by Zev Chafets
First published 1998
Dewey Goldberg never expected to occupy the Oval Office. A decade after the Gulf War, the Speaker of the House finds himself sworn in as President following the sudden deaths of his predecessors. Goldberg settles into his new role, but troubling intelligence reaches him about Israeli Prime Minister Elihu Barzel. The Prime Minister appears to be supporting a fundamentalist challenger in the upcoming American election. Goldberg turns to Charlie Walker, a trusted journalist friend, and sends him to investigate the suspicious activity. Walker's investigation leads him deeper into Israeli political machinations than he anticipated. He uncovers a secret operation known only as "The Project." The scope of this covert plan shocks him. The conspiracy threatens more than Goldberg's reelection prospects. Walker realizes that "The Project" could destabilize the entire global political order. The journalist must decide whether to expose what he has learned, knowing that the truth could reshape international relations forever.
Genres: suspense, contemporary, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, political-intrigue
Setting: Oval Office, Israel
Period: Gulf War, American Election
272 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Grand Central Publishing