Sean Drummond, US Army lite colonel attorney, has been tasked to the CIA working some legal corner of the Global War on Terror. OK gig, but he’d rather be back at the JAG office. At a reasonably quiet dinner, his former co-attorney and perpetual antagonist Katherine Carlson plops herself at his table and offers him 2nd chair in what is likely to be the trial of the century.
Two male soldiers, guards of the most despicable inmates at the worst prison in Iraq and three female soldiers have had their pictures splashed around the world performing some of the most disgusting and degrading acts with and to Iraqi prisoners. All done after hours giving them the moniker "The Night Crew." And one prisoner, one of Saddam's most trusted and brutal generals, was murdered, bludgeoned to death in his cell. Had to look up how to spell "Abu Ghraib."
They are to defend Lydia Eddelston, a less than stellar representative of an end of the road town in West Virginia. She has become the poster child for prisoner abuse based on photos of her . . . let’s just say she wasn’t wishing anyone Happy Birthday. Katherine and Sean have the unenviable chore of finding a defense strategy in the face of worldwide condemnation.
On top of that, his legendary battles with Carlson continue. Katherine made her legal rep by defending homosexual soldiers against the Army. So Sean has to balance her agenda, which is to embarrass the Army with his, which is to defend Lydia to the best of his ability. Katherine could care less about guilt or innocence as long as she can stick it to the Army.
It doesn’t help that two previous lawyers have died in ‘accidents’ and the primary interrogator in the prison died from an IED shortly after the pictures went public. Sean’s dogged investigation digs into Lydia’s family, her relationship with one of the male guards, classified Army personnel records, and of course, the CIA. His first task is to separate Lydia from the murder charge, then find the extenuating circumstances that resulted in her outrageous behavior in the prison so that Lydia doesn’t spend the rest of her life in Leavenworth.
This is the 7th Sean Drummond novel in Haig’s library of 9 titles. It’s been a while for Haig. His most recent book was 2010 and his last Drummond novel was 2007. And I’ve missed Haig’s books because his books are, in a word, terrific. The Drummond series has some of the most clever, wise ass, dialogue today. Drummond just doesn’t give a damn. He’s good, gets results for his clients, and to hell with anyone in his path. We all wish we had the stones to say what Drummond says. And he’s funny and incredibly sarcastic.
Makes one wonder where Haig has been.He published 8 books between 2002 and 2010, but its been going on 5 years to get to this book. HIs earlier books were published by more mainstream publishers, but this one is published by Thomas & Mercer, a subsidiary of Amazon. Makes one wonder if he had bad experiences with his former publishers and decided to (sort of) go it alone.
Haig knows the Army. He’s a West Point graduate, was a career officer, and served as a special assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And if you are under maybe 45 years of age, you probably never heard of the name Haig. His dad, Alexander, was a highly decorated General, Secretary of State for Reagan, Chief of Staff for Nixon and Ford, and famous for his “I’m in charge” line during the confusion immediately after the assassination attempt on President Reagan. So, I would say that Brian Haig has sufficient history in both the military and public service to present a convoluted story that will keep any lover of this genre firmly glued to their chair.
Haig and Drummond? I sure have missed you. Don’t be a stranger. Please.
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