The Reckoning

by Jeff Long

The killing fields of Cambodia hold nightmarish secrets of the past – and the present – for Molly Drake, an intrepid photojournalist covering the U.S. military's search for the remains of an American pilot shot down during the Vietnam War. A flight helmet buried among the Khmer Rouge victims is her first discovery – and far from the most explosive.

Led by a mysterious expatriate to the ruins of an ancient city, Molly embarks on a harrowing search for evidence of an entire GI patrol, lost thirty years ago. Now, as a typhoon descends on the remote jungle fortress, Molly discovers that a war she never knew never ended – and it's up to her to solve a forgotten murder among the warriors left behind...

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Adventure, Supernatural, Suspense

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Long is a veteran climber and traveler in the Himalayas rock climbing often manifests in his writing. He has also worked as a stonemason, journalist, historian, screenwriter, and elections supervisor for Bosnia's first democratic election.

Many of his stories include plot elements that rely heavily on religious history or popular perceptions of religious events.

Reviews

[Pilvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I borrowed this book from the library, I thought it was some sort of crime book. At least a war crime book. Instead, it was more of a mystery book. It was a story of history, love, finding who you are etc. It caught me by surprise because of the genre, but also with how much I liked it. I really enjoyed the story. I usually don't like books where the author leaves too much for the reader to decide and cipher out, but this one was enjoyable. There were many odd things that you had to think out yourself. And the ending... It's been a long time since a book has made me cry. This one did, the ending was heart breaking. Often once I've closed the book, I don't think about the story anymore but I've been thinking this one many times today even though I finished it yesterday.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adventure novel with some supernatural elements. A group searching for the remains of Vietnam-era soldiers in Cambodia stumble upon a lost city that has its own secrets. This book could've been so much better than it was. It was longer than it needed to be, lagging quite a bit in the middle. I did like the ending, but that was kind of abrupt. An OK read, but nothing special.

[Rocci Doria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Reckoning is kind of a weird, modern day Vietnam-related fever dream. It has trouble getting started, picks up through the middle and free-falls through the ending, which, hard as it tries to be a twist, just weakens the whole story. The untwisted plot revolves around people searching out the bones of MIAs for retrieval to the homeland, a gruesome and grueling task that they know they'll never fully complete. This particular group is unsanctioned and comprised of temporarily semi-aligning interests: a man searching for his brother's bones, a photojournalist with a major need to prove herself and an enigmatic adventurist/archaeologist/American-who-conveniently-speaks-Khmer.

Things turn weird when they and their escort of locals happen upon an ancient, lost city in the Cambodian jungle in pursuit of a lost company of soldiers. To take it much further than that would be to give something away, so I won't, but I'll say these three things:

- As with many weird stories, it's at its best before it's understood.

- There's a leech thing that happens again and again, which might be a metaphor for something I'm just too dense to pick up on.

- The lost city steals the show and is worth the price of admission. It's absolutely fantastic.

Fans of Jeff Long (including me, ever since I read The Descent) will get enough of that archaeological buzz on, but if this comes across as a little disappointed, it's that there isn't much more to The Reckoning than that. It's obvious Long quite wanted more, which is a shame. If the knockout blow hadn't been so glancing, it probably would have been something to behold.

[Traummachine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike the wonderful darkness and action of The Descent (truly a tour de force), this novel has an odd, dreamy quality to it that suits it very well. The book is confusing and surreal, but in a very good way. I related to the characters as they felt lost, disjointed, and confused, and the fact that it's intentional makes it a great ride. Not as good as The Descent, but still thoroughly enjoyable.

It was reminiscent of Charles Grant, the master of this kind of dreamy, surreal horror

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2nd Jeff Long novel. I enjoyed "The Wall," so rapidly put this one on my reading list, and enjoyed it even more. This time I found the ending satisfying, if a bit abrupt. Again a variation on the ghost story. Again with an interesting setting and strong sense of place. This time in Cambodia, with echoes of the Viet Nam war. As the story progresses, the protagonist leaves her own world further and further behind, going deeper and deeper into the jungle, and as this happens, you become less and less sure what is reality and what she is imagining. It becomes quite dream-like and somewhat disorienting. It is impossible not to be reminded of "Heart of Darkness" and "Apocalypse Now." Finally at the end the reality of the situation becomes clear very quickly. I will look for more Jeff Long.

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I recommend this book to any reader of horror that wants something beyond what you can find at the grocery store. There aren't a whole lot of answers here, but this one of of the creepiest ghost stories I've ever read. It is a very cerebral type of horror novel rather -- not like most of what is on the horror shelves these days.

In the acknowledgments section of his book, the author begins by saying "The Reckoning takes history for its haunted house." And indeed it does.

The story begins as Molly Drake, a young photojournalist who has made it into the big leagues and is working for the NY Times, arrives in Cambodia to do a story about a group of US military personnel who are trying to find any remains of a pilot shot down during the war with Vietnam. Among the group is a veteran, John Kleat, looking for his dead brother; an archaeologist, Duncan O'Brian; Samnang, hired by the American recovery team to run the dig, and who also went around collecting indigenous folk songs when he wasn't digging; and a person they call the Gypsy Man, who hides out in the shadows watching the group dig. Molly is there to take pictures, however, when she discovers a flight helmet buried under the bones of victims of the Killing Fields, the military takes her and all civilians off of the excavation. Just when Molly is ready to admit her mission is over before it starts, and just before returning home to New York, she is met in a restaurant along with John Kleat and Duncan by the Gypsy Man, whose name turns out to be Lucas Yale. He tells them of a mysterious place he can take them where they will find remains of US soldiers, and offers proof in the form of several dog tags.

I can't reveal much more without giving away the show - suffice it to say that it will hold your interest and keep you reading for a few hours.

Recommended

[Maryann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Jeff Long is a good thriller author- his books are never too long and usually present an interesting premise with a good amount of twists and turns. This one, however... may have missed the mark a little.

Molly is a journalist recently arrived in Cambodia, taking a chance on a story about recovering an American soldier's remains. She hopes this story will be her big break. She meets Duncan, an expert on ancient Cambodian history and culture and who has participated in many digs, and Keats, searching for his lost brother, believed dead and perhaps the remains they are searching for. Long paints wonderful pictures and things get exciting. And then, after developing to a great moment of tension, we rush through the ending and everything is wrapped up waaaaaaaaaay too neatly. Boo on that.

Food: Nachos. Thrillers are like that for me- not too meaty, and you can chow down a whole plate without getting full. These, however, had too many soggy chips at the bottom.

[Julie Kellner · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a load of garbage if I could give this book no stars I would. A complete load of crap

[Toni Boughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Jeff Long book. His writing can be dream-like, and never more so than in this fantastic tale of those that got left behind in the wars we fight.

[Scott Sokolich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writing by Jeff Long. This book starts out as a quest to find MIA US soldiers in Cambodia. It slowly morphs into a ghost story.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUTHOR Long, Jeff
TITLE The Reckoning
DATE READ 04/24
RATING 4/B
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Fiction/2004/Pocketbooks/ 351 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE SA
CHARACTERS Molly/photo journalist
TIME/PLACE 2000's/ Cambodia
COMMENTS The main event for me was the setting -- Cambodia. Molly comes on an assignment to the killing fields in the jungles of Cambodia, 25+ years after the genocide. This journey becomes more personal discovery than professional venture when she discovers new information about her father.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

You could never make me rate a Jeff Long book lower than 4 stars and I don’t care what anyone says!

I really liked Molly. Even though some of the book was kind of slow, it didn’t feel like it at the time until I was looking back on it. I loved the imagery of the ruined city and the twist at the end was so good. I need to go back and reread the first chapter to see what was going on with the first soldier because I’m sure I missed something. But this was really good!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as I'm a history buff plus the ending surprised me and wow, what an ending. Molly Drake armed only with her camera and others enter into modern-day Cambodia in search of MIA servicemen and what follows is an edge of your seat thriller that just as you think you know what's happening, boom, another twist in the story occurs. Well done Jeff Long, this is a must read for fans of the military/thriller genres.

[Robert (NurseBob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long has a gift for creating a cinematic experience using nothing but words. You can feel the rain pelting your face, hear the typhoon howling through the treetops, and see the many grotesque visions as they emerge from the jungle. A haunted forest tale whose suspense builds slowly but steadily towards a resolution as heartbreaking as it is horrifying.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this author's style. His books tend to have satisfactory suspense, minimal gore, sensuous descriptions, and a little dark humor. This is the second Jeff Long book I've read and I will read more of his work.

[Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Long vie lukijansa Kambodžan kosteisiin viidakoihin. Päähenkilöä lukuunottamatta hieman yksiulotteiset hahmot seilaavat historian sotaisissa kerroksissa. Fyysinen kuvaus säästä ja olosuhteista tasapainottaa hyvin hieman maagisia elementtejä, joihin voi suhtautua harhoina tai fantasiana.

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ihan ok jännäri. Olipahan jotain normaalista poikkeavaa luettavaa ja omassa kirjahyllyssä jo vuosia lukemista odottanut.

[Kara Kazanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff never lets me down. Amazing job!

[Bret Kinghorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and enjoyable story. Not at all what I had expected.

[Katie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far, my favorite Jeff Long book.

[Nook_Book_21 Pepoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

there is a lot of adventure in this book. The story is complicated but very beautiful. I give 5 stars!

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 2004. Part ghost story and part suspenseful adventure.

[Iida · Rating 4 out of 5]

En ollut ihan kärryillä koko ajan, mutta ihan viihdyttävä.

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A supernatural war story set in Vietnam or Cambodia. A ghost love story.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story of finding the lost and trying to tell their story.

[Sarah Shumate]

PopSugar Reading Challenge 2025 Prompt 38: Two books with the same title

[Michelle Stockard Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strange book. I'm a big fan of his novel, The Descent, and its sequel, Deeper. Compelling, horrific, and immersive story telling. This one just didn't grab me in the same way.

[Pete Bylone · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I started this book knowing that I'd read Mr. Long's book, The Descent, many years ago and still consider it my go-to whenever anyone asks what my favorite book was. I'd begun to question, though, if that book was really that good, or if it was just a matter of me reading it at a point in my life where it really resonated with me. Unfortunately, I lent that book to a friend long ago and never got it back. I've looked for it in the local book stores to replace it, but there are few that carry ANY of his books. Certainly, if I found his book so amazing (and I did), others would have as well, and he'd have at least a cult following. So, I was continued to worry that I was overestimating the quality of my 'favorite book.'

I did, however, have this book on my shelf, and I can say that this book was exactly what I'd hoped it would be. The story is lean, taut and tense. He managed to keep me from figuring out all of the surprises until he revealed them. His characters are hyper realistic; all of them are flawed people, struggling to overcome their past. The story is grounded, a feat for coming in under 300 pages - especially given that this story has an undercurrent of the supernatural in it. The story includes tidbits that would be of interest to those who enjoy fictional accounts of Vietnam era military, archaeology, Cambodian culture, journalism, supernatural beings and of course a splash of love interest.

I really don't feel like I could get into any of the specifics about the story without highlighting the big reveals, so I'm going to do my best in seven words: Search for bones in Asia heals journalist.

Once I picked this book up, it was very hard for me to put down (I know it says I took ten days to read it, but I didn't start it right away when I picked it out). I think this would make an outstanding summer read, and I'd recommend it to anyone. He's restored my faith that my assessment of his earlier work was spot on, and I am grateful for that.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: The Reckoning by Jeff long.

The book starts out as a thriller and transfigures into a mystical paranormal story. A reporter from The New York Times went on a travel assignment to Cambodia to take pictures and report on the US Military 19s efforts of excavating the site of a Military plane crash that took place in the 1970 19s and the remains of the pilot.

She joined up with two men in Cambodia. One was an archeologist who specialized in temple restoration and a development contractor who was making once a year trips to Cambodia over a long period of time in hopes of finding the remains of his long lost brother. There was also five other men who joined their team.

With the monsoon about to begin and a possible typhoon stirring the mission was moved beyond the excavation site. Their travels took them on a very long drive through the night, past a strange rain of tiny frogs, a place deep within the confines of the jungle where legions and myths are closer than most people ever experienced working its mystic powers.

Buried deep within the Cambodian forest, primitive and creepy, through the early dense fog they discovered the ruins of an ancient city. Should they go on? This brought on turmoil within the team because of their reasons. One wanted to move on and look for the skeletons of men missing during the war others wanted to move on to take relics in the old city, greed getting the best of them, two wanted to relish in the ruins to captivate the essence of another world and only one wanted to turn back 26. But why go back 26?

The author knows how to create mystical surroundings that literally come alive with its creeping mists, shapely wandering shadows, sweltering humidity, aggressive abundance of growth, and the sense of urgency, the dread, and the excitement that pulls each and everyone of the characters and entices the reader into the mysterious puzzle of the missing soldiers and the city itself. I thought it was a great read 26..Haunting 26.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book! On the one hand, Jeff Long is a fantastically visual author who can make just about anything appear vividly in your mind. On the other hand, though, this book had one too many plot holes that I couldn't glide over. The camera is really the thing that bothers me though, it appears to defy physics at various points in the book to show exactly what the characters need to know. I know it's a little thing for a book that's a thriller/ghost story/horror novel, but every time it happened it really bothered me. The other thing was the main character was just a little bit too much Mary Sue for me, not your typical can do everything Mary Sue, but she had skills that I don't think made a lot of sense in the long run. Nothing too, too bad, but just enough to bother me.

All that being said, man was this a strange and wonderful book. I've only been to that part of the world once before, but I feel like Long really captured Cambodia in all it's savage beauty. And, what can I say, I'm a sucker for spooky ruins and adventure. Certainly not as good as The Descent, but still pretty good, and an extremely quick read.