Private Sector
 Brian Haig
 (Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
 2003 Warner Books
 ISBN: 0446531782

Loaned out to a D.C. law firm, Drummond's negotiation of a defense contract becomes mired in murder.

Sr. Reviewer Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

Drummond is back, & he is more maverick, more “smart-ass-ist”, more, well, more everything than before.

In Secret Sanction Drummond was in Kosovo defending a soldier accused of murder; in Mortal Allies he was in Korea investigating a gay-rape murder, & in The Kingmaker he went to Moscow to investigate a treason case. As I began Private Sector, I was wondering where the action would be taking place -- Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel -- WHERE? I was caught by surprise -- it takes place right at home for Drummond in good ol' U.S. of A.

Fed up with his maverick style, his “don't care” attitude &, to put it mildly, his “disrespect” for military obedience, the superiors in JAG, decide to loan out Drummond to the blue-ribbon, Ivy League Culper, Hutch & Westin in Washington D.C., a wealthy law firm whose lawyers are mega-rich. From the start Drummond feels out of place. His task is to negotiate a defense contract -- basically a white-collar job.

The only bright thing for Drummond is the fact that his old friend Lisa Morrow (whom we met in Secret Sanction) is working as a military lawyer in the firm -- but before Drummond could meet her, Morrow is brutally murdered. More killings follow -- & suddenly Drummond is in home territory investigating murders, & tracking down a ruthless killer. Together with Janet Morrow, sister of Lisa, Drummond's investigation opens a whole can of worms -- ranging from simple corporate greed to hi-fi international terrorism & corrupt politicians.

Private Sector is a good whodunit, even though it is the least legal of the author's military thrillers -- all the ingredients of a Drummond thriller are packed into it. Brian Haig is a renowned military strategist & his expertise is well showcased here.

A good read, no...no...a great read, heavily recommended.
(10/26/03)

Narayan
2003©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org