Guest Review: In the Name of Honor

Summary: 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. -- Henry Holt

Booking Pap Pap is coming through with his reviews... finally! I'm just kidding but I will admit that every review he writes helps a lot now that I'm working. His latest read was IN THE NAME OF HONOR by Richard North Patterson. Mr. Patterson is an author that my father and I have been reading for years. I'm not sure how we both missed this novel which came out about six years ago, but better late than never! Here are his thoughts:

IN THE NAME OF HONOR by Richard North Patterson has it all – great characters, military issues, compelling courtroom action, family drama and a love story.

Lieutenant Brian McCarran is home from Iraq and is accused of killing his commanding officer, Captain Joe D’Abruzzo. To complicate matters, Brian is the son of Army Chief of Staff, Anthony McCarran and D’Abruzzo’s wife, Kate Gallagher and her family are closely tied to the McCarran family. Among other things, General McCarran was a close friend of Kate’s father who was killed in Viet Nam and also is Kate’s Godfather.

Paul Terry, an outstanding military attorney, is assigned to defend Brian in his high profile court martial trial even though it might interfere with his plan to leave the military for a lucrative job with a Wall Street firm. The story is further complicated when Brian’s sister, Meg, a beautiful and successful San Francisco attorney joins the defense team as Brian’s co-counsel.

D’Abruzzo’s aggressive behavior toward his wife and Brian’s response to D’Abruzzo’s actions toward him show signs of PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) from their Iran experiences. PTSD becomes the defense tactic that Terry decides to use in Brian’s defense. Testimony by Brian, Meg, General McCarran and a PTSD expert provides great courtroom drama as the suspense builds steadily throughout the trial to a most surprising conclusion. As Paul Terry moves the trial forward he learns more and more about the McCarran and Gallagher families, all of which impacts the trial outcome.

 Author Patterson provides the reader with a detailed look at military law and how a court martial might actually proceed. Through the trial testimony, Patterson also gives the reader a look into PTSD, how it impacts our military personnel and how it is dealt with (or not) by the military. Patterson obviously did a lot of research into military law and PTSD to provide the detail that made his story so real and current.

IN THE NAME OF HONOR is a nice combination of legal thriller with its riveting courtroom action, and human drama with its stories of romance, love of country and love of family.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel and to Booking Pap Pap for his review!
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