Book Review: Retreat, Hell

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Retreat, Hell     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
W. E. B. Griffin
Class/Genre:   Military   Korean War
Series: Corps # 10
Putnam, Jan 2004, $26.95, 512 pp.

By late September 1950, sent by General Douglas “El Supreme” MacArthur, the marines make a key landing on the Korean Peninsular. The General plans to send his forces across the 38th parallel in order to repel the North Koreans beyond the Yalu River. Though he expects no Chinese forces, he has USMC Major Ken “Killer” McCoy and his “lost” patrol seek enemy information.

Meanwhile BG Pickering earns frequent flyer miles as he struggles to lessen the growing dispute between Commander-in-Chief Truman and ex facto supreme commander of the United Nation’s forces MacArthur. Pickering also has a personal concern with his son “Pick” missing in action beyond enemy lines. Pick knows if the Commies capture him, they will execute him. He has survived fifty-eight days due to luck, some local help, and by constantly moving about, but staying near his downed plane. Killer finds evidence that Pick still lives, but cannot search for the MIA as he and his men have captured an apparent Intel Officer with information that massive Chinese forces await the Americans.

No one does American military history novels better than W.E.B. Griffin does as he shows with this deep look at the early stages of the Korean Conflict. The story line grips the audience from the moment Pick struggles to survive and never lets up. The key as always to the Corps novels (this is the tenth) is the support cast that brings out real events so that the audience feels the battle as much as the political intrigue at home. Genre fans will once again salute the Five Star General for his wonderfully exhilarating book.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner