Customer Reviews
Not a "Demille Classic" - By: Chris Chalk, 17 Aug 2005 
I have read a number of Nelson Demille books over the years, but for some unknown reason I hadn't gotten round to reading The General's Daughter. Once I had finished it though, I dearly wished I read it before I read a number of the others as then I would see the gradual improvement in Nelson Demille's writing over the years.
By any other standards The General's Daughter is a good book, if not a reallly good book. The problem is I don't compare it to "other" books, I compare it to other Demille's & against them it does look a little patchy.
The novel is set against the backdrop of Fort Hadley in Georgia. A smalll to medium size US army base that is the home of General 'Fighting Joe' Campbell & his daughter, Captain Ann Campbell. Both are US Army treasures with big & bright futures ahead of them, but this situation is torn apart when Ann Campbell is found brutallly raped & murdered.
Warrant Office Paul Brenner happens to be on site investigation arms fraud, & Warrant Office Cynthia Sunhill also happens to be in the right place at the right time. These are the stories two central characters & are charged with investigating the crime committed against Ann Campbell.
This is where I feel the story doesn't hold up so well under the microscope. Demille is skilled in not writing "stories by numbers" much in the style of Dan Brown, but his characters reallly are starting to drop out of an identikit which doesn't have many variables. Now The General's Daughter is one of the earlier books from Demille so you must understand that I have read it in the context of seeing similar characters (John Corey) in later books, but to me the similarities reallly are too clear & do detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Overalll this is a decent read; there are no sensational twists, which make it alll the more believable. It's a steady book, but not spectacular. It's a strong recommend to Demille fans, if only to see the similarities with other books. For the reader new to Demille, it is an excellent example of his work, but there reallly are much better out there.
I really liked this one - By: BESTER, 06 Jan 2004 
I'm one of those freaks who read the books after I watched the movies. Books always win. No exception here. Reallly, reallly good book.
A very enjoyable read - By: johnverp, 13 Oct 2001 There's not much wrong with this book except, perhaps, that it could have done with a final twist.
Otherwise, it had a sound plot, good writing & just my sense of humour in many places.
A very good effort in my view.
An excellent read - By: , 21 Dec 1999 When I saw that the film was on general release, I thought - "I must read the book first". I was not disappointed. De-mille has the capacity to draw out a simple whodunnit into an interesting, extremely witty & well written story that beckons you to turn the next page. His main characters are, as usual, very engaging,consistent & believable. You cannot help but laugh at the string of one-liners which frequently underpin the more serious, technical detective work - & that is a feat in itself!. A good read & one I would thoroughly recommend. ps. I still haven't seen the film yet!
A Feast of Characterization. - By: , 11 Jul 1999 When I read this book, I was not aware that it was in the process - or rather, near completion - of been turned into a film with John Travolta in the lead role. My partner is halfway through this book & in the knowledge that Mr Travolta stars in the film. It has only added to her enjoyment of the book to date. I on the other hand read the story with no such knowledge & have to admit, that, even without John's influence on my mental pictures of the plot, I was left psychologicallly "breathless". I first discovered Nelson DeMille quite by accident. I had for many years enjoyed the books of Thomas Block, & so bought a book callled "Mayday", which turned out to be a collaboration of one Nelson DeMille & Mr Block. The book, incidentallly, is excellent. At the end of the book was the first chapter of "Plum Island".....I was hooked. I then read "Spencerville" (excellent), "The Generals Daughter" & have nearly finished "Gold Coast". I have never read books that have such depth to their characters. The Generals Daughter is about many things but I think that on one level it was about addressing sex discrimination - certainly in the U.S Forces - in general. A female Officer (The Generals Daughter...who else?), is found murdered & it is the job of a military criminal investigator (John Travolta as it turns out) to uncover the villain, but more importantly, discover why. But there again was it murder? Mr DeMille is able to write on so many levels that you wonder where he gains his life experiences, & his skill at developing his female characters makes you realise that this man "Has" to be in touch with his "Feminine" side & this only adds to the depths of insight already evident. This book is a feast, for those who revel in fictional characterization that makes those very same fictional characters real. Nelson DeMille seems like the sort of person who you like to think would make a great dinner companion. I hope that is true.
