Dress Gray

Rating:
Summary: entertaining story, but strains credulity
Review: The author actually attended the USMA in the timeframe of the book, so this is probably a pretty accurate view of the odd, cloistered world that was/is West Point (circa 1967).

The portrait painted by Truscott of the USMA is hardly flattering, though it should be pointed out that Truscott's USMA produces some superbly honest, loyal and courageous officers, NCOs and cadets to set against the bad guys. I have no trouble believing that senior officers and cadet officers could behave as they do in the book, because I saw them behave just about this way (both the good and the bad) in Army ROTC; different environment but similar in a few ways. Where credulity starts to slip is in the extreme experiences of a single cadet and in the bungling by the officers who seek to silence him. In the real world, I can't quite envision either situation.

There are too many typos for my taste, but not so many as to get on most people's nerves. A good entertaining military novel, of special interest to anyone closely connected to a West Pointer--or, for that matter to anyone contemplating the way the military mind reacts to homosexuality.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining West Point thriller.
Review: Truscott's book is reminiscent of Pat Conroy's "The Lords of Discipline," although the tone is less emotional and the style is a little cruder. It's a tough mystery in which the villains are at the highest echelons and, while it may not be altogether credible, it's fun.

Rating:
Summary: The best military fiction/mystery by Truscott.
Review: Wow what a great adventure You will not be able to put this classic down! As I say, its Undownputable. Great from start to the excitintg climax.