by David Corn
First published 1999
The president collapses during a televised press conference, struck down by an assassin's bullet. Jack Murphy, the disgraced head of White House security, watches his career crumble as the nation reels from the attack. Sarah Chen, a CIA analyst with sharp instincts and few allies, suspects the official investigation will miss crucial details. Murphy and Chen form an unlikely partnership to pursue their own probe into the killing. Their search leads them through Washington's shadowy corridors of power, where they discover that enemies of the state have infiltrated the government's highest ranks. Each clue they uncover puts them in greater danger as powerful forces work to silence them. Murphy must overcome his professional disgrace while Chen navigates the treacherous world of intelligence gathering. Together they race to expose a conspiracy that threatens the foundation of American democracy.
Genres: mystery, crime, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: race-against-time, unlikely-partners
Setting: Washington DC
Period: 21st-century
370 pages · Hardcover · St Martins Pr