War at Home [Paperback]

John Guntner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2000

This is a fast paced “lawyer book”. After a Vietnam war hero Norman Kane wins a late night firefight in his pasture his new war moves to the local court house. His old platoon, including high profile criminal lawyer Toby Ryan, rush to his aid. Kane is the cynical Ryan’s only hero. Now Kane is on trial for his life and the only person who can save him is Ryan. Loyalties between men who fought in Vietnam together die hard. This is the one case Ryan can not lose.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Guntner lives in the Washington, DC area with his college professor wife Talula; their Albanian love child Besi; and a beagle named Sugar. This is his first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 412 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp; 1 edition (April 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738820113
• ISBN-13: 978-0738820118
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,411,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Character Development and Keen Insight, August 10, 2000

By 

M.M. Weinberg (Sumter, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: War at Home (Paperback)

This is one of the better novels that I've read in the past year. Guntner achieves what most first time authors miss: character development. The hallmark of the first time novelist tends to be one-dimentional card board cut outs masquerading as charcters. NOT HERE! The people in this book are more than just fleshed out, they jump off of the page at you. They also have staying power. I could easily see an entire series of novels centered around one, some or all of the book's principle characters and the book's punch in the stomach ending just crys out for sequel. Secondly, Guntner shows the keenest insight into what it's like to practice law I have ever seen in a non-lawyer. I am an lawyer myself and I can tell you that he displays an in the trenches knowledege of what the drama and stress of criminal law is all about, in a way that you can't possibly know unless you've been there. Lastly, and above all else, this is just a great story well told by a masterful story teller. Guntner is as good as Grisham used to be and better than Turrow ever though about being. Keep writing John, the crowd is crying out for more!

5.0 out of 5 stars War at Home, August 18, 2000

By 

frances sloan (Arlington, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: War at Home (Paperback)

A terrific read! Give me more books by Mr. Guntner. The thoughtful character development and the fine description of the loyalties between men who fought in Vietnam make "War at Home" a book I didn't want to put down. This "Lawyer Book" is first rate.

5.0 out of 5 stars The War in Court, August 18, 2000

By 

Liz Grizzard (Emporia, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: War at Home (Paperback)

John Guntner writes on the flyleaf that he has told a story about Vietnam veterans reunited when one of their own heroes is threatened by hoodlums in a Virginia countryside setting which is replete with lovable animals and people who are as decent and straight forward as the adversaries are mean and devious. Yeah, he does all that as advertised. But what puts the book over the top is the battle of wits between a District Attorney (Commonwealth's Attorney in Virginia lingo) and a criminal lawyer from that Vietnam platoon who is top notch but battling his own demons of alcohol and probably a lack of new worlds to conquer. Illustrating the "be careful what you wish for" adage, the savvy attorney gets a late night phone call and a new world scene with people you can count on, some countermoves that he doesn't anticipate; and, not to leave out what the world travels on, notable barbecue that is a part of the setting. Guntner has every nuance just, well..., perfectly nuanced in his legal maneuvering and courtroom scenes. You could take this book to the beach with you and thorougly enjoy it, but definitely take it to court.