Conboy, an author of numerous books on modern Asian wars, writes in a breezy, novelistic style in this work. There is some historical background and discussion of French colonial involvement in Cambodia but this is primarily an account of the chaotic events taking place in Cambodia during the Vietnam War and the involvement of many internal and outside forces. The book demonstrates that the political turmoil in Cambodia during the Vietnam War was a story of many factions and nations trying to exert influence, each for their own reasons. Major factions included the Khmer Rouge, the PAVN (People's Army of Vietnam), the People's Republic of Kampuchea Armed Forces, The Royal Thai Army and of course, looming over all this, the shadowy influence of the CIA. The agency's primary interest seemed to be to identify and support any faction it felt was pro-American and subvert the rest. This meant the CIA's influence was felt throughout Southeast Asia as it bolstered various factions in neighboring countries and sometimes even created them, such as FULRO (United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races). The latter part of the book discusses the continuing involvement of the US in the country all through the first Iraq war and into the 1990s. This is a fascinating look at the CIA's involvement is a country that played a major and yet little known role in the balance of power in Southeast Asia over the latter part of the 20th century. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)