Wynne's War

Starred review from December 2, 2013
Gwyn’s (Dog on the Cross) story is a gripping tale of men at war in the desolate snow-capped mountains of eastern Afghanistan, and captures the essence of close combat—the terror, excitement, chaos, tension, and cruelty, as well as the harsh decisions men make under stress. Corporal Elijah Russell, an Army Ranger, is assigned to a Special Forces team in Afghanistan to train Green Berets to ride horses for a clandestine mission. The team commander is Captain Wynne, a charismatic, fearless, and ruthless officer whose men worship him. Russell and his battle buddy, Wheels, are part of Wynne’s 13-man SF team, but Russell smells a rat, as the captain’s reputation, mission description, and secrecy spook him. The team’s journey on horseback into the mountains is grueling, and bloody encounters with Chechens and Taliban militants make Russell suspect the mission is bogus. And then things get worse, and Russell finally understands that Captain Wynne has his own strange agenda. This story is not for wimps—the scenes of battlefield wound treatment, and the torture and execution of prisoners, in particular, are grim and will upset some readers. But its gritty realism is part of the strength.