In the heart of darkness that was the Vietnam War, "Four Hours in My Lai" by Michael Bilton takes readers into the grim shadow of one of the conflict's most harrowing episodes. Through meticulous research and compelling narrative, Bilton reconstructs the unfathomable horror of March 16, 1968, when American soldiers, caught in the vortex of fear and confusion, perpetrated a massacre in the small village of My Lai. This book does not merely recount the events but delves deep into the psyche of those involved, laying bare the complexities of morality in warfare and the devastating impact of dehumanization. With a storyteller's precision, Bilton navigates the intricate web of decisions and circumstances that led to this tragic moment, while also chronicling the subsequent efforts to conceal, expose, and reckon with what happened. "Four Hours in My Lai" is a seminal work, both as a detailed historical account and a profound meditation on the capacity for cruelty inherent in humanity. It stands as a sobering testament to the darkness of war and a call for accountability and reflection in the face of such atrocities.