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The Dark Side of Glory Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Richard McMahon (Author, Publisher), Don Moffit (Narrator)
4.5 out of 5 stars 74 ratings

In this suspense novel set during the Korean War, Matthew Clark, the biographer of a respected and highly decorated army general, learns that there is a hidden side to his life, involving a brutal, covered-up murder, a secret mistress, and an abandoned illegitimate daughter. As he delves deeper, Matthew discovers an intriguing mystery and a tragic love in a world of surprises where nothing is at it seems.

Tracing the general's earlier career during the occupation of Japan and through the early days of the Korean War, Matthew follows the lives of four principle characters: Philip Coursen, who appears to be the perfect army officer but with a disturbing dark side; Miriam Coursen, equally perfect army wife who may hide a secret agenda; Calvin Carter, an idealistic young West Pointer, beset with guilt as a result of his clandestine affair with another officer's wife; and Samantha Winstead, the beautiful, vivacious cause of Calvin Carter's discomfort. The biography takes a personal turn for Matthew as he finds himself drawn into the story when he falls in love with the young woman who claims to be Coursen's daughter.

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  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 41 minutes
  2. Author
    Richard McMahon
  3. Narrator
    Don Moffit
  4. Audible release date
    June 23, 2015
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Richard McMahon
  7. ASIN
    B01092Q8M2
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 41 minutes
Author Richard McMahon
Narrator Don Moffit
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date June 23, 2015
Publisher Richard McMahon
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B01092Q8M2
Best Sellers Rank #705,105 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#4,498 in International Mystery & Crime (Audible Books & Originals)
#12,727 in International Mystery & Crime (Books)
#45,527 in Historical Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
74 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a perfect murder mystery with an interesting plot. The writing is well executed, with one customer noting how the author captures the culture entirely. Moreover, the characters are believable, and customers enjoy reading it, with one mentioning it's a real page-turner that holds attention from beginning to end.

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28 customers mention "Intrigue"28 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the intrigue of the book, describing it as a perfect murder mystery with an interesting plot and mesmerizing fiction.

"...The intrigues will surprise you and keep you reading til the end. Out of the ashes of the broken lives of the characters rises a rebirth called love...." Read more

"Not a bad book. Not much detail but a good story...." Read more

"...His battle scenes are devastatingly brought to life, as a framework to a complex and irresistable plot, peopled by believable characters...." Read more

"...The Dark Side of Glory is the perfect murder mystery for those who have served their country on foreign shores." Read more

24 customers mention "Writing quality"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written, with one customer noting how the author captures the culture entirely.

"...That being said I'm really glad that I read this one. The book is well written and I quickly became invested in the characters, I mourned when a..." Read more

"Not a bad book. Not much detail but a good story...." Read more

"...Well done, Richard. You have written an unforgettable work. Michael" Read more

"...McMahon writes with commanding detail about the machinations of the Korean War and the movements of the cavalry...." Read more

14 customers mention "Enjoyment"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and fun to read, with one mentioning that the denouement is very satisfying.

"...The book has it all love, hate, revenge and everything in between. The intrigues will surprise you and keep you reading til the end...." Read more

"...Glory is, at the same time a subtle and multi-faceted mystery that captivates as seduces the reader until the last page...." Read more

"...I finished it, not all in one sitting, but found the denoument very satisfying...." Read more

"I don't often write reviews, but this book deserves one. It's terrific; one of those that you are sorry to see end...." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly engaging, with one mentioning it keeps them reading until the end.

"...The intrigues will surprise you and keep you reading til the end. Out of the ashes of the broken lives of the characters rises a rebirth called love...." Read more

"...a subtle and multi-faceted mystery that captivates as seduces the reader until the last page. Well done, Richard...." Read more

"...And it makes one read on and on without any intermission for fascinating subplot dramas involve a narrator's conscience of investigating the suspects..." Read more

"This book was a real page-turner! Coming from an Army family, I could really relate to the settings and personalities...." Read more

5 customers mention "Believable characters"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the believable characters in the book, with one noting the author's skill in portraying military life.

"...The book is well written and I quickly became invested in the characters, I mourned when a character was lost to the brutalities of war and cheered..." Read more

"...from 1959 - '65, I have only praise for his accuracy and skill in portraying military life and warfare...." Read more

"...The plot is more than engaging and the characters eminently believable. Additionally, it's realistic...." Read more

"...from an Army family, I could really relate to the settings and personalities...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • trekker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    First I don't normally read "war stories" unless I'm researching my father's time as a POW in WWII. That being said I'm really glad that I read this one. The book is well written and I quickly became invested in the characters, I mourned when a character was lost to the brutalities of war and cheered when they survived that said war. The book was written with 2 POV's the first being a writer commissioned to write a book about the life story of General Philip Sheridan Coursen and the other Lt. Calvin Carter, a company commander of General Coursen's Tenth Recon. The book has it all love, hate, revenge and everything in between. The intrigues will surprise you and keep you reading til the end. Out of the ashes of the broken lives of the characters rises a rebirth called love. This book could easily be turned into a mini series reminiscent of "Winds of War"
    I highly recommend this book.
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  • Sebuka68
    4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Not a bad book. Not much detail but a good story. Books like this one always remind me of something Leon Uris might write, and that's unfortunate because Uris was a more thorough researcher and a better writer. But this book's not a bad way to pass a few hours.
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  • WilliamF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Historical Novel
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Richard McMahon's The Dark Side of Glory is a classic, probably the best insight into the pre-Korean War US Army, and the war, itself, ever written. As an Army brat in the 1950's, and an active duty Naval officer from 1959 - '65, I have only praise for his accuracy and skill in portraying military life and warfare. His battle scenes are devastatingly brought to life, as a framework to a complex and irresistable plot, peopled by believable characters. The Dark Side of Glory is, at the same time a subtle and multi-faceted mystery that captivates as seduces the reader until the last page.

    Well done, Richard. You have written an unforgettable work.

    Michael
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  • Catherine Marshall-Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Both mystery and historical fiction -- The perfect gift for those who serve our country on foreign shores
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Richard McMahon has crafted an account of a murder in his novel The Dark Side of Glory with an insider’s point of view of the Korean War. It opens with a breathtaking description of a dead woman in an examining room in Japan. The inspector discovers a cloth object beneath the woman’s blouse and abruptly ends the examination saying, “We have no authority here.” From there the reader is swept into the world of the narrator in Hawaii who has been commissioned to write a biography for a recently deceased general by the general’s wife. McMahon writes with commanding detail about the machinations of the Korean War and the movements of the cavalry. The Dark Side of Glory is the perfect murder mystery for those who have served their country on foreign shores.
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  • bart
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I had a hard time getting into it, probably because it was the first electronic book I read. I'd forget to turn on my tablet until I had forgotten who the characters were. But one day I got back to it and started finding it interesting, and that gradually turned to fascinating. I was able to keep going even when my reader would tell me I had 2 hrs 37 minutes to go. I finished it, not all in one sitting, but found the denoument very satisfying.

    Some language errors, both English and Japanese, but I haven't told anyone.
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  • Claus Prufer
    5.0 out of 5 stars My review of Richard McMahon's "The Dark Side of Glory"
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    At the outset The Dark Side of Glory by Richard McMahon reads like a well researched military history spanning the period prior to and during our war with Korea. It is that aspect that kindles my interest. Officers and NCOs are sketched with insight into their characters and bearing. But soon suspense is created by a murder plot leading us into post world war Japan. Such is the excitement that you cannot put down this book. And it makes one read on and on without any intermission for fascinating subplot dramas involve a narrator's conscience of investigating the suspects, in falling in love and identifying the guilty who is escaping paying for the crime committed. But I mustn't give away the plot. A perfect read; sensitive without sentimentality .
    Claus M Prufer
    One person found this helpful
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  • Neil
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book; you won't be sorry
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I don't often write reviews, but this book deserves one. It's terrific; one of those that you are sorry to see end. The plot is more than engaging and the characters eminently believable. Additionally, it's realistic. I served in the military for 30+ years and the author captures the culture entirely. I also served several times in Japan and again he does that justice. I probably read at least a book a week and likely more. So far this is the best novel I've read in a year. Well done.
    One person found this helpful
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  • KailuaAl
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a fantastic book!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a real page-turner! Coming from an Army family, I could really relate to the settings and personalities. McMahon does a great job storytelling, bouncing between the time of the Korea conflict and a date in the late sixties, early seventies. While set with a military backdrop, the novel itself is a story of murder and intrigue, and has some great plot twists and surprises! Pick this one up, as I know you'll thoroughly enjoy it!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Olsson Anders
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Stuff
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Good quick-moving plot about an interesting time and place I did not know much about.
    That said, I get the impression that the author knows a lot more and that the book could well be twice as long.
    Might we hope for a follow-up?
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