Jungle Rules: A True Story of Marine Justice in Vietnam [Hardcover]

Charles Henderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2006

A true story of murder, justice, and the military from the author of Marine Sniper, the Vietnam classic with more than a million copies in print.

In Vietnam, they're known as "Jungle Rules"- those by which the U.S. military tries to keep control, often allowing inconvenient facts and regulations to conveniently slip between the cracks. This is the battlefield Captain Terry O'Connor of the JAG Corps is stepping onto.

There's been a murder. After a long day on patrol, Private Celestine Anderson returned to base, only to come under fire from a group of racist white marines. He finally snapped, killing one of his tormentors-and now the inexperienced O'Connor must defend him. But the case pulls O'Connor into the heart of the Vietnam conflict, where bullets overrule books and death is the only judge of men.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles Henderson is a veteran of more than 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, with a distinguished career spanning from Vietnam to the Gulf War, after which he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; First edition. edition (November 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042521186X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425211861
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #777,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Law > Specialties > Military

More About the Author

I am a professional writer living near Colorado Springs, CO. Besides raising, breeding, and riding my quarterhorses, I love all kinds of music and movies. My taste ranges from Meat Loaf to George Strait, George Thorogood to Wagner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Henderson's worse work, December 2, 2009

By 

Charles L. Mathus Jr. "Reader" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jungle Rules: A True Story of Marine Justice in Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)

Henderson is one of my favorite writers for recreating the Vietnam experience but this book was so boring it is the first book in 15 years that I did not complete.. It really was a drag, more the boring administrative side of the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam..

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Authentic Fiction based on Fact, July 29, 2007

By 

Bobby H (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jungle Rules: A True Story of Marine Justice in Vietnam (Hardcover)

I think this is Charles Henderson's most entertaining book since Marine Sniper. There was more to Vietnam than just the battles. This book shows another dimension of the country by describing the DaNang underworld and what happens when some Marines get involved in it. The hook to this story reminds me a little of the TV series Law and Order, which is pitched as fiction based on real life events. This is similar, but set in the Vietnam War and based on a lot of things that did happen in the DaNang area.

This book has plenty of salty language. I also agree that profanity can be badly over-used. That's one of the things that really turned me off to the TV series "Deadwood." Use too much profanity and the words loose their impact, or just become distracting or feel like shtick. I think there's a good balance in Jungle Rules.

Although this book is a very entertaining read, I can't believe Berkeley/Caliber gave it such a lame looking cover. It looks like a history class text book! It totally misses the theme of the story. This novel deserved an exciting looking cover that properly fit the material. I thought about knocking a star off my review over this issue, but I'm not going to penalize the text over a screw up by the publisher's marketing department.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fictionalized Account of a True Story, July 27, 2007

By 

Richard O. Culver, Jr. "Jouster" (Coeur d'Alene, ID) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jungle Rules: A True Story of Marine Justice in Vietnam (Hardcover)

For individual who states that it doesn't use enough "Muvver-Fletchers" I applaud the restraint. I've read many books over the years, and some authors seem to make them "more authentic" by over-use of foul language. Sell books? I hope not! Clark Gable should have been horse-whipped for using "Frankly my dear, I don't give a da++! This simple departure has flooded the screen with filth. Heck, I spent thirty years in a Marine Corps Uniform, and I'm well aware of some of the rather colorful language that punctuated our speech. I have also read many John W. Thomason novels that I thoroughly enjoyed and no foul language was used - the story was the thing!

I would also like to point out that this is a NOVEL, NOT a true story although it is based on some true events. The characters are fictional (deliberately so I might add). Henderson's writings are excellent; I thoroughly enjoyed his book "Marshalling the Faithful" as that one was a true story and covered a number of personal friends (one of whom had been my room-mate in the Basic Officer's School, and another was a Lieutenant I inherited in the 2nd Recon Battalion after his service in Vietnam). Not only does Henderson tell a great story, it's the way he puts the story together that brings me back to his writings!

Excellent and entertaining reading. He makes it clear that the book is fiction, and his personal experience as a Marine in combat gives it an "aire" of authenticity not normally garnered in current military writing.

Highly recommended - it'll certainly hold your interest if you read it for what it is! If you want everyday "barracks language" give me a call and I'll oblige! Heh, heh, heh...

Dick Culver