Mortal Allies

By: Brian Haig

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

JAG lawyer Sean Drummond has gotten himself in way over his head - with a case that challenges his deepest fears and a co-counselor who challenges just about everything else. Assigned to South Korea as an advocate for a gay officer accused of brutally killing the son of a South Korean war hero, Drummond is teamed up with an old law-school nemesis. Katherine Carson is a curvy, liberal, William Kunstler-like attorney with a reputation for manipulating the media on behalf of her mostly gay clients. Drummond is as distraught to be working with a woman who knows how to push all his buttons as he is to be defending this client. However, it's just this lack of political correctness that makes him the one man the CIA can trust with its disturbing secrets, and Drummond quickly learns that what appears to be an open-and-shut case is really just the top layer of a deep conspiracy.

©2002 Brian Haig (P)2016 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Korean culture and the country's North/South divide play an important role in the novel's denouement, as Haig successfully kindles his powder keg of a plot." ( Publishers Weekly)

One of my favorite series-More Please!

I just love the Sean Drummond series! I don't know how Brian Haig did it and I know this book is a few years old but he wrote such complex yet utterly realistic books that sound like the storyline came directly from the headlines. His sarcasm an humor actually make me laugh, which makes people look at me kind of funny when I'm alone out in public!! Hmmmm....
In this book an Officer is charged with killing his gay lover. The evidence is so clear it appears to be an open and shut case. The prosecutor is revved up and ready to go but the accused is so convincing of his innocence that Sean believes him. What begins as a murder investigation end in something totally different but the transition is so smooth.
There is also a message in this book dealing with gays in the military. In the beginning, Sean started out slightly homophobic, I don't want to spoil how but his attitude takes a turn towards the end.
Joe Barrett does an Excellent job narrating.
This book is MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
If you found this review helpful please indicate so.
Thank You.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

One of Brian Haig's best!

I couldn't wait to finish it, but hated to see it go. Haig is a wonderful stiryteller

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great 2002 novel finally available in audio format

Mortal Allies is Book 2 in the 7 novel Sean Drummond series. It is a military legal thriller. Major Drummond is an experienced lawyer and JAG officer. Author Brian Haig's Sean Drummond has a wisecracking nature similar to Nelson DeMille's John Corey. It is not overdone and it keeps the listening interesting. This novel is set in South Korea in 2002 (read the publisher's summary for more details). Mortal Allies is a first rate action thriller by one of the best living authors of such novels. VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

9 of 11 people found this review helpful

Absolutely fantastic

Sean Drummond strikes again. Really love Brian Haigs style, wit and story construction. Joe Barrett is a Master narrator.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love Sean Drummond

Where does Mortal Allies rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is in the top 5. I love this character. He cracks me up constantly.

Which character – as performed by Joe Barrett – was your favorite?

Sean Drummond

Any additional comments?

Great character, and challenging twists in the plot lines.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

My favorite author of all time!!

Smart, witty, and enjoyable read, highly recommended!! My only complaint is I need a new book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

a good one<br /><br />the writer is very clever

Joe Barrett is very good and has a nice dry sarcasm. the reader sells this piece, thank God it wasn't Scott Brick who seems to be everywhere but is a terrible hack with fake inflection and heavy manner . Barrett by contrast is light funny quick and self deprecating and he has the natural quality of a real actor .people may not appreciate how incredibly important a narrator is. so many on audible are next to awful.the good ones are rare I kind of know this.being an actor myself
the book is a bit of at times the woman Catherine is just too much of perfect to believe or enjoy and the constant sarcasm employed by the writer becomes wearing,tiresome and predictable after a while. the central charcter-narrator is too self deprecating especially in the way he constantly defers to the women around him. after a time it's just unfunny and t.v. PC. unsexy
but Barrett sells it and the book and is the best aspect here. the author is very clever all this said and on occasion is quite insightful.
may I please ask audible and or book publishers to find and hire more excellent narrators. they are rare.its a graveyard out there and it has destroyed so many listening experiences for me.

Conduct Unbecoming

What made the experience of listening to Mortal Allies the most enjoyable?

Reader, Joe Barrett’s execution of author’s dialogue is bark out loud laughter. I had purchased a couple of other stories by this reader, but had no inclination to buy more of those series as the mystery author’s were not my cup of tea.
Thank you Audible for putting 2 different readers, Joe and Scott, on sale to encourage listeners to enjoy the rest of this series. I would have missed out!
I do use 1.25x speed to match the author’s intent.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Our hero, Major Drummond. He has laughter in his heart, contrition in his soul, and he learns from his lessons. Most of all he believes in revenge. With each book our hero becomes funnier, the characters become more complex, and the mystery more intriguing.
I had started this series with book 5, on the $4.95 sale with a fave, Scott Brick, reader. However, I had just finished a couple of long Nelson DeMille, John Cory books, and did not appreciate this author work for it’s value. When book 1 was on $4.95 sale, I got hooked on Joe Barrett as Sean, then purchased #2,#3,#4 at the same time. These are mysteries with a twist and a moral dilemma, which is always entertaining for me.

Which scene was your favorite?

Big Mac scenes. These just about broke my heart, and made me proud to be an American
The end summery gave me joy, then I re-listened to #5 with Scott again to see how I had by passed this series the first time. “Goodness”, I fully got the author’s intentions from #1 & #2, and could fully appreciate #5 the second time around.
If you start with #5, it is very good, but only after you hear Joe develop this good humorous character in the previous books. Frankly, I like #2 better than #1 but it’s a close call.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I join the ranks of mystery reviewers Shelly and Wayne, whom I follow, in saying get this full series as all the books #1-5 at least are entertainment in it’s purest form.
It is fast paced, no gore or terror and you get a bark out loud laugh when you least expect it.

Any additional comments?

Were my comment of help to you?

Timely topic/story, great performaý mind

i am new to the Sean Drummond series but definetely will continue. . Accurate representation of attitudes towards serving in the military and just happen to be gay. "maybe it is our (hetero's) problem, but it is a problem" great line.

Gays in the military...provocative topic.

Sean Drummond is a likable lawyer in the US JAG corps. He's knowledgable, smart and often summoned when the issue at hand is weird and/or complicated. This time his client is a gay officer who graduated from West Point. The story causes Sean to get involved with the CIA, South Korea, North Korea and a female lawyer as his co-counsel. If you enjoy being twisted, baited and surprised, you will enjoy the journey. cheers, Ken