Spin Doctor

by M.C. Lewis

Jack Abbott is a Washington spin doctor who longs to make the big time: the White House. Once there, he'll do almost anything to hold onto his job. Will the country re-elect his boss, President Dexter, a beloved widower with a secret, because of Jack's skillful deception? Will Jack's conscience finally surface and spur him to make amends? Or is it too late? Spin Doctor has a Washington theme, a realistic story and a soul. And unlike many Washington novels, Spin Doctor is not a memoir or polemic, not a message book or a thriller. Politically neutral, it goes to deeper truths: the conflict we all have between ambition and conscience. Spin Doctor is Washington from the inside, with humor and authenticity.

Genres: Fiction, Politics

286 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2012

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't always read political novels, but when I do I prefer Spin Doctor.

Really this was a great value, I couldn't put it down and constantly found myself wrapped up in trying to decipher the truth in the main character's "spin" on his life. The writing was engaging and surprisingly well-paced for an indie book.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in intellectual thrillers who is otherwise turned off by the caustic rhetoric and partisanship characterizing most political novels. Lewis maintains a careful neutrality without seeming to sacrifice any of the realism of Washington's charged atmosphere. I was fortunate enough to pick this up when it was offered for free for a couple days but I'd gladly pay for it (I think it's just 2 dollars on Amazon).

[Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a great book! For those of you who don't normally read political type books (like me) don't let that steer you away from enjoying this new book by M.C Lewis. The characters are easy to follow in regards to their position in Washington, yet each character is so complex. This book has struggles, competition, excitement and a small bit of romance braided throughout it. There is something in it for everyone. The book got off to a slow start for me but once it took off, I couldn't put it down. I was shocked when I reached the end of the book and discovered that this is an Indie Author. Why hasn't a great publishing house picked this author up? I can't wait for the sequel 'Potomac Lights' that gives the back story to the main characters in this book.

**I received this book as an ARC autographed copy*** The author included a card with a black and white image of the book's cover on it with a nice note inside. Nice touch.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spin Doctor is the story of Jack Abbott, who is kind of an asshole. But he's charismatic and you feel bad for him a lot so you keep reading and you end up rooting for him by the end of the novel.

If you're not up to date on DC acronyms and lingo, you're going to struggle a bit. But if you like The West Wing and Veep, you're going to like Spin Doctor.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. You won't be disappointed. It grabs you quick and won't let go. Don't start it during the week because you will be late for work when you oversleep from staying up all night reading!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book, and now that I'm done with it I'm still looking forward to something like it. I'd go 2.5 if that were an option. The basic story line was good. I love political settings, enjoyed the basic premise of this book and I loved Jack as a character. The dialogue was good and the descriptions of the settings were okay. The identification of other characters in the book was difficult. Without an introduction to most of them, the reader is just left to figure out who they are and how they play into the story's larger picture. Some of them are super important and some of them we never see again. Without knowing who they are, we don't have a great grasp of how they really impact Jack in the moment (other than Dexter). Overall, this feels like the start of what could be a really great book. It could use a little more suspense building, a little larger focus on consequences, a little more intimacy in any of the character relationships (Jack thinking about his job as he's mounting Sarah doesn't count) and some clarity all over the place.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a quick read (it is fiction by the way, incase anyone thought it was actually an account of a D.C. journalist). It is largely driven by plot, where a young journalist looses his job and then quickly starts to move up the ladder of D.C. politics and journalism and hits some stumbling points along the way, because what fun would it be if the happy ending came 50 pages earlier. It was largely predictable but albeit entertaining. If you enjoy novels about politics and the media this book is a good fit. I was hoping for something a little more, but I suppose I had just read the Woodward and Bernstein book so maybe I am biased.

[Rose Cimarron]

[2012-08-07} Yay!!! It's here :-) Thanks MC

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such rave reviews on this one, but for me it just plodded along. I think I never really understood the protagonist.