This book is part mystery, part history, and part biography of a legendary Vietnamese woman who grew up close to power and exploited her position in the midst of upheaval and war. The story is told with riveting historic events in the U.S. and Vietnam, but the most fascinating is the life of Madame Nhu who fought both personal and political battles to survive. Her war never ended as it seemed even at the end of her long life she never gave in and found peace. This is a noteworthy book that adds to a deeper understanding of the culture and of the Vietnamese/American conflict.