Silent Night: The Defeat of NATO (spoilers ahead)

While I've put down several books because the execution or subject gets sluggish, irritating, etc., this was the only one I've ever finished that I just couldn't stand. I've always been interested in the concept of a modern ground war in Europe, and when I stumbled upon this it sounded very intriguing. What it turned out to be was a one-sided (and boring) bit of propaganda wherein most of the allied nations get duped by the Warsaw Pact countries. The "action" consists of Soviet forces and spies infiltrating and staging - no actual combat until the end, and that is brief. It reminded me of a modern novelization of a 1950s "Red Scare" educational film. Although the author may have been quite sincere in his intentions, the end result is heavy handed and makes every Soviet look like a murderous and mindless wretch. And while I'm not opposed to a good read where the "good guys" loose, it had to be way more believable than this. For much better coverage of a similar theme, I highly suggest Ralph Peter's "Red Army" - told from a Soviet POV with more realistic characters.

What about The Third World War by John Hackett? I haven't read it in 30 years, but I remember that it was pretty good, if a bit dry.

Yes - I've never read it, but people either love it or hate it. Not so much a novel, as I understand, but an alternate history.