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The Forest of Assassins
“The Forest of Assassins is a unique combination of startling fact and gripping fiction—which gives readers a new understanding of the war in Vietnam. It is must-read on every page.”
----THOMAS Author of A Disease in the Public A New Understanding of the Civil War
“The Forest of Assassins is a great read, a novel as good as the best journalism, with vivid and accurate details driving a tale of danger and deception and betrayal during the Vietnam War. This book doesn't just feel researched, it feels lived.
Whether tightening the suspense – our protagonist, Navy Lieutenant Hank Dillon eyeball to eyeball with a VC soldier and watching for the skin to whiten on the man’s finger curled around the trigger of his AK-47 – or describing the oppressive heat of an innocent afternoon on the Mekong Delta, David Forsmark and Timothy Imholt make you believe every word of it. I couldn't recommend it more highly.
-ROBERT FERRIGNO, NY Times best-selling novelist, Prayers for the Assassin
As real as fiction gets. A non-stop ride into combat told with perfection.
-BOB HAMER, veteran FBI undercover agent and the author of The Last Undercover
The Forest of Assassins is a historic thriller set in the earliest days of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. It involved the earliest of Navy SEAL teams. It is set in a time when the NAVY still did not admit these men existed, much less had they determined if those units would survive until the next conflict, or if the experiment would be abandoned.
The Forest of Assassins tells the story of Navy SEAL Lieutenant Hank Dillon, a squad commander, deep in the jungles of South Vietnam when America’s involvement in the war was still in the “advisor” stage. Dillon’s mission is to wreak havoc among the Viet Cong guerillas who are terrorizing the countryside.
Their mission—and even their presence in the region—is top secret. But Hank has a problem even bigger than a deadly and determined enemy; he has a traitor in the ranks.
Meanwhile, a suspicious NCIS cop is nosing around Hank’s mysterious operation, certain that it is a front for drug running and other illegal activities.
Things are tense for the young Lieutenant who just wants to go home to his wife…intact.
----THOMAS Author of A Disease in the Public A New Understanding of the Civil War
“The Forest of Assassins is a great read, a novel as good as the best journalism, with vivid and accurate details driving a tale of danger and deception and betrayal during the Vietnam War. This book doesn't just feel researched, it feels lived.
Whether tightening the suspense – our protagonist, Navy Lieutenant Hank Dillon eyeball to eyeball with a VC soldier and watching for the skin to whiten on the man’s finger curled around the trigger of his AK-47 – or describing the oppressive heat of an innocent afternoon on the Mekong Delta, David Forsmark and Timothy Imholt make you believe every word of it. I couldn't recommend it more highly.
-ROBERT FERRIGNO, NY Times best-selling novelist, Prayers for the Assassin
As real as fiction gets. A non-stop ride into combat told with perfection.
-BOB HAMER, veteran FBI undercover agent and the author of The Last Undercover
The Forest of Assassins is a historic thriller set in the earliest days of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. It involved the earliest of Navy SEAL teams. It is set in a time when the NAVY still did not admit these men existed, much less had they determined if those units would survive until the next conflict, or if the experiment would be abandoned.
The Forest of Assassins tells the story of Navy SEAL Lieutenant Hank Dillon, a squad commander, deep in the jungles of South Vietnam when America’s involvement in the war was still in the “advisor” stage. Dillon’s mission is to wreak havoc among the Viet Cong guerillas who are terrorizing the countryside.
Their mission—and even their presence in the region—is top secret. But Hank has a problem even bigger than a deadly and determined enemy; he has a traitor in the ranks.
Meanwhile, a suspicious NCIS cop is nosing around Hank’s mysterious operation, certain that it is a front for drug running and other illegal activities.
Things are tense for the young Lieutenant who just wants to go home to his wife…intact.
- GenresFiction
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2013
69 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 15, 2018
Despite the flaws of this book, this is a gripping tale with a lot of details of an elite unit, Navy SEALS, fighting in Vietnam early in America's involvement with that war. The author has a lot of subject matter knowledge and the details really give a sense of the complexity of what was going on. The different ethnic groups such as the Montagnard and Nungs show a country with the same ethnic tensions as others with the added problem of VC invasion. This makes it well worth reading. Other strengths--there actually is a lot of action in this book and a number of adventures so it's never dull. A secondary character gets a story arc that wouldn't work well on its own but supplements this book very well. The flaws are 1) this reads a bit roughly but is balanced by the author knowing when to insert humor to lighten some very grim combat scenes and 2) plot devices that seemed conventional like they have to be there to show how good our hero is despite the covert operations and death he has to deal out to the enemy. Needless to say, this book is drenched in testosterone where the male characters get the story development and the women seem to be 'placeholders' such as the hero's 'red hot' wife who is portrayed as the model perfect soldier's wife while another soldier's wife is a blonde druggie. Even the women in Vietnam are either models of virtue or prostitutes. Perhaps it was just how the male characters characterized them. My rating is 4 stars based on how interesting the story is because it does present a boots on the ground view of Vietnam that's well researched or actually experienced but I couldn't give it 5 stars because the authenticity of the hero didn't ring quite true. The tale was just too tidy, tying up loose ends by the conclusion.
March 24, 2021
Even though it's a great book to read, as a Vietnam combat veteran myself, it brought back some unwanted memories.
September 18, 2021
Closing takes time
Served on USS RANGER in GOT in 1965 and USS Kittyhawk in GOT in 1969.
This book captured the real effect and bravery of our Viet Name veterans.
Served on USS RANGER in GOT in 1965 and USS Kittyhawk in GOT in 1969.
This book captured the real effect and bravery of our Viet Name veterans.
January 29, 2022
My review
Really well done. J enjoyed the read. Thank you for your dedicated service. I was an army grunt in nam in 71. No one has ever said thank you.
Really well done. J enjoyed the read. Thank you for your dedicated service. I was an army grunt in nam in 71. No one has ever said thank you.
July 21, 2023
Excellent
An excellent story about SEALS in the early days of the Vietnam conflict. Detailed descriptions of the emotions and camaraderie and brotherhood.
An excellent story about SEALS in the early days of the Vietnam conflict. Detailed descriptions of the emotions and camaraderie and brotherhood.
February 9, 2024
The Forest of Assassins
This was a heart wrenching thought provoking novel that kept me wanting to learn more. Very happy to have read it and gained much from the experience.
This was a heart wrenching thought provoking novel that kept me wanting to learn more. Very happy to have read it and gained much from the experience.
August 11, 2025
Amazing story
Fantastic read ,could not put this down ,story of a first teams that was secret and early involvement of the Vietnam war
Fantastic read ,could not put this down ,story of a first teams that was secret and early involvement of the Vietnam war
March 11, 2017
Who are you.
The names and locations are almost perfect. Did you frequent Rosie O'Gradys. Did you know Ludlum. Are you not worried about the Secrets Act. How did you acquire such information?
The names and locations are almost perfect. Did you frequent Rosie O'Gradys. Did you know Ludlum. Are you not worried about the Secrets Act. How did you acquire such information?
January 14, 2015
Good fictionalized story.
Postmark did a credible job oh creating a very good storyline. His character development brought his characters to life. He grasped the enormity of this grievous war and was able to portray the American patriotic spirit with the underlying knowledge that the Viet Nam war took all those young lives, from many countries, for no good purpose. An engaging book, good stories within the story. Well done.
Postmark did a credible job oh creating a very good storyline. His character development brought his characters to life. He grasped the enormity of this grievous war and was able to portray the American patriotic spirit with the underlying knowledge that the Viet Nam war took all those young lives, from many countries, for no good purpose. An engaging book, good stories within the story. Well done.
October 20, 2016
Good stories but poor transfer to e-format
I liked this book and also China Bones (not reviewed but with same problem) by same authors but I've never seen so many language errors. It was like they used a very poor OCR program. It was so bad it often slowed my reading as I tried to figure out what was being said.
I liked this book and also China Bones (not reviewed but with same problem) by same authors but I've never seen so many language errors. It was like they used a very poor OCR program. It was so bad it often slowed my reading as I tried to figure out what was being said.
September 29, 2014
Vietnam told real
this is a well written story that covers all of the real parts of the Vietnam war without the typical tap dance around sensitive issues. this covers the reality of the men who were shunned when they came back and what they did when they were there.
this is a well written story that covers all of the real parts of the Vietnam war without the typical tap dance around sensitive issues. this covers the reality of the men who were shunned when they came back and what they did when they were there.
January 5, 2015
The Forest of Assassins
This is as an accurate picture of US Navy SEALs in the early days of the Viet Nam war as ever written. Though labeled fiction, it reads like one of the memoirs of a SEAL who fought there. Highly recommended.
This is as an accurate picture of US Navy SEALs in the early days of the Viet Nam war as ever written. Though labeled fiction, it reads like one of the memoirs of a SEAL who fought there. Highly recommended.
May 25, 2015
The forest of assassins
Deep story of a deep part of American history with many of the unanswered questions addressed by the tales but still unanswered. Good attempt at explanation and good feel for how it was.
Deep story of a deep part of American history with many of the unanswered questions addressed by the tales but still unanswered. Good attempt at explanation and good feel for how it was.
June 23, 2015
Seals in Vietnam
A lot of information and action. The seals had more than their share of dirty jobs, this book describes the everyday life of the seals. From camp life to life and dangers in the field.
A lot of information and action. The seals had more than their share of dirty jobs, this book describes the everyday life of the seals. From camp life to life and dangers in the field.
May 8, 2016
Navy Seal Team, South Vietnam
This book is well written, except for that grammar errors. Other than this it is a book once started is hard to put down.
This book is well written, except for that grammar errors. Other than this it is a book once started is hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews