Customer Reviews

Behind the Lines (Corps Series)

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I've been a Griffin fan for about seven years. I've read all of Griffins books at least once; the Corp's series books twice, except for "Behind the Lines", which I just finished for the fourth time. All of Griffins books are very vivid in detail and make you feel as if you're actually there. In some cases, I wish I were. I have recommended many of his books to my friends who are now loyal fans. One of them read the Corp series in ten days. He said they were the best he's ever read, and agreed with me that "Behind the Lines" was his favorite, too. Like many other fans of the Corp series, Griffin needs to finish this series of books. The only fault he has is that the Corp series books are too far between each other. Many other fans will agree to get on with the Corps and write less about the other series.

The Corp series is my first W.E.B. Griffin series, but it definitely won't be my last. This author is a storyteller extraordinaire, and this series is wonderful. Griffin's characterizations are incredibly good, and I will be sorry to reach the end of the series and see the end of General Pickering, Killer McCoy, Pick Pickering and all the other wonderful characters in these books. In this book, we have Ken (Killer) McCoy being sent behind enemy lines in the Phillipines to lend aid and supplies to a guerrilla army led by General Fertig. It is an incredibly dangerous mission, and we need to wait until the very end of the book to see whether or not Ken McCoy can get out. The time is sent around the end of the year in 1942, and the beginning of 1943. At that time the War in the Pacific was going full steam, and the Americans were running into some surprising difficulties with the Japanese. As far as I'm concerned, this series gets better and better, and I have two books left to read before I'm done.

Marine veteran, 1st Marine Division. WEB Griffin has the best understanding of any author of how the military in general, and Marines in particular, operate. This was a super story, and does a great job of depicting how some REAL JERKS (Lt/Capt Macklin) get into positions of authority; and how some incredibly good enlisted guys, mustangs and regulars (Stecker, McCoy, Pick, Banning, Lt (USN) Lewis) make it work.

I have book # 8 (In Danger's Path) on order, but was distressed to see how many negative comments there are about it. That's why I came back to read the readers' views of Book 7. I'm glad that we share enthusiasm for book # 7, and hope that # 8 isn't really as bad as the consensus seems to be. A friend has loaned me a copy of the "un-numbered" book of The Corps series (Under Fire), and I am almost dreading reading it, due to comments about poor proofreading, confusing changes in the histories of the characters, etc.

I have also read the whole Brotherhood of War series, and thought it to be the definitive work of its kind on the Army.

Griffin has been so great for so long; I really hope he isn't going downhill...

God bless, JLG, Cpl USMC, 1953 - 56

This novel by W.E.B. Griffin was absolutely wonderful. It accurately describes how the average guy in WWII became a Marine and then outfought the Japanese Army who had destroyed every opponent it had faced in the opening days of WWII. It also accurately describes how the "average man" became a Marine and then how this person selflessly gave of himself to destroy this evil force which could have realistically destroyed our democracy.The book also showed how the Espirit de Corps of the United States Marine Corp developed and why even in bootcamp today every Marine private sings goodnight to "Chesty" Puller the greatest Marine who ever lived.

This series leaves you want more, Griffins ability to mix fact with fiction is unsurpassed. I truly hope the this is not the end of the series. The only drawback is you have to wait so long for the next book, although it does give you a good reason to go back and start to read the series over!

Through Mr. Griffins books about the Corps. I am getting to know by dad better. My dad fought in many battles that are mentioned in Mr. Griffins books including Behind the Lines. I impatiently await the next in the series. I identify with his book the Beret's having served in the Special Forces in Viet Nam in 66 and 67. The type of friendships that develope in Mr. Griffins books are the type of friendships that develope when men are sent into combat. They can last a life time, "Rudyard Kiplings", poem "The Thousandth Man", is the best discription that any person could put to this kind of friendship. My dad just lost his Thousandth Man. They fought in two wars together and knew each other 60 years.Thank you Mr. Griffin for the empathy in your charactures and the research you put into each novel. Keep up the good work and please bring out the next in the series.

I HAVE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS. THIS IS TRULY THE MOST AUTHENTIC READ I'VE EVER SEEN. GROWING UP HEARING THE STORIES OF WWII, THIS BRINGS HOME WHAT AMERICA TRULY STANDS FOR, AND REALISTICLY BLENDS FACT WITH FICTION. I'VE ENJOYED ALL OF THE BOOKS IN EACH SERIES, "THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR". "THE CORP", AND "BADGE OF HONOR". I'VE READ AND REREAD THESE BOOKS UNTIL THE COVERS ARE ALMOST GONE AND ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT OF IT. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT EACH NEW BOOK, AND HAVE NEVER BEEN LET DOWN. GRIFFIN CAPTURES THE REAL, HARD TO VERBALIZE FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS THAT RUN THROUGH THE MINDS OF THOSE OF US WHO DO THIS EVERYDAY. PLEASE KEEP ON WRITING.