The Edge of Honor

by P.T. Deutermann

A man on the brink of destiny...

It is the height of the Vietnam War and young Lt. Brian Holcomb is about to embark on an eight-month tour of duty that will bring him one step away from commanding his own ship.

A woman tempted by desire...

On the homefront, his beautiful wife Maddy is lonely and confused-tantalized by a seductive stranger and an act of betrayal every Navy man dreads, even more than an enemy's face.

A ship at war with itself...

Aboard the guided-missile frigate USS John Bell Hood, he will witness a ship spinning in a tidal pool of recklessness-its crew wasted by drugs, its brass losing its grip on command.

The Edge of Honor

And now, as the Hood steams towards an explosive showdown with North Vietnam's killer MiGs, he will be forced to make the most agonizing choice of his life-one that could make his career...or damn his soul.

With his stunning new thriller, The Edge of Honor, P.T. Deutermann unfurls at full display the mastery he hinted at so brilliantly with his debut Scorpion in the Sea.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Military Fiction, Historical Fiction

626 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

P. T. Deutermann is a retired Navy captain and has served in the joint Chiefs of Staff as an arms control specialist. He is the author of eighteen novels, and lives in North Carolina. His World War II adventure novel Pacific Glory won the W. Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction, administered by the American Library Association; his other World War II novels are Ghosts of Bungo Suido and Sentinels of Fire. His most recent novel is Cold Frame, a contemporary thriller set in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Karl Jorgenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about Vietnam-era naval warfare written by a man who lived it. As such, the detail is fantastic and gives those, so inclined, to experience ship-board duty in the Gulf of Tonkin along with Lieutenant Brian and an assortment of chiefs and other ranks. Recognizing that this may not be enough, the author has invented an onboard drug problem--similar to what went on in many ground units during the Vietnam War--and just as realistic. Secondarily, the book is about Brian's marital struggles with Maddie, who's stuck at home for six months at a time while Brian builds his career.
Fans of WEB Griffin and Tom Clancy should devour Deutermann. This is much better than either of those writers, both because Deutermann is a better writer and because Deutermann is real, not a knowledgeable wannabe.

[Toesnorth's mom]

too much tech stuff and sex description, good plot

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid, and I mean SOLID dramatic, wartime historical fiction...like with many of his collection of war novels, Deutermann's past as a serving US Navy officer, helps him to write about shipboard service in extraordinary detail, describing the Naval Vietnam War service historically and accurately. In fact, one can recognize some of the events even though names are changed...As with all of his novels, well-developed characters reflect the physical, emotional & personal sacrifices that are made by the heroes who fight our nation's wars...Lt. Brian Holcomb, Chief WEPS aboard a missile cruiser providing air traffic monitoring off the coast of North Vietnam, is attempting to salvage his career after a poor rating in the Atlantic Fleet, must confront, not only enemy, but the internal struggle of a ship with an early 70s drug problem...Really a great story with tremendous accuracy that catches this struggle!

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the height of the Vietnam War, Lt. Brian Holcomb begins a seven-month deployment aboard the USS John Bell Hood, an 8,000-ton guided-missile frigate off the coast of Vietnam. Brian is the weapons department head, in charge of the Hood’s array of computer-controlled attack and defense systems. His wife, Maddy, waits nervously back in San Diego, a career woman uneasy about being a “Navy wife,” frustrated by Brian’s absence and worried about his safety in an active war zone. Brian discovers the Hood is riddled with drug problems, which endanger the ship. His wife is interested in another man. Filled with characters, men and women, who interpret honor in different ways, Deutermann has written a terrific, riveting novel of suspense. For Vietnam War buffs, a great read, full of memories.

[Tom Tischler · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the height of the Vietnam War young Lt. Brian Holcomb is
about to embark on a long seven month tour of duty. On the home
front his new wife Maddy is lonely, confused and very tempted by
someone she meets. Back aboard the guided missile frigate USS
John Bell Hood we have a ship spinning in a pool of recklessness
it's crew wasted by drugs and it's top officers losing it's grip
on command. As the Hood steams toward a showdown with North
Vietnamese MIGS young Lt Holcomb is forced to make an agonizing
choice. One that can make his career or end it. This is an older
book from P. T. Deutermann from 1994 but I like his stories so I
gave this a high three. I liked the book and if you enjoy military
stories you probably will enjoy it also.

[Viva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead. This is a Vietnam War era book about a US Navy lieutenant (Brian Holcomb) newly serving on a frigate off the Vietnam coast. The frigate isn't a fighting ship but more of a tracking ship using radar and other electronic technology to track Navy and enemy planes, conduct electronic jamming, offense and defense against the enemy.

The book starts off with Holcomb joining as a department head (of WEPS), the weapons systems including the two Terrier (SAM, surface to air missiles) twin launchers on the ship. The plot can be separated into a few subplots which are very relevant to the subject.

One of them deals with Maddy, his wife, left behind in San Diego and her journey as a wardroom wife. She's newlywed and left alone, dealing with her new life, feelings of abandonment, extra-marital temptation and her final feelings about being married to a Navy officer. I fast read and then finally just skipped those chapters.

Other subjects included:
Captain and officers of the ship competing against the flyers in getting kills against enemy planes even though they're supposed to work together, down to lying about enemy planes being too far for Navy planes to engage.

Drug use on the ship dealt with internally so that the crew, officers, captain and ship wouldn't be singled out and punished by the higher ups. It was a matter of the ship dealing its own type of justice towards its own miscreants and a matter of Holcomb, the new officer faced with going along with that instead of through formal Navy regulations. Holcomb decides to go against his XO and CO in the end because the ship dealing with its own justice ended up not solving the problem, only sweeping it under the carpet and nursing it along.

And being the 1960's the issue of race, drugs and the new culture was also touched along.

There was a bit on the actual combat and how it was conducted and the technology of the day. Also the politics of the war.

Inside the ship it touched on the interactions between the various classes, such as the enlisted men, the petty officers and the officers. It also mentions loan sharking and how it was tolerated because even the chiefs used it occasionally.

And then there was the liberty visit to Subic Bay and the bars, brothels and entertainment area set up nearby and what it was like there.

Suffice it to say that a lot was covered in this book. The main thread was Holcomb and we saw all the other threads through his eyes. It was very well written and the author did a great job keeping the plot on track.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1994 this Navy war yarn is set in the waters outside of Vietnam. It's 1969 and the crew of the U.S.S. John Bell Hood are put through the paces of war at it's ugliest. At over 600 long winded pages this was a tough effort to read. The Navy jargon that was used in about 75 % of the pages really made it difficult for me. At times the story flowed pretty well. Protagonist Lt. Brian Holcomb was a good character to root for. With a plethora of characters on the ship it was pretty hard to keep straight where each of the characters fit into the ship's operations. Three stars out of a possible five stars. I'd recommend this book for those with a military background or a high level of interest. For those like myself who are somewhat clueless about military procedures and jargon it's possible to be somewhat lost. Also the ending forgot something. Something important.

[Darcee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long read. Setting-near the end of the Vietnam war in the Gulf of Tonkin. A young officer, Brian, and his wife, Maddy, moved from the Atlantic fleet to the Pacific fleet. Brian as the ship's weapons officer, along with other duties, struggles to find his way in the Pacific Navy, and deal with the ship's
drug issues, while maintaining his commitment to the ship and the crew. His wife, back home, struggles with the challenges of loneliness and trying to fit it with the Navy wives and the Navy life. Detailed, emotional, and realistic, in depiction of naval wartime times and consequences.

[Jerry H Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to his usual standards

First half of book boring and filled with endless unnecessary details that did not add to the book. Book ended incomplete. Not up to this authors usual standards.

[James C Smalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accurate account of firesnhips in Nam

I have a friend that had told me this story back in the `60 differences were the ship type and mission. So I believe the accuracy of the narrative as well as situation.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this author's book, but I found this one challenging to get through. Interesting study of the problems of the early 1970s in the Navy, but I felt like I was wading through it rather than swimming with the current.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was way too technical for me. If you served on US Navy ships, you could relate better. Plus, the book bored me.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of his earliest books but very well done.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mężczyźni nie uwodzą pięknych, mądrych i świadomych siebie kobiet. Jeśli kobieta daje się uwieść to uwodzą się nawzajem.".

Książka połowicznie przygodowa.

[Royden S. Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!

Great read, good story, and very technically accurate! This veteran enjoyed the book! I hope Deutermsnn writes more books like The Edge of Honor!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really Trial By Fire, but since it's not in the data base, I selected this one. Interesting and action packed. A great book to start 2025 reading with.

[Marc Kirner · Rating 4 out of 5]

More densely written than P.T's Scorpion & feels like the author downshifted somewhat from the grabbing 1st novel. Suggest having Google nearby to look up all the technical Navy jargon, but there's a list of terms in the back of the book that helps. A marvelous story, also worthy of making it into a movie.

[Mark Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is not my typical genre to read, a friend recommended the author and I found this in my favorite used bookstore. Having been in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict, I found this book interesting. I was nearly assigned to a guided missile destroyer my last two years (71,72), but instead ended up on Guam. PT Deutermann gives an outstanding description of life on a guided missile destroyer and throws in a great story on top of it. I could have used with a little less technical descriptions of the equipment as I felt it slowed the story a bit when he would get into it but he is definitely an author I will read again. In fact, I just started Spider Mountain by this author. I'll let you know what I think.

[7$MartyQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Truth Hurts

Its been a long time since I said goodbye to the Navy, however I was on a guided missile destroyer for the four years of service I did, and even back then we had a few guys who were doing drugs on board. It wasn't tolerated, and they were given a choice. Stop doing the drugs immediately, or face a general discharge. I can fully understand the problem being one which could not be tolerated because of the possibilities that this might impose upon a ship of the line, and what this might do if the ship was on the line doing gunfire support for troops fighting the enemy.

[Tony Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is one of P.T. Deutermann's earlier books, I think it is one of my favorites... it is a great novel about the challenges of a department head on a guided missile cruiser on station off North Vietnam during the early 70s. As a retired naval officer who has both commanded one of these cruisers as well as a squadron, he brings a lot of realism to events aboard ship. I can relate to it in that I was a department head on a similar guided missile frigate in the Atlantic during that time subsequent to my own tour of duty in Vietnam in the late 60s/

[Rob Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honor, is it black and white, or sometimes gray? What are the consequences of reasonable decisions that abrogate the rules? These questions are explored, but never fully resolved. There may well be no resolution, ugly as that thought is. Deuterman clearly shows the workings of the Vietnam era Navy and the effects of deployment on both sailors and dependents. The good, bad and ugly of the Navy are on display in this book.

[Icicle4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this fiction book at random and got a few pages into it and realized "I was there". The book is very well done, but is likely of most interest to those of us "lucky" enough to have done a WESTPAC cruise circa 1969.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good PT Deutermann book.

[bookishblonde]

Will be listening to cd format on long car trip; Father's Day present for Dad.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naval Lieutenant Brian Holcomb begins a tour as Weapons Officer
aboard to guided missile frigate John Bell Hood off the coast of
Viet Nam during the war. Very good story.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good, only wish he would write more books about the Vietnam War and the struggles during that period of time.

[Elwood Blues · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense book. It was a detailed read of the Vietnam war at sea. It sucks that careless morons on drugs would risk their shipmates in harm's way. I guess this was a war of complacency.

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 4 out of 5]

well navy 1972 till 1976 very familer with race relations, drugs, officer politics, in fact with the end of the war the politics were worce. I call this memory lane, with a little war mixed in

[John Cates]

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