Publishers Weekly
Haig's wisecracking J.A.G. attorney Sean Drummond returns for his fourth caper in three years (after January 2003's The Kingmaker). Unpopular with his military superiors because of his sharp tongue and his tendency to attract trouble, Major Drummond finds himself loaned out to a private law firm. Culper, Hutch, and Westin represents some of the District of Columbia's most staid, old-line institutions, and Drummond begins ruffling feathers from the moment he arrives, though he does prove surprisingly popular with some clients. Meanwhile, a serial killer is taking out attractive young professional women. The first victim is Lisa Morrow, Drummond's sidekick in Haig's debut thriller, Secret Sanction, and also a military lawyer working for Culper, Hutch, and Westin. In fact, Lisa's on her way to meet Drummond when she's murdered. Chapters from the obsessive killer's dark perspective alternate with Drummond's cheeky first-person narration. Not happy with police progress on the case, Lisa's sister Janet, also a lawyer and a dark-haired beauty, steps forward to help Drummond investigate, even as victims pile up. Both Janet and Drummond prove to be entertaining thorns in the side of crusty police detective Spinelli, the officer in charge of the murder investigation. Haig introduces related subplots featuring corporate greed and criminality, but they don't have the visceral chills or the sexiness of the serial killer story line. In the end, it's all about Drummond; though the novel is overlong, the hero's sharp and devilish style should keep reader interest high until the surprising conclusion. (Sept. 23) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Army attorney Maj. Sean Drummond is back, and, if his many readers thought he was an irreverent misfit in uniform before, they haven't seen anything yet. This time, Drummond is loaned by the army to a prestigious DC law firm, where he causes more than the usual amount of trouble. His sardonic attitude makes him as unpopular in the private sector as he was in the army. A serial murderer has killed a female army lawyer, and the law firm is up to its eyeballs in shady deals. Drummond is in danger from many directions. Along with the murders, there are graft, corruption, assassinations, and national security problems. Through it all, Drummond keeps his sense of humor and honor and even manages to find a little potential romance. Like its predecessors, Haig's fourth Sean Drummond novel is enormously exciting, timely, and entertaining. Recommended for all fiction collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/03.]-Robert Conroy, Warren, MI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
In a fourth outing, JAG's superlawyer Major Sean Drummond (The Kingmaker, 2003, etc.) gets packed off to a Washington, DC, blue-ribbon, civvie law firm. Drummond isn't pleased with the posting. And, heaven knows, the expensive talent at Culper, Hutch, and Westin isn't the least bit happy with Drummond's abrasive, know-it-all style. Still, just because he's a lawyer-fish out of water doesn't mean he won't out-think, out-hustle, and certainly out-talk all those thousand-dollar suits either singly or en masse. For starters, take a Pentagon project called WWIP (Working With Industry Program), in line with which JAG attorneys are detached for a year to learn how the other half plies its Blackstone. As it happens, however, the learning experience is totally C, H, and W's-Major Drummond being the born razzle-dazzler that he is. Meanwhile, a cruel and cunning sociopath is settling down to some serious serial killing. JAG Captain Lisa Morrow-the previous exchange student at C, H, and W, and Drummond's good friend-is brutally murdered: neck snapped by hands both powerful and well-trained. She's the first of many unfortunate ladies linked by beauty and brains, plus one additional connector kept hidden for a time. Drummond, now released from the restraints of corporate law, takes on the whodunit challenge and won't rest until the killer is tracked down and confronted: a one-on-one deal that turns out more ludicrous than chilling ("We both chuckled, a couple of adolescents trading dopey insults and playground threats"). International terrorism, chicanery in the corridors of power, inept FBI agents, and sinister CIA operatives provide further complications for the ultraresourceful major before he canshoo off the suits and find, again, his peace and happiness among the uniforms. Drummond once showed dimension and nuance. Now he goes all smart-mouthed, shallow-and wearisome. Agent: Luke Janklow/Janklow & Nesbit
