABYLON, but this one at least equals them in being skillfully written and tops them in emotional involvement. I recommend it highly to you, but only if you are capable of compassion.
Rating:
Summary: Read 'em All -- this is Demille's best
Review: You can read all these reviews if you want, or you could just start the book!! If you've read one of his other books, and are looking for your next one - you can't go wrong with this one! It's outstanding! There's enough on the storyline in these reviews, so no sense in re-hashing. Notice one thing...most all Demille's book's are in the mid 4-star range and reviewed by large numbers of "avid" readers. It's hard to find many other authors with that consistant of a track record (and, unlike Grisham, he knows how to "end" a good book!). His style and characters are unforgettable. Lion's Game and Charm School are also highly recommended. Prediction: After this one, I guarantee you'll end up reading more of his books....
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