The General

by Patrick A. Davis

Set in present-day Washington, where power and ambition have attained new levels of insanity, The General reaches back in time to peel the layers of evil from a brilliantly concealed episode of treachery, death, and deception during the Vietnam era. The investigators probing the brutal murder of the Air Force Chief of Staff know that the General's death had been precipitated by a gruesome act of Vietcong torture - death by a thousand cuts. Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Jensen, the officer assigned to the case, discovers that the General's death is a link in a chain of hideous crimes, beginning with closely guarded secrets of the Vietnam War and extending now to the higher levels of the US government. With lives, careers, and history in the balance, Jensen is caught between blind allegiance to authority and a nobler, higher patriotism. His path to the truth is strewn with minefields - and the answers he seeks will have shocking consequences.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Military Fiction

Audio Cassette

First published March 23, 1998

About the author

Patrick A. Davis is the national and New York Times bestselling author of six previous novels: The Commander, A Slow Walk to Hell, A Long Day for Dying, The Colonel, The General, and The Passenger. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and the Army Command and General Staff College, and a former Air Force major who flew during the Gulf War. He helped plan and direct U-2 surveillance operations for Operation Desert Storm and flew eleven combat sorties. He is a former pilot with a major airline.

Reviews

[Eric_W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a little like I've been riding in a car with faulty brakes, they keep being viciously applied and then suddenly released allowing the car to resume at high speed, only to have the brakes suddenly applied once again. The plot will be going along nicely, the writing suitably intricate, and then, bang, something stupid and I'm wondering, why am I listening to this?

Part of the problem comes from the nature of all conspiracy stories, true or otherwise: you have to suspend all rational belief as the number of people who are needed to control the conspiracy spirals totally out of control. The stock characters will be familiar to those of us who read these books. The three who finally unravel the case, against all odds, of course, are a poster for diversity: a Korean police lieutenant, an African-American (of lower rank, naturally, but extremely talented) and a good old American white boy lieutenant colonel with a square jaw who has a lovely wife and 2.5 children. The villains are straight out of central casting.

Rereading what I just wrote makes it sound like I didn't like the book. Not true. It's just a little too formulaic, but as this was one of Davis's earlier books, perhaps he became more fluent in later works. As with any in this genre, my expectations weren't high. I just wanted to be entertained. It was a good book to listen to while mowing.

Plot summaries are everywhere, no need for me to.

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The General kept me turning the pages pretty quickly. The suspense and the tension kept the plot exciting and fluid. The action, surprises, sub-plots, interesting characters, and a conspiracy made for a great thriller. The protagonist, Charlie Jension, had psychological depth and plausible motivations (unlike the cardboard characters in some thrillers). I liked the conclusion to the story because of its memorable unconventionality and quirkiness. Patrick A. Davis is an author I think I will read more of in the future, based on this excellent first novel.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate the audio novel the “General” by Patrick A Davis 5 of 5 stars. Starting out with the murder of a military General this book developed into a solid murder mystery. We follow the lead detective working to solve this crime as he goes thru plot twists and surprises. Several additional murders happen during the investigation clearly showing a cover-up of some big secret. The payload of the book is surprising and of a grand scale which explains the scope of the cover-up. Well worth reading and I do recommend this book. I will add Davis to my list of favorite authors.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Conspiracy story about broken souls after the Vietnam war and the hanky-panky that went on. Upstanding young men of the 90's investigate old warriors after the torture-murder of a general who had unearthed bloody scandal that might derail normalizing relations with 'Nam. Engrossing mystery, fast paced, unlikely number of bodies piling up for "peace" time but maybe that was symbolic.

[Gregory Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat was a squadron mate of mine back when we flew U-2s. As a result I was compelled to read all his work. This story is by far the best. A good exciting read. For anyone who has ever experienced Song Ton, Korea, Pat captures the culture perfectly.

[Carterswift · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely caught and held my attention - I started on Sunday and finished on Monday. Very CIAish, 24ish.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most exciting book I've ever read. This started my sudden fondness to Vietnam War, its history and culture. An ultimate page turner. Never let me put it down until the very last page.

[Donn Lorber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author that I will read again. The pentagon, Vietnam, and prisoners of war held in the North makes for a compelling tale ..very enjoyable

[David Linzee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sex, violence, and race make a volatile blend in this acerbic mystery. Davis keeps the story hot-footing along with short, punchy dialogue scenes. Davis is weak on the psychology of characters, strong on military career politics and the seamy side of overseas base life.

[Melvin Lance]

First Patrick Davis book I have read and look forward to another of his books.

[Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read about this other in a magazine and I read this book (his first). It was good. I'm retired Air Force and this author was an AF pilot. He captured my attention and has kept it through all of his books.

[adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago and remember being completely sucked into it... By now, the only thing i clearly recall is how the general was fileted with a sharp knife and a fishnet. That, and i really enjoyed the story. Definitely a book i want to find in my storage facility and re-read.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book as I love thrillers and I love military thrillers. It just doesn't rank up there with the really great ones. Granted, it was a first novel, but it just doesn't compare to W.E.B. Griffitn or Demille

[Betty Janick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book and hard to lay down. I can't concentrate now with all my meds. i'll have to find a cd of his newer books.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder of AF General, tortured

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author's first novel, and my first read of this author. Really good book! Fantastic plot, kept me guessing to the end.

[Logan Weatherly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a bad read. Sometimes its a little hard to stay interested in, but a pretty good read none the less. Good ending.

[Jay Collumbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

it suckled dicksssssssssssss