Rating: 
Summary: This is a very, very, very good book-- Call it 4++ stars
Review: This is an excellent book that I hope receives Edgar consideration. I have recommended it to friends and colleagues.I won't repeat the many positive points made by the other reviewers. It is my view that _Hart's War_ might have been even stronger had its prologue and epilogue been edited out-- possibly earning five stars. Second comment (more than a little picky): Why Stalag 13? I was wondering where's Colonel Klink? :) (Well, maybe not. But still...) Anyway, the book is a very solid 4 and 3/4 stars in my honest opinion-- rounding up to 5 stars on the stars graphic. This is the first book of Katzenbach's that I've read-- I look forward to reading his earlier works.
Rating:
Summary: Great read, hard to put down
Review: This is one WWII book where you get a different slant on the POW camp while trying to figure out a mystery. I agree with the other reviewers. Enjoyable book. Will make a good movie.
Rating:
Summary: Plot, philosophy and a twist and turn mystery
Review: I don't know why I picked up this book. I was not familiar with the author and I certainly didn't need another book to add to the stacks of 'to be read' books all over the house. I started the book intending to read only a chapter or two. I got hooked and read until 2 a.m. when I finally had to give it up. The next day I took the book with me so I could read while waiting for my grandson...As you can tell, I loved this book. I liked the unusual plot and the twists and turns it took; I liked the characters and cared about what happened to them; I liked the philosophical undertones (so atypical in mysteries). Finally I liked the fact that everything was not tied up in a neat bundle at the end, the 'good' punished and the 'bad' either redeemed or dead. I highly recommend the book but don't start it in the evening!!
Rating:
Summary: Ellie Wiesel meets John Grisham
Review: I found this novel to be a beautiful, insightful narrative on the real meaning of courage. If you like legal thrillers, don't let the historic setting put you off. Truly an outstanding, literary, and enjoyable work.
Rating: 
Summary: Very engaging war-mystery combination
Review: I just completed Hart's War and was very pleasantly surprised. The characters, particularly Hart and Scott, were beautifully written and the plot moved at a brisk pace. Though there were some elements of the plot which were somewhat difficult to reconcile, it was a moving novel which I have thought about frequently over the last several days.
Rating:
Summary: What a popular novel should be
Review: Looking at the raves, you'd think this is War and Peace. It's not. But it's a great read and it poses enough moral dilemmas to make those people who just like a breezy plot (like Grisham) to use their minds a little. Yes, there are a few carboard chartacters _ the good German Fritz and the evil Nazi; the British barrister and the hockey-playing Canadian cop. But this isn't a perfect book, just a good one with a lot of nice points, like the fact that war heroes aren't sometimes a bit unwavory when they have no sanctioned war to fight. Katzenbach has always been uneven _ some quite good novels and some quite bad ones. Maybe we should credit this turn to his father (read the afterword). I gather that Katzenbach has wanted to make his own name rather than bask in his father's, who was attorney general under Johnson (Tommy Hart seems to come out pretty close to that). But it's clear he is awed by his dad's wartime experience.. One addendum: Is Denzel Washington too old to star with Tom Cruise in the movie? I'd rather see Andre Braugher. But Denzel sells tickets
Rating:
Summary: Well done and engrossing
Review: I bought this book on a whim and felt totally satisfied with it. It's a mystery. It's a courtroom mystery. It's a historical mystery. But, best of all, it's a mystery that doesn't stop at putting forward a mystery but also presses the reader to think on several philosophical levels. In a sense, my recommendation is totally out of character: I hate prison stories and I am claustrophobic and hate reading about other claustrophobics and/or claustrophobic situations. But this book held me throughout and I had that ambivalent feeling as I neared the end: hated the book to end but wanted to read the finish.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but no Caine Mutiny
Review: Not much legal meat, though good decriptions of forensic science and crime scene analysis. That aside, the plot and reslution were actually a surprise to me. I could not put it down, but if you're expecting a legal thriller, don't hold your breath.
Rating:
Summary: Katzenbach Hits All The Marks
Review: It is rare to find a book as satisfying as HART'S WAR; a book where the author hits all the marks of plot, character, tension, and emotion. HART'S WAR is billed as a thriller on the cover, but it is much more. Yes, it is thrilling -- a legal thriller, a tale of adventure, a murder mystery, and an historical novel, all seamlessly woven together. It is a story of moral and physical courage in the face of prejudice and fear. Perhaps a more apt title would have been "HARTS VICTORY." If you prefer the vapid, repetitive fiction of John Grisham, then HART'S WAR, with its tension, moral dilemmas, and hard choices, may be something of a challenge. But if you want to enter a world, meticulously crafted, peopled with characters both good and evil, HART'S WAR is a more than satifying read. I have heard that the book has been option by Hollywood. I hope that it is made into a "film" with fine actors, directed with an attention to detail, and with a screenplay true to the Katzenbach's novel. That is a movie I would look forward to seeing.
Rating:
Summary: one of my top ten best reads ever
Review: This is a brilliant novel. One of my top ten best books ever. Anyone who enjoys the genre of mysteries set in a historical context will not be able to put this book down. It is evident after reading this flawless book how much research and effort was put into writing it. It also has excellent courtroom drama as well. I would highly suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written, flawless mystery. All of Katenbach's books are excellent but this one is superb. Good luck being able to put it down.
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