Fifteen years after its end, journalist Todd presents a superb account of the last four months of the Vietnam War. Other books cover the topic, including Frank Snepp's Decent Interval (LJ 2/15/78), but none provides the detail of Cruel April. Critically described are the complex political, military, and diplomatic relationships among the major participants: the South Vietnamese government, military, and domestic opposition; the North and South Vietnamese Communists; Americans in Vietnam and Washington; and foreign interests (Soviet, Chinese, French, etc.). Based on published books and articles, government documents, numerous interviews, and the author's personal experiences, this skillful narrative is an essential purchase for all Vietnam War collections. --Kenneth W. Berger, Duke Univ. Lib., Durham, N.C. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.