"Secret Sanction" by Brian Haig "Can You Handle the Truth?"

Reviewed by Tracy L. Karol

OK I couldn't resist the title of this review. I am so glad Amazon offered a "freebie" deal on Brian Haig's books (buy one, get one free) or I would never have discovered this wonderful author. His style truly reminds me of a mix between Nelson DeMille and Robert Crais. I LOVED the character of Sean Drummond.

First, the plot, which has probably been covered extensively since this book was written so many years ago. Drummond is a JAG attorney assigned to determine whether a group of special forces troops in the Balkans should be prosecuted for crimes (they supposedly massacred a bunch of Serbs).

You should know a bit about Haig. He is the son of Alexander Haig, former SecState to Reagan. He also worked under Nixon. Some of this seeps through in Brian Haig's writing. He refers to Drummond's father as someone who loved Nixon, but he also seems to respect him very much.

This book is about duty, honor and country and could easily be written today. Those who march for peace will probably not like parts of it. I'd have to say, get over it. This is war. Granted the time period and the fight was a humanatiarian war, but the atrocities were very real and only become clear as the novel progresses. Drummond is witty, sarcastic and self-deprecating. I look forward to reading more about this character, and certainly more from this author. So glad I discovered him. Thank you, Amazon, for offering this buy one, get one free deal!

Power Play (by Joseph Finder)

Reviewed by Tracy L. Karol

I bought this book after getting hooked on Paranoia, which I got as a Kindle freebie. Power Play was even better. While you had somewhat of an anti-hero in Paranoia...though still good guy, Jake Landry, our hero in Power Play, was my kind of man. Thrown into a corporate getaway setting where he clearly does not belong and knows only his ex, Ali, he's the outsider who is the only one capable of saving the group of execs when a band of thugs targets them. Throughout the book Finder expertly sprinkles backstory about Jake and Ali and Jake's troubled past...which is what gives him the skills to survive this ordeal. The plot twists make this a thriller that will keep you up well into the night. And I have found a new author to watch. 4.5 stars, highly recommended.