Customer Reviews

Hostage (Navy Justice, Book 2)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

'Hostage' is an intense book from start to finish. It contains action, drama, and classic courtroom confrontations.

It begins with terrorists seeking revenge against Lt. Zach Brewer and Lt. Diane Colcernian for the prosecution of some of their cohorts. The terror group also has more moles in the U.S. Navy plotting additional mayhem.

It is a sequel to 'Treason'. A lot of the events and characters are tied into happenings from the first book. I would definitely recommend reading 'Treason' first. Without doing so, I think readers would be missing quite a bit.

I think that this one is even better than the first book. It is extremely well written and keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat.

Don Brown's Navy Justice series continues in Hostage, the second installment. In the previous novel, Treason, Lieutenant Zack Brewer, a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer in the United States Navy, is charged with the task of prosecuting three radical Islamic clerics who had infiltrated the military and inciting acts of terror from within. With the help of his longtime JAG rival, Lieutenant Diane Colcernian, Brewer manages to secure convictions on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and treason in what the media bills as the "court-martial of the century."

Hostage begins with an attempt on the lives of Lieutenants Brewer and Colcernian. The JAG officers manage to escape, but a bullet meant for Diane Colcernian claims the life a young college student. The radical Islamic terror organization known as the Council of Ishmael is seeking revenge on Brewer and Colcernian. The Council is also seeking to drive a political wedge between the United States and the moderate Muslim nations that have been allies of the U.S.

In the Middle East, tensions between Israel and her Arab allies continue to bring them closer to war. The Israeli government requests that the United States Navy fly a couple of fighter planes over the country to reassure the people of Israel. This creates a dangerous scenario for U.S. pilots, as the mission involves flying low, placing them in range for terrorists wielding stinger missiles.

Two Muslim American pilots volunteer to fly over Israel. The pilots are Council of Ishmael operatives carrying out "Operation Islamic Glory." Islamic Glory is the Council's plan to turn the moderate Muslim nations against the United States and ultimately lead to the creation a single unified Muslim state. The plot involves an act of aggression that is unthinkable, even to many Muslims, killing both Israelis and Arabs in the process.

The aftermath of the terror attack finds the United States and the Israelis disagreeing on how the terrorists should be tried. Because the pilots are officers in the U.S. Navy, the Americans believe they should be brought back to the United States and court-martialed by the Navy. The Israelis want to try the pilots in their own courts. The two governments reach a compromise that involves a Navy court-martial being held in Jerusalem with Lieutenant Brewer prosecuting the pilots.

But Zack will have to proceed without the assistance of Lieutenant Colcernian, who has been kidnapped and smuggled out of the country by a Council of Ishmael operative. The Council informs Brewer that they are holding Diane, threatening to torture and kill her. Lieutenant Brewer is faced with a deadly dilemma: if he loses the case, a war could erupt, killing millions of people. But if he wins, it could mean death for the woman he loves.

Don Brown is a born-again Christian, and this book does have some instances of characters wrestling with faith issues. But this novel is largely about the case of the rogue pilots as well as the threat of war and Diane being kidnapped and held hostage. This a story that both Christians and non-Christians can enjoy. I would love to see these book adapted for the screen as a film series. Brown offers a lot of detail without becoming overly technical. This is a very fast-moving story with short chapters that are easy for the reader to digest.

Hostage is an excellent read, and a strong second installment in Brown's series, and I might even dare to say it's actually better than the first book. I strongly recommend this novel, but I suggest you go back to the beginning of the series and start with Treason. The Navy Justice series has been quite enjoyable so far, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading Defiance, the next installment.

I'm going to be very honest...Greatest book I have ever read! What's amazing about Brown's writing is that it is in so much detail and is easy to understand. Even if you know nothing about the justice system in either the civilian or military courtrooms, he makes it easy to follow. It's the only book I have ever read that I've actually held my breath just waiting to see what was coming up next. I've actually put the book down, and stared at it for about five minutes debating whether I should pick it back up and read it, even though I was late for work. This, as well as its prequel "Treason," is worth the read, hands down, but you have to read the prequel first.

I do want to mention something said about the "Anti-Islamic" message being sent. One has to realize that this series is about terrorist attacks by Muslims, thus it's going to make them look pretty bad. I must say that I am neither Christian nor Muslim. HOWEVER, when I read this book, I didn't just all of a sudden say "Oh wow. These Muslims are really bad people. Let's not trust them." Is the series harsh on religions? Yes, but not so much that it will convert you.

If you know how to separate real life from fiction, then I believe that this is certainly worth the read.

As powerful a novel as Treason is, I think Hostage may even be better written. Here's a warning! Don't expected the expected in this Novel! highly recommended!

This novel was a fabulous followup to Don Brown's opening novel, TREASON. It has an unexpected twist at the end, which I found a bit refreshing.

An impossible decision. You've got to wonder what you would do if you were in this situation. In this second installment of the series, Lieutenant Zack Brewer, a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer in the United States Navy, is charged with the task of prosecuting three radical Islamic clerics who infiltrate the military. He had help of JAG rival, Lieutenant Diane Colcernian. Brewer gets convictions for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and treason in what the media bills as the "court-martial of the century."

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

Can't imagine a more timely book than this one. Brown's writing is engrossing and compelling. Once started I've found 'Hostage' impossible to put down. Am already looking forward to reading two others of his books that I downloaded on my Kindle. A highly recommended read - despite the review by the defender of any and all practitioners of the Islamic faith. I think the tragic event several weeks ago justifies Brown's stance in his book regarding the dangers inherent in allowing potential Jihadists to become members of America's armed forces. Those of you who doubt such danger, please read Brown's book and then decide for yourself how much truth has been revealed.

I'd been a JAG fan before I read Don Brown's first book, Treason. When I read Treason, I realized that was better than the TV Show, and so naturally I couldn't wait to read Hostage.

When I read it, I literally was up two solid nights, drinking coffee because I could not put the thing down! If my husband knew what I was thinking about Zack Brewer, he would divorce me! Treason was excellent, and Hostage was maybe even a little bit better!

Seriously, this book is written in simple, yet powerfully effective prose. Mr. Brown is a master storyteller who writes in short chapters and leaves the reader hanging at every turn! I'm mad at him for making me lose two nights of sleep.

ONe other thing that I love about this book is that Mr. Brown writes military fiction that is interesting to women. Everything is understandable and not too technical. Plus the court martial scenes in this book, and also in Mr. Brown's first book, Treason, are far better than anything I've seen either on television or in the movies.

There's an inspirational element, but not too much. Plus you'll see that Mr. Brown is definitely not predictable, and I love that.

Highly, highly recommended.

If you like Christian military style books, you will enjoy "Hostage". "Hostage" picks up where "Treason" left off.

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.