THE MACBETHS TAKE WASHINGTON—and leave a pile of bodies in their wake.
In searing political commentary laced with a gripping murder mystery that hits disturbingly close to home, Dennis Carstens tackles financial misconduct, scandalous cover-up, treason, and murder in the 7th installment of the Marc Kadella legal thriller series—a scathing imagining of an American White House nobody’s ever seen … thriller series—a scathing imagining of an American White House nobody’s ever seen before, and yet one that is all too familiar…
”A shot in the dark, right in the gut, that’s what Carstens is good at … Carstens aims to be realistic about the law and its enforcers, and he hits it right … The plot is as full of surprises as a Minneapolis Jucy Lucy and ultimately just as satisfying.” -Tony Dunbar, Anthony- and Edgar-nominated author of the Tubby Dubonnet legal thriller series.
It’s four days after the latest presidential election, and Marc Kadella has the post-election blues. Sure, his guy didn’t win, but there’s more to it than that: the defeated incumbent was a decent man. Too bad you can’t say the same for his Machiavellian opponent—or his photogenic partner-in-crime.
Thomas Jefferson Carver is charming and energetic, with a former beauty queen for a wife—and a name for the job to boot. Together they’re the package deal: young, modern, forward-thinking, and successful. That Mr. Carver was often accused of womanizing and that the couple used political clout to line their own pockets didn’t seem to matter to the American electorate.
But Marc Kadella’s got a more specific axe to grind. Back when Carver was governor, a fundraising stop in Minneapolis resulted in the accidental overdose—and death—of a 19-year-old girl. A Carver campaign aide’s in prison on a plea deal for manslaughter—against his lawyer Marc Kadella’s express recommendation. But when the campaign worker turns up hanged in his Colorado cell just days after the election, Kadella senses his mistrust of the Carvers is just the tip of the iceberg.
Tyranny, cover-up, and all-out Shakespearian bloodbath haunt these pages, making House of Cards look like a Barbara Walters special. Author Dennis Carstens hits political corruption and smarmy-politician caricature right on the head, in a compelling sociological hypothetical melded with a captivating murder mystery that explores just how far American politicians will go for money—and power.
“House of Cards meets the Land of Trump” –Amazon 5-star reviewer
Fans of Nelson Demille, John Grisham, Richard North Patterson, and of course the most beloved lawyer sleuth of all time, Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason, will gobble up this one up. As will devotees of political thrillers like novels by Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, David Baldacci—and HOUSE OF CARDS fans in particular.
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Almost stopped reading it because it was a bit slow in the beginning but am very glad I stuck with it- turned into a page-turner!
The parts of the book about Marc are really good. The parts about Tom and Darla were hard for me to get thru.
Tom and Darla are so nasty, it was hard for me to even read about them. Kept finding myself putting the book aside and reading something else, then coming back to it.
Also, the book covers about fifteen years, which was different.
Really like the Marc Kadella books, but this was not my favorite.
This is the seventh book I have read in this series, and it certainly ramped up the tension. This book portrays a family of political animals with the kind of devastating accuracy that many people could name the family with very little effort. I am sure many readers have to believe that real people in the political world could not possibly behave in this fashion, and I am sure many more believe they would do these things in a heartbeat if they thought they could get away with it. I am reminded of Ted Kennedy and the death of a young woman by drowning in his car. I am reminded of Richard Nixon telling the nation that he was not a crook. I am reminded of Hilary Clinton insisting that she lost the last election due to a malignant conspiracy that she insists is still operating to keep her from being elected to the highest office in the land. I am also reminded of learning in school about the wrongly convicted soldier who committed no crime except being born Jewish. This is a meticulously researched book that speaks to today’s politics, and it is very readable.
I think this book was loosely based on the Clintons.
Another reviewer said this was like Trump meeting House of Cards, so true.
This was not a typical Marc Kadell legal mystery, in my opinion. After the first 6-7 pages the storyline became all about corrupt political intrigue. This lasted until about 2/3 of the book, when the legal crew came back for a bit. By the time the book resolved I had a hard time reading much at a time. The reason I ranked it as high as a 3star was solely Tony saved his story with his (again) dubious actions. Ya gotta Love Tony!
Happily Ever After, because it mirroed HRC, and they got their come-uppance. Only wish HRC would have ended the same way!!! Good read.
Very good read. Two more and I will have read them all.
a bit one sided, politically.
Loved this book. So relevant to life today and yet original concept.
Carstens consistently takes me to a different place while I read his work. While he may not be the best legal fiction writer, he is unquestionably top drawer.
Another excellent book in this series
Only the names have been changed to protect the guilty.
This was a very good read. and I felt like I was living in the 90s all over again.
OMG! what a scary thought. But I didn’t feel like we got Justice, I would rather have seen her at the end of a rope.
Fun read, and the time flies when you are having fun.
Would recommend to anyone who looks forward to escspinging into a good book
Tries desperately to parallel the Clintons. Don’t know how realistic it was, but altogether a fun read.
It is, hopefully, an unrealistic look at how corrupt our government leaders have become. It depicts them as being greedy, controlling and power hungry.
Excellent book as it keeps you guessing and turning pages.
very entertaining and a page turner. I purchased all of his books and look forward to the next one.
Politically scary
Page turner