Adult Review: Secret Sanction

Secret Sanction
by Brian Haig

Overall Rating: 3/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing: 4/5

Secret Sanction, published in 2001, is the first in Haig's series of military courtroom novels starring Sean Drummond. Told in first person, the story explores Drummond's investigation into a slaughter in Kosovo. During the investigation, more death happens and Drummond is determined to get to the bottom of the story with a strong sense of truth, justice, and American honor.

While I enjoyed Drummond himself, with is snarky, almost Deadpool-esque humor, there were more than a few things about this book that troubled me. The writing is good, smooth and moves the story along very well. It's easy to follow, interesting and entertaining.

But Drummond shows his own disregard for women constantly throughout the book. Women are objects to be looked at and conquered. Sure, they can be spunky and smart, tough and capable, but generally, if she isn't attractive, she's useful. If she's got great legs, she's also super-smart, but he sure as hell doesn't respect her. As a woman, I was very taken aback by the institutional rape culture Drummond feeds into in this book. He approaches a woman he thinks is attractive; she turns him down. He tries again. She turns him down again. He tries again (usually while falling deeper into drunkeness) and she turns him down. Over and over and over again, she turns him down. But she flirts with him and wears sexy clothing, bends low over her drinks and purrs. But she won't have him. And in the end, as the clincher to the whole book (spoiler!) he gets her a job in his unit ultimately because "I don't give up easy."

The misogyny throughout is problematic enough without the additional racist characterizations. One incidental character is actually described as "mulatto-skinned." I read it aloud to my husband, just to get his take and he just stared at me and said, "How did that get published?"

This book and it's author have their audience. But it's going to be a hard sell for anyone in a younger generation or with more socially conscious mindsets. Good series to recommend for fans of Grisham, WEB Griffin, and similar military-minded genres. Steer clear if you're hoping for a strong woman who doesn't wear a plunging neckline or have a face like a hatchet (there is no in between for strong women in Haig, it would seem: gorgeous and flirty or ugly as sin and stubborn).