cakt1991 's review for:

The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper

3.5

mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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While I don’t follow his career too closely, I was intrigued to find out that Jake Tapper had (sort of) branched outside of journalism for 1950s political thrillers. And upon picking up The Hellfire Club, I am definitely impressed. It’s fairly engaging, and provided a great dose of escapism and intrigue. 

First off, the 1950s political landscape is incredibly well-researched and immersive. McCarthyism and anti-communism were big factors in this book, and while I had learned about it in school, the book actually conveyed what it would have been like for someone in a prominent position in that period. And the general vibe of backstabbing among the different political parties, with reference to real life politicians, was fascinating to read about. 

My one major complaint is with the pacing. It does drag a lot in the first half or so, and the conflicts tend to feel mundane at first, even if the book starts off with a bang. Tapper is a knowledgeable guy, and that comes across in how much information he conveys in the pages of the book (not to mention the extensive citations at the end, but it does fall a little flat. 

In spite of being marketed as a mystery/thriller, I think it would appeal more to those who read historical fiction and don’t mind some suspense. I personally enjoyed it, but more because I didn’t mind going into the ins and outs of 1950s US  politics, at least for a bit. But I can see why some felt a little let down by it.