After a mysterious drowning in Amsterdam, a lawyer must untangle a web of dangerous villains who have infiltrated the American military base nearby.
When Emily Torres, a lawyer for the Military Transit Command, is found dead at the bottom of an Amsterdam canal, Captain Storm DeVries is assigned to replace her.
It doesn’t take long for Storm to realize that MTC is not your typical military organization. Housed in a secluded compound near the bustling port of Rotterdam, the US commander is curiously absent, a small group of Dutch nationals is in charge, and the command is shrouded in secrecy.
After an employee brings allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse, Storm is compelled to investigate. But her efforts take a terrifying turn when she discovers Emily wasn’t the only MTC employee who died under suspicious circumstances.
Storm’s not the only one who knows that something nefarious is going on behind the façade of this military enclave. Now the feds have the skinny on MTC and want her help. Just like they wanted Emily’s help, and everyone knows how that turned out.
KJ Sutherland spent several years in Europe as an attorney for the US military, first as an officer and later as a civilian. In addition to practicing international law, she’s prosecuted and defended service members in multiple countries throughout Europe and the UK.
KJ currently lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. Here she can be found weaving her European experiences into thrillers about tenacious lawyers, who invariably find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. She enjoys adventures at home and abroad with her family, including a deer-headed Chihuahua who has ten times the personality his size.
This was an excellent read, a real page-turner. It starts with the murder of a military lawyer in Amsterdam and Storm is sent to temporarily replace her. After she hears allegations of fraud and abuse, she decides to investigate which gets her involved in a situation which is bigger than she could have imagined. She also manages to attract the attention of a government agency.
I read this really quickly. I love Storm's wilfulness and determination to seek the truth even at her own professional and personal cost. Her promotion to Major is also on the line. The mounting tension as the book progresses is palpable and what a scene towards the end with the bridge! I can't wait to read further in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Uniform Collusion" is a gripping legal thriller that provides us with both a fast-paced plot and exceptional character development. When Captain Storm takes on a temporary lawyer role with the MTC in Rotterdam, her doubts about friend and colleague Emily's death have the potential to put her career and life at risk. Sutherland masterfully builds tension as Storm, on the 'Brink' of promotion, having been warned to do nothing but the job she's been given, is soon grappling with her dream of becoming Major versus her moral obligation to uncover the truth. The descriptions of Holland are so vivid they transported me directly into the setting. With a cast of deeply developed characters, corruption at the highest level, and an ending tied up as neatly as a bouquet of tulips, this book is perfect for fans of compelling mysteries. This is the first book I've read of this series and I can't wait for the next instalment. I received an advance copy and this is my honest opinion.
I loved that it had both legal and military vibes. It was an engaging and interesting experience to read. It was a fast paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the characters development , and I had a great time reading this.
Loyalty, Lies, and the Law: A Gripping Military Thriller
KJ Sutherland’s Uniform Collusion continues the Storm DeVries series with a taut blend of military intrigue, legal drama, and international conspiracy. The novel opens with the suspicious death of Emily Torres, Chief Counsel for Military Transit Command (MTC), whose car plunges into an Amsterdam canal under circumstances far too calculated to be accidental. Captain Storm DeVries, an Air Force Judge Advocate already battling political headwinds in her career, is assigned to temporarily replace Emily at MTC Rotterdam. What begins as a bureaucratic assignment quickly escalates into a dangerous investigation involving Dutch officials, U.S. military brass, and civilian contractors concealing high-stakes corruption. Sutherland weaves a narrative where Storm must balance professional discretion, personal integrity, and the perilous pursuit of truth.
At its core, Uniform Collusion explores institutional corruption and moral compromise. The story highlights how loyalty and perception often matter more in military hierarchies than justice or truth, as seen in the pressure on Storm to “avoid turning over rocks” that might expose misconduct. A parallel theme is the gendered challenges of leadership, with Storm repeatedly forced to prove her competence in an environment that doubts her youth and independence. The novel also delves into the tension between duty and conscience, raising questions about whether upholding the system means enabling its flaws.
Storm DeVries is a compelling protagonist—driven, intelligent, but far from invincible. Her personal conflicts, including strained relationships with mentors and her complicated bond with Major Diggs, add depth beyond the professional façade. Secondary characters, such as Colonel Martin (a wary ally navigating politics), the shadowy MTC executives, and Dutch investigators Lieke and Osmani, enrich the narrative with contrasting loyalties and motives.
The setting is meticulously drawn. From Amsterdam’s canals and Gouda’s historic streets to the bureaucratic corridors of MTC Europe, Sutherland grounds the thriller in authentic military and European atmospheres. The interplay between American and Dutch institutions lends the novel a sense of realism and geopolitical complexity.
The novel grips from the opening prologue—a cinematic depiction of Emily’s final moments—and rarely lets go. The interrogation sequences, internal power struggles, and clandestine meetings sustain tension throughout. While the book occasionally lingers on procedural detail, these moments also heighten the authenticity of the military-legal backdrop. The pacing builds steadily toward a convergence of personal and institutional stakes, keeping the reader invested in both the mystery and its broader implications.
Sutherland’s style is clear, direct, and cinematic. Action scenes are tightly written, with vivid sensory details, while dialogue captures both the clipped formality of military discourse and the menace of backroom dealings. The narrative avoids melodrama, instead opting for realism that underscores the gravity of the corruption being uncovered. At times, the prose leans heavily on exposition, but this is offset by sharp character interactions and well-timed revelations.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
A strong, relatable protagonist navigating moral gray zones.
Layered depiction of military politics and international intrigue.
Vivid, authentic settings that anchor the suspense.
A balance of legal drama, thriller tension, and character-driven stakes.
Weaknesses:
Occasional overemphasis on procedural explanations may slow narrative momentum.
Some secondary antagonists verge on archetypal, lacking the nuance afforded to Storm and her allies.
Overall Assessment
Uniform Collusion succeeds as both a legal thriller and an exploration of systemic corruption, offering readers a fast-paced yet thoughtful narrative. It will appeal to fans of military fiction, political thrillers, and series like those by Brad Thor or Steve Berry, though Sutherland distinguishes herself with the rare focus on a female JAG protagonist navigating the moral complexities of command and law.
The novel achieves its goal: a gripping, intelligent thriller that entertains while raising sobering questions about power and accountability.
Uniform Collusion (Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Series Book 3) By KJ Sutherland Publisher: Greylord Press Publication date: September 1, 2025 ASIN: B0FPGMZRYN Page Count: 384
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀💀 (the kind of dread where you side-eye the Pentagon and wonder what else is rotting under the surface)
Triggers: Murder, military corruption, fraud, abuse of power, sexism in leadership
Captain Storm DeVries is back, and this time she’s neck-deep in murky canals, shady commanders, and enough corruption to make Congress look like choir practice. Uniform Collusion kicks off with the mysterious “oops-she-drowned” death of Emily Torres, a military lawyer whose job title was basically “whistleblower with a target on her back.” Storm gets sent in to replace her, and within five minutes realizes she’s not in Kansas anymore—she’s in Rotterdam, where the Military Transit Command looks less like the U.S. Air Force and more like a corporate crime syndicate with better uniforms.
Ms. Sutherland wastes no time throwing Storm into a blender of fraud, cover-ups, and suspicious “accidents.” Every chapter peels back another layer of rot, and every time Storm asks a question, someone in charge gets twitchy like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Add in pressure from the feds, a missing commander, and Dutch allies who may or may not be trustworthy, and you’ve got yourself a legal thriller with international flavor and enough paranoia to keep you awake at night.
Storm herself continues to shine. She’s smart, driven, and utterly human—her clashes with the brass over “not making waves” feel all too real, as does the constant pushback she faces for daring to be both competent and female in a male-dominated system. She’s not a superhero, which makes every win feel earned and every close call hit harder.
What Did I Just Walk Into? A military-legal thriller where the real enemy isn’t the bad guy with a gun—it’s the institution trying to bury the truth six feet under.
Here’s What Slapped: Storm DeVries, still the queen of calling out BS
European setting that adds tension and grit
Corruption plot that feels way too believable
What Could’ve Been Better: The bad guys are a little moustache-twirly at times, but hey, sometimes villains are just villains.
Perfect for Readers Who Love: John Grisham but wish he had more female JAGs Political thrillers with bite Stories where justice and career advancement do not go hand-in-hand
Book Series Order: Uniform Justice: (Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Series Book 1) Book 1 of 3: Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Series Uniform Scandal: (Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Series Book 2) Book 2 of 3: Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Series Uniform Collusion: (Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Series Book 3) Book 3 of 3: Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Series
In KJ Sutherland's captivating new novel, Uniform Collusion, when lawyer Emily Torres is found mysteriously drowned in an Amsterdam canal, Captain Storm DeVries is assigned to take her place at the secretive Military Transit Command. It doesn't take long for Storm to realize that something is wrong. The command is a secluded, clandestine operation, and its U.S. commander is curiously absent, leaving a small group of Dutch nationals in charge.
As she investigates allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse, Storm's efforts take a terrifying turn. She discovers that Emily wasn’t the only employee to die under suspicious circumstances, and she is soon drawn into a tangled web of dangerous villains who have infiltrated the American military base. To make matters more complicated, the feds become involved and want her help—the same help they sought from Emily. Now, Storm must decide how far she is willing to go to uncover the truth.
This book is a fast-paced and intriguing legal thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With her firsthand knowledge of both the law and the military, the author's expertise shines through, making the plot and characters feel incredibly authentic. The story grabs you from the very first page, and the layered subplots will keep you engaged throughout.
Sutherland’s writing has the power to make the characters leap off the page, and the suspense builds with every chapter. If you're a fan of authors like John Grisham or Scott Turow, you won't be able to put this book down. I highly recommend Uniform Collusion and can't wait to see what happens next in the series!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC through “Booksprout” and I am voluntarily writing an honest review.
The story begins with the murder of the lawyer for MTC, an individual friendly with Storm earlier. She was to meet Storm for dinner, but didn’t make it. Storm meanwhile was talking with her boss where he explained to her that her promotion to major needed to be delayed. It appears that one individual had it in for her and she needed to tone things down. She was also told that she was being temporarily appointed to the position for the lawyer to MTC that her friend Emily had before she was killed. Her boss told her to mind her p’s and q’s and not turn any stones over. This advice was given so that she didn’t impact her future promotion any more than it already was. Once she had arrived and after being there a short while discovered that things were not being handled as they probably should. The heads soon to a dislike to the way she wanted to operate. The more time she was there, the more issues that she felt needed to be handled.
To discover what issues Storm uncovered, why Emily was killed and what exactly was being done that ultimately placed Storm in danger, then you need to read this book!
Uniform Collusion: A Storm DeVries Legal Thriller Book 3
By K.J. Sutherland
A captivating and thrilling military mystery!
The book opens with pure suspense, a Military lawyer has been killed in Amsterdam and our main character Storm enters in as a temporary replacement. Storm soon comes to find that not all is well at this American military base, shady secrets are around every corner and the deeper Storm investigates, the more she learns about the danger she is in! Storm is a strong female character and doesn't let herself become intimidated, she is determined to follow this trail regardless of what it might cost her!
The book is very well paced, never a dull moment in this one! I was fascinated by all the layers of the supporting characters and how far they will go to cover up they're own tracks. The mystery grows with the quickly mounting tension and I was reading late into the night to see what comes next! Storm has such tenacity and true grit to keep digging in an investigation that could destroy her both personally and professionally, she is one tough MC! The location of Holland was described in brilliant detail and painted a clear scene for me to enjoy reading.
If you enjoy mystery thrillers with a military twist, you will love this book!
Wow, what a wild ride! This book had me hooked from the first page. A military lawyer turned whistleblower, exposing the dark underbelly of corruption and deceit within the highest echelons of power? Yes, please!
The author's writing is sharp, witty, and clever, with plot twists that'll keep you guessing till the very end. The tension is palpable, and the stakes are high. I loved the complex web of characters, from the protagonist's clever lies to the villain's sinister moves.
The use of burner phones, secret meetings, and clandestine ops added an extra layer of realism to the story. And let's not forget the corporate greed, military might, and drug lord drama – it's a potent mix!
Overall, this book is a thrilling page-turner that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of detective fiction, corruption exposés, or just great storytelling, you'll devour this one. Five stars isn't enough – I'd give it ten stars if I could!
This one was an interesting read. Uniformed Collusion is loaded with legal and military detail...you can really tell the author knows their stuff. It makes the story feel super realistic, but sometimes all that detail slows things down and makes it feel like the plot isn’t moving as quickly as it could. If you don't mind history lessons, you will love this.
Storm is a solid lead, strong and layered, but I wasn’t always sold on the back-and-forth between her and her assistant. Some of the dialogue came across a bit robotic, almost like he was just taking notes instead of being someone who was going to step into a bigger leadership role. It pulled me out of the story now and then.
Even with that, I still really enjoyed it. It’s thoughtful, it keeps you guessing about loyalty and trust, and it has enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. Just be ready for a slower pace because of the dense detail.
Uniform Collusion pulled me in right from the start. It opens with a drowning in Amsterdam that doesn’t sit right, and from there the tension just keeps building.
I liked that the main character is a lawyer, not some over-the-top action figure. He’s smart, a little cautious, and ends up way over his head. That made the story feel believable, like something that could actually happen.
The mix with legal plot worked really well. Amsterdam and the European backdrop gave the book a strong sense of place, and the villains had enough depth to keep me interested.
Overall, it’s sharp, fast in the right moments, and thoughtful when it needs to be. A solid thriller that kept me turning the pages.
I very much enjoyed this international legal thriller. Diving deep in our military 3 letter agencies our heroine is the attorney for the us military stationed in Gouda. She has to tap dance through protocol in her search for answers To her friends death and finds many US and Dutch nationals under the thumb of a major drug kingpin with an ingenious means of transporting the drugs on military ships. Her promised promotion has been put in jeapordy after not covering explicit commands to keep out of any investigations. This story is easy to get into, although I found many of the agencies id’s confusing at times. However the story was straightforward and a heart pounding thriller especially toward the end!!! I will be reading other book by this author!
KJ Sutherland's 'Uniform Collusion' is a fast paced intriguing legal thriller! As I have said before, John Grisham and Scot Turow, move over, as Sutherland can really write. From the moment you begin reading the author pulls you in and you just can't put the book down. Sutherland knows her stuff. She knows the law and she knows the military, both with first hand knowledge, and it certainly shows. The plot and sub plots keep you engaged throughout, and the characters just seem to leap off the page. I have no intention of giving anything away. I highly recommend KJ Sutherland’s 'Uniform Collusion' to you. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
"Uniform Collusion" is a taut legal thriller that hooked me from the first chapter. Captain Storm DeVries is a smart, sharp protagonist and yk how much I love strong FMC. Storm's strength isn't just in her rank, but in her vulnerability, integrity and quiet courage it takes to stand up when everything and everyone warns her not to. The supporting characters are just as compelling. The vivid Dutch setting, adds to the atmosphere, and the constant sense of being watched heighten the suspense. This book is a must-read for fans of legal and military thrillers. The ending was both satisfying and thought-provoking, and I'm already looking forward to where the series goes next.
I found the writing style very light and easy to follow. Even though it’s part of a series, I had no trouble keeping up with the plot and really enjoyed the ride.
I’d describe it as a very engaging legal thriller, full of twists that keep you hooked until the end. What I loved the most were the characters, the atmosphere, and especially the moral debates between the protagonist’s dream and her duty to uncover the truth.
UNIFORM COLLUSION, #3 - Set in the Netherlands, this is a wordy but an still interesting and intriguing story. A good variety of characters and immersing story lines made up for the bit of slow pace due to the wordy sections. Source: BookSirens. 4*
UNIFORM JUSTICE, #1 - This my first read by this author and I was quickly immersed in the story. The story lines, especially the intrigue throughout the pages, and the variety of characters made for a hard to put down read. The characters added a bit of emotion to the story; the unfairness of situations, the lack of morals by higher the upper ranks, and the ease of criminal activities ruffled feathers. Ready for the next book by this author. Plus, it helped that it was set in Germany, and France. 5*