By Richard North Patterson
Reviewed by Dennis Bianchi
Richard North Patterson has repeatedly written books that make the nation's best-seller lists and In The Name of Honor continues his phenomenal success. Obviously Mr. Patterson knows how to pique the public reader's interest and how to put together novels. His strength has always been the legal, courtroom thriller but he has ventured a bit out of that venue on occasion. His political novels just didn't capture my attention. I'm happy to report he has returned to the courtroom.
This courtroom is a bit different, however: a United States Military court. And, as he has in the past, Mr. Patterson energetically takes on controversial and current subjects. The war in Iraq comes under some scrutiny and criticism. But the larger focus is on Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) and its effects upon soldiers returning from Iraq to the U.S.
Captain Paul Terry, a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer, is nearing his last days in the military. He has a high-paying, prestigious position waiting for him on Wall Street but his last case involves defending Lieutenant Brian McCarran who has been charged with shooting to death his commanding officer, Captain Joe D'Abruzzo. Both men had recently returned from Iraq where their infantry units had engaged in many fierce fire-fights, particularly Lt. McCarran's. There are many facets connected to this case but the looming presence of Lt. McCarran's father is the most notable. General Anthony McCarran is expected to soon be named Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is revered not only because of his war record but he is the product of a long-line of military heroes. Honor is a word used in the McCarran family with great reverence. Can his son be judged impartially by the members of the Court Martial, members of the same United States Army that General McCarran is about to rule?
The families are more than casually intertwined as Captain D'Abruzzo was married to Kate Gallagher, the general's goddaughter and lifelong friend of Brian and the McCarran family. The reader is led to question just what those relationships were and have become. To add to the plot Lt. McCarran's very attractive older sister, Meg, a lawyer insists on leaving her law practice in San Francisco to work with Captain Terry. I found myself looking back in the book more than once to keep clear in my mind which characters were related to which family and how. And I occasionally had to work a little harder to suspend my disbelief, but the plot, the writing and the finale made it more than worth my time.
As with most good novels it is best to assume that not all is as it appears. And if the writer is very good one can come away with a great line or two. I found this phrase to be of value not only to the novel but to many situations life presents us with: "Morally repugnant and tactically stupid were a lousy combination." If you keep that thought working throughout the novel you won't be disappointed. And you will compare those folks who throw around the word "Honor" more carefully to their actions.
