Dress Gray

I thoroughly enjoyed this 1978 thriller set at West Point. Some of the elements that might have seemed scandalous 26 years ago, such as the protagonist's ongoing off-campus sexual affair, no longer seem even unusual, but the book remains a thoroughly entertaining if at times dated read. What lifts "Dress Gray" above the level of your average thriller for me is Ry Slaight, one of the more memorable main characters I've encountered in a book of this type. He is well-drawn, fleshed out, complex and likable. I'm a little wary of reading Truscott's other books because reviews suggest they're not as good & I really hate to spoil this. I do not see the book as critical of West Point. The setting--especially in this case--rises above the people who happen to populate it for a short part of its history. Truscott doesn't want us to like some of his characters, but I don't think he has anything against West Point. In fact, I felt the book wanted to see the institution rise above & outlast some of its less attractive denizens. It may SEEM critical of the school to people unfamiliar with the type of discipline exercised there. To me, the profanity merely seems realistic & in a way amusing, since it is so clearly an affectation on the part of the characters who use it. They strive to be profane, & that is realistic of their ages, of the phases they're going through. The reader knows they will grow up & be exactly the kind of people who don't use that language, & that's funny, in a dry way. Nope, this was outstandingly entertaining. I should note that I came by it as a result of free books available to deployed Soldiers. That's a great program that benefits troops. If you get a chance to send free books, do it! And many thanks to everyone who has.

Wow what a great adventure You will not be able to put this classic down! As I say, its Undownputable. Great from start to the excitintg climax.

Summer leave is about to begin a few days. Do you think you can make it through the rest of the year without anything eventful happening? Think again, your life is about to become a whole lot more interesting. Dress Gray by Lucian Truscott reveals just how quickly the life of a cadet can change. America viewed West Point in 1968 as a producer of fine young men to feed the war in Vietnam. Many anti-war groups opposed the ideals behind the ancient institution but its prestige lived on. The reputation of the school on the Hudson had to be preserved at all costs. When a dark secret about their own is about to reveal more then a pretentious commandant wants the public to know, he will do what ever necessary to hide it. At the bottom of it all is Ry Slaight, an upperclassmen who finds himself part of an elaborate cover-up where he is the key to secrecy. On a mission himself, Ry finds the truth and then must decide what he should do with it. Will he accept the bribes of tactical department or do the honorable thing and have justice served. In Dress Gray, Lucian Truscott was able to make one feel what it was like to be a member of the corps. The narration and the dialogue felt so real, as if the story actually happened. Truscott was able to illustrate the way cadets think, feel, and act, revealing how deceiving and cunning they can be. The plot flows smoothly, balancing the story between the cadet's investigation and the commandant's cover-up. What emerges is story that keeps you reading until the last lie is told. The themes addressed in the novel were very touchy at the time; therefore, the plot of covering scandal and misconduct seemed so necessary. The Vietnam War was raging on the other side of the world and protestors were looking for any excuse to attack the military. The last thing West Point needed was more attention. A dead cadet found floating in a lake that might have been murdered would have gotten the ball rolling. What if he turned out to be a homosexual? Were there hate crimes being committed at West Point? Was the home of America's finest harboring social deviants? The need to prevent the public from pondering these questions would force the corruption at West Point to stoop to new lows. It reveals just how far people would go to make sure they are not the ones responsible. When others critiqued the book they compared the system of West Point to the mafia. It is sure to stir up some pretty strong opinions from those at West Point. Truscott's novel will make the average reader sit back and question if that is how things are run up there. Dress Gray is a thrilling novel that will leave the reader standing at attention.

This was a great book. I went to West Point and hated it, this book was very powerful and was almost like being there again.

For anyone considering entering West Point, or any service academy, this novel is a MUST. The portrail was excellent and factual. The mystery keeps your interest and leads you to the second novel, Full Dress Gray, which is also a MUST read.