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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
I'd wanted to read this book since it came out. It started out good and then seemed to show one how to ruin their marriage. Then the couple seemed to get back on track once the man started telling his wife more about what was happening to him at Congress. The couple seemed to be starting to plan how they were going to get out of Washington and back into academia, but never really came out a said this. The book mentioned a "members only" section or collection at the Library of Congress which was a locked room with private papers on the founding fathers or their own personal papers. Mention of this collection was absent from the source notes at the back of the book, so hopefully this collection simply doesn't exist. The book then seemed to reveal that nearly everyone the couple knew in Washington was evil and trying to kill them. They were somehow able to fight back against them and learned as per this era of a sort of "deep state" that's so common in today's entertainment. That bit irritated me, but I let it go. The book seemed to just end without any real conclusion as to what the couple's plans were after they successfully fought off and killed everyone who wanted them dead. My theory is that they were going to bail out as soon as the husband's term was over and he would return to his post at Columbia University, but again this was never said. Perhaps, the author wanted to leave it to the reader to decide what the couple's next move would be.
I have mixed feelings about this political thriller. As a history nerd, I loved the facts and details about Benjamin Franklin, the Capitol, and much more. I appreciated the notes at the end clarifying the factual basis for events and information in the story. However, Tapper needs to find a mentor to help him create richer characters, as many felt flat.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A good view of Washington in the 50's...I was too young to remember much about this time, but some of the big names. Charlie Marder has been appointed by Governor Dewey to serve out the term of a NY Congressman who died under questionable circumstances. Charlie and his wife Margaret uproot themselves and move down the street from Senator John Kennedy and his glamorous wife, Jackie. They...well. mostly Charlie...start attending the parties and dinners, rubbing shoulders with all the power brokers. Drinking way more than they should.
Secret deals, machinations, and Joe McCarthy at the height of his demagogue-ry. Charlie is still haunted by his service in WWII, storming the beaches at Normandy, and losing men to faulty equipment. He tries to rally other vets in Congress to fight the corporation that produced the equipment. He soon learns his place.
Commies are everywhere, apparently, and faulty equipment that kills Americans...chemical plants that kill Americans...are just the price of doing business. Charlie and Margaret find their marriage stressed to the breaking point. He goes to a party with the famous, secret, Hellfire Club (supposedly founded by that rake Ben Franklin), and he finds himself blackmailed. Murder, intrigue and occasionally a law is passed.
I enjoyed this book and have the new one ready to listen to.
Secret deals, machinations, and Joe McCarthy at the height of his demagogue-ry. Charlie is still haunted by his service in WWII, storming the beaches at Normandy, and losing men to faulty equipment. He tries to rally other vets in Congress to fight the corporation that produced the equipment. He soon learns his place.
Commies are everywhere, apparently, and faulty equipment that kills Americans...chemical plants that kill Americans...are just the price of doing business. Charlie and Margaret find their marriage stressed to the breaking point. He goes to a party with the famous, secret, Hellfire Club (supposedly founded by that rake Ben Franklin), and he finds himself blackmailed. Murder, intrigue and occasionally a law is passed.
I enjoyed this book and have the new one ready to listen to.
Number of plot twists. Glad I read with Kindle so had the dictionary.
Really, really good! Pleasantly surprised, and hoping there's a sequel.
I really liked this. The reason why it's not a 5 star is that some of the dialogue felt unnatural to me, and secondly, I had a hard time keeping up with names.
But I thought the mix of real-life characters and fictitious characters was fun and generally I just really love history and politics. Also, I think Tapper writes very well.
But I thought the mix of real-life characters and fictitious characters was fun and generally I just really love history and politics. Also, I think Tapper writes very well.
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No