This is a book about a vice president who hates the president and devises a complicated plan to implicate him for treason.

The Plot (A few slight spoilers from early on)

Vice President Godwin Pope and President Jack Mahone dislike each other. At the start of the book Mahone gives the state of the union address. Mahone has been doing a poor though unremarkable job as president. He's also a womanizer (we are sometimes make to think of Bill Clinton, though the author refers once or twice to him as a previous president). After the State of the Union address he invites Pope back to the white house, implying at first that he wants him to be more a part of his inner circle of advisors, but then more or less saying that he really wants Pope to escort his girlfriend back to the white house so Mahone's wife doesn't wonder why she's coming. This incident crystallizes Pope's feelings about Mahone and starts him on the path towards taking action. The plan he comes up with is interesting, but it's a bit too pat how all the ingredients are available at just the right time and place. He manages to make it appear that the president slept with an Asian spy and took a bribe (delivered by overpaying his brother for singing at a concert). An agreement with the Chinese involving satellite technology (which the vice president actually supports) is signed at the same time. The Vice President cleverly plants ideas with various people including the President in such a way that they will remember them as their own ideas.

The Good

This book has great characterization. We get to understand the motivations of all the main characters very well, and most of the knowledge is skillfully imparted through dialogue. The author includes authentic sounding insider knowledge. This book seems to have all the ingredients of a good political thriller.

The Bad

I'm never really sure if the Vice President will be a better or worse President than the current one. I'm not enough on his side to root for him, but he's too sympathetic (and the President too flawed) for him to be a character I love to hate. I think that's why the tension flagged for me in the middle of the book. I skimmed some pages, and if I hadn't been thinking this was an interesting book to write an epinion about I might not have made it to the end.

I hate to do this, but

How can I give a book I might not have finished a better than average rating? I would recommend it because there's so much interesting stuff. There are hints that they could actually have created a strong administration as a team, and of the price paid by the victor in the end. The press does not go unscathed in this novel of political backstabbing either.

Recommended: Yes