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Summary: Been there!!
Review: As one of the original memebers of VVA's Veterans Initiative, and a two tour Vietnam combat veteran who returned to Vietnam three times in the 90's, I found this novel to be one of the most exciting and accurate portrayals of post-war Vietnam. A great story with excellent descriptions of the various areas of the SRV.
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Summary: Typical DeMille Thriller
Review: Any person old enough to remember the evening television broadcasts of this debacle in Southeast Asia will embrace DeMille's detailed portrait... It's moving. It's gripping. It's frustrating and thrilling. It's a Nelson DeMille novel that's extremely close to reality----- and history.
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Summary: Way too long, way too boring
Review: Okay, I'm on page 412 and still waiting for this story to get off the ground. The extended travelogue that passes for a plot has become tedious as have the hero's reminiscences of his exploits during the Vietnam War.As our hero sloooowly makes his way from South to North Vietnam, the most exciting thing that's happened so far is a not very exciting car chase. Oh, and he is traveling with an American ex-pat who so far serves no other purpose than somebody for him to impress with his war stories and somebody for him to have sex with.
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Summary: Return of Paul Brenner
Review: "...so you have a missing witness to a thirty- year old murder, no suspect, no corpse, no murder weapon, no motive, no forensic evidence, and the murder took place in a godforsaken country very far...And you want me to solve this homicide."
"That's correct."
So begins the investigation of Paul Brenner,former Warrant Officer, Army CID. Yes, Paul Brenner is back. The Brennerish ending of his last case (read The General's Daughter)forced the CID veteran's career to an end as a resignation which was favorably accepted as an early retirement. Now his ex-Commanding Officer Karl Hellmann wants him to take another case not only because he is the best but he is also a Vietnam veteran. Finding a witness to a thirty-year-old homicide and investigate a murder that took place during the heat of Vietnam War thirty-years ago seems like a mission impossible. Yet, Paul Brenner accepts the mission out of curiosity and to escape the imminent boredom. Back in Vietnam, he is thrown into a world of corruption, treachery, and haunted memories. Everything seems like an elaborate façade and he has to find the truth, yes, nothing but the truth. Only this time he has no back up, any official authorization and he is on his own.
Thus begins, the adventures of the former homicide detective Paul Brenner, sarcastic and sharp as ever. Up country is an insightful and intelligent read than a mere thriller. The contemporary Vietnam setting is authentic and convincing, thanks to Nelson DeMille's experiences as a Vietnam vet. and his visit to the land in 1997. The book is a non-stop ride with lots of twists and surprising turns. For those who enjoy Paul Brenner in The General's Daughter it's nice to see him back and better. Up country won't disappoint the readers and would be a delight to DeMille fans.
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Summary: He's done it again!
Review: Nelson Demille has turned out another masterpiece novel. In Up Country, Demille brings back C.I.D officer Paul Brenner for an adventure back to Vietnam. NOT a sequel to Generals Daughter, this literary gem is more of an action oriented page turner. I was caused many a sleepless night as a result of not being able to put this book down. I would reccomend that you read Generals Daughter prior to Up Country to fully appreciate subtle references ingrained in the text. Oh yeah, you must read Plum Island(as if you haven't already). Enjoy
Rating: 
Summary: Well written, interesting story and setting
Review: A most enjoyable book, well written with an interesting plot and well sculpted characters.Most of the plot takes place in Vietnam, an amazingly beautifull country which at the same time offers a historally intriguing setting. Reading Up Country is even more interesting for a non-American as it offers insight as to how Americans feel about Vietnam today.
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Summary: Way Up Country
Review: I have read many of Nelson DeMilles novels and have enjoyed them immensley for their intrigue, characters and settings. This one was different. I bought the paperback in Dusseldorf, Germany, to read on the flight home. Over 800 pages...bit of a tome. I have not read "The General's Daughter", where the central character, Paul Brenner, originated. I didn't need to. Brenner's character is well defined in this book. I understand why some people might think that the book bogs down in places. When you've been through a DeMille novel, like "Plum Island", or "Lion's Game", you develop a certain expectation for swiftly moving adventure and deft plot twists. A quick read, a great story, and possibly something to think about. That is not the case with "Up Country". It's a long read, a great story, and a lot to think about. I think that in this novel DeMille vetted his views on the political, cultural, economic and social impact of the war we fought in Vietnam. The detail of Brenner's trip back to Vietnam,
his insights about the places he'd been, the battles he'd fought, and the battles he's still wondering about, are richly described. Those descriptions are the meat of this fascinating novel. DeMille doesn't really need Susan or Colonel Mang to make this story interesting. In a way, they kind of both detract from the realism in his descriptions of Vietnam today. I was left with food for thought, and not caring so much about the characters. But I like food for thought in a novel. DeMille delivers bigtime in that category in this one. I was 9 in 1968, but, our war with the North Vietnamese affected me too. I still have my own questions. DeMille answers a lot of them in this book through the eyes of someone who was there. "Up Country" is quite a ride.
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Summary: Great setting -- bad plot
Review: I've been a fan of Demille since The Gold Coast, impressed with the dry humor and the clear view into a different culture. In this respect Up Country delivered, plausibly portraying the range of life and attitudes of the modern day Vietnamese people. The flashbacks to the war were similarly packed with imagery and well worth the read. Where the book falls pathetically short is in the overall plot that fails to provide sufficient motivation to be in Vietnam in the first place and, even more unreasonable, to start shooting people. Still I'm glad I read it.
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Summary: Bloated, too long
Review: This book started out wonderfully, but dragged on way too long. Definitely not one of his better books. 'Nuff said.
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Summary: My First Trip to Vietnam.......Movie forthcoming.
Review: Demille does an excellent job of developing the main characters in this novel. Paul Brenner and Susan Weber are swept through the "Up Country" of Vietnam in pursuit of a murder witness that happened 30 years ago during the Vietnam War. The travels that they encounter are rivoting and believable. This is a captivating novel, that most likely, will be made into a movie. Do not be alarmed at the 700 pages, because you will not be disappointed with the deceit, betrayal, and pursuit of justice of protagonist, Paul Brenner. This felt like my "first trip" to Vietnam - excellent research. I have read all of Nelson Demille's novels and this is a suburb read. The shortfall in rating, is left to a few unanswered questions at the end of the book. Perhaps a sequel....but first, a movie.
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