Maks Verkhodub Verkhodub itibaren Rumy, Polonya itibaren Rumy, Polonya

This book grew on me, and I'm glad I stuck with it. At first, I wasn't sure how long I was going to be able to handle the main character pulling back in disgust every time he encounters a (gasp) gay character. But it is a credit to Haig's writing that I still ended up loving the wiseass protagonist. And the action picks up about halfway through and the book becomes a solid little thriller. But I did have nits... am I really supposed to believe that a super educated and media savvy lawyer, no matter how liberal and issue driven she might be, would have such a tin ear for interacting with a culture well known to be homophobic and generally displeased with brash gestures? And that the same lawyer would put a huge sign that says "HOMOS" on her legal headquarters within an Army base in Korea while trying to win a case in an Army court? And did the crime *really* have to include necrophilia, apparently driving home the notion that gay acts are so unnatural that you might as well throw in the most disgusting sexual crime you can think of because, I mean, they're almost there anyway? I'm willing to accept all manner of global conspiracy theories and plot-driven coincidences, but those kind of characterizations end up being annoying, bordering on offensive. But the voice of the protagonist saves the day, and it ended up being a fairly enjoyable read.