Rating: 
Summary: No Sophomore Slump for Haig
Review: Since I don't get paid to be a critic, I judge the books I read by how often I put them down to . . . you know . . . talk to my wife and kids and go to work. Needless to say, wife, kids and work took a back seat to Mortal Allies. An absolutely exciting and riveting read. The storyline was explosive and interesting, the plot twists were totally unpredictable and the characters and dialog were entertaining. I am definitely hooked and look forward to Haig's #3 (and hope that he continues with Sean Drummond).
Rating:
Summary: Mortal Allies - Best of Friends
Review: The relationship between Katherine Carlson and Major Sean Drummond is so feisty I expected one of them to ask the reader, "I move to treat co-counsel as a hostile witness" at some point, although it never came to that.The Gay-rape-murder of the son of the South Korean Defense Minister starts this ball rolling and Drummond directs it from there. Drummond is asked to co-counsel with civilian Gay Rights specialist Katherine Carlson who asked for him directly. Although he hasn't seen her since law school 8 years earlier where they nearly came to fist fights on a daily basis for three years, it's apparent that she hates him loves him can't stand to be in the same room with him needs him, and Sean plays it well. If there's a hubris in Brian Haig's Sean Drummond, it's that he's too heroic and too intelligent to be such a buffoon when it comes to the opposite sex. Here the plot floats in and out of two enormous issues, homosexuality and racism, and Haig treats both seriously, with Drummond coming to grips with both, particularly the former. A very enjoyable read. Some of the tangential plot endings are telegraphed; some come as a surprise. I would like to see Drummond actually IN a trial. Mr. Haig brings us to the precipice in all of the (currently) four novels, but unlike Lescroart for one or Margolin, we never seem to get into the trial. Nevertheless good stuff. You might want to read them in order. The stories really stand on their own two feet but the maturation of Haig as a writer and Drummond as his lead character develop nicely over several years. 5 Stars. Larry Scantlebury
Rating:
Summary: Saved from a Death Sentence by Attila and the Easter Bunny
Review: This is an action-packed legal/military/political thriller; it is not primarily a courtroom drama but rather a story told from the viewpoint of Major Sean Drummond, a JAG officer whose Bermuda vacation is interrupted when the Army summons him to Seoul and charges him with the unenviable task of defending Captain Thomas Whitehall against multiple charges including homosexual rape and murder. Not only is the evidence supporting the charges against Whitehall overwhelming, but Drummond's problems are greatly increased by two additional factors. First, the murdered individual was a South Korean soldier attached a US army base in Korea; thus a firestorm of protest has erupted potentially endangering the United States- South Korean alliance and making the trial a high profile media event. Second, the lead civilian counsel for the accused is Katherine Carlson, a classmate at Georgetown law whose disagreements with Drummond grew so heated that the dean eventually disallowed all personal contact between the two of them. Drummond summarizes the situation, "think about what kind of philosophical discussion the Easter Bunny and Attila the Hun might have if they sat down to compare lifestyles". Thus, he is stuck with the sobriquet Attila, while she is invariably referenced as Moonbeam in return. Since the Army has fast tracked the proceedings, the defense team is forced to quickly develop a strategy that has some chance of explaining the evidence against Whitehall, who insists on his innocence but provides no helpful insights upon which they can build their case. What makes the story so riveting is the complexity of the plot and the time the author takes to sketch out more character development and interplay than most books of this genre. Sean Drummond is a wonderful hero, part regular Army and part counterculture with his streak of irreverence and humor that infuses Haig's books. In addition, I found the background information concerning Korea and our alliance very educational; my assumption that it was factually correct added to my enjoyment of the book. Most importantly, this book is used as the platform for an interesting and quite extensive discussion of societal attitudes towards gays and lesbians (and the differences between our culture and that of Korea) and implicitly questions the appropriateness of the military's "don't ask, don't tell policy". The implications of the case and his reaction to Whitehall combined with his interaction with Moonbeam led to an interesting evolution in Attila's views; yet this aspect was simply part of the fabric of the story, not in any way either extraneous or distracting. This summary only scratches the surface of the story, which includes more murders, potential espionage, involvement of the CIA and other undercover operatives, and lots of trademark Drummond humor tinged with irony and cynicism. And I haven't even mentioned yet that the murdered South Korean was the son of the country's Defense Minister; Korean police procedures, rules of evidence, and the criminal justice system and prisons are significantly less favorable to defendants than those of the US and the crime was committed off military property. While I cannot reveal any details of several plot elements without providing significant spoilers, I want to attest that the author managed to keep me guessing, and not always correctly. I especially enjoyed one key aspect of the conclusion, which both managed to surprise me and also succesfully pull together several elements of the storyline. This is the fourth book by the author which I have read that features Sean Drummond as the protagonist, but it is the second sequentially which he wrote. The series features a central cast of characters, including Sergeant Imelda Pepperfeld as Drummond's invaluable assistant and General Clapper as his boss, but most of the individuals are unique to the story and it is a great standalone read. However, if you plan to read all the books I would read them in the proper sequence, both because there are references to Drummond's previous exploits and because the character development is quite interesting. The first book is SECRET SANCTION (3 1/2 star review 7/30/03), which I decided to read after thoroughly enjoying the third book written by Haig, THE KINGMAKER (5 star review 5/13/03). The fourth book in the series, PRIVATE SECTOR was published late in 2003, (4 1/2 star review 11/11/03), so I skipped to that before returning to MORTAL ALLIES. In my estimation, the book reviewed here and THE KINGMAKER are the best two books in the series, although all are enjoyable reads. Both are action packed; this has a more complex philosophical dimension and convoluted plot, while the third novel in the series had several interesting twists, an intriguing personal dimension, and a further development of Drummond's character which I really enjoyed. So, you can partake of the complete meal which the author has prepared - appetizer, main course and dessert, or simply choose a la carte from among the choices. Among those choices, this one is especially recommended. Tucker Andersen
Rating:
Summary: Haig Writes Another Page Turner
Review: This is every bit as good, if not better than, Brian Haig's first book, Secret Sanction. I can't wait to see the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Thriller
Review: This is the second novel I've read by Brian Haig and I've already pre-ordered his third, "Kingmaker" (due out in early 2003). Mr. Haig writes exciting legal thrillers with a touch of humor. The hero, Sean Drummand, is a JAG lawyer with an unusual past (commando in a super secret Army squad). Mr. Haig is now one of my must read authors. Even though each novel stands on its own, my recommendation is to read them in order. "Secret Sanction" is his first book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Thriller
Review: This is the second novel I've read by Brian Haig and I've already pre-ordered his third, "Kingmaker" (due out in early 2003). Mr. Haig writes exciting legal thrillers with a touch of humor. The hero, Sean Drummand, is a JAG lawyer with an unusual past (commando in a super secret Army squad). Mr. Haig is now one of my must read authors. Even though each novel stands on its own, my recommendation is to read them in order. "Secret Sanction" is his first book.
Rating:
Summary: strong military legal thriller
Review: Three American soldiers apparently raped and killed a Korean soldier Le No Tae, the son of the South Korean Armed Forces Defense minister. The tumultuous situation is filled with riots and protests especially surrounding the ninety five American camps in the country. The Organization for Gay Military Members has hired civilian lawyers to defend the three soldiers. Still wearing his shorts from his aborted Bermuda vacation, Major Sean Drummond learns that his former law student enemy Katherine Carlson is co-counsel, or more descriptive lead council, as she reads the riot act to the Commander in Charge and Drummond. Drummond as the token military on the defense team feels like the outsider arguing principals and law every step the way. As Carlson bashes diplomats and the military, the press finds her a delight while Drummond finds her dangerously seductive even as he feels his first homosexual case has tanked his career. Just when it seems nothing could get worse, Drummond realizes he must learn why Carlson selected him before he gets drummed out of the service. MORTAL ALLIES is an action-packed thriller that uses humor to accentuate an exhilarating story line. As he did in his debut appearance, SECRET SANCTION, Drummond employs amusing self-deprecation as a protective device since no one in the military befriends a JAG officer. Carlson is a fantastic counterpoint to Drummond and hopefully returns to antagonize and entice the hero. The twisting plot provides an insightful look at the Korean Peninsula situation. Readers will tell those who ask that Brian Haig is the secretary of state when it comes to strong military legal thrillers. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Mortal Allies: Excellent Story!
Review: While dealing with complex social issues, Moral Allies adeptly pulls off an excellent balance of humor, story-telling, action, and mystery. The plot remains interesting and holds the reader's attention until the end. Well written in the 1st person, Mortal Allies is an excellent way to spend a long travel flight or rainy weekend.
| 
