Heart of War

by Lucian K. Truscott IV

The brutal murder of Lieutenant Sheila Worthy has sent shock waves of fear throughout Fort Benning, Georgia, and the task of finding her killer has fallen to Major Kara Guidry. As the top lawyer in the judge advocate general's office, Kara has to tread lightly, for news of the death of Lieutenant Sheila Worthy has spread from the base to the most powerful corridors in Washington. Breathing down Kara Guidry's neck for a fast solution is General William Beckwith, Fort Benning's commanding officer and the man many say could be the army's new chief of staff. As the tension between them builds, Kara learns that nothing is sacred and no one is free from suspicion. And the secrets she uncovers could forever alter the lives of the men and women of Fort Benning, hers included.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Military Fiction

404 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Lucian Truscott IV is an American writer and journalist.Truscott was born in Japan to US Army Colonel Lucian K. III and Anne (née Harloe). His grandfather Lucian Jr was a US Army general during World War II where he commanded the 3rd Infantry Division and later the Fifth Army in Italy. His father Lucian III served in the US Army in Korea and Vietnam, retiring as a colonel.

Truscott attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1969.He was then assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado. There, he wrote an article about heroin addiction among enlisted soldiers and another about what he felt was an illegal court martial. He was threatened with being sent to Vietnam, so he resigned his commission about thirteen months after graduating, receiving a "general discharge under other than honorable conditions."

Eyewitness to the July 1969 Stonewall riots.

Starting in 1970, he joined The Village Voice as a freelancer and later staff writer.Truscott's first novel was Dress Grey and was about a West Point cadet who was found dead. It was a bestseller, appearing thirteen weeks on The New York Times hardcover bestseller list and seven weeks on the paperback list. He has since published five additional novels.

He lives in Sag Harbor, New York with his wife Carolyn.

Reviews

[Kacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always my favorite book

This has always been one of my favorite books. I read it over and over again. It reminds me I'm not the only smart ass Major out there.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truscott keeps telling the same story, over and over. But he seems truly compelled by it, he tells it well, and the particulars of plot make me come back.

[Larry V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting!

I had work from home responsibilities that I rushed through just to be able to finish this book! Suspense, romance, well-drawn characters and believable, if a little preachy, dialogue, and a great mystery with enough clues that the reader is not completely lost! The writer had a couple of axes to grind, and some of the sexual scenes were a little graphic for my tastes, but the strength of the story and the justice of his causes kept me reading. An accomplished author and a compelling book!

[John Breidinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A military legal spell binder!

Lucien Truscott IV was masterful in his narrative about the trials and tribulations of the US Army in the late 20th century. Obviously his own military heritage assisted him in the writing of this book as the older General Lucien Truscott was a tank division commander under General Patton in World War II. This is why I chose to read the book! I look forward to my next Truscott IV read!

[Vana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guessed the killer about 2/3 of the way through. Tough heroine!

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1997. A savagely entertaining thriller about today's Army.

[The Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A read to pass time.

[Sandy Abrahams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this page turner. It was a fast and good story line.

[Jennifer Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slow for me then it grabbed hold and I read 200 pages in one night to finish it. Page turner

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like this author because of what he chooses to include you can wrote a good historical fiction without that

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done; Lucian K. Truscott IV is nearly as good a writer as his grandfather was a soldier.

[Lovely Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this ages ago and liked it well enough, just clearing off the shelves of things I read ages ago.

[JOHN A KOLIHA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read, but not his best work

DRESS GREY followed by FULL DRESS GREY are the best of the lot. This on rates well below these efforts. He can do better, and hopefully he will.

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow and predictable.