Shadow of the Corps: A Novel
Dupont is active in the U.S. Marines, and his first novel uses his knowledge of the service. Former JAG officer Dale Riley has been struggling to put food on his family’s table. His wife and new baby have been forced to move in with his parents, and he’s packing on the pounds. When he learns of a former colleague’s death under tragic circumstances, Riley quickly realizes that the man was murdered, and it’s only the beginning. The killings relate to a case he tried involving an officer and the bombing of a village in Afghanistan. The scandal surrounding that case was enormous, and now it appears it’s payback time. The story unfolds in fits and starts, producing a sometimes confusing timeline for readers to follow. Point of view is also all over the place, further muddying the narrative waters. Still, the courtroom scenes are engaging. There’s something of the film A Few Good Men here, but it’s more like Grisham with blood. --Jeff Ayers