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Navy Justice #4
Black Sea Affair
It’s a mission that could bring the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Now time is running out.
It starts with a high-stakes theft: weapons-grade plutonium is stolen from Russia. The Russian army is about to attack Chechnya to get it back. But U.S. intelligence discovers that the stolen shipment is actually on a rogue Russian freighter in the Black Sea.
It turns into a global nightmare: a secret mission gone awry; an American submarine commander arrested and hauled before a military tribunal in Moscow; and a game of brinksmanship so dangerous that war might be its only possible conclusion.
As the U.S. Navy searches for weapons-grade plutonium that has been smuggled out of Russia by terrorists, a submarine mishap escalates the international crisis. With the world watching, JAG Officer Zack Brewer is called to Moscow to defend submarine skipper Pete Miranda and his entire crew. It is a heart-stopping race against the clock. With Russian missiles activated and programmed for American cities, Brewer stalls for time as the U.S. Navy frantically searches the high seas for a floating hydrogen bomb that could threaten New York Harbor.
Now time is running out.
It starts with a high-stakes theft: weapons-grade plutonium is stolen from Russia. The Russian army is about to attack Chechnya to get it back. But U.S. intelligence discovers that the stolen shipment is actually on a rogue Russian freighter in the Black Sea.
It turns into a global nightmare: a secret mission gone awry; an American submarine commander arrested and hauled before a military tribunal in Moscow; and a game of brinksmanship so dangerous that war might be its only possible conclusion.
As the U.S. Navy searches for weapons-grade plutonium that has been smuggled out of Russia by terrorists, a submarine mishap escalates the international crisis. With the world watching, JAG Officer Zack Brewer is called to Moscow to defend submarine skipper Pete Miranda and his entire crew. It is a heart-stopping race against the clock. With Russian missiles activated and programmed for American cities, Brewer stalls for time as the U.S. Navy frantically searches the high seas for a floating hydrogen bomb that could threaten New York Harbor.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2008
147 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Don Brown
23 books114 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
DON BROWN, a former U.S. Navy JAG Officer, is the author of Zondervan’s riveting NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. a dynamic storyline chronicling the life and adventures of JAG officer ZACK BREWER. In 2003, Don began writing TREASON, his first novel in the NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. After TREASON was published to rave reviews in 2005, drawing comparisons to the writing style of John Grisham, DON BROWN was named as co-chairman of national I Love To Write Day, an event recognized by the governors of nine states to promote writing throughout the nation, and especially among the nation’s schools. HOSTAGE and DEFIANCE, the second and third novels in the series, were published in 2006 and 2007. BLACK SEA AFFAIR, was released in June of 2008, and with a bonechilling plot and precipient accuracy of international events, has been called the “Novel that Predicted the Russian-Georgian War,” which broke out just two months later, in August of 2008! Don is now penning his fifth novel, entitled THE MALACCAN CONSPIRACY, to be released in June of 2010. Paying no homage to political correctness, DON BROWN’S writing style is described as “gripping,” casting an entertaining and educational spin on a wide-range of current issues, from radicalIslamic infiltration of the military, to the explosive issue of gays in the military, to the modern day issues of presidential politics in the early 21st Century. The Charlotte World Newspaper described TREASON as “A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH STORY FULL OF ACTION, INTRIGUE, AND THE KIND OF CALCULATED TYRANNY THAT YOU COULD FIND IN THE HEADLINES OF ANY MAJOR DAILY AT ANY MOMENT.” The Romance Reader’s Connection described Don’s novels as “fascinating and fresh.” In November of 2009, four years after it was released, and in the wake of Fort Hood, TREASON rocketed to the top-selling in the nation on the Amazon.com bestseller list for fiction, and remained there for over a week. On Thanksgiving Day of 2009, all four of Don’s novels were ranked in the top 5 on the Amazon bestseller list for fiction! DON BROWN graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1982, and after finishing law school, continued his post-graduate studies through the Naval War College, earning the Navy’s nonresident certificate in International Law. During his five years on active duty in the Navy, Don served in the Pentagon, was published in the Naval Law Review, and was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.'
DON BROWN, a former U.S. Navy JAG Officer, is the author of Zondervan’s riveting NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. a dynamic storyline chronicling the life and adventures of JAG officer ZACK BREWER. In 2003, Don began writing TREASON, his first novel in the NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. After TREASON was published to rave reviews in 2005, drawing comparisons to the writing style of John Grisham, DON BROWN was named as co-chairman of national I Love To Write Day, an event recognized by the governors of nine states to promote writing throughout the nation, and especially among the nation’s schools. HOSTAGE and DEFIANCE, the second and third novels in the series, were published in 2006 and 2007. BLACK SEA AFFAIR, was released in June of 2008, and with a bonechilling plot and precipient accuracy of international events, has been called the “Novel that Predicted the Russian-Georgian War,” which broke out just two months later, in August of 2008! Don is now penning his fifth novel, entitled THE MALACCAN CONSPIRACY, to be released in June of 2010. Paying no homage to political correctness, DON BROWN’S writing style is described as “gripping,” casting an entertaining and educational spin on a wide-range of current issues, from radicalIslamic infiltration of the military, to the explosive issue of gays in the military, to the modern day issues of presidential politics in the early 21st Century. The Charlotte World Newspaper described TREASON as “A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH STORY FULL OF ACTION, INTRIGUE, AND THE KIND OF CALCULATED TYRANNY THAT YOU COULD FIND IN THE HEADLINES OF ANY MAJOR DAILY AT ANY MOMENT.” The Romance Reader’s Connection described Don’s novels as “fascinating and fresh.” In November of 2009, four years after it was released, and in the wake of Fort Hood, TREASON rocketed to the top-selling in the nation on the Amazon.com bestseller list for fiction, and remained there for over a week. On Thanksgiving Day of 2009, all four of Don’s novels were ranked in the top 5 on the Amazon bestseller list for fiction! DON BROWN graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1982, and after finishing law school, continued his post-graduate studies through the Naval War College, earning the Navy’s nonresident certificate in International Law. During his five years on active duty in the Navy, Don served in the Pentagon, was published in the Naval Law Review, and was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 30, 2018
In this old-style - if contemporary - military thriller of men and war machines, Chechen rebels seize weapons-grade plutonium in Russia to build a thermonuclear warhead, and while the Russians seek punitive action against Chechnya, US intelligence trails the plutonium to a freighter in Sochi. A plan is devised to smuggle a Los Angeles class submarine through the Bosporus into the Black Sea to seek and destroy the Russian freighter before the deadly cargo can be transferred. Complications arise when the FSB at Sochi insists that the Russian-flagged vessel takes on board a group of Ukrainian orphans and their carer and transports them to Odessa. The Los Angeles class submarine tracks down its target and fires…
This is the fourth “Navy Justice” novel by author Don Brown, a former US Navy officer with the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG). And while the Biblical references and Islamic fundamentalism went way over head, and I struggled with the many characters, I enjoyed the level of technical detail.
The MiG-29 had defeated the American-built F-16 on many occasions in war games conducted by the German Luftwaffe. But the F-15 Eagle was another question. The twin-engined Eagle was not as good as the U.S. Navy’s now-retired F-14 Tomcat, nor was it as nimble as the smaller F-16 Falcon. But the Eagle was much faster than the Falcon, carried more Sidewinder missiles, and had a better long-range attack capability. Still, the Eagle would have its hands full against the MiG.
The novel also reignited my interest in Bathymetry, and gains an extra half star for the maps and diagrams, but I found a few issues questionable.
Verdict: all in all, a pretty good read.
This is the fourth “Navy Justice” novel by author Don Brown, a former US Navy officer with the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG). And while the Biblical references and Islamic fundamentalism went way over head, and I struggled with the many characters, I enjoyed the level of technical detail.
The MiG-29 had defeated the American-built F-16 on many occasions in war games conducted by the German Luftwaffe. But the F-15 Eagle was another question. The twin-engined Eagle was not as good as the U.S. Navy’s now-retired F-14 Tomcat, nor was it as nimble as the smaller F-16 Falcon. But the Eagle was much faster than the Falcon, carried more Sidewinder missiles, and had a better long-range attack capability. Still, the Eagle would have its hands full against the MiG.
The novel also reignited my interest in Bathymetry, and gains an extra half star for the maps and diagrams, but I found a few issues questionable.
Verdict: all in all, a pretty good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2009
It took me a little while to warm up to this book. It didn't help that it ticked me off in the first chapter. They set up a really interesting idea and then copped out on it. It was something that might work in a movie to get your attention, but in a book it was just plain tacky. I was also a little bit peeved at myself for not paying more attention when I picked it out thinking it was DAN Brown instead of DON Brown. Also, the book features the submarine USS Honolulu, which in and of itself is no crime, but noting the fact that the book was written in 2008 and being as I saw the Hono being cut up in the drydock in 2008, it really distracted me with doubts about the rest of his fact checking skills. The writing left a lot to be desired, definitely a novice novelist. There were a couple glaring errors that the editors should have caught that also distracted me from the story.
There were things I liked about the book. The author is obviously a Christian and used those ideals to provide a book without sex and without profanity. The latter is somewhat difficult to achieve considering the prominent role of the Navy in the book. The story started out with a 'yeah right' feel to it (probably because I started already ticked off at the book), but the excitement of the rest of the story made it easy to suspend believe about some of the details.
Another thing I liked was the use of maps and charts in the book. It helps a map guy like me get more a feel for the action. The portrayal of the submarine and sub warfare was also very accurate (apart from the clean language); you could tell the author knows a lot about the subject.
Overall, I'd say it was an okay book, with an interesting premise - I probably would have liked it more had I not just barely read Ray Bradbury.
There were things I liked about the book. The author is obviously a Christian and used those ideals to provide a book without sex and without profanity. The latter is somewhat difficult to achieve considering the prominent role of the Navy in the book. The story started out with a 'yeah right' feel to it (probably because I started already ticked off at the book), but the excitement of the rest of the story made it easy to suspend believe about some of the details.
Another thing I liked was the use of maps and charts in the book. It helps a map guy like me get more a feel for the action. The portrayal of the submarine and sub warfare was also very accurate (apart from the clean language); you could tell the author knows a lot about the subject.
Overall, I'd say it was an okay book, with an interesting premise - I probably would have liked it more had I not just barely read Ray Bradbury.
June 22, 2016
Very exciting Christian fiction of our military and Russia. I like the way everyone (of importance) was praying to God. Even the president of the U. S. And, I like how God was in the process of answering prayer in His own way. A Good fiction book on the Providence of God.
February 6, 2024
Black Sea Affair is the fourth book in the Navy Justice Collection. The suspenseful storyline takes you in a submarine to the Black Sea. What a great book! Dan Brown wove an international political and military thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat! The storyline and characters are well developed with a lot of tension and Don Brown's signature courtroom drama. This is an excellent five star book.
August 9, 2018
My least favorite in the 4 book series. In fact, the lawyer character who is the main character in the first three very interesting books only shows up in the last 50 pages. Otherwise not particularly interesting. They are Christian in a nominal sense, the absence of swearing, sex and the occasional mention that the character offers up a prayer.
September 9, 2018
The Navy Justice Series is the Awsome
The Navy Justice Series is absolutely the best series i have ever read! Don Brown is awesome writer. He draws you in to the stories in away other don't. I can't wait to start another one of his books.
The Navy Justice Series is absolutely the best series i have ever read! Don Brown is awesome writer. He draws you in to the stories in away other don't. I can't wait to start another one of his books.
May 7, 2017
Not a bad book, but just couldn't care about any of the characters.
August 11, 2017
Don Brown's books are all good and this one lived up to his reputation
June 11, 2018
Another great book by Don Brown. Puts you right in the middle of all the action. Riveting throughout.
December 12, 2010
"Black Sea Affair" is a Christian military thriller. It's the fourth in a series, but the connecting character was a very minor character in this book. I didn't need to read the previous books to understand this one.
There were a fairly large number of point-of-view characters from all sides of the conflict, yet the author skillfully maintained uncertainty about several closely timed events involving those characters. The suspense was high from the first page to the last. The suspense was created by physical danger to the characters and the knowledge that their decisions, if wrong, could cause the deaths of thousands.
The characters were varied and interesting enough, but they didn't really "come alive" as real humans. Military details were woven into the story, but I wondered about some of them. Still, I'm not an expert. I liked that maps of the areas being talked about were included.
Some of the characters were Christian and their faith helped them through the tough times (mainly as "he prayed for wisdom" style statements) and, in some cases, helped them make decisions.
There was no explicit sex. There was a minor amount of "he cussed" style bad language. I'd recommend this suspenseful novel to those who like military thrillers.
There were a fairly large number of point-of-view characters from all sides of the conflict, yet the author skillfully maintained uncertainty about several closely timed events involving those characters. The suspense was high from the first page to the last. The suspense was created by physical danger to the characters and the knowledge that their decisions, if wrong, could cause the deaths of thousands.
The characters were varied and interesting enough, but they didn't really "come alive" as real humans. Military details were woven into the story, but I wondered about some of them. Still, I'm not an expert. I liked that maps of the areas being talked about were included.
Some of the characters were Christian and their faith helped them through the tough times (mainly as "he prayed for wisdom" style statements) and, in some cases, helped them make decisions.
There was no explicit sex. There was a minor amount of "he cussed" style bad language. I'd recommend this suspenseful novel to those who like military thrillers.
October 19, 2013
A Quickie Review
I'll be the first to admit that I am not a military enthusiast. Though I have the utmost respect for those who have served and defended our nation, all the terminology and technology is as foreign to me as Pokémon was to most adults back when it first became popular. Even when it comes to my entertainment diet, most of the movies and books I consume that have soldiers of some sort are either sci-fi/fantasy (Star Wars) or take place long ago (Gods and Generals). Maybe I should check out some of the old-school war movies.
Regardless of why, my lack of knowledge about our armed forces kept me from enjoying this book fully. There were lots of terms and acronyms that weren't explained anywhere in the book, and, though the core story was enjoyable, for someone like me who likes to get the whole experience, not being able to understand exactly what was happening made it much less fun to read. Those who are more familiar with the United States military--including those who have been in it--would likely feel differently.
Score: 2.25/5
I'll be the first to admit that I am not a military enthusiast. Though I have the utmost respect for those who have served and defended our nation, all the terminology and technology is as foreign to me as Pokémon was to most adults back when it first became popular. Even when it comes to my entertainment diet, most of the movies and books I consume that have soldiers of some sort are either sci-fi/fantasy (Star Wars) or take place long ago (Gods and Generals). Maybe I should check out some of the old-school war movies.
Regardless of why, my lack of knowledge about our armed forces kept me from enjoying this book fully. There were lots of terms and acronyms that weren't explained anywhere in the book, and, though the core story was enjoyable, for someone like me who likes to get the whole experience, not being able to understand exactly what was happening made it much less fun to read. Those who are more familiar with the United States military--including those who have been in it--would likely feel differently.
Score: 2.25/5
March 31, 2010
I got this book as a free Kindle download, but I would have been willing to pay for it. It's a rollercoaster ride of submarine warfare and international diplomacy and saber-rattling that keeps you reading. I didn't want to put this book down, so much so that I downloaded an extra copy to my phone so I could continue to read while I was away from my Kindle!
Unlike the other books in the Naval Justice series by Don Brown (Treason, Hostage, and Defiance), the focus is not on Zack Brewer's Legal wrangling. Rather, this is a fast-paced adventure thriller, which should appeal to fans of Tom Clancy.
Unlike the other books in the Naval Justice series by Don Brown (Treason, Hostage, and Defiance), the focus is not on Zack Brewer's Legal wrangling. Rather, this is a fast-paced adventure thriller, which should appeal to fans of Tom Clancy.
April 23, 2010
This book has a lot of churchy jargon, which I don't particularly enjoy reading. The idea of the story was good, but I kept asking myself why the military took such illogical actions. This won't give away the plot since it is revealed up front.
A special crew is organized to go into the Black Sea to sink a freighter that is smuggling a nuclear weapon from Russia. A sub had to go through a narrow strait to get into the Black Sea to intercept a freighter that they knew would head for main ocean. The premise was to go into the black sea because they might lose the ship on the open waters of the sea. I kept asking myself, why was it less risky to send a sub through a guarded, narrow strait, than it was to sit and wait for the freighter to come out of the Black Sea. If the ship wasn't coming out, that would make sense, otherwise, it did not.
The other scenes were very good and well written, but since this irrational choice was the main plot, I rated it a three.
A special crew is organized to go into the Black Sea to sink a freighter that is smuggling a nuclear weapon from Russia. A sub had to go through a narrow strait to get into the Black Sea to intercept a freighter that they knew would head for main ocean. The premise was to go into the black sea because they might lose the ship on the open waters of the sea. I kept asking myself, why was it less risky to send a sub through a guarded, narrow strait, than it was to sit and wait for the freighter to come out of the Black Sea. If the ship wasn't coming out, that would make sense, otherwise, it did not.
The other scenes were very good and well written, but since this irrational choice was the main plot, I rated it a three.
August 10, 2014
I'd give the action in this book 4 stars, and the storyline up until the very end was 4-star worthy as well. The ending was very disappointing. And the cameo by Zach Brewer was unnecessary. There were also several nonsensical editorial errors. At the beginning if the book there was mention of the Council of Ishmael, but then they were never mentioned again. Why were all the Russian men called by their first and middle names throughout the book? And why were their names all so similar that it was hard to keep the characters straight?
February 8, 2010
So, I read this book for free and it was worth far more than the money. I have read worse! I found it a bit odd that there was no reference to Diane - very odd. The one thing that I did enjoy - the absence of the love/infatuation with Zack. My thoughts during the first three - which does Brown love more - his God or Zack? Again, I find it odd that Diane was not referenced once - I don't think I skimmed the book and missed it?
August 3, 2011
A well written story set against the backdrop of nuclear war between Russia and the USA in the post cold war environment which starts with terrorists who seize Russian plutonium and an American sub entering the Black Sea to stop them. The fate of a dozen Ukrainian orphans (and the entire world) hangs in the balance. It reminded me of Red Alert (Peter George). I got this as a free download for Kindle from Amazon.com
January 20, 2015
3.75 out of 5
Reminds me of Hunt for Red October and other early Tom Clancy novels. Lots of riveting, high stakes action that caused me to lose sleep staying up for just one more chapter. I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, but it turned out to be most enjoyable for me.
Mr. Brown is a Christian writer and when Christian beliefs are woven into the characters, it is done realistic and natural way, with no sense of preaching or prothetizing.
Reminds me of Hunt for Red October and other early Tom Clancy novels. Lots of riveting, high stakes action that caused me to lose sleep staying up for just one more chapter. I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, but it turned out to be most enjoyable for me.
Mr. Brown is a Christian writer and when Christian beliefs are woven into the characters, it is done realistic and natural way, with no sense of preaching or prothetizing.
April 16, 2017
Talk about suspense!
Can't say much or I'll give away the story, but lets just say that this story has the world on the verge of WW3.
Make sure you've got the time to read it in big chunks or straight through because you won't want to put it down.
And for those wondering about Zach Brewer from Don Brown's Navy Justice Series - well, he's back!
Can't say much or I'll give away the story, but lets just say that this story has the world on the verge of WW3.
Make sure you've got the time to read it in big chunks or straight through because you won't want to put it down.
And for those wondering about Zach Brewer from Don Brown's Navy Justice Series - well, he's back!
July 15, 2010
I have really enjoyed Don Brown's books. He is a Christian writer, but weaves prayer and faith in the Savior very well into his stories. Highly recommend this book. Number four in his Navy Justice Series.
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August 2, 2011I had a heck of a time getting throught this book it was good then not good for a long time. I am glad this is the last one by this author that I have. If you like to have every step they make and every breath explained to you then this is author for you!
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August 3, 2011This was a different type of book for Don Brown. Most of it was NOT about JAGs. He did a great job. The plot had a number of different elements. There were some great twists. And the ending was very good. If you've read Don Brown's other books, then you will like this one also.
January 15, 2015
Apparently, I misunderstood the ending of book 3 and assumed there would be more to the story arc in 4: there wasn't. Instead, this book was barely connected to the rest of the series. That said, it was an entertaining Red October knockoff.
May 25, 2015
Black Sea Affair
Good reading - very suspenseful! Enjoyed it very much. My only complaint would be it skipped around a great seat and sometimes I had trouble keeping up with each segment.
Good reading - very suspenseful! Enjoyed it very much. My only complaint would be it skipped around a great seat and sometimes I had trouble keeping up with each segment.
January 23, 2010
This was a great story and a quick read.
Read
January 24, 2010Better than other Don Brown other books
Read
February 13, 2010Another gripper. Pretty intense situation with terrorists and getting a sub into the Black Sea.
May 4, 2011
As with the rest of his books - a tremendous read.
May 4, 2011
USN sub sneaks into Black Sea to sink Russian ship suspected of carrying nuclear materials
August 8, 2011
I loved it! Wish the libraries around here carried more Don Brown books.
September 28, 2011
Liked the book, loved the series. Only downside was the religious tones
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews