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75th out of 194 books
—
155 voters
The First Counsel
by
Brad Meltzer (Goodreads Author)
Michael Garrick is a young man with a dream job. As a lawyer in the White House, he rubs shoulders with the top men and women in the country. And that includes Shadow, the Secret Service code name for the First Daughter, Nora Hartson, who likes Michael a lot. It's difficult dating the First Daughter; Michael and Nora are never alone, and Nora has a rebellious streak about...more
Published
(first published January 1st 2001)
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This book was so much fun to read! Pure escape. Fast paced, suspenseful, the author is compared to John Grisham in the critiques. It's the story of a young lawyer working as legal counsel for the President of the United States. He starts dating the President's lively daughter and...I really can't give any more away. FYI - 10-15 F-words, and a few references of a sexual nature. If you don't mind that, it was lots of fun.
This was one of the best audiobook abridgements I've listened to yet. It was four tapes long, so I imagine not a whole lot was left out, and D.B. Sweeny's voice was superb! He really has a talent for accents and voices that don't come across as stereotypes or silly.
The story itself is a solid one, a political/law thriller, with Michael Garrett being the protagonist of the tale. Michael begins dating a gal named Nora, which seems a simple enough set-up, but Nora is the daughter of the president....more
The story itself is a solid one, a political/law thriller, with Michael Garrett being the protagonist of the tale. Michael begins dating a gal named Nora, which seems a simple enough set-up, but Nora is the daughter of the president....more
White House lawyer Michael Garrick finds himself going out with the first daugher, Nora Hartson. A thrill-seeking and irresistable twenty-something, she proves to be an interesting date. After losing their secret-service escort, Nora and Michael find themselves in a shady bar in the heart of urban DC, where they witness the head White House lawyer, Simon, make a clandestine meet, and after following him, discover he has dropped off a large quantity of cash. The two suspect some shady dealings, b...more
Summary: JFK Jr. was Lark. Amy Carter was Dynamo. Chelsea Clinton was Energy. Meet Shadow. "Shadow" is the Secret Service codename for the First Daughter, Nora Hartson. And when she starts dating young White House lawyer Michael Garrick, he starts feeling like the First Counsel. That's what happens to everyone who lives in her world. It's a world all of us have heard about, but none of us truly know - a world where your dad's the President, your close friends wear earpieces and carry guns and a...more
I want to give this book three stars, but I found myself skipping pages towards the end just to finish this and see what happens. Our main character falls for the reckless daughter of the president, she gets him into a bit of trouble and is generally bad for him, but he doesn't seem to care about that. They come across a secret and spend the entire novel trying to figure out how to fix the predicament it put them in. That's basically it, and my disinterest in the characters coupled with the shal...more
I’ll start by saying right now, I absolutely disliked this book. & the only reason why I finished the book was because I sincerely wanted to know who the bad guy was.
For a good 75% of the book, there is nothing but Michael shouting at Nora not to lie to him, Michael shouting to Trey not to lie to him, or Michael shouting to Pam not to lie to him. Honestly… I’ve never, NEVER, read so much shouting back & forth in a novel, to no end.
Further, Nora’s erratic & bizarre behavior is just e...more
For a good 75% of the book, there is nothing but Michael shouting at Nora not to lie to him, Michael shouting to Trey not to lie to him, or Michael shouting to Pam not to lie to him. Honestly… I’ve never, NEVER, read so much shouting back & forth in a novel, to no end.
Further, Nora’s erratic & bizarre behavior is just e...more
After watching Decoded I figured I'd check out some of Brad Meltzer's book from the library. This was the oldest book I had so I started here. While the characters were rather thinly drawn, the pacing and plot were incredibly fast and absorbing, hiding a number of minor flaws that really just disappeared in the race to the climax. I can honestly say that I was unable to guess the ending which is always a great thing!
The ending was NOT what I was expecting. I won't give anything away (even though...more
The ending was NOT what I was expecting. I won't give anything away (even though...more
Meltzer writes a good thriller, but has a repetitive theme-- hapless guy gets blamed for something he did or didn't do-- runs from F.B.I. or Secret Service, etc.
In this case, the hero works in the legal department for the White house and is dating the first daughter. Out one night, he sees his boss in a compromising situation-- and from there-- he is slipping and sliding into a plot that is not of his making. Is the first daughter really the basket case she pretends to be or is she in on the pl...more
In this case, the hero works in the legal department for the White house and is dating the first daughter. Out one night, he sees his boss in a compromising situation-- and from there-- he is slipping and sliding into a plot that is not of his making. Is the first daughter really the basket case she pretends to be or is she in on the pl...more
my dear god! when will this guy ever get out of his fold..?!
all of the protagonists in brad meltzer's books are the screwable irritable loser types.. and they do repeatedly get run over and it is always this ufo spotting kind of life altering incident that they get stuck up in.. running from FBIs, CIAs and secret services.. always running ,never trusting.. and always seem to have faith in the wrong guys... you can't tell me that's reality.. atleast my life's not that predictable in pattern.
i su...more
all of the protagonists in brad meltzer's books are the screwable irritable loser types.. and they do repeatedly get run over and it is always this ufo spotting kind of life altering incident that they get stuck up in.. running from FBIs, CIAs and secret services.. always running ,never trusting.. and always seem to have faith in the wrong guys... you can't tell me that's reality.. atleast my life's not that predictable in pattern.
i su...more
Mar 27, 2012
Ray
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Meltzer fans only
I found "The First Counsel" interesting enough to allow me finish it and find out who was the "bad guy", but all along the way I found myself distracted by the fact that the characters, their behavior, and the dialog was unrealistic. None of the characters were believable, and I was totally unsympathetic to their ongoing difficulties. If it wasn't for the fact that I have somewhat of a stubborn streak, and wanted to finish what I started, this was the kind of book I could have easily simply put...more
I have read a number of Brad Meltzer's books, and I don't know how I missed this when it first came out.
The First Counsel is an outstanding book--well written and with a great plot. Michael Garrick is a White House lawyer who begins a relationship with Nora Hartson, daughter of the President of the United States. Taking on such a relationship would definitely bring its own set of problems; however, with Nora, nothing is normal, and "problems" is an understatement.
A seemingly innocent night out o...more
The First Counsel is an outstanding book--well written and with a great plot. Michael Garrick is a White House lawyer who begins a relationship with Nora Hartson, daughter of the President of the United States. Taking on such a relationship would definitely bring its own set of problems; however, with Nora, nothing is normal, and "problems" is an understatement.
A seemingly innocent night out o...more
A fast-moving book, not as good as the previous ones. A bit slow in a lot of places and made me quite aggravated at the main character who kept making excuses for the president's daughter. Together, they came across a stash of money left in the woods by the First Counsel, but Nora takes $10,000 of it without her date's knowledge. They're stopped by the police, the car is searched, the money is found, and from then on, he comes under suspicion for murder, etc. He constantly tells the story about...more
This was just the book to remove the drama of my life. Very well written, although the ending was a bit abrupt, the suspense was intriguing and intense enough to keep my mind wandering back to the characters whenever I had to put it down and live. I am about to make such a silly statement I have to introduce it as profound or come across as an imbecile. The suspense was suspenseful! Lately, I haven't been able to find a book with characters or plot interesting enough to be worthy of the small am...more
This book will grab you pretty early on. I was annoyed Nora's behavior immediately and nearly stopped reading just because of it. However, there was enough redeeming about her that I thought there was hope. At different times in this book I suspected pretty much everybody of some type of duplicitous behaviour. You will not know for sure who the conspirators are until the end. You'll think you do, you'll probably go back and forth, but you won't know. That alone makes it worth reading as that doe...more
The First Counsel is Brad Meltzer's third book, and like his previous books it was well written and hard for me to put down. I have to say that I liked the first two a little better, possibly because this one dealt with the powers and privileges that come along with being a member of the white house family, or may be it was because I felt part of the plot was a little unbelievable. It was a good story for the most part, with twists and turns like his other books, and I must say that I did not pr...more
This was a slow moving, at times irritating, mystery novel set in the White House, going into a presidential election with the president struggling at the polls. The mystery whirls around a lawyer and others in the White House Counsel's office, the president's daughter, murder and blackmail. All the elements to make a good mystery novel, but it doesn't work well here. The lawyer protagonist often behaves contrary to a what a lawyer would do, his actions increase his suspect role, he quickly flie...more
For a thriller this took me quite some time to finish. It didn't pick up for me until about two-thirds through when Michael finally takes action instead of just sitting on his butt crying foul play to everyone who asks. The Trey character made me laugh aloud though so plus points for that. The story was interesting enough but I just couldn't sympathize with Michael or Nora which is why I wasn't particularly in a hurry to find out what happens next. I think I've had my fill of thriller/bestseller...more
I like his first couple of books. This was a chore to read. I forced myself to finish it, but the main character was completely annoying, as was the First Daughter character. I guess I was supposed to believe this guy was so under the spell of a dim-witted, immature, self-centered (but, of course, misunderstood) girl, that he would continue to make one stupid decision after another. I usually don't expect great character development or witty dialogue in a thriller, but I do expect the pace/actio...more
Mar 15, 2009
Karla
is currently reading it
This book is about a young lawyer working the the white house and falls for the president's daughter. They go out and see some mysterious activity going on with one of the presidents councilmen and try to solve the mystery. They have pressure from the FBI, police and the presidential secret service to explain their activities. I am enjoying the plot to see what happens next because it contains several twists with the story like his books do tend to follow that pattern. I enjoy all of his stories...more
Another thriller about a lawyer. Apparently lawyers are trained in a way that lends itself to becoming an author. A sensitive protrayal of a mentally handicapped father, worth reading for that protrayal alone. I was disappointed in the ending of the story, it almost comes across that dying is preferrable to living through or overcoming childhood sexual abuse (and I am a therapist who has done his own journey so I know childhood abuse can be overcome and a life worth living can occur despite such...more
Downloaded from Audible.com
Very entertaining listen!
Narrator: Scott Brick
Publisher: Hachette Audio, 2003
Length: 14 hours and 27 min.
Publisher's Summary
Shadow is the Secret Service code name for First Daughter, Nora Hartson. And when Michael Garrick, a young White House lawyer, begins dating the irresistible Nora, he's instantly spellbound, just like everyone else in her world.
It's a world all of us have heard about but few of us really know. A world where power is an aphrodisiac, your father is...more
Very entertaining listen!
Narrator: Scott Brick
Publisher: Hachette Audio, 2003
Length: 14 hours and 27 min.
Publisher's Summary
Shadow is the Secret Service code name for First Daughter, Nora Hartson. And when Michael Garrick, a young White House lawyer, begins dating the irresistible Nora, he's instantly spellbound, just like everyone else in her world.
It's a world all of us have heard about but few of us really know. A world where power is an aphrodisiac, your father is...more
I was excited to read this, but found the lead character, Michael, whose point of view this is written from, kind of a ninny. And a whiner. And a ninny. He waits until 2/3 of the book is over to take control of his own life. And he lets everyone walk all over him. He is also the only one who cannot see his girlfriend is a whacko, needy, junkie, with serious problems - he identifies with her because his father is mentally retarded and hers is the president?? I didn't get the hook and ended up ski...more
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
Michael Garrick, a junior atty. in White House counsel's office, is the main character. A self-described 'Boy Scout," Garrick starts dating First Daughter, Nora Hartson, which is where the adventure also begins.
This falls into the category of mystery in which the central detective is not a detective by trade.
This is a thriller that takes place mainly in the workplace -- where the usual principles apply (rivalry, alliances, turfdom, rank). Because it's the White House, though...more
Michael Garrick, a junior atty. in White House counsel's office, is the main character. A self-described 'Boy Scout," Garrick starts dating First Daughter, Nora Hartson, which is where the adventure also begins.
This falls into the category of mystery in which the central detective is not a detective by trade.
This is a thriller that takes place mainly in the workplace -- where the usual principles apply (rivalry, alliances, turfdom, rank). Because it's the White House, though...more
I didn't finish this book because I lost interest. I won't disparage the author because I don't know his work other than this book. It wasn't the plot that didn't interest me it was the characters. Compared to the significant family ties and social conventions of a high-powered Washington family, the main characters came off as sophomoric. Somehow I don't think that was the author's intention. Again, I've never read other books by Mr. Meltzer so what do I know.
I heard Brad Metlzer speak at TLA (Texas Librarian Association) this year and enjoyed his speech so much that I had to check out his books. This is the first one I've read, and I enjoyed it.
The pace was fast and furious. The characters were great, but it was the action that drove the story. From the first sentence, the reader is taken on a wild ride. I stayed up way too late just to see how it would end.
I will definitely check out his other books.
The pace was fast and furious. The characters were great, but it was the action that drove the story. From the first sentence, the reader is taken on a wild ride. I stayed up way too late just to see how it would end.
I will definitely check out his other books.
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I thought was really good although I think the ending could have been better. There were a few things that I questioned as if they would do things that way but was able to pass it off in my mind as I really don't know and that allowed me to read on. Generally when I read things I know are inaccurate or impossible it disrupts my reading.
This was my third Brad Meltzer (onto my 4th) book in a row I have read. He's really good at keeping them "short and sweet" so he captures you and keeps you rathe...more
This was my third Brad Meltzer (onto my 4th) book in a row I have read. He's really good at keeping them "short and sweet" so he captures you and keeps you rathe...more
The First Counsel is a rapid-paced legal/political thriller whose lead character is a mid-level White House staffer. Although attorney Michael Garrick is enjoying a budding romance with the First Daughter, he comes to finds the courtship fraught with danger--both to his career and his life. There's a heart-warming but unnecessary sub-plot and few characters have much substance beyond that required to move along the story. However the author excels at writing action sequences which keep the reade...more
The White House is not immune to blackmail, drugs and murder and president's daughter is in the middle of a tight story that weaves these three themes together. In THE FIRST COUNSEL author Brad Meltzer once again uses the first person present tense to keep the reader running fast beside the hero, White House counsel Michael Garrick, as the action races through the D.C. streets, the first family's private residence and a few "secret" places.
Trite. Unimaginative. Boring. A lawyer to the president, on a date with the president's daughter, sees his boss leaving a packet of money for someone in the woods. Before he can tell anyone, the lawyer himself gets into trouble and possibly charged with murder. The reader is supposed to think oh no how is this innocent guy going to get out of trouble. I didn't care.
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Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, as well as the bestsellers The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, The Book of Fate and The Book of Lies.
He is also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby—and is the Eisner Award-winning author of the critically acclaimed comic book, Justice League of America.
His...more
More about Brad Meltzer...
He is also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby—and is the Eisner Award-winning author of the critically acclaimed comic book, Justice League of America.
His...more
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“Pam described herself as the person in fifth grade who got left behind when her friends got popular. ”
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