Customer Reviews

Defiance (Navy Justice, Book 3)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Don Brown is quickly moving up in the ranks of the great novelists. 'Defiance' is a story that is hard to put down. This is the third installment in 'The Navy Justice Series'. Although the others have been very good, this is the best of the lot so far.

Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian are back as central characters in this novel of courtroom drama, suspense, action, and even romance. Besides the assorted terrorist villains, there is a U.S. senator and presidential candidate, Eleanor Claxton, who is Machavellian to the core. Her machinations add an element of the worst in American politics. It also includes a dramatic rescue attempt by U.S. Navy Seals that has the potential of igniting a major war. In addition to all of the action, there is a spiritual component present for several of the characters facing major crises.

This book will appeal those of varying interests. I recommend it highly.

As a retired military officer I found this three book series a spell binder. Military accuracy was very good and it seemed as though the author had a crystal ball when he developed the plot. Two recent events, the terrorist attack at Fort Hood and the threatened court-martial of Navy Seals for allegedly "roughing up" a captured terrorist were forecast in his book with near detail that is almost eerie in its near accuracy. Highly recommended reading for everyone and especially those that have become complacent over the very real terrorist threats to this country.

Don Brown's consummate JAG advocate, Lieutenant Commander Zack Brewer returns in Defiance, the third book in the Navy Justice series.

Still grieving the loss of Diane Colcernian at the hands of extremists, Zack remains with the Navy seeking refuge from the public interest which arose from his previous legal achievements. He is unwittingly thrown into the spotlight again when his current trial is hijacked by US presidential hopeful, Senator Eleanor Claxton, seeking to garner support for her liberal views and label the trial as a witch hunt. At the same time Navy intelligence reveals Zack's life may be in danger from the same terrorists that kidnapped Diane nearly 18 months earlier.

NCIS agent, Shannon McGilverry, is assigned to protect Zack but as she begins to link a murder in Paris with rumours of hostages hidden in the Mongolian desert, her own heart is the one at risk, threatened by each truth she reveals. Zack is not only targeted by terrorists but also someone closer to home.

Don Brown has succeeded again, penning an engrossing story of political intrigue and high suspense which kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning. His personal experience as a JAG officer lends authenticity and credibility to the courtroom scenes and Navy details. The ending left some unresolved issues and Zack's faultless personality is a little overstated but in the end these things do not detract from a top-notch story and leaves the way open for a further book in this enthralling series.

If you haven't already done so I recommend reading Treason and Hostage before Defiance is released by Zondervan in March, 2007.

As a retired Sailor with 30 years in the Navy I found many aspects of this book and the series to be accurate. I have read the first 3 and am working on the last. I am an avid reader and admit I was attracted by the price ($0.00) and the subject matter (Navy JAG). Having sat on a couple of Courts Martial these descriptions are very accurate. Having dealt with numerous civilian lawyers during my second career (Child Protective Services investigator and supervisor) these people are also depicted accurately. Lawyers are there to fight for their clients, guilt or innocence does not enter into the equation.

As far as the Islam v Christian issues go, they are slanted in favor of Christians. (Heck this is a Christian author and publisher, what would you expect.) I am a Person of the Book (Christian not Jew) and if you do not understand what this mean, then you need to study Islam at least a little. I have served with people of all religions during my time in the Navy. I have often been scared a little by fundamentalists because they are unwilling to compromise and try to understand other people's beliefs, much like some of the characters in this book and series.

I was a little upset by some of the translation into electronic media, but have worked past that. I mean "pixie" instead of "dixie" cup when describing enlisted hats (E6 and below). Ser vice is used instead of service for some mysterious reason. Maybe Don Brown just needs a better Navy Editor or at least a real Master Chief to keep him straight.

Overall a good story and worth my time. Yes, I am an avid reader and do almost all types of books. I enjoy my Kindle and would recommend it for anyone who travels. With an additional memory card, I keep about 200 books available whenever I travel.

I really like this sequel to Treason - the Christian connection is much stronger than in Treason, at times, making Zack seem a slightly different man than the first, without much strength behind his transformation of character. It was great though - fast moving - I could not put it down!

Zack Brewer's speedy trial is turning into a media circus. Why? Because Zack is prosecuting a man who homosexually sexually assaulted four other Navy SEALS. Also, the presidential candidate, Eleanor Claxton, is condemning their attempts at jail time, creating riots and publicity.

Shannon McGillvery finds that Diane Colcernian, Zack's ex-cocounsel might not be dead after all and they have two weeks to find and save her. Shannon decides to put her growing feelings for Zack aside and searches for Diane in a mission that could easily start WWIII.

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These books always remind me of the old TV show JAG. I loved that show and I love these books, but there was something missing from this one. Maybe it was the lack of Diane and most likely the lack of court room scenes.

Some people would say that the story plot was unbelievable, in a bad way, but for some reason, I found it believable. Part of me doesn't think it's past many politicians to use a case like the one in this book for publicity.

Don Brown has always drawn me in with his books and the Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian romance. In this story though, it seems that Zack is cuddling up to Wendy Poole a fellow JAG officer completely different from Diane. His love and the fact that he misses her after eighteen months is what I love about him.

This book is Christian and most of the non-Christians in this book cry out to God in times of trials and moments of despair. Don Brown incorporates it all so well.

Politics obviously are in this book and Don Brown makes his stand as a Republican Conservative very clear so for some who are opposite may be slightly offended.

Overall this book is good, like the others, for those who enjoyed JAG and the anything to with the Navy JAGs. Though I wouldn't recommend this for small children I would, however say that teens could read this. I give it four out of five.

I received this book free for this review. All opinions are mine.

After Hostage and Treason I was again looking forward to another adventure from Zack Brewer. I am a fan, really. I grew to enjoy our God-centric "Dudley-Do-Right" of the Navy JAG corps. However, this latest edition was a letdown. It was the story of a ruthless politician, far left politics, and a rescue saga the scope of which boggled the mind. Unfortunately, nearly everything I've enjoyed about Don Brown's view of suspense and drama through the prism of military justice was completely overcooked this time. The antagonist and democrat presidential candidate Eleanor Claxton was such a caricature of leftist evil that she makes Nancy Pelosi look like Sarah Palin. Reality is, as a whole, that America's population is center right ideologically. The fascist zealotry of this primary character called for a monumental suspension of belief that she could even be close to having viable appeal to a majority of America. The evil activities surrounding her campaign were over the top. Also, without being a spoiler, I'll just say the sequence of events necessary for the big climax at the end were simply eyeball rolling. The process of continual suspension of belief was for me, a battle lost.

Finally, I'm a religious person. Indeed, God references are part of the appeal of this author. In this story though, the God references were sprinkled around too liberally, in places that were completely unnecessary. Instead of God casting a gentle aura over the lives of Brown's characters as in previous books, for me at least, God was reduced to some kind of celestial butler. Time after time God was implored to do this and do that, and do this again and again. It became tedious and ultimately subtracted from the heretofore spiritual aspects of the Almighty.

I thought this book was very realistic, and while it is #3 in its series I enjoyed it more than the first two (and I liked the first two). It weaves a tale of today's issues concerning radical Islamic terrorists and its specific threat to America. The book has a believable plot and conclusion, excellent character development, and doesn't leave you thinking the author is trying to weave in a bunch of b.s. I would compare this author with all of the "big name" authors who are recognized for action thrillers such as Vince Flynn and Lee Child. This book is one of those you just don't want to put down. This certainly changes my previous stereotype of Zondervan fiction! Looking forward to starting #4 soon.

For those who care about the greatness of this country, this book and this series makes you feel good about America again. The whole series is patriotic, thrilling and prophetic. For the reviewer that was worried about this book making us look bad in the eyes of the French... hah! The heck with the French. Our boys shed their blood to liberate their soil, then our president apologizes to them. Unreal. I hope the book does make the French mad. Couldn't happen to a better country. Don Brown calls it like it is in this series and in this novel. God bless America!

Patriotic. That's how I would describe this book. I realize that patriotism is no longer fashionable in many circles, but my family and i still believe in it, and this book made me proud to be an American again! Go Don Brown!