Product Description

As part of an American mission to sabotage Argentinean arms trading with the Nazis, a young U.S. Marine must deceive his own father, a powerful Argentinian known as ""el Coronel."" Reprint. K. LJ. PW.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29353 in Books
• Published on: 1994-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Best known for his series Brotherhood of War and The Corps, Griffin's new WW II novel uses the relatively unexplored theater of South America as the backdrop for his fast-paced story of a father and son, conflicting loyalties and war. In late 1942, marine fighter ace Clete Frade, Army demolitions engineer Anthony Pelosi and electronics wizard David Ettinger are sent by the OSS on a top-secret mission to neutral Argentina: destroy a merchant ship that has been supplying Nazi submarines and raiders. But the projected raid is only the tip of the novel's iceberg. The U.S. is hoping that Clete will be able to influence his estranged father, an eminence grise in Argentine politics by the name of "El Coronel" Jorge Guillermo Frade, to throw his influence behind the Allies. Meanwhile, Luftwaffe ace Peter von Wachtstein heads to Buenos Aires to consolidate the Nazi position. The Frades are convincing central characters, whose developing father-son relationship anchors much of the novel's plot. Griffin's reconstruction of upper-class Argentine society in the 1940s provides an exotic and credible setting for a tautly written story whose twists and turns will keep readers guessing until the last page.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The author of the "Brotherhood of War" novels attacks a relatively obscure theater of World War II. Lieut Clete Frade, a Marine fighter pilot, is pulled off Guadalcanal. He and a small team have been selected by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the allied intelligence group) to stop the Germans from using neutral Argentina to resupply. Clete's father, who for complicated reasons he has never met, is a major figure in Argentina. Clete swiftly discerns that half his mission is to influence his estranged father in favor of the Allied cause; but working for the OSS, there are plots within plots. Griffin's feel for the details of life in the military 50 years ago and the humanity of his characters on all sides of the covert war make this a superior war story in an interesting milieu. Recommended for fiction collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/93.
- Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army TRALINET Ctr., Fort Monroe, Va.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
This rambling World War II novel pits U.S. Marine Captain Cletus Frade, late of Guadalcanal, against an ostensibly neutral ship in Buenos Aires in 1942. Naturally, the Nazis are angling for position in this vital South American port, and Clete's mission is to maintain Allied influence with the Argentine navy by destroying the German-controlled ship. Along the way, Clete encounters the father he's never met (now a top officer in the Argentine army), a sympathetic German Luftwaffe officer, and a beautiful Argentine "virgin princess," with whom he falls in love. His accomplices include a Jew who escaped the Holocaust, an Italian American demolitions expert from Cicero, Illinois, and various members of the Office of Special Services, who may or may not be willing to sacrifice Clete's life. Accomplished war novelist Griffin is a stickler for details, although several notable characters remain undeveloped (including the Jewish communications expert Ettinger and all of the women). The embryonic relationship between Clete and his long-lost officer dad seems genuine, but other relationships, such as between Clete and Luftwaffe Captain Peter von Wachstein, are forced. World War II buffs will enjoy the fresh setting even though neutral Argentina often seems about as cutting-edge as Switzerland, and the casual reader will find this lengthy book a surprisingly quick read aided by the abundance of dialogue. Joe Collins

Customer Reviews

When arrives the next novel?
Honour bound is a great novel. I was only familiar with the Brotherhood of Arms series, so I was suprised when I saw this book in the bookstore. Cletus Frade and his friends had to stop the Germans in Argentina for the second time (I later discovered that there was a another book). Cletus also had the trouble of a pregnant girlfriend and a deceased father. He became the owner of his father's possesions. What happens to the money stolen from the Jews? Will Cletus be ordered to gain acces to this money? And what about Dorethea? I'm desperately waiting for the next book. Please write your books faster!

A Superb Story Well Told
Honor Bound captures your attention at the start and never lets go. While there is not really a lot of "action," the story, the settings and the character development all make for an excellent book.

The story is the recruitment and development of an OSS team to carry out a secret mission to disrupt German submarine activity in neutral Argentina during WWII. The sub story is the reconnection of a powerful Argentine father and his American son who have not seen each other since the son was an infant. Several other sub stories are also woven in. All are interesting and well told.

The primary setting is WWII Buenos Aires. Most of us are unaware of the atmosphere there during the war, so that makes for a good learning experience. Other settings include Guadacanal, Midland (Texas) and New Orleans. All add interest to the story.

Griffen also does an excellent job of developing his characters. The primary ones really come to life.

If you are looking for "shoot 'em up" action, this book is not for you. If you are looking for a fascinating book about an arena that you probably know little about, give this a try. I am pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

Character Building into a Magnificent Nove
Griffith is well known for his military books that have real characters doing unreal things that make the entire novel a real story of unreal quality. Ok just a confusing enough sentence to make you read more. Griffith is such a writer that his characters are what carries the story; meaning the reader wants to know how the characters are going to develop in the situations. Cletus Frade is akin to another of WEB's great characters...Craig Lowell.

Perhaps one of my favorite authors with books that allow for countless rereads.