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)

I didn't want this book to end!

Would you listen to Up Country again? Why?

Possibly, and I don't read books or watch movies a second time. It was rich with information about the Vietnam war, and brought to life something that I grew up with, but didn't really understand at the time.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

I love Paul's sarcasm, and Susan's way of handling things. They were a great combination. If I really have to choose, I guess Paul, but Susan is right up there with him.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and because I couldn't, I listened to it every chance I got, including on the short trip to/from my office, or even the 5 minutes that it takes to get to the local CVS.

Any additional comments?

I didn't want this book to end, and I want to know what happens with Paul and Susan! I'm going to see if Nelson DeMille has written another book after this one related to these 2 characters.

Would some tell me how this ends?

Rather than review the book, let me make comment on the reader. I had recently encountered some Scott Brick readings that I found so offensive that I had started to avoid any audible books where he was the reader. This, by contrast, is Brick at his very best. He is hard to beat when doing dialog (and hard to listen to sometimes when doing narrative).

On the book itself - would someone let me know how it ended? And yes, I did listen all the way through the 3 downloads. Sequel please!

Just OK

I picked this book based on positive reviews and because I love a long novel I can immerse myself in, however I struggled to plod on through the story. I think I kept on solely because I was interested in the setting more than because the story interested me. I know little about Vietnam and it was interesting to hear about the culture, the rest was pretty bland.
The main character is a stereotypical "spy" who meets a stereotypical beautiful, mysterious, dangerous woman who immediately falls in love with him... But, of course, can't be trusted... Maybe. These characters proclaim their undying love for each other just days after meeting. Their dialog made me constantly roll my eyes. For instance, I heard about how women just "LOOOOVE to shop" multiple times. And how every man who laid eyes on the female character wanted "to screw her." Around every turn was the "bad guys" out to get them and every single breath they took was somehow reported back to the chief bad guy.
The setting is very well described but the story is just so so. This writer may have been better off writing a non fiction book about his experience in Vietnam rather than trying to develop realistic characters around his storyline.

Best Vietnam Veteran Story Ever!

Scott Brick always nails it and DeMille is right on with the Paul Bremer series.

Too much detail on war & geography!

It seems like these two items occupied most of the story which was just okay.

Vietnam era

This story will resonate with all people who lived through this turbulent time. I highly recommend this story.

Up Country

As a Viet Nam Vet this book has it all I now have a son serving in Iraq. We have talked and the bond is there. He is due to return christmas 2007

A must read/Listen for all Combat Vets. I see....

entertaining and informative

Where does Up Country rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

this is a good read. I like the historical aspect and the story narrative. Up Country takes on its theme and follows through. The concept of the term Up Country follows along with the story line leading the reader through a modern day Vietnam and exploring the characters memories of the war riddled Vietnam.

Nelson DeMille is an unfailing master writer

Would you consider the audio edition of Up Country to be better than the print version?

Do I consider this better than the print version - I suppose that depends on how well the reader "Narrates" in their mind while reading. This audio version has no lapses in perfection. Every vocal inflection matches the moment of the story and captures the listening mind refusing to let go.

What did you like best about this story?

The character development and consistency. There are plots and subplots and moments I thought I had it all figured out only to find I did not and was so glad I hadn't!

Which scene was your favorite?

There are scenes while they are riding in a car and then a jeep that will glue you to your speakers.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I won't spoil the plot but you will love it when you know when love is real.

Any additional comments?

I am eagerly waiting for the next adventure

Amazingly enthralling

I say this is amazingly enthralling because the story is slow, the hero you want to shake and the reader too much into Paul Brenners sarcasm. Its hard to imagine someone in Brenners position allowing himself to be lead the way he was. Apart from that I found myself very much in the story and couldn't wait for the next drive in or out of work to see what was happening next. A very good educational and interesting account of the history of Vietnam, how it was for the soldiers over there and what is happening in the country now.