Beyond All Recognition

LEGAL THRILLER/MILITARY:  Ryan Bennington has been reactivated by the Army just so he can be court-martialed for events during the Iraq War nine years earlier. His wife finds attorney Brent Marks who takes the case along with Ryan’s appointed counsel, Captain Jeff Brody. Their

case hinges on proving that the order to shoot first and ask questions later was actually given, even though the paper trail says it wasn’t.

The plot of this novel is a POV most don’t think about—the true political underbelly that can run the military during wars. This story has the most insane level of research in it, ever. The author clearly spent a colossal amount of time going through everything to find facts. However, entire chapters are nothing more than informational dumps of the research. Instead of writing it into the actions or dialogue of the lawyers and investigator, it is just, told—like reading a newspaper or magazine article. Brent's relationship is superfluous and seems like an afterthought that was dropped in to make it a romance. The characters are flat and difficult to tell apart, unless inside the courtroom. The story being told—linking events to find the truth regardless of who is at fault—is not far to the left because it’s backed up by research, but many of Brent’s opinions—like comparing the military to government slaves—are, so readers beware. The point of the tale is powerful—a good man doing his job, following orders, can be put on trial for it, and like all good stories, the hero wins.

Julie York