I am a big fan of Brian Haig's writing, but this book turned me off in the first chapter. It seems like a never-ending string of smart-alec remrks and one-liners. Drummond was funny and quick-witted in other stories, but he isn't the least bit likable in this one. I gave up at page 85.

A friend introduced me to Brian Haig a few months ago. I proceded to buy all of his books and read them pretty quickly -- they were pretty quick reads, and thoroughly enjoyable.

It was almost like pulling teeth to get through the first third of this book. Way too preachy, and way too much insight into what I found to be opinions about the current war (I read to escape, not to be reminded of what I am escaping from.)

The book picked up a lot after that. While the ending wasn't a surprise to me, it was also not a bad one. The characters never truly grew on me, and in my eyes Drummond didn't advance much in this one.

Another reviewer wrote that you could probably miss this book and pick up the series with the next one... and that seems about right.

When the snow flies I like to curl up in front of the fire with an interesting book, and this year I discovered Brian Haig.

Haig's premises and settings are interesting: a career Army operative becomes an attorney due to injury and always seems to be up a level on the bad guys and the situations he runs into.

My snowy ventures took me thru all of Haig's books and none disappointed until I came to Man in the Middle. I really shouldn't say it was a disappointment, but perhaps a bit more tedious than I thought necessary. Haig has a nice touch of incorporating a bit of law, a bit of history, s plausible situation, and enough sex and sarcasim to keep you turning the pages. Man in the Middle, however, stuck me as being written by an author who had something he wanted to get off of his chest.

Passages of the book tended to bog down in details while others clearly expressed Haig's views on the war in Irag. The book is certainly readable, but I'm glad I read this one last Start with his first, and work your way to this one. I think he's a good author, but likely wouldn't have look forward to any of his other writings if this had been my first exposure to him.

Excessive wordiness and too much like a history lesson in why to fight any war. America has gone into many wars unprepared and with our belief in our own self-worth. Why should this one, Iraq, be any different? I was expecting a mystery/thriller and got neither.

Started slow, but towards the end I was completely consumed with this story. I enjoyed the revelations at the end of the book. The characters had excellent dialogue.

This is my favorite kind of book; it explains what is going on in the world in a storytelling format that makes it interesting. In a single book, Haig answered a lot of my questions about Vietnam as well as the war in Iraq. I love the tounge in cheek flavor of the writing, and, oh, yeah, the story was great. With Haig, you never figure out the end of the book until you get there!

I first read President's Assasin and loved it. I love the Sean Drummond character and the wity and cynicism views he expresses throughout the book. This book is different from the others in the series because Brian Haig does base the book on the Iraq war and educates in the process of entertaining. I found this very useful, as the author notes, many Americans are unfamiliar with many aspects of the Iraq war. Educational and fun reading, it doesn't get better than this :-)

I have read (or rather listened) to some of his other books, but this one, I can't imagine forcing myself to listen to the rest of it. I mean, I like me, why would I do that to me. Doesn't this author have an editor?
It is like listening to one long lecture by the main character. He is lecturing me, not telling me a story.
The good part about this book are the truths that it seems to be based on. It is obviously about Ahmed Chalabi, Perle, Feith, Rumsfeld and other neocons. It is because of that I want to finish it. A nice novel based on how screwed up this war is and how dangerous this administration is.
If it could be re-written and then re-published that would be nice.

My first introduction to Brian Haig was in the President's Assassin - it is here I grew to love Sean Drummond's humor and wise cracks. In Man in the Middle, Sean Drummond once again is invesitgating a death. This time it is the death of a high-ranking Defense Department official Clifford Daniels. Drummond partners with an attractive military investigator Bian Tran. The novel has many twists and turn and it was a too long. I found that I could often put this book down and I read many other novels in between. I finally finished the book. I really enjoyed the last 100 pages.

I waited for this book forever and was so disappointed , I didn't even read it.
For some reason Brian Haig has lost his edge -and his apology to his readers in the forward really put me off. Author has moved too far to the left.
I am now reading Brad Thor, Vince Flynn or Ted Bell when I am looking for a good thriller.
I recommend the First Commandmant.

I waited for this book forever and was so disappointed , I didn't even read it.

For some reason Brian Haig has lost his edge -and his apology to his readers in the forward really put me off. Author has moved too far to the left.

I am now reading Brad Thor instead of Haig or Vince Flynn.

I recommend the First Commandmant.

I waited for this book forever and was so disappointed , I didn't even read it.
For some reason Brian Haig has lost his edge -and his apology to his readers in the forward really put me off. Author has moved too far to the left.
I am now reading Brad Thor instead of Haig or Vince Flynn.
I recommend the First Commandmant.

Had to force myself though the first 100 pages. The plot line is as convoluted as the Iraq War. I'm thinking that was the real agenda of the book: Iraq is a complex mess, and here's a mystery novel with it as the setting to match. Okay. But look, I know that already, and I don't need to be pounded with it in my leisure hours when I want read a mystery novel.

I loved the previous books in this series and would give them all five stars. This book had a more serious tone, and I felt like I was being lectured by Sean Drummond through much of it. Unfortunately, most of what was divulged was information I already knew about Iraq. The setup was quite long--real action didn't take place until 1/3 of the way into the book.

I recommend all the previous books with Sean Drummond by Brian Haig. I love the voice, the characters, the settings, the plots, the witty dialogue.

My recommendation is to buy it, enjoy it, and then read some of his other books like Private Sector, The Kingmaker, and the President's Assassin to see what he is capable of delivering.
My guess is that the long delay in the book's release had something to do with editing from a government source because a lot of the inside element in his previous books was what I missed in The Man In The Middle.
On the other hand even Martin Cruz Smith (Night Wing), Nelson DeMille (The Generals Daughter) and even Clancy (Clear and Present Danger) had a clunker or two: perhaps when they were trying something slightly different or were just tired of working on it.
Nonetheless Brian Haig is still on my A list: Martin Cruz Smith, Michael Connelly, Clancy (if he ever starts writing on his own again), Pat Conroy (I hope that he writes another one), Grisham, and Turow: I put Haig just above Baldacci.

It is a good reading although this time Lt Col Drummond is not so witty nor so funny-guy as he used to be in his other adventures. This is probably due to the more serious setting in which the story is staged. The plot is
believable and the action is good (especially in Iraq);with a bit more of the
"old" sean drummond I would have given the fifth star.

I usually zip through Brian Haig's books. This one I had to force myself through. The usual crisp dialogue that Haig uses to great effect is missing, and instead of sarcastic musings by Sean Drummond, we are treated to long treatises on the Iraq war. The whole book seemed forced to me, and the spark of wit that I look forward to and usually enjoy died out after the first 100 pages. If you've read other books in the series you could probably miss this one, come back to the next (hopefully more enjoyable entry), and not feel like you're missing out on anything.

Not recommended.

Brian Haig's `Man in the Middle' is different from his other books for several reasons. The first hundred pages have a pompous style - not the main character Sean Drummond, but a pompous air from the author. What has been enjoyable, interesting and yes informative in his other fictional books is the insider's knowledge, humor of the Washington political -military, etc. scene and the attitude of the military community. I find myself usually smiling at his usual "aside" comments. I have been with the military from the moment I was born and in the Washington area for most of my life - so much of what Haig says is true.
This specific book lacked that camaraderie feeling and had that snobbery of an insider's attitude but then does settle down into an adventure- thriller. I do admit I guessed who the killer was in the very beginning, but was still interested to continue to the end and was left with some surprises.
There are some very poignant moments concerning our soldiers and those who serve in Iraq, especially where one is a character named for Claudia Foster who died on 9/11. It's a worthwhile read both on the surface and for those who want to go deeper.

One fun thing about being a reader is discovering a new author that you like. I got this book, ignored it for a while, then picked it up and wound up staying awake quite late as I couldn't quite put it down. Today I went to the library and got the two books they had by Brian Haig.

Brian Haig has created a character who is in the active army, an attorney, an investigator, but with a background of doing more active things. This book starts as a murder mystery but then it turns into a very complex international situation with a lot of the action taking place in Iraq.

The interplay between our friends, allies, enemies -- and the Shiite/Sunni fight is both educational and explains things better than reading a straight description. ==Finally I really like stories written with a bit of humor. For instance, on the opening page the hero meets a fellow investigator at a murder (or maybe suicide) scene with the opening line, 'Come here often.'

Enough writing, I'm going order the books I don't have.

Haig delivers -- with powerful insider perspectives, laughing-out-loud humor that spices serious scenarios, up-to-the-minute relevance to current events, remarkably articulate characterizations and dialogue, all of which holds attention from beginning to end. These features contrasted starkly with the next novel I read, a time-wasting best-seller from another author, which I perused to the end only because of the continuing good momentum from the experience of reading Haig.

While perhaps not the typical Brian Haig story, I loved it just the same! This author's book is timely with current affairs and explains them to us without feeling like I'm reading a history book. I finally get the fundamentals of the conflict!!!

First part was a little dry but it set the stage for the finish. I was so engrossed at times I almost missed my train stop!

I eagerly await the next tale in this series.

As with most things involving Iraq, I suspect that the views one has in our involvement there, color how one views many things, including a fictionalized thriller/mystery which uses the Iraq war and it's aftermath as it's template.

I found this latest Sean Drummond novel to be fascinating reading from the who-done-it point of view as well as the historical and political understanding that the author shows about the wheels within wheels that are involved in that conflict.

It is difficult to explain the plot of the novel without unnecessarily giving away the story. Others have done so with varying degrees of success and I have simply decided to say that I found this to be a very well written, interesting, informative and hard to put down novel.

I hope you find it to be that as well, if you chose to buy it.

Reviewed by Thomas Gabrielli for Reader Views (2/07)

The main character, Army Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Drummond, is called in to investigate an apparent suicide in Washington, D.C, where he meets Bian Tran, a sexy, smart MP officer, who is also investigating the case. They discover that the victim may have had ties to Iraq that might have jeopardized American intelligence. Halfway through the book, both are transferred to Iraq to substantiate these findings, where they enter into a complicated series of wartime events.

"Man in the Middle" is an action thriller whose main character is a quick-witted, barbed-tongue ex-lawyer turned Army officer who has a comeback line for almost all the other characters in the novel. Admittedly, some of his "zingers" are quite laugh-out-loud humorous, and when I first started reading this, I immediately compared the author's style to Nelson DeMille. Unfortunately, the momentum isn't sustained. After 50 or so pages of this, Drummond's one-liners become tiresome and troublesome, and the reader begins to wonder why he is so negative.

For an action thriller, most of the action is crammed into the final half of the book. During the first 200 pages, there is very little action or significant plot development. However, once the scene switches to Iraq, the novel takes off and it becomes the page-turner you hoped it would be. Weighing in at a hefty 450 pages, the book is a fairly quick read once you get into the action sequences, and there are many surprise plot twists. The ending, while satisfying and explanatory, is a little too fast-paced. I was left with the impression that the author got bored and tried to rush completion of the story.

"Man in the Middle" is well written and entertaining, with humor interspersed with bombs and bullets. There may be some commentary here on our involvement in the Iraq war, although that is downplayed enough to be almost unnoticeable. The story also gives you some insight into what may actually be going on in the Iraq war, with a brief but enlightening explanation of the conflict between the Shiites and the Sunnis. Overall, this was worth the read, and you'll probably end up looking forward to the next Sean Drummond adventure.

It seems that Sean Drummond has been a Major forever but he finally is promoted to Lt. Colonel. The promotion is well deserved and probably overdue but he now seems to be less interesting. This is a good and well writen thriller and worth the read but it's not up to the level of the earlier books in the series. Having said that, Sean Drummond carrys the story but the pieces seem a little forced. If you're not a Drummond fan, you may lose interest, however, I'm looking forward to his next adventure.

Well written! Author (Brian Haig) has whit while providing thought provoking insides.

Sean Drummond is back. And he is mouthier, funnier, and more arrogant than ever before. As any other Brian Haig's novel, Drummond is the main protagonist, battling global conspiracies, bureaurcrats, and his own tendency to always get in the middle of everything, i.e. trouble.

Man in the Middle is not only entertaining, but also shows innate understanding of the American army workings; knowledge of the Middle Eastern region and cultures, as well as great narrative.

I am amazed at how real Brian Haig makes Drummond, with all his flaws, insight, and moral principle. If you like a good story teller and a good narrative, Man in the Middle will not disappoint you!!!

Brian Haig seems to be able to take the suspense/thriller genre and make it feel fresh again. AFter reading books of this type for a while, one can become jaded and start to get the "been there - seen that" attitude but Haig is able to keep me interested and not always able to predict how things will unfold. Although not the best in the Drummond series, this is still a good read and well worth the time.

I liked Haigs' previos books but this one got a little carried away turning our lawyer into an action hero of some sorts.

Brian Haig's "Man in the Middle" is Army Lieutenant Colonel Sean Drummond, an attorney for the Judge Advocate General Corps who is temporarily assigned to the CIA. Sean's boss wants him to investigate the death of a Defense Department civil servant named Clifford Daniels. The circumstances of Daniels' death are not clear-cut; he either took his own life or was murdered by a clever killer with a knowledge of forensics. Working with Drummond is Major Bian Tran, a member of the Military Police Corp. Tran is a beautiful and exotic woman as well as a tough soldier who completed a tour of combat duty in Iraq. Although Bian and Sean are physically attracted to one another, they develop a prickly and somewhat competitive relationship. Before long, it becomes apparent that Cliff Daniels was just one part of an intricate puzzle with many ugly elements, including espionage, ruthless ambition, betrayal, and treason.

Haig, a former special assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offers compelling background information and insightful perspective about the bloody conflict in Iraq. The author understands military matters, the workings of government bureaucracies, and the social, cultural, and religious problems plaguing the Persian Gulf. However, "Man in the Middle" is a flawed work of fiction. At four hundred and fifty pages, it is bloated novel with too much stilted banter and long-winded explanations that slow down the book's momentum considerably. It takes Haig a few hundred pages to rev up his plot, and only extremely patient readers will want to stick around for the finale. The characters are, with one or two exceptions, one-dimensional and poorly developed. To his credit, Haig delivers an exciting climax with some nifty twists that culminate in a fairly satisfying resolution. However, "Man in the Middle" earns only a marginal recommendation; it needed better editing and a tighter, more focused plot.

First Rate Story. Hard to put down. Maybe more truth than fiction.

I've read all of Mr Haig's novels, and, I'm sorry to say this one will be my last.

Haig ruined his main character in this book. While Drumond has never been one of my favorite characters I've found him only mildly annoying until this book. However, the new female character he introduced in this work is worse than Drumond. Long before the book ended I found myself hoping they would both get captured and killed off.

Don't waste your money on this one.

I am prior service US military to put my review in context. So much of LTC Haig's writing especially the humor strikes a deep cord with me. I find myself laughing out load at some of the situations. Man in the Middle is well written and worth the price of money and time to read it.

I have read all his books and have been remise in not reviewing earlier. Man in the Middle is not my favorite book in the series nonetheless it is well written and a joy to read. I look forward to the next installment.

After reading the author's previous novel, which I rated high, I was disappointed by this one. The main character comes across as a male who thinks with his lower brain and annoys everyone around him. He starts hitting on a woman while they are examining a dead body that has already started to get ripe and smell. He does not appear too swift, and I would hope the CIA would have better people available. The writing seems to ramble and digress into side topics, and I reached a point where I started skimming. Perhaps the author is to wrapped up in his peraonal philosophy and opinions on the war in Iraq.

There are also some glitches that detract from the reading. The author describes a character as a senior level civil servant, equivalent to an Army colonel, then indicates he is a GS-12. I think that should be a GS-15. Errors like this can raise questions about an suthor's research. He also calls an apartment balcony a porch.

There is a plot of sorts mixed into all this. A man is found shot, suicide or murder, and an initial investigation indicates that he gave highly secret information to the enemy. The plot continues forward, partly in Iraq, and goes through a number of characters. You really need a printed program to keep track of who is who, and doing what to whom. It is just before an election, and various people are trying to cover things up. It turns out that people knew things that they did not tell the hero.


As an added note, one of my ancient ancestors was a Caliph of Damascus and a son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed. I have done some reading about the area. Some of the historical material included in the novel is inaccurate or superficial. Iraq is an ancient civilization predating civilization in Europe. At various times the area has been overrun by invaders, border wars have been fought over territory, and there have been internal power struggles to determine who is the alpha male. Religion added fuel to the fire, but problems would exist without the religion.

I found it a chore to finish this novel, and do not recommend it.

After reading the author's previous novel, which I rated high, I was disappointed by this one. The main character comes across as a male who thinks with his lower brain and annoys everyone around him. He starts hitting on a woman while they are examining a dead body that has already started to get ripe and smell. He does not appear too swift, and I would hope the CIA would have better people available. The writing seems to ramble and digress into side topics, and I reached a point where I started skimming. Perhaps the author is to wrapped up in his peraonal philosophy and opinions on the war in Iraq.

There are also some glitches that detract from the reading. The author describes a character as a senior level civil servant, equivalent to an Army colonel, then indicates he is a GS-12. I think that should be a GS-15. Errors like this can raise questions about an suthor's research. He also calls an apartment balcony a porch.

There is a plot of sorts mixed into all this. A man is found shot, suicide or murder, and an initial investigation indicates that he gave highly secret information to the enemy. The plot continues forward, partly in Iraq, and goes through a number of characters. You really need a printed program to keep track of who is who, and doing what to whom. It is just before an election, and various people are trying to cover things up. It turns out that people knew things that they did not tell the hero.

I found it a chore to finish this novel, and do not recommend it.

After reading the author's previous novel, which I rated high, I was disappointed by this one. The main character comes across as a male who thinks with his lower brain and annoys everyone around him. He starts hitting on a woman while they are examining a dead body that has already started to get ripe and smell. He does not appear too swift, and I would hope the CIA would have better people available. The writing seems to ramble and digress into side topics, and I reached a point where I started skimming. Perhaps the author is to wrapped up in his peraonal philosophy and opinions on the war in Iraq.

There is a plot of sorts mixed into all this. A man is found shot, suicide or murder, and an initial investigation indicates that he gave highly secret information to the enemy. The plot continues forward, partly in Iraq, and goes through a number of characters. You really need a printed program to keep track of who is who, and doing what to whom. It is just before an election, and various people are trying to cover things up. It turns out that people knew things that they did not tell the hero.

I found it a chore to finish this novel, and do not recommend it.

I've read all of Haig's books and his craftsmanship accelerates here. Although my emotional favorite is still "Mortal Allies", this really is his best-written book yet. Like the others, it's great entertainment wrapped around a serious point. Reader, have a great time and, oh, Jerry Bruckheimer, make it happen.

Though I really liked Brian Haig's previous novels, this one left a little to be desired. I didn't feel as satisfied by this novel like I did with his previous ones. Though timely and topical, I felt it got a little to wordy and it didn't pull me in like a thriller should.

Great book. Tight, interesting and an easy read. Haig does it again with a great effort. Recommend highly.

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.

From page one, the plot, the pace, Drummond's wit, and an ending you won't see coming make for the best fiction you'll read this year.

What sets this book apart and makes it a "must read" is Haig's grasp of the geopolitical realities in Southwest Asia today.

Extremely well done!

Maybe the topic was too close to home. Maybe it was my mood. Maybe it was that the hero's wisecracks and lusting after the first available female seemed like re-runs. I am not sure why I had such a difficult time getting into this book. I know with the reading of the first chapter I became irritated with the sameness of the wisecracks. However I just knew that I would soon become emerged in the story. Sadly this never happened. Finally after reading almost half of the book, I skipped to the end.

I have to say, I loved this book. I have been a fan of Mr. Haig's since his first book and I so enjoy his Sean Drummond character.
I think this book is one of his best....I could not put it down, and quite a few things happened that I just did not see coming. That is nice for a change.....anyway, great read, great characters.

This is one of those books that really need to be read. It's a fast paced thriller and some people may dismiss it as yet another bestseller in a long stream but it's an honest and revealing look at the war in Iraq, the politics back home and the moral corruption of our government. It's fiction but the saddest part is that it doesn't read like a fictionalized account at all. Drummond is back, better than ever. The writing is good, the plot is solid and the novel is very candid and very, very timely. DeMille -- watch out, Mr. Haig is closing fast! Loved it.

It is 2004. The United States military is bogged down in a supposedly liberated Iraq trying to keep the nation from collapsing into all-out civil war. M eanwhile, back in Washington, Clifford Daniels - one of the architects of that war of liberation - has died under rather mysterious circumstances and Sean Drummond, Army JAG attorney on loan to the CIA's Office of Special Projects, is tasked with seeing exactly where the evidence surrounding Daniels' death may lead...And, as Drummond's luck would have it, it leads him to Baghdad's Green Zone and a tangled web of deceit and deadly lies.

It is not hyerpbole to state that there is not likely to be a work of fiction this year that will be as timely or, in many ways, as heartbreaking as Brian Haig's Man in the Middle. There is a saying that sometimes the only way to speak truth is through fiction and Brian Haig, within the framework of a crackling-good murder mystery, shines a bright and sometimes harsh light on some of the ugly truthes of war in general and this war in particular.

Without a single polemical word - or even once breaking stride from his breakneck plot - Haig shows us how the noble motives that led the United States into Iraq quickly unraveled due to lack of clear objectives and proper planning in support of same and how the price of such folly is paid with the blood of too many young men and women.

With each successive novel, Brian Haig grows more and more impressive as a storyteller and now, with Man in the Middle, he tells not only a whale of a good story, but an important one as well.

Brian Haig is maturing very quickly as an author, and this latest effort is clearly his best. LTC Drummond is still an excellent wise-cracker, and Haig has again linked Drummond with an alluring female. This time, however, it is not another attorney or a law-school classmate, but an exotic West Point graduate just returned from the combat zone. Haig also convincingly describes the dysfunctional cooperation between the DOD, the CIA, and the FBI that was allegeldly fixed with the asignment of an "intelligence czar." The action is fast-paced, and the outcome is anything but predictable. LTC Drummond waxes poetic, describing some excellent advice that he got from his career military dad. Of all of Brian Haig's books, I hope that this quickly becomes an action movie really soon. I also sincerely hope that readers do not have to wait another 18 months for the sequel.

Move over WEB Griffin, Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy, with Brian Haig's latest novel, a riveting and engaging political & adventure thriller, he's emerges at the top of the class. This novel was superb!!!

No reason to rehash the plot as the first reviewer did it so well. I'd just like to add that what I enjoy most about this novel was the keen insight into the dysfunction between the FBI and CIA. Sean Drummonds immediate superior in this novel, Phyllis, almost steals the show with her amoral manipulation of people and events to serve the "greater political good" depending, of course, on who has the money and whose in the White House. His partner, a fierce female officer, shows the personal devastation that not just one, but two wars, can bring. The way Haig describes the Sunni, Shia, and, most of all, Saudi interests was brilliant. A provocative and compelling read! You won't be able to put it down. Atleast I couldn't!!

Move over WEB Griffin, Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy, with Brian Haig's latest novel, a riveting and engaging political & adventure thriller, he's absolutely at the top of the class. This novel was superb. No reason to rehash the plot as the first reviewer did it so well. I'd just like to add that what I enjoy most about this novel was the keen insight into the dysfunctional between the FBI and CIA. Sean Drummonds immediate superior in this novel, Phyllis, almost steals the show with her amoral manipulation of people and events to serve the "greater political good" depending, of course, on who has the money and whose in the White House. His partner, a fierce female officer, shows the personal devastation that not just one, but two wars, can bring. The way Haig describes the Sunni, Shia, and, most of all, Saudi interests was brilliant. A provocative and compelling read! You won't be able to put it down. Atleast I couldn't!!

Sean Drummond is back, with a new rank and a new assignment, however his cynical attitude remains the same.

At the scene of what readily appears to be the suicide of a shadowy member of Washington's intelligence industry, Drummond meets a gorgeous U.S. Military Police Investigator Bian Tran. Closer examination of the scene, the body and the effects left at the scene, clue the two investigators that more is behind the death than a simple suicide of a man about to be exposed as one of the catalysts that sent the U.S. to war in Iraq.

After thorough examination of the crime scene and in-depth questioning of the victim's wife, Tran and Drummond surmise the victim was murdered, but forces above their pay grade in the Pentagon and State Department are blocking all attempts to call it anything but a suicide. Frustrated by this, Drummond finds himself in front of his own superiors, who lay out the case's intricacies in order to rein in their investigation. It all seems to begin and end with the next Prime Minister of Iraq, an ex-patriot before the war, now the most powerful man in the country, who may have switched sides and is now in bed with Iran.

Here begins an odyssey that takes Tran and Drummond to Iraq and into the deep, dark depths of U.S. operations inside the beleaguered country. As they peel away the layers of deception put up to stop them, the two investigators and the in-country soldiers and spooks tasked to assist them, encounter one deviation after another. Drummond perceives he's being set up, for what he cannot tell, but it's coming and he's powerless to stop it. Nefarious deals and random killings are a part of life in Iraq--and he is in the thick of it.

Brain Haig is able to recreate the dust, dirt and grit of Iraq as only a person that has been there can do. The deception and callous expenditure of life both inside and outside of the world's intelligence agencies is recreated into a story that hooks you from the start and keeps you reading to the end.

Armchair Interviews says: Well-set-up thrills and chills.