In The Name Of Honor

by Richard North Patterson

Home from Iraq, a lieutenant kills his commanding officer—was it self-defense or premeditated murder? An enthralling novel of suspense about the high cost of war and secrets

The McCarrans and the Gallaghers, two military families, have been close for decades, ever since Anthony McCarran — now one of the army's most distinguished generals — became best friends with Jack Gallagher, a fellow West Pointer who was later killed in Vietnam. Now a new generation of soldiers faces combat, and Lt. Brian McCarran, the general's son, has returned from a harrowing tour in Iraq. Traumatized by wartime experiences he will not reveal, Brian depends on his lifelong friendship with Kate Gallagher, Jack's daughter, who is married to Brian's commanding officer in Iraq, Capt. Joe D'Abruzzo. But since coming home, D'Abruzzo also seems changed by the experiences he and Brian shared — he's become secretive and remote.

Tragedy strikes when Brian shoots and kills D'Abruzzo on their army post in Virginia. Brian pleads self-defense, claiming that D'Abruzzo, a black-belt martial artist, came to his quarters, accused him of interfering with his marriage, and attacked him. Kate supports Brian and says that her husband had become violent and abusive. But Brian and Kate have secrets of their own, and now Capt. Paul Terry, one of the army's most accomplished young lawyers, will defend Brian in a high-profile court-martial. Terry's co-counsel is Meg McCarran, Brian's sister, a brilliant and beautiful attorney who insists on leaving her practice in San Francisco to help save her brother. Before the case is over, Terry will become deeply entwined with Meg and the McCarrans—and learn that families, like war, can break the sturdiest of souls.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, War, Legal Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

401 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Richard North Patterson is the author of fourteen previous bestselling and critically acclaimed novels. Formerly a trial lawyer, Patterson served as the SEC’s liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor and has served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups dealing with gun violence, political reform, and women’s rights. He lives in San Francisco and on Martha’s Vineyard.
Macmillan.com Author Profile

Awards
Edgar Award, 1980, Best First Novel for The Lasko Tangent

Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, International Award, 1995 for Degree of Guilt

http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and engaging. This is my second time to read Richard North Patterson (first was The Spire (2 stars)) and this is definitely better.

The multilayer plot runs through a gamut of issues. It goes head-on with the bureaucracy in and dysfunctions of, military justice. It is a love story and what can a lover sacrifice for the sake of truth. It is about the love of a daughter to her father and his legacies. It is a courtroom drama. It is about standing up for what is right. It is about staking all of the things that you value for the sake of honor. More than all of these, what I love about this book is its take on the legacy of the elders in shaping the future of the current generation. Yes, this story with the Vietnam War as the recent historical backdrop, talks about not only the effect of that war to the main male characters but also to the people who care for them and possibly those who are next in line to them. Think of Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July with engaging courtroom scenes and a series of revelations towards the end that would keep you leafing through the pages until the very end.

The book is divided into 5 parts and the title of each basically tells you the core plot:

1. The Killing. - a soldier kills his superior.
2. The Referral. - an army lawyer is tapped to defend the soldier.
3. The Prosecution. - the presentation of the case.
4. The Defense. - the counter-examination.
5. The Secret. - the juiciest part.

Looks simple and formulaic, right? Yes, but I don't care. Richard North Patterson's storytelling style is very engaging. He tells his story like CSI or Criminal Minds - straight, direct and no hanky-panky. Just like how a military mind works. My father was a policeman. His first cousin was a general in the army. My brother was a US Navy man. I saw that military-man mindset in action. I grew up with it.

Richard North Patterson may be a populist author but he is one of the best in the gang. I don't mind reading more books by him.

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a colorful plot. The characters are so intertwined that you don’t know whose being honest or what’s the real story. From beginning to end, I was fascinated and didn’t want to put it down. It starts with a murder and closes on the real truth. Army families in higher echelons are very secretive and hold things close to the vest. The McCarron’s are in the highest echelon and they will do whatever to protect the family secrets. When captain Terry, the defense attorney, starts having misgivings that’s when everything starts to unravel.

One of the best books I’ve read by Richard North Patterson. His nuances with each character was dead on and the military courtroom conversations were similar to the movie, “A Few Good Men.” He takes a story and brings everyone in it to life.

[Labijose · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Honour is the moral glue that binds us to each other”

I found it excellent! A courtroom drama plus a psychological thriller in a very interesting book. The twist at the end was not such a big surprise, though, you can see it coming. Anyway, Patterson describes PTSD (which is affecting so many soldiers returning from War) in a compelling way. The court martial chapters are very well depicted. It also helped me understand the Army Judicial System.
Kept me turning the pages well into the night. This was my 4th Patterson novel. He knows how to write!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Patterson usually writes books about particularly relevant socio-political issues, and presents an insane amount of factually accurate information in a compelling and gripping story, thereby tricking the audience into learning a great deal while simply reading an equally superb story. One thing I've always admired about him is that he doesn't do a half-assed job at presenting good information in a compelling manner, or in simply telling a good story, with a satisfying ending (whether all is well in the end or not). However, such is not the case with this book, unfortunately. Patterson does deliver a book that will teach some about military law, and certainly some about PTSD and how the Army is still struggling to deal with the mental health issue, the way that Patterson ends the book really irritated me. The "secret" at the end seemed to cheapen the story. The fact that Patterson has historically not stooped to the level of inserting a shocking and salacious twist at the end of the story to make it more juicy, just makes me more pissed off that he felt it necessary to do here. And on such an important issue, it actually saddens me too.

[ReBecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite disappointed in this book.... one I felt it was super long and could've been cut in half and would have been way better. I'm also disappointed in the ending... the turn of events and what really went down pissed me off bc I feel as a parent, you should do everything and anything to protect your kids and that clearly didn't happen. I wish that Terry would've let the cat out of the bag and dropped out of the case...but in some ways I feel that he had his own selfish reasons for not. In the end... how the story unfolds, I think that those people guilty should've paid for their actions. Especially, instead of having Brian take the fall for everything.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A legal thriller that revolves around a court-martial case involving a JAG officer. We focus on Captain Paul Terry, a military lawyer, defendant Lieutenant Brian McCarran, who is accused of murdering his commanding officer, Captain Joe D'Abruzzo. There are also several other important characters in this story, written quite well. There are complications, mainly that McCarran claims he was acting in self-defence due to severe PTSD, and that D'Abruzzo was threatening him.

What I enjoyed in this book is that it delves into themes of military justice, the psychological impact of war, and the moral complexities faced by soldiers and their families. It also looks at the concept of military dynasties - do they make people untouchable or too powerful? Do people revere them without cause? I found all of these ideas fascinating in the story. The courtroom drama is well written and intense, and the story explores the challenges of defending a client whose mental state is central to the case. Especially, when the institution has, up to that point, denied the impacts of PTSD on behaviour.

As legal thrillers go, it is formulaic and it does have a structure that often reminds me of a police procedural. But Patterson has a way of writing this to be engaging and well flowing. It was a breeze to read and, I thought, heavily character driven.

The only letdown was the ending, which I thought didn't match the tone of the story. On the other hand, it added a convincing enough twist, and added some morally grey aspects to key characters.

[Bob Box · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 2011. A riveting tale of love and betrayal, truth and it's role in the search for justice, war and it's devastating effect on combatants. One of my favorites that year.

[Gail Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little pulls in and holds a reader more effectively than a stunning opening, which is precisely what Richard North Patterson has done with IN THE NAME OF HONOR. Captain Paul Terry receives an early morning phone call, "There's been a shooting at Fort Bolton - one officer killed another."

As if that weren't shocking enough the shooter was Brian McCarran. This was a killing that would "reverberate all the way to the Pentagon, where the family's most revered member, Anthony McCarran, served as chief of staff of the army." Terry, an attorney, is just shy of leaving the service for a plush job with a Wall Street firm, but he has been called to help Brian in what is sure to be not only a headline grabbing case but a heartbreaking one as well.

The dead soldier is Joe D'Abruzzo, Brian's commanding officer in Iraq and married to Kate Gallagher who has been almost like a sister to Brian. Both of the men have changed since returning from duty. Brian has been traumatized by his experiences, and Joe has been withdrawn, guarded. It was as if at times he were a stranger.

When Brian receives a phone call from Kate revealing that Joe has become violently abusive, he determines that he will protect her. But one night Joe comes to Brian's apartment and their confrontation ends in death. Brian claims that Joe attacked him, although he is unable to remember large parts of the evening. Paul will defend him using PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) as his defense.

Meanwhile, Brian's sister, Meg, has arrived from San Francisco. She's a highly intelligent attorney who insists on serving as co-counsel in order to save her brother. Hidden secrets are revealed as the process continues.

Readers of Patterson's work know that he's a pro at creating riveting courtroom drama - for this reader IN THE NAME OF HONOR is some of his best work. Obviously, Patterson has researched PTSD assiduously as we find when Paul makes his case. With that plus the war in Iraq readers will find much to ponder as the suspense builds to a highly surprising ending.

- Gail Cooke

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Name of Honor is one of the better legal thrillers I’ve read this year. The story centers around soldiers and PTSD, something that’s real and something the military is refusing to fully acknowledge still in 2010.

Lt. Brian McCarran is on trial for murdering Capt. Joe D’Abruzzo, a black belt in Karate, and his lover, Kate Gallagher D’Abruzzo’s husband. Brian and his sister Kate lived with the Gallagher’s, long time family friends after their mother’s suicide while their dad, GEN Anthony McCarran continued his career.

Capt. D’Abruzzo was Lt. Brian McCarran’s commanding officer in Iraq and after they both returned home, D’Abruzzo learns that McCarran had a three month affair with his wife. D’Abruzzo goes ballistic and McCarran shoots D’Abruzzo with his own gun in self-defense.

The prosecutor is out to prove that D’Abruzzo’s death was a murder concocted by D’Abruzzo’s wife and McCarran. The defense is out to prove that the murder was in self-defense due to PTSD.

The writing of the courtroom drama was superb but the best is saved for last when we learn the truth about the murder.

In the Name of Honor makes a convincing debate on how senseless this war is and how it can’t be won and how our politicians place our babies in harms way to achieve a goal that they never fully explain.

[mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patterson takes on the Iraq War, military and mental life and how they all intersect to create personalities and events. Typical Patterson - where he looks at a current issue, researches it, and then makes a crime drama out of it to inform the reader about the issue. This book does not paint a pretty picture, but it is realistic (I grew up in the military - son of an officer.) There is good court room drama that reminded me a lot of the 1990 movie "A FEW GOOD MEN." Complex cross-generational relationships abound: Loneliness, alcoholism, suicide, ambition, competition, and war all collide in the way these things tend to do ... and deciding what causes what, and where responsibility lies is never easy. Patterson is a good story teller, good at uncovering what lies beneath simple explanations.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great novel that explores the evils of Iraq and the destruction is does to the soldiers involved. Toss in Patterson's legal angle and you have an excellent novel about military law and the havoc PTSD poses on those returning from the front.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing long novel about family, murder, war veterans and their defense lawyer. Courtroom dialogue is extremely boring. 4 of 10 star

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read any of Richard North Patterson's books until this one, at least not that I remember (fortunately or unfortunately, I don't actually remember every book I read between 1979, when this author's first book was published, and 2009 when I began using Goodreads to keep a record). The main reason for this, I'm sorry to say, is that I automatically look askance at any book that has made the "bestseller" lists. In my defense, there are an awful lot of stupid, ignorant, semi-literate people in the world who buy poorly written books by incompetent and/or greedy authors, and all of the above tend to be conformists. This situation has, like many other things, become noticeably worse during my lifetime. Having said that, I will stipulate that my curmudgeonly tendencies have also gotten worse over the last couple of decades. I will also grant that no sane person reads genre-fiction with the expectation that it will always, or even often, also be great literature; on the rare occasions when that happens to be the case it is always an unexpected extra treat. Of all people, however, I should at this point damned well know better than to judge a book by its cover- even a book about attorneys. I feel like a prize jackass for blowing off all the chances I've had over the years to read numerous books by Mr. Patterson, and for leaving this one to sit around quite literally collecting dust for many months before I read it. On the other hand, the author has a fairly large body of work, and I run across copies of his books frequently for little or no money, so I will no doubt have the opportunity to read many of them in the future. Just for the record, this is one of those books that would benefit from fractional star ratings- it is actually a 3.5 rather than just a three. I am cautious about rating books, but I don't read four hundred pages in a day unless the writing is exceptionally good...

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patterson has put together a very complex legal thriller in a military setting, with subtle motivations and ethical dilemmas. Paul Terry, a short-timer with a lucrative civilian job awaiting him, is prevailed upon to defend Lt. Brian McCarran on a charge of murdering his commanding officer Joe Abruzzo soon after their return from a tour of duty in Iraq. Brian's father, Anthony McCarran, is in line to be named head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the victim was married to the daughter (Kate) of McCarran's closest friend who died in Vietnam. McCarran raised her as a daughter and she was a surrogate sister to Brian. So, did Brian kill Joe in simple self-defense, or to protect Kate, or was it payback for things that happened between them in Iraq? Did PTSD play a role?

Actually, it's a lot more complicated than that. Paul is forced to accept Brian's real sister Meg as co-counsel, and their relationship becomes a factor in the trial. Issues of duty, ambition, family loyalty, and ethics make for a tense courtroom drama, with more than a few surprises and plot twists.

The events of the killing are replayed over and over and over during the course of the novel, from different perspectives, and with details added or corrected in subsequent relatings. Somehow this works without becoming excessively tiresome.

Knowing how Patterson approaches his research, I'm assuming that the combat scenes convey the reality of the Iraqi war environment with a modicum of accuracy. I'm also sure the US military's reluctance to face up to PTSD and to provide timely care to veterans is an accurate depiction.

This book is one of the more thought-provoking legal thrillers I've read lately. I recommend it to those who appreciate that genre.

[bersabea giudice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onestamente, se questo libro non l'avesse scritto Richard North Patterson, non l'avrei mai letto. Perché se da una parte adoro i legal thriller, e questo scrittore è uno dei più bravi, dall'altra parte, tutto quello che ha a che fare con guerre e ambiente militare non m'interessa e non mi affascina.
Non posso fare a meno di etichettare questo libro come una " americaniata ", gente che si batte il petto al grido di Dio, Onore e Patria e poi và in giro per il mondo a massacrare, solo gli americani possono credere di esportare pace e democrazia.
Non ho neanche capito se lo scrittore volesse subdolamente sottolineare l'ipocrisia di tutto ciò o se ci credesse veramente, fatto sta, che la prima metà del libro l'ho trovata poco piacevole.
La seconda metà è sicuramente più interessante, si entra finalmente nelle aule del tribunale militare, e Patterson, come dicevo prima, è bravissimo nel raccontare ogni parte del processo, dalla scelta dei giurati fino all'arringa finale.
Purtroppo, sono rimasta delusa anche dal colpo di scena finale, io l'avevo fiutato, forse, a pagina 100, semplicemente non mi ero resa conto che fosse il colpo di scena, era troppo facilmente intuibile.
Patterson rimane ai miei occhi uno scrittore formidabile, sebbene questo libro non mi sia piaciuto tanto, a chi volesse conoscerlo consiglio piuttosto " il silenzio del testimone " o " Grado di colpevolezza " due legal assolutamente stupendi.

[Richard Gullickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janie and I listened to this as an audio book which is always good for an extra point. Patterson does a great job with a courtroom drama. This one is a gripping story about an Army officer, the son of the Army Chief of Staff, who is accused of shooting his company commander. The underlying theme of this story is the effects of post traumatic stress disorder on returned Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Both the victim and the alleged killer suffer from the effects of their traumatic middle east service. This one has an interesting twist about the alleged affair between the acused and the wife of the victim. When our ambitious and capable protagonist, Army Captain lawyer Paul Terry, slips into a relationship with his co-counsel, the sister of the accused, his belated recognition that she has been withholding critical facts about the shooting leads to an ambiguous ending. Realistic characters, a gripping plot, and an uncertain ending – what more could you want?

Read but not reviewed:

[Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me some time to decide on the rating of In the Name of Honour, one of the very few times where the half-star option would have been nice. Because 3 stars does not seem to be enough, but I just couldn’t really give 4 stars either.

This book actually has a lot going for it: it's quite exciting and gives an interesting look in the legal kitchen of the army. The characters are nice and realistic. As often, Patterson is not afraid to take on a (political) hot potato, in this case PTSD. And the structure of the story, building towards the climax is quite good as well.

So, what let it down then? Well, for some reason it just couldn’t really keep me captivated. I was easily distracted and kept having difficulties picking up where I left off. That’s a bad sign, which I might have overlooked and still given 4 stars, if the end also wasn’t rather disappointing.

[Hans Brienesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a dramatic book this is. Who else but Richard North Patterson would build up arguments then tear them down again. The story proceeds at it's own pace but builds upon itself in each chapter. What I found interesting was the fact the same story was repeated from different viewpoints of the same incident but this was accomplished without seeming either repetitive or laborious. Like all of his courtroom dramas I particularly enjoy the gradual character assassinations that take place for the successful resolution of the case. As has been mentioned in a previously read review of this book all of his research is both immaculate and meticulous. Read it!! Read all of his books, you will not be disappointed.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to know why the author has multiple bestsellers to his name? Read this book.
When a soldier, the third generation of a storied military family, is accused (by his own admission)of murdering the husband of a childhood friend (who also happened to be his commanding officer during a harrowing tour in Iraq), the Army seeks out a brilliant JAG lawyer to defend him. The lawyer is set to leave the Army for a lucrative posting at a top-flight New York firm in two weeks.
What the young lawyer didn't count on was the sister of the accused, another young, brilliant, and damaged lawyer.
Everyone has secrets, and everyone has loyalties. The book takes us through the case from start to finish, and it's a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down.

[Alec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patterson builds the characters in such a very detailed way that I found it cliché and annoying. I understand however how this is influenced by his experience at court trials to be perceptive to rapport and physical cadence.
However I disliked the story’s ending, I saw it as a window to the dynamics of machismo and the weight of honor in the military. Patterson’s novel has accounted for the case of reality where the acknowledgment of mental health runs through a series of nuances and politics.
Overall, the flow of the book is good. The characters weren’t built up that much to be loved by the readers except for Rose, but I would commend Patterson’s metaphors and figures that were lodged wittily, especially in the riddles of power and betrayal.

[Susan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCarrans and Gallaghers two families whose lives are strongly connected. the fathers Anthony and Jack were in west Point together and best friends and then to Viet Nam, Jack didn't return. Because of their long friendship Anthony took care of the Gallaghers. This story focuses on the son Brian and his return from Iraq with with PTSD and his subsequent killing of his commanding officer who happens to be Kate Gallagher's husband. I don't want to give to much of the plot way but this is definitely a page turner and when you think you know what's going on the author leads you away .
A must read !

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home from Iraq, a Lieutenant Brian McCarran, kills his commanding officer—was it self-defense or premeditated murder? The McCarrans and the Gallaghers, two military families, have been close for decades, and honor plays a dominate role in the behavior of the family members. But honor has complicated and convoluted nuances that can conflict with one another.

Paul Terry, a lawyer ready to leave the Army for private practice, is given the task of defending Brian. It becomes more complicated when Brian's sister, also a lawyer, insists on becoming Paul's co-counsel. The characters are brilliantly drawn and the story line is deep and moving. Highly recommended.

[Ilene Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a military court Brian McCarren is accused of having an adulterous affair with Kate and killing her husband also an army officer. Brian claims self defense of the murder because of PTSD, a result of fighting in Iraq. The story gets complicated because Brian's father is Tony McCarren soon to be named Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff. The family's reputation is on the line. The story includes tense court room scenes to determine if Brian is a cold-blooded murderer or actually suffering from PTSD. The story is enhanced by a brief description of the war conditions he endured in Iraq. I really enjoyed this book. It held my interest throughout.

[Mark Leason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow so detailed and suspenseful from beginning to end James Patterson is a great author of suspense and mystery stories that leave us reader's wanting to keep turning the payers of every Patterson book whether it me a criminal fiction, fictional suspense, Sci-fi , young reader's or romance

Wow so detailed and suspenseful from beginning to end James Patterson is a great author that leave us reader's wanting to keep turning the pages of every Patterson book whether it be criminal fiction, fictional suspense, sci-fi, young reader's or romance

[Asha KRISHNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superbly told story about a court martial and its impact on two families. I have grown to have expectations from RNP and he doesn't disappoint. This was written in the 90s and yet the emotions are so relevant even today.

He tends to get a bit detailed with the courtroom scene which is why it took me a while to get through it, but the twists that he comes up with, and the spot on study of acute behavious is something that he does so well.

If you like courtroom thrillers you will enjoy this one.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunningly clear and poignant

A compelling story with confusion and collusion. Trying to figure out who is lying, and why will keep you intrigued from start to finish. Very interesting look at military life, and our military justice system. This is one particular vibrant picture of the struggles our veterans are dealing with. The effects of PTSD, and how those troops are being stigmatized for dealing help.

[Tom Getzinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I went to the library, before it closed for COVID, I thought I was picking up a James Patterson book. Joke was on me. Ah well - I've made it through all the other books I checked out, so I figured I'd give this a try. It was a military crime book (*not* by James Patterson). I enjoyed it. It has a twist - I won't say any more. I think I figured it out about 1/3 of the way through but had to keep reading to see if I was right.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

I originally read this book at its time of initial publication. Rereading only solicited my respect for this author who has always been a favorite of mine. The issue of PTSD is a matter of great importance and concern. Not only to veterans but to all first responders. The military code of honor is also subject to great debate. This is a very compelling novel about honor, family dynamics and justice.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. About military murder trial, PTSD, military families, lots of lies - which made book hard to follow. Too long, I ended up skimming then read the end which involved a twist. I’m on the fence with her I like this authors style. Another reviewer noted that a (low) 2 out of 5 rating equals 4 out of 10, which sounds generous.

[pam regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

so very real

War is terrible and everyone suffers. Mr Patterson revealed the tragedy of war and the damage it does. He also portrayed love and the complexity of families.
I had read it before and re- read it because it could not remember all the details.
It is well written and certainly worth reading.