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Secret Sanction by Brian Haig Recommendation: •••
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Warriors It was only curiosity that led me to read Brian Haig’s first novel, Secret Sanction. Since his father, Al, is such an interesting character, I wondered if Brian’s writing would be worth the time. I was pleasantly surprised. Haig does a fine job in presenting believable characters, complex enough to avoid stereotypes, but simple enough to behave in expected ways. The action builds gradually, and the novel never loses momentum. Readers who like legal thrillers will enjoy this one, and Army vets will appreciate characters that are both real and familiar. Here’s an excerpt: “We were then led to a room where we were asked to wait. About three minutes later, Captain Terry Sanchez was led in. He wore battle dress, without manacles or restraints. The Air Force sergeant who led him in then discretely disappeared. Sanchez stood frozen behind the doorway as though his feet had sunk into the concrete floor. He studied us like we were lions who had come to devour him. He looked thinner than he had in his photo, and his eyes were harder, less sorrowful, almost tight. Being accused of mass murder can have that effect. ‘Captain Sanchez, I’m Sean Drummond, chief of the investigating team, and these are the other two members, James Delbert and Lisa Morrow. Please have a seat,’ I said, indicating for him to sit across the table from us. He walked wordlessly across the floor and fell into the chair.” While your’re waiting for the next Grisham or Turow novel , pick up Brian Haig’s Secret Sanction. You’ll want him to keep writing, and to consider making Sean Drummond a serial character. Steve Hopkins, September 12, 2001
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