Man in the Middle

When you listen to a lot of audiobooks, those in a series tend to take on the characteristics of a particular reader, especially if h/she is well suited to a given author. I’m a devoted fan of the Sean Drummond character invented by Brian Haig who has been narrated primarily by Scott Brick. The narrator becomes Drummond. Brick captures all the nuances of Drummond’s humor. LJ Ganser is fine, just takes some getting used to if you are accustomed to Brick, but he often reads the wiseacre passages so endearing to Drummond fans too flatly.

Drummond is now a Lt. Colonel, still in the JAG, but assigned to the CIA in a special projects group and he’s assumed the role of an FBI agent to infiltrate the investigation into the suicide/homicide show more of a man with lots of classified access, Clifford Daniels, and the man about to be outed as a major force in promoting the invasion of Iraq.

The scene eventually shifts to Iraq where the plot gets thinner and the content more wordy. Haig engages in digressions that often have little to do with the story, and sometimes the point he wants to make regarding the war gets muddled. For example, he goes to great lengths to portray the dangers of Fallujah yet Drummond and his escorting contractors have little difficulty making it through town to their target where a great fuss is made over Bien’s conduct in identifying the man they want to kidnap (but only after a ridiculous banter over who gets to go that was really silly). Their attempt must be made speedily because the Marines are about to obliterate the town with artillery. Shift to a hospital where much is made of the injuries to soldiers from roadside bombs without even a consideration given to the effect of artillery on non-combatants.

One interesting historical mention was the terrorist bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, in which a truck bomb was placed next to an eight-story structure that housed members of the coalition forces being used to enforce the no-fly zone in Iraq. Close to 500 coalition servicemen were killed or wounded as the whole side of the building collapsed. Precursors of many attacks to come.

In spite of a constant refrain that as members of the Army, both Drummond and Bian Tran, his female MP major sidekick follow orders, they consistently avoid doing what they have been ordered to do, all the while proclaiming the rightness of the cause.

The book resonates best when Sean is dealing with the bureaucracy and its silliness, less so when he meanders all over in assorted sermons/lectures. There are some seriously incredible plot twists and devices. But I do like some of the characters in spite of their flaws hence three instead of two stars. Haig (and his editor) need to learn the difference between imply and infer. show less

I had two problems with Man in the Middle. First, the story relied upon the relationship between newly-promoted Lt. Col. Sean Drummond and another character. Unfortunately, the relationship never "worked" for me. Second, I saw the twist long, long before it happened (although, I guessed the twist for completely wrong reasons). Thus, I was left with a bit of a disappointed feeling.

Ripped from today+s headlines, Army lawyer Sean Drummond caught between duty to Washington+s elite and the soldiers in Iraq. Dispatched to investigate the suicide of one of DC+s most influential defense officials-an ardent, early supporter of the war in Iraq-Drummond and his female partner find themselves in the middle of a tug-of-war between Washington+s most influential power brokers and his own personal allegiance to the soldiers dying overseas. What he uncovers are the secrets that led to the war, secrets that once exposed would destroy public support and undermine the presidency. Now, Drummond faces the greatest moral quandry of his life: What is the true meaning of patriotism?

Drummond is a lot slower on cracking the case in this one. Took him a long time to realize what was going on (which, the reader, at least me, knew almost from the beginning - the murderer, at least), and once I thought he was starting to do so, I find out, 10-20 pages later, that certain issues were still not yet recognized by him.

"Worst" book before this one was rated, by me, 4.38 out of 5 stars. I'll read the next one by him (I've read 6 books by him, 5 rated close to 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars), but I am deeply disappointed.

This turned out to be a fair book but the first 12-15 hours were like listening to a monotone reader read the New York City phone book. Lots of boring, boring sleep inducing back story!!

Interesting book, just not my cup of tea. Lots of military and government agency jargon. If you're into government/military novels you would probably love this.

The best of a very good series!