A review by bh8811
The Valley by John Renehan

4.0

A tightly constructed mystery novel set in in a secluded Afghanistan FOB. Renehan who fought as a field artillery officer in the Army's Third Infantry Division, was never in Afghanistan, but he creates an amazing setting that is so believable and true that you feel like you are there. The mystery is complex and the characters are complicated. Lt. Black is sent to the valley to investigate a a shooting fired by the forgotten platoon of Vega. As he investigates he stumbles upon something more serious than he anticipated and like a dog with a bone, he can't give up until he solves the mystery. Battle scenes are tight and frightening. Note too that very few novels have been written about Afghanistan War so Renehan is blazing a trail for wartime fiction. To read more about wartime fiction, you can see my upcoming article in VOYA to be published in December.