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Battlemind: A Military Legal Thriller
In the war for justice, there are no rules of engagement...
(TRIGGER WARNING: See below)
A suspected terrorist is tortured to death in a secret Afghanistan prison.
A low ranking guard is the military’s top suspect.
Army JAG lawyer Captain Max O’Donnell isn’t so sure. Max is 90 days away from ending his tour of duty, and the last thing he needs is to take on an un-winnable case. But no matter how jaded and burned out he has become, he still believes justice is worth fighting for.
Digging deeper into the case, Max unearths a shadowy alliance between the prosecution, led by Colonel Covington Paine, and a team of faceless CIA spooks. Paine will stop at nothing to win, and he’s willing to crush anyone who gets in his way - including Max O’Donnell.
With his client’s life on the line and his military career hanging In the balance, Max must wage war in the courtroom and seize victory the only way he knows how. Using every dirty trick in the book…
If you like "A Few Good Men" or "JAG," you'll love this book.
Click Read Now or Buy Now to get a glimpse inside Captain Max O'Donnell's relentless quest for justice.
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Thriller author Michael Waddington is a criminal defense attorney that defends cases in military courts around the world. He served as an Army lawyer, and his cases have been covered by The Rolling Stone, CNN, The New York Times, 60 Minutes, Nightline, The New Yorker, and others.
TRIGGER WARNING:Please do not buy this book if you are easily triggered, or if you are easily offended by non-politically correct themes. This book is fictional, and it contains realistic vulgar dialogue, obscene military lingo, violence, death, torture, a seedy criminal underworld, adult themes, corrupt judges and lawyers, and family drama.
(TRIGGER WARNING: See below)
A suspected terrorist is tortured to death in a secret Afghanistan prison.
A low ranking guard is the military’s top suspect.
Army JAG lawyer Captain Max O’Donnell isn’t so sure. Max is 90 days away from ending his tour of duty, and the last thing he needs is to take on an un-winnable case. But no matter how jaded and burned out he has become, he still believes justice is worth fighting for.
Digging deeper into the case, Max unearths a shadowy alliance between the prosecution, led by Colonel Covington Paine, and a team of faceless CIA spooks. Paine will stop at nothing to win, and he’s willing to crush anyone who gets in his way - including Max O’Donnell.
With his client’s life on the line and his military career hanging In the balance, Max must wage war in the courtroom and seize victory the only way he knows how. Using every dirty trick in the book…
If you like "A Few Good Men" or "JAG," you'll love this book.
Click Read Now or Buy Now to get a glimpse inside Captain Max O'Donnell's relentless quest for justice.
-----
Thriller author Michael Waddington is a criminal defense attorney that defends cases in military courts around the world. He served as an Army lawyer, and his cases have been covered by The Rolling Stone, CNN, The New York Times, 60 Minutes, Nightline, The New Yorker, and others.
TRIGGER WARNING:Please do not buy this book if you are easily triggered, or if you are easily offended by non-politically correct themes. This book is fictional, and it contains realistic vulgar dialogue, obscene military lingo, violence, death, torture, a seedy criminal underworld, adult themes, corrupt judges and lawyers, and family drama.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2020
32 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Michael Waddington
13 books5 followersMichael Waddington is a criminal defense lawyer and best-selling author who defends cases in military courts worldwide. He has been reported on and quoted by hundreds of major media sources worldwide. He has provided consultation services to CNN Investigative Reports, 60 Minutes, Katie Couric, ABC's "Nightline," the BBC, German Public Television, CNN, CBS, the Golden Globe-winning TV series "The Good Wife," and various other international media outlets.
He appeared in a major CNN documentary, "Killings at the Canal" and some of his cases have been the subject of books and movies. These include the Academy Award-winning documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side," the 2019 feature film, "The Kill Team," (and the 2013 documentary by the same name), the books "The 'Good Soldier' on Trial," "Strike & Destroy," and Brian De Palma's "Redacted." (De Palma also directed "Scarface" and "Carlito's Way".)
Mr. Waddington teaches trial advocacy across the United States. Michael & his law partner, Alexandra, wrote two of the leading textbooks on cross-examination, Pattern Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases: A Trial Strategy & Resource Guide, and Pattern Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses, published by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Both of these books are used by criminal defense lawyers across the United States.
Mr. Waddington's book, Kick-Ass Closings: A Guide to Giving the Best Closing of Your Life, is the #1 rated book on closing arguments. It has been an Amazon bestseller since it was published in 2018. The book contains nearly 500 pages of Mr. Waddington's best closings and hundreds of outstanding arguments made by the nation's top criminal defense lawyers. He is also the author of the bestselling book, The Art of Trial Warfare.
From 2013-2020, Mr. Waddington wrote chapters in the American Bar Association (ABA) annual book, "The State of Criminal Justice." In 2016, he published Trial Warrior's Book of Wisdom: A Compilation of Quotes for Success in Law and Life.
He appeared in a major CNN documentary, "Killings at the Canal" and some of his cases have been the subject of books and movies. These include the Academy Award-winning documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side," the 2019 feature film, "The Kill Team," (and the 2013 documentary by the same name), the books "The 'Good Soldier' on Trial," "Strike & Destroy," and Brian De Palma's "Redacted." (De Palma also directed "Scarface" and "Carlito's Way".)
Mr. Waddington teaches trial advocacy across the United States. Michael & his law partner, Alexandra, wrote two of the leading textbooks on cross-examination, Pattern Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases: A Trial Strategy & Resource Guide, and Pattern Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses, published by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Both of these books are used by criminal defense lawyers across the United States.
Mr. Waddington's book, Kick-Ass Closings: A Guide to Giving the Best Closing of Your Life, is the #1 rated book on closing arguments. It has been an Amazon bestseller since it was published in 2018. The book contains nearly 500 pages of Mr. Waddington's best closings and hundreds of outstanding arguments made by the nation's top criminal defense lawyers. He is also the author of the bestselling book, The Art of Trial Warfare.
From 2013-2020, Mr. Waddington wrote chapters in the American Bar Association (ABA) annual book, "The State of Criminal Justice." In 2016, he published Trial Warrior's Book of Wisdom: A Compilation of Quotes for Success in Law and Life.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 12, 2020
A thriller that maintains a taut, compelling hold from start to finish...
Author Michael Waddington weaves a gripping military legal thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of military courtroom drama in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.
Throughout the novel, Waddington moves his tightly woven plot effortlessly from the larger to the smaller picture, bringing us a fascinating perspective of The Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps), which encompasses the career path for military lawyers with all of its intrigue, hypocrisy, deception, paranoia and back stabbing. The principal characters are very well developed with the supporting cast all given sufficient detail to make them interesting and relevant.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it! It's a solid legal thriller that benefits substantially from a raft of better-than-average elements.
I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. If you’re a fan of "A Few Good Men" or "JAG," you'll enjoy this book. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.
Author Michael Waddington weaves a gripping military legal thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of military courtroom drama in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.
Throughout the novel, Waddington moves his tightly woven plot effortlessly from the larger to the smaller picture, bringing us a fascinating perspective of The Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps), which encompasses the career path for military lawyers with all of its intrigue, hypocrisy, deception, paranoia and back stabbing. The principal characters are very well developed with the supporting cast all given sufficient detail to make them interesting and relevant.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it! It's a solid legal thriller that benefits substantially from a raft of better-than-average elements.
I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. If you’re a fan of "A Few Good Men" or "JAG," you'll enjoy this book. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.
November 13, 2020
It was a fairly good book. I felt the trial parts dragged a little but there were redeeming features to keep it good. Also, the revelation at the end was unexpected. All in all, it kept my attention and I finished it quite fast.
I received an ARC of the book via Book Sirens.
I received an ARC of the book via Book Sirens.
July 4, 2020
Must Reat
This author’s writing style is realistic. It reminds me of mine which is why it was so easy to read. Action-packed and filled with excitement. The author is definitely on my radar now. Great job. Great read!
This author’s writing style is realistic. It reminds me of mine which is why it was so easy to read. Action-packed and filled with excitement. The author is definitely on my radar now. Great job. Great read!
July 2, 2020
This well written tale takes a JAG officer who is ready to leave the military into one last case full of secrecy, collusion, and bad actors. His family and reputation are at stake until the very end. It takes entertaining skills to overcome every dilemma thrown at him. Even the end is not without a major twist where you say, "No way!" A good book.
July 5, 2020
I LOVE this book! Any novel that can teach me something new about another world I know nothing about (military court cases) and keep me thoroughly entertained has my highest recommendation. Battlemind by Michael Waddington is the story of a soon-to-retire military lawyer named Max who gets stuck with building a case for the seemingly impossible defense of a soldier accused of murdering a Mideast, terrorist prisoner. What makes the case nearly indefensible is that it comes on the heels of the Abu Ghraib scandal in which members of the US Army and CIA committed a laundry list of human rights violations against Abu Ghraib prison detainees in Iraq. Max’s case gets lobbed in with that mess, and the results are tricky to say the least. Max must contend with a shady judge, a violently disillusioned relative, a cutthroat prosecutor, a sexy but sneaky political blogger, a pregnant wife exasperated with his constant trips to Texas, and a client who’s not always up front with him about the real story.
What impresses me most about this novel is the unexpected humor. There were at least a half-dozen times I laughed aloud at the subtle, but biting satire, especially evident in the dialogue. Who would guess that the world of military legal issues could be filled with so many colorful characters with such disdain and disgust for one another? The interpersonal minefield Max is forced to navigate will have you gripped and also feeling pretty sorry for him. When I chose to read this book, I figured I was getting a variation of “A Few Good Men,” which it was to some degree. However, instead of Tom Cruise and Demi Moore, we have Steve Carrell and Amy Poehler.
Though it does tend to switch tenses from past to present and there’s the occasionally awkward switch from first-person to third-person narration and back again, it’s a smart enough book to overcome any of that. Waddington is a well-known military criminal defense lawyer, so the authenticity of this novel’s events and machinations are solidly assumed. You’re in good hands.
What impresses me most about this novel is the unexpected humor. There were at least a half-dozen times I laughed aloud at the subtle, but biting satire, especially evident in the dialogue. Who would guess that the world of military legal issues could be filled with so many colorful characters with such disdain and disgust for one another? The interpersonal minefield Max is forced to navigate will have you gripped and also feeling pretty sorry for him. When I chose to read this book, I figured I was getting a variation of “A Few Good Men,” which it was to some degree. However, instead of Tom Cruise and Demi Moore, we have Steve Carrell and Amy Poehler.
Though it does tend to switch tenses from past to present and there’s the occasionally awkward switch from first-person to third-person narration and back again, it’s a smart enough book to overcome any of that. Waddington is a well-known military criminal defense lawyer, so the authenticity of this novel’s events and machinations are solidly assumed. You’re in good hands.
August 31, 2020
Good, But Not Very Good, Debut Military Legal Thriller!
Battlemind is the debut military legal thriller by Michael Waddington, who is an American defense lawyer specializing in court-martial cases, war crimes, and other serious felonies. So, it’s not surprising that he chose a subject matter for his first novel in which he knows a lot about.
Without summarizing the plot, which can be learned about in the Amazon, GoodReads or Book Sense Book Descriptions, I’ll just say that the plot centers around a low ranking guard in a secret Afghanistan prison who is the military’s top suspect for torturing to death a suspected terrorist, and the Army JAG lawyer assigned to defend him in what seems like an un-winnable case.
Battlemind is a highly plot-driven story that, to its credit, is a very fast-paced, often exciting read that maintains the reader’s attention from start to finish. In addition, Waddington provides a lot of interesting insights into how military court-martial trials are conducted.
That being said, however, I found that Waddington’s characters - with the exception of the main character, CPT Max O’Donnell, were, at best, two-dimensional and, at worst, somewhat caricaturish. Further, while the primary plot was attention-holding, I found the secondary plot elements involving his marriage, his in-laws and his relationship with his father as a child — the man who instilled in him the importance of having a “Battlemind” mindset — to be too thinly developed to maintain my interest very much.
Despite my perceived criticisms with Waddington’s debut novel, the author did enough things well for me to consider him to be an author with potential.
Overall, I consider Battlemind to be a pretty good (but not VERY good) debut thriller, and give it a 3-star rating. Actually, if allowed, I’d give it a 3 1/2 star rating.
Battlemind is the debut military legal thriller by Michael Waddington, who is an American defense lawyer specializing in court-martial cases, war crimes, and other serious felonies. So, it’s not surprising that he chose a subject matter for his first novel in which he knows a lot about.
Without summarizing the plot, which can be learned about in the Amazon, GoodReads or Book Sense Book Descriptions, I’ll just say that the plot centers around a low ranking guard in a secret Afghanistan prison who is the military’s top suspect for torturing to death a suspected terrorist, and the Army JAG lawyer assigned to defend him in what seems like an un-winnable case.
Battlemind is a highly plot-driven story that, to its credit, is a very fast-paced, often exciting read that maintains the reader’s attention from start to finish. In addition, Waddington provides a lot of interesting insights into how military court-martial trials are conducted.
That being said, however, I found that Waddington’s characters - with the exception of the main character, CPT Max O’Donnell, were, at best, two-dimensional and, at worst, somewhat caricaturish. Further, while the primary plot was attention-holding, I found the secondary plot elements involving his marriage, his in-laws and his relationship with his father as a child — the man who instilled in him the importance of having a “Battlemind” mindset — to be too thinly developed to maintain my interest very much.
Despite my perceived criticisms with Waddington’s debut novel, the author did enough things well for me to consider him to be an author with potential.
Overall, I consider Battlemind to be a pretty good (but not VERY good) debut thriller, and give it a 3-star rating. Actually, if allowed, I’d give it a 3 1/2 star rating.
August 14, 2020
An intensely graphic, dark, and gut-wrenching reflection of the corrupt military as well as the justice system.
Unlike the glamorous images presented by television series, this is an explicit novel of the grimy world of the military legal system. Captain Max O'Donnell, a jaded military legal officer, is handed a case to defend a reserve force sergeant accused of brutally murdering a captured terrorist in Afghanistan. Looking forward to ending his tour of duty and facing a personal family crisis, he is not happy to be drawn into a politically contentious case. As he is sucked into the nebulous and corrupt circumstances surrounding the case, he faces a battle not only to save his doubtful client but also his own military reputation and an assault on his personal family life.
Told in a mixture of first and third-person narrative, this is a graphic, intensely absorbing account illustrating the harsh reality of the political and military circumstances in the fight against terrorism. Surrounded by criminals both in the justice system at the highest level, as well as other shadowy government departments, Max appears to be the only decent human being in this saga, until he realizes that he will also have to use unorthodox and dubious methods to win his case and save his client. This nail-biting story hits to the core of what sounds appallingly close to an unpleasant reality of the justice system, far removed from the fabricated media glamour it usually gets. Compulsively thrilling, it reflects the dregs of humanity at all levels of life, particularly in the military, and may be offensive for sensitive or politically correct readers.
Unlike the glamorous images presented by television series, this is an explicit novel of the grimy world of the military legal system. Captain Max O'Donnell, a jaded military legal officer, is handed a case to defend a reserve force sergeant accused of brutally murdering a captured terrorist in Afghanistan. Looking forward to ending his tour of duty and facing a personal family crisis, he is not happy to be drawn into a politically contentious case. As he is sucked into the nebulous and corrupt circumstances surrounding the case, he faces a battle not only to save his doubtful client but also his own military reputation and an assault on his personal family life.
Told in a mixture of first and third-person narrative, this is a graphic, intensely absorbing account illustrating the harsh reality of the political and military circumstances in the fight against terrorism. Surrounded by criminals both in the justice system at the highest level, as well as other shadowy government departments, Max appears to be the only decent human being in this saga, until he realizes that he will also have to use unorthodox and dubious methods to win his case and save his client. This nail-biting story hits to the core of what sounds appallingly close to an unpleasant reality of the justice system, far removed from the fabricated media glamour it usually gets. Compulsively thrilling, it reflects the dregs of humanity at all levels of life, particularly in the military, and may be offensive for sensitive or politically correct readers.
August 27, 2020
This story grabbed my attention right from the beginning. The book starts with agents from the U.S. delivery of a high ranking Terrorist leader. The hey bring him to Sanger prison and transfer custody to Guards who are members of the Army Reserves. The Guards while bringing him to his cell treated him harshly. This is only a prelude to what will happen later. The prisoner is being interrogated by members of the CIA and are using Waterboarding as their method. Before they get any information, they need to revive him. Once he has been revived, he is brought a helocopter and transported to the desert where he is exchanged for an American Seal.
Later, the goings on at Sanger Prison appear and the Army tries to nip it in the bud by arresting 3 of the Reservist Guards who had served there during that time. They were transferred to a Texas Army base to be tried. Max, a Jag Lawyer who had 90 days before his duty with the Army would end, is assigned to defend Jefferson, one of the Guards arrested. The effort that Max had to put in to present during the Court Marshall was well done and reflected his ove3rcoming of the hurdles put in place by the prosecution. Also gave the reader the impact of how fair the Army would go to cover up the involvement of the Cia.
With aid from a blogger and also by Jefferson's father, they were able to bring a decent defense to the charges. To find out what exactly was involved and why the prosecution was willing to distort the dat, you must read the book. You won't be disappointed.
Later, the goings on at Sanger Prison appear and the Army tries to nip it in the bud by arresting 3 of the Reservist Guards who had served there during that time. They were transferred to a Texas Army base to be tried. Max, a Jag Lawyer who had 90 days before his duty with the Army would end, is assigned to defend Jefferson, one of the Guards arrested. The effort that Max had to put in to present during the Court Marshall was well done and reflected his ove3rcoming of the hurdles put in place by the prosecution. Also gave the reader the impact of how fair the Army would go to cover up the involvement of the Cia.
With aid from a blogger and also by Jefferson's father, they were able to bring a decent defense to the charges. To find out what exactly was involved and why the prosecution was willing to distort the dat, you must read the book. You won't be disappointed.
August 9, 2020
This is my first exposure to this author and indeed it didn’t disappoint. This is the story of a soon-to-retire military lawyer named Max who gets stuck with building a case for the seemingly impossible defense of a soldier accused of murdering a Mideastern, terrorist prisoner. Coming on the heels of the Abu Ghraib scandal, in which members of the US Army and CIA committed a laundry list of human rights violations against Abu Ghraib prison detainees in Iraq, the military just want this case to go away.
In spite of having the deck stacked against him, Max chooses to do the right thing and defend his client. Max must contend with a shady judge, a set of in-laws trying to steal their daughter back, a cutthroat prosecutor, a political blogger with no morals, a pregnant wife exasperated with his constant trips to Texas, and a client who’s not always up front with him about the real story.
Waddington’s well-developed characters and wonderful writing style, full of twists and turns, will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page, trying to anticipate where this story would go. This is a definite page-turner that I couldn’t put down until the very last page. It is realistic with engaging characters that you're sure to love! I am anxious to read the other books from this series!
Thank you to Book Sirens who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In spite of having the deck stacked against him, Max chooses to do the right thing and defend his client. Max must contend with a shady judge, a set of in-laws trying to steal their daughter back, a cutthroat prosecutor, a political blogger with no morals, a pregnant wife exasperated with his constant trips to Texas, and a client who’s not always up front with him about the real story.
Waddington’s well-developed characters and wonderful writing style, full of twists and turns, will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page, trying to anticipate where this story would go. This is a definite page-turner that I couldn’t put down until the very last page. It is realistic with engaging characters that you're sure to love! I am anxious to read the other books from this series!
Thank you to Book Sirens who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2020
Top of the class
This book grabbed me by the neck. I took one huge breath and didn’t exhale until 3.00 am. It was that good...a real classic.
This was my first experience with military justice. It took me a little time to get settled but once I did..Wow!
Writing this review, I’m still laughing at some of the unexpected humour and biting satire especially in some of the dialogue.
Author Michael Waddington has given us a gripping military, legal thriller packed with intricate twists and turns which leave the reader hooked from start to finish. The plot, character development and the dialogue were top class.
From being bullied as a boy and with a tough father who has no sympathy, Max quits whining and develops what his father termed “a battlemind”...We find Max as an army lawyer nearing his retirement from active duty. Faced with problems within his family, Max has to defend a Sergeant charged with the murder of a terrorist while being held in American custody. What unfolds is a thrilling and intense trial where Max uncovers many unforeseen danger and cover-ups but must seize victory using every trick in the book.
This was truly an exhilarating experience for me. The high level of action, the intense courtroom drama, the twists and turns and the superlative quality of the humour made this one of the best books I’ve read.
If you enjoyed “A few good men” you’ll love this.
I enjoyed everything about the book and I’m still smiling at 3.36 am
This book grabbed me by the neck. I took one huge breath and didn’t exhale until 3.00 am. It was that good...a real classic.
This was my first experience with military justice. It took me a little time to get settled but once I did..Wow!
Writing this review, I’m still laughing at some of the unexpected humour and biting satire especially in some of the dialogue.
Author Michael Waddington has given us a gripping military, legal thriller packed with intricate twists and turns which leave the reader hooked from start to finish. The plot, character development and the dialogue were top class.
From being bullied as a boy and with a tough father who has no sympathy, Max quits whining and develops what his father termed “a battlemind”...We find Max as an army lawyer nearing his retirement from active duty. Faced with problems within his family, Max has to defend a Sergeant charged with the murder of a terrorist while being held in American custody. What unfolds is a thrilling and intense trial where Max uncovers many unforeseen danger and cover-ups but must seize victory using every trick in the book.
This was truly an exhilarating experience for me. The high level of action, the intense courtroom drama, the twists and turns and the superlative quality of the humour made this one of the best books I’ve read.
If you enjoyed “A few good men” you’ll love this.
I enjoyed everything about the book and I’m still smiling at 3.36 am
October 21, 2020
Battlemind...hmmm. I was taught as a kid to never start a fight, to walk away, but to end it if there was one. But Battlemind is something totally different. For the US Military, it's the strength of character and training to perform without fear. But for Max O'Donnell, it was his father not allowing him to walk away, never back down, don't show weakness. After a few years of being on the wrong end of the fights, Max developed the determination that he would no longer "walk away." He eventually joined the Army, and decided he wanted to become a JAG officer. And his fight was on for good.
This was a good story about a young man's growth of character and his grit to never give up in his fight for justice. Against the odds, Max seemed dedicated. He learned how to have his version of Battlemind.
The characters in this story were very believable and realistic. I could almost vision the fight and determination that a kid from rural Pennsylvania would develop. Seemed Max believed the old lines about the American Way. However, war was a different animal, and Max had a lot to learn.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a good story about a young man's growth of character and his grit to never give up in his fight for justice. Against the odds, Max seemed dedicated. He learned how to have his version of Battlemind.
The characters in this story were very believable and realistic. I could almost vision the fight and determination that a kid from rural Pennsylvania would develop. Seemed Max believed the old lines about the American Way. However, war was a different animal, and Max had a lot to learn.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 14, 2020
Battlemind: A Military Legal Thriller by Michael Waddington is a well written with a compelling protagonist in Captain Max O’Donnell. An Army JAG lawyer, he is only ninety days from the end of his tour of duty, but has another case to tackle. He's not sure about the case however, but still remains undeterred in the pursuit of justice. This is a no holds barred novel, one that is riveting and challenging at the same time. There are adult themes, there is violence, there is death, and torture. Even with these things though, the read is excellent, building on twists and turns that take the reader on a wild ride. There's some good satire here as well, which is a bit unexpected, but noteworthy, lightening the mood somewhat in places. Overall, a satisfying and compelling read. Highly recommend.
September 27, 2020
I’m a big fan of John Grisham, this book followed pretty much the same story line as the Grisham legal thrillers. While I know that in some cases the portrayal of the CIA as outlaws and the Army reservists as druggies is accurate, maybe some effort could have been made to not paint with such a wide brush. The story offers a jaded view of the military justice system that I hope is fiction. The novel was hugely entertaining even though it was disappointing at times. I can only hope that the Army portrayed here is the exception rather than the rule.
December 28, 2020
This is a fun book to read. Michael Waddington has done an excellent job in bringing the case and the characters to life.
The part about the blogger was, I thought, a bit off.
The hero is not your regular super-sized hero. He is just a regular guy married to a manipulative woman. It's possible to identify with him.
The case is interesting enough. I don't know if the US Army legal system is as corrupt as it seems in the book, but again, I can see it in my mind.
All in all, a good book. I wish he had brought in something more of battlemind. It is a superb concept
The part about the blogger was, I thought, a bit off.
The hero is not your regular super-sized hero. He is just a regular guy married to a manipulative woman. It's possible to identify with him.
The case is interesting enough. I don't know if the US Army legal system is as corrupt as it seems in the book, but again, I can see it in my mind.
All in all, a good book. I wish he had brought in something more of battlemind. It is a superb concept
August 28, 2020
Overall this is a very well written book, with engaging characters throughout and it grabbed my attention and I wanted to read on from the very beginning. As a military vet, I appreciated the author's ability to realistically portray the army life. The only flaw, and this may be a personal flaw, I don't like books where the main character and the POV change throughout. But I would recommend this to anyone for it's well written prose, great characters and engaging plot.
January 5, 2021
Excellent read. As an Army veteran I was excited when I unexpectedly came upon this book. I found it to be a very entertaining book so much different than most Army books I read. The story was full of twist and turns that kept me reading the book throughout the night. When I thought I had the story figured out, another twist appeared in the very next chapter. Loved the ending chapter. JAG lawyers
are not all as brilliant as they think they are.
are not all as brilliant as they think they are.
August 3, 2020
Crazy suspenseful
What an incredible story! Twists and turns and military corruption in the midst of relationships trying to survive the drama. Well-written with fast-paced action and colorful characters, I felt hooked from chapter 2 on, although the first chapter provided background. Great book!
What an incredible story! Twists and turns and military corruption in the midst of relationships trying to survive the drama. Well-written with fast-paced action and colorful characters, I felt hooked from chapter 2 on, although the first chapter provided background. Great book!
August 15, 2020
Read this in one sitting
I love underdog stories and the author was ruthless to his main character. He pushed him against a brick wall and kept pummeling him with one bad situation after another. I couldn’t see how he could win his battle, but it kept me thoroughly engaged until the end.
If you like legal thrillers, you should read this book.
I love underdog stories and the author was ruthless to his main character. He pushed him against a brick wall and kept pummeling him with one bad situation after another. I couldn’t see how he could win his battle, but it kept me thoroughly engaged until the end.
If you like legal thrillers, you should read this book.
August 15, 2020
A tight, tense military court procedural
Well-drawn characters, an engaging plot, gritty detail and solid, believable writing make for a tense and fast-paced page turner. I found Battlemind an excellent and enjoyable legal thriller.
Well-drawn characters, an engaging plot, gritty detail and solid, believable writing make for a tense and fast-paced page turner. I found Battlemind an excellent and enjoyable legal thriller.
October 7, 2020
If you want a book on military justice. This is it. I enjoyed it so much that I found it hard to put down. It is a real page turner. Michael Waddington, you have found your true calling as a novelist.
October 13, 2020
Enjoyable read during my surgery recovery
I really got into this one. If anything, my one complaint would be that it wasn't long enough. But for its length the story was dynamic and set at a good pace. A fun read.
I really got into this one. If anything, my one complaint would be that it wasn't long enough. But for its length the story was dynamic and set at a good pace. A fun read.
August 9, 2020
Excellent thriller. Full of twists and turns.
April 27, 2023
Self-published novel given to me by the author when we worked together. A pleasant surprise.
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