Snipe Hunt by David Allin was an exciting story set during the Vietnam war as a team of inexperienced Army snipers are sent on a five day mission into the communist-controlled Michelin rubber plantation with vague orders to intercept a high priority target. Unfortunately they have no idea of what or who this target could be.

The plantation is overgrown and dense and due to the heavy foliage that blocks the light, it is permanent twilight during the day and exceedingly dark at night. The story takes off immediately as this small group encounters a meeting of Viet Cong and some North Vietnam Army personnel. A quick gunfight and the Americans find they are in possession of a huge cache of American dollars. Now they are being hunted as they travel through the endless rows of rubber trees towards their designated pick -up only to arrive to find that the NVA have arrived first and have set up an ambush.

This fast moving story was a page turner. The small group of two snipers, two spotters and a guide on this five day mission quickly drew the reader in. The author is a combat veteran himself so the tactics described seemed creditable and the descriptions of this huge rubber plantation supplied great detail. A fascinating story. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed reading David Allin's "Snipe Hunt". It gets off to a slow start but once the enemy is seen the action never ceases. Two snipers, two spotters, and a Chu Hoi (a questionable character who soon proves himself trustworthy and valuable) depart on a five-day mission within the Michelin Rubber Plantation in III Corps. Having patrolled the plantation myself with the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division, I found all references true and memorable.

The team's mission is vague, but when they discover a secret cache and take it for themselves, they find themselves hunted by both the NVA and the ARVN (supposed allies of the South Vietnamese Army). Without communications Radio is destroyed during a firefight) or support, and a severely wounded team member, they find themselves in a game of cat and mouse while attempting to reach friendly lines.

Although fiction, the premise is feasible and the writing style of the author makes it easy to read. Great job Mr. Allin! I've read a couple of his other books on the Vietnam War and will follow up on the others. Keep them coming! ( )