Behind the Lines (Corps) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

W.E.B. Griffin (Author), Dick Hill (Reader)

Book Description

Series: Corps | Publication Date: March 1, 1997

World War II. On the island of Mindanao, the Philippines, a man calling himself "General" Fertig has set himself up as a guerrilla leader to harass the Japanese. Army records show that the only officer named Fertig in the Philippines is a reserve lieutenant colonel of the Corps of Engineers, reported MIA on Luzon. Still, the reports filtering out are interesting, and it's Marine lieutenant Ken McCoy's mission to sneak behind the lines and find out if he's for real. With him is a motley group put together as a compromise between the warring factions of Douglas MacArthur and the OSS chief Bill Donovan.

Together, these men will steal into the heart of enemy territory and there, amid firefights and jungle camps, encounter more than they had bargained for. Before they're done, each will undergo a test of his own personal mettle - with results that will surprise even the most hardened of them.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Griffin's seventh novel in The Corps series (after Close Combat) continues the author's breezy look at the Marine Corps during WWII. Here, he uses guerrilla action behind the lines in the Philippines as foreground to tell the behind-the-lines tale of the power struggle among Marine General Fleming Pickering, General Douglas MacArthur and Bill Donovan of the fledgling OSS, all of whom are galvanized into action by a radio message from a self-proclaimed general named Wendell Fertig, who has established himself as a guerrilla leader against the Japanese. As far as the Marines are concerned, once the message is verified, a team of men with supplies will be sent in to evacuate any sick or wounded and evaluate Fertig as a potential leader. Complicating matters, however, are MacArthur's public declaration that guerrilla activity on the Philippines is impossible, and therefore nonexistent, and Bill Donovan's desire to get the operation under OSS control. Focusing on a variety of characters involved in the proposed mission, Griffin tells an absorbing story with his usual attention to dialogue rather than description, relying frequently on his favored device of moving the plot along through copies of memos, radio messages and telegrams. The boy's club aura of Griffin's primarily male world, where everything?even death?seems clear, sunny, bright and uncomplicated, is in full force here; and that should please his fans just fine.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In Griffin's latest, a bunch of mismatched World War II grunts search for a missing colonel who may be launching guerrilla raids on Japan. Sounds like a cross between The Guns of Navarone and Apocalypse Now.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Paperback Nova Audio Books; Abridged edition (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567401473
• ISBN-13: 978-1567401479
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,297,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Books on Cassette > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Griffin, W. E. B.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Exciting Plot Line Yet..., February 13, 2001

By 

Rodger Raubach (Converse County ,WY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Behind the Lines (Corps, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Although this book is now several years old I felt it was worth the time to comment on it since WEB just had another installment of The Brotherhood of War published. The new book had it's usual effect on me and I went into a "Griffin feeding frenzy" and re-read the last two books in The Corps" series.

I rated this book "5-Stars" solely on the basis of the main plot--the support of guerrilla warfare activities in the Phillippines and the story of Wendell Fertig. I happen to like Ken McCoy and Ernie Zimmerman as central characters in all of The Corps novels. It is too bad that Griffin has elevated Fleming Pickering to such prominence in the more recent episodes;I prefer a more action-dominated story line and some of the "fluff" involving the O.S.S. involvement leaves me cold. My biggest criticism of the book is the relatively slow pace of the action. Too much time spent on wrangles with Bill Donovan and the O.S.S. hierarchy and Fleming Pickering swilling scotch. Some of these other criticisms might make the book less compelling for other readers,but I decided to overlook a few warts in my rating. I am tired of only one book in The Corps every 2-3 years. It is by FAR the best series the author has going. I can't abide the Cop series and I am thoroughly tired of Argentina. Stick to the Marines--forget the rest.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece, May 10, 2000

By 

Scott L. Selter (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind the Lines (Corps, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

I can't believe that Mr. Griffin has done it again. This book kept me on the edge from start to finish. I have read his previous books but this by far was the best yet. He has the unigue ability to keep the reader on his toes and glued to the pages. My only critism is: why isn't McCoy getting the promotions as quickly as the others. "Pluto" went for a 1st Lt to major in a page, while with all that Ken is doing he finally gets promoted to Captian. This book and series is a must read for anyone even vaguely interested in WWII or the Corps. ESSAYONS

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most entertaining novel I have ever read, February 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Behind the Lines (Corps, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book got me back into reading books after a being severely burned out post college (it took four years to pick-up a book and actually read it and it would have been longer had I not listened to this book on tape.)

I can't say enough about "Behind the Lines." After listening to this book I read straight through the series and could not put one of them down while I was reading. In fact, like one of the other posters stated, finishing them nearly brought me to tears. I will morn when "The Corps" series ends.

If you are a military history buff and like action-adventure novels, then this would also be the most entertaining novel you have ever read. I promise.

Thank you for the experience W.E.B.