Up Country

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 28 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

This production features a special audio introduction by Nelson DeMille.

There is a name carved into the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., of an American army lieutenant whose death is shrouded in mystery. The authorities have reason to believe that he was not killed by the enemy or by friendly fire; they suspect he was murdered.

At first, Paul Brenner, himself a Vietnam vet, isn't interested in investigating the case. After his forced retirement from the army's Criminal Investigation Division, he has adapted to the life of a civilian with a comfortable pension. Then his old boss, Karl Hellmann, summons him to the Vietnam Memorial to call in a career's worth of favors.

Hellmann tells Brenner of the circumstances surrounding the officer's death, and gives him this much to go on: The incident happened over three decades ago in Vietnam; the only evidence is a recently discovered letter written by an enemy soldier describing an act of shocking violence.

Brenner's assignment: return to Vietnam and find the witness.

Reluctantly, Brenner begins a strange journey that unearths his own painful memories of Vietnam and leads him down a trail as dangerous as the ones he walked a lifetime ago as a young infantryman. From sultry, sinful Saigon, where he meets beautiful American expatriate Susan Weber, to the remote, forbidding wilderness of up-country Vietnam, he will follow a trail of lies, betrayal, and murder...and uncover an explosive, long-buried secret.

©2002 by Nelson DeMille, Alll Rights Reserved (P)2002 by Time Warner AudioBooks, a Division of the AOL Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"A profound exploration of...war, justice, and...the human heart." (Lisa Scottoline, author of Moment of Truth)
"Finely drawn characters, wickedly crisp dialogue, and brilliant twists...Nelson DeMille [is] the master storyteller of our times." (Linda Fairstein, author of The Deadhouse)

Up Country Review

I read this book a few years back and just finished the audio version. I own this book as well as several others by Nelson DeMille and as usual am intrigued by the historical events combined with the fictional that makes his books
so entertaining. I really enjoy listening to Scott Brick especially the John Corey series. In Up Country I could imagine the fear and the courage it took to survive a war in such a place. Thank you Mr DeMille for your service and for your dedication to your stories for our entertainment.

Pronunciation

I take exception to the pronunciation of Tan Son Nhut air base in Saigon, Nha Trang and a few other places. Aside from that annoyance I enjoyed the book very much. Also, very beautiful would be beaucoup dep wa or you very beautiful. Maybe I'm being silly, but having been there from Feb 19, 1970 to Feb 18, 1971, hearing the words spoken a bit differently bothered me. There are more things I could say, but I will leave them be. I would recommend this audio book.

Fantastic

My mother read this book years ago. When I got back from deployment after we closed down Afghanistan, she reccomended it to me. I have the odd urge to revisit that terrible place now. Hopefully with better circumstances than my last and than that of the book.

My all time favorite narrator and a very well written book.

A Viet Nam Travelogue for sure!

A thorough trip down memory lane and tour of Viet Nam, with just a little romance on the side. Outstanding Narration by Scott Brick, as usual!

Awesome

Awesome story I could not stop reading it. I will like to see the movie when it’s released.

Up Country Unabridged

I found this to be one of the best books of his that I read/listened to. Exciting and kept you wondering how it would turn out and right up to the end, you still weren't sure!

Good Listen

I have become a big fan of Nelson DeMille, only recently. This is my 3rd book of his and I do enjoy them.

Up Country mixes a good story with the interesting internal struggles of the main characters quite effectively!

My only knocks on this book are similar to my knocks on other DeMille's works in that his editor/s should have cut a few spots when he gets a bit wordy for no particular reason.

Second, Scott Brick is a horrible narrator. He couldn't deliver a funny or witty line if his life depended on it. He misinterprets witty banter - and instead delivers such dialogue as an angry exchange. He is literally dumber than a BRICK, and can't follow the author's intent at all!! Basically, he is a Cheeseball B-Actor, and he is continuously overdramatic when he does not need to be. I will avoid a book if Scott Brick narrates unless I really like the author.

Given these two irritants, the book is too good to give it anything but a 5-star.

Recommended!

Top Shelf

One of the best I have had so far. A tour of the country and a tour of very complex situations. Some of the plot is transparent. A person could make some guesses to get close, but if you want a tour of Vietnam past and present, then you will find this very, very interesting.

First time good review for Scott Brick

As far as the book is concerned. I bought this due to my previous experience listening to the Gold Coast And the Gate House by Nelson DeMille. Two of my all-time favorite books based on narration and genius storytelling. I don’t have the same feelings regarding this book. Though I still think Nelson DeMille is a great storyteller, I found this book to be way too long for the subject material. Also it was a little too convenient and annoying, how Colonel Mang was able to follow Paul Brenner through all of Vietnam. Even getting pictures of them on a isolated island when there is no possible way for Him to know that they were going to be there. I think there should’ve been some explanation of how that was possible.

I’d be a big fan of Scott brick if he narrated like this. All my previous reviews have been how over annunciated and super dramatic his voice is when narrating a book. I guess this was back before he became as popular as he is now.

Anyway, I listen to the whole thing because I didn’t have anything else better to do while working. I can tell you that I wasn’t overly impressed though.

I love Nelson Demille (and Scott Brick)....!

I have read some of Nelson Demille and loved every book so far... also Scott Brick, but I was leary of Up Country because I did not think I would like a Vietnam book. I thought this book was awesome for historical purposes and for entertainment content...! I have a list of Nelson Demille now that I am going to work through, next up is By The River of Babylon. Look for my review of that... I'll be honest. As for Up Country, I wouldn't miss it...! I hope he writes something else before I run out...!