The Forest of Assassins

By: David Forsmark, Timothy Imholt PhD

Narrated by: Andrew Tell

The Forest of Assassins is a historic thriller set in the earliest days of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. It involves the earliest of Navy SEAL teams. It is set in a time when the Navy still did not admit these men existed - much less had they determined if those units would survive until the next conflict, or if the experiment would be abandoned.

©2013 David Forsmark & Timothy Imholt (P)2015 David Forsmark & Timothy Imholt

well written

disclaimer: "I was provided this audiobook by the producer in exchange for an unbiased review
I must say this is a book written by a person with first hand experience with Vietnam or who really did his research.
I was worried it might a political statement rag but it was not. it truly honored the men that served and tried leaving all the foreign policy blunders out of it.
highly recommend this for anyone that likes a book of truths and action as well a fodder for thought.

Military Read

Any additional comments?

The story itself was ok, however, it relied on multiple generalities and there wasn't anything that could be called a surprise during the listen. My main issue with this audiobook is the reader... very monotone, slow and military-ish. He did get out of the monotone while he tried to use different voices for separate characters but overall that was maybe 20-30% of the book. I almost ditched it but since it really wasn't all that long I went ahead and stayed with it.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Front Seat To Development of SEAL Program Document

Where does The Forest of Assassins rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Somewhere in the middle. This is not a slam on the book. It lands in the middle because I listen to so many.

What did you like best about this story?

Several reviewers gave this book low marks. Perhaps because it is more of a documentary style of writing. Once you realize that this is very similar to a 'real' look into this conflict and the regimented style. I had a hard time 'getting into it,' but I had *agreed to to listen in exchange for a review, but once I was it kept me riveted.

Which character – as performed by Andrew Tell – was your favorite?

Andrew Tell's performance was above average. His low, gravel was perfect for anyone; 18 year old solder, to the older commanders. He was believable as female characters-wives and those were working along side our soldiers.

Any additional comments?

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Good book on the Forrest of Assassins

Enjoyed listening, but as a Vietnam veteran myself he could have done better pronouning some of the cities names in Vietnam.

The forest of assassin

What did you like best about this story?

A well written story that covers the real parts of the Vietnam war without the typical tap dance around sensitive issues. Covers the reality of the men who were shunned when they came back and what they did when they were there. A very enlightening book.

Great Vietnam Story

I was given this book to review quite some time ago and it somehow got lost in the shuffle. I am glad I found it.

Even today, there is more written about the crisis in Iraq, Afghanistan and what is currently happening there. Only recently have there been accounts of the brave men who fought in Vietnam. I am not sure as to the reason this is the case. Perhaps because it was such an unpopular and futile undertaking that everyone hopes the memory will just fade. It hasn't and it won't, especially to the soldiers and their families.

This was an excellent account, told as a story, of some of the missions carried out by the first Navy Seals in Vietnam. It tells of the impossible missions they were tasked with and the single minded determination with which those missions were carried out. It spells out, for us non military people, just what it means to be all alone, really alone, in a foreign country, in a place where most people hate you and the rest were indifferent at best.

It was very well written and the narration was top notch as well. Highly recommend.

Early Vietnam War Era Novel

I used to consider myself as someone with a lot of interest in the Vietnam war. I read a lot of memoirs, movies, non fiction books, but I never really came across that much fiction. Quite a lot of novels had sections set in the war, including a lot of Peter Straub's novels, but I never really came across many novels. And in the era of audiobooks, I haven't started to revisit the interest to date. I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the producer in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com. I was glad for the opportunity as the subject matter as a whole interested me. I found the overall setting quite intriquing too. I was always aware that Seals were in the Vietnam war, but I wasn't aware that they were involved in the advisor days, prior to the Gulf of Tonkin incident. I guess it does make sense though. I don't know enough to say whether this is speculative or based in fact, but it is plausible, and from the perspective of fiction, good enough for me.

The story itself is a good read, told from the perspective of the team leader, covering the end of his tour, and ending with an epilogue, at the Vietnam War Memorial. I feel it is more of a personal story than an all out "war story", covering missions, loss, life at the base, life off the base, reunion with his wife, and coming home. I enjoyed the writing style, and felt it engaging and easy to follow.

Andrew Tell did a fine job on the narration. He only has 14 books listed currently, and I actually have three of them in my library, and a couple more on my wish list.

In all I'd highly recommend this

Interesting look at the beginning of the SEALs

Interesting and easy to listen to. Kept my attention all the way through with lots of action.