In Sheep's Clothing

Matthew Richter #1

by L.D. Beyer

One man holds the reins of power.
One man vows to protect him.
One man vows to destroy him.

Caught in a game of chess he didn’t know he was playing until it was too late, the President makes the only move he can, plunging Washington and the nation into chaos. Stunned and reeling, Vice President David Kendall takes the oath of office and tries to heal a nation in mourning. But what the new president doesn’t realize is that things in the White House aren’t always what they appear to be, and sometimes what looks like the best option may turn out to be the worst. When one fatal decision triggers consequences he never envisioned, President Kendall finds himself caught up in the same game that cost his predecessor his life.

Although there was nothing he could have done, Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter is haunted by the death of the man he had vowed to protect. When his girlfriend dumps him and his boss tells him that his job is on the line, he thinks his life cannot get any worse. He soon realizes how wrong he is when he finds himself fighting to save another president from the deadly forces that he has unwittingly unleashed.

This new release by L.D. Beyer is a fast-paced, action-packed political thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Political Thriller, Suspense, Amazon, Mystery Thriller

356 pages, Nook

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

L.D. Beyer is a reformed corporate drone who, after twenty-five years of missed family events, one day rose up and reclaimed his soul. Before he escaped, his career primarily involved relocating his family every few years—so much so that his children began to secretly suspect that he was really in the Witness Protection Program. He has yet to set the record straight.

L.D. Beyer is the author of three novels, two of which are part of the Matthew Richter Thriller Series. The first in the series, In Sheep’s Clothing, won a silver medal for best mystery/thriller eBook in the 2017 IPPY Book Awards. His third novel, The Devil’s Due, a standalone novel, is an historical thriller set in Ireland during the 1920’s.

Beyer lives in Michigan with his wife and three children. In addition to writing and reading, he enjoys cooking, hiking, biking, working out, and the occasional glass of wine.

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Learn more at www.LDBeyer.com.

Reviews

[Coco.V]

FREE on Amazon today (10/17/2017)!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After stumbling upon this political thriller by L.D. Beyer, I was quite curious! The premise was right up my alley and I needed something to tide me over. What I discovered was a thriller with key political elements that had me flipping pages well into the night. A Secret Service agent has been through a traumatic event but wants to keep making a difference. A president is preparing for re-election and trying to rally the troops, only to discover that there is a wolf inside the circle who wants to ensure failure. A politician who has all the power tied up in favours owed and is ready to release that strength, no matter who suffers. All this and more in Beyer’s debut novel that is sure to impress.

After significant tragedy befalls the country, Vice President David Kendall is sworn in as the new President of the United States. While he attempts to heal the wounds, he is left to cobble together a working government until he can face the voters for his own mandate. Little does he know, there is someone in his inner circle seeking to eliminate him one way or the other. President Kendall will have to watch his back or rely on others to help in that regard.

Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter is one of those tasked with helping the president. Trying to deal with the tragic events of the previous Commander-in-Chief, Richter will have to put all that aside and try to make sense of what is before him. He seeks to work within the Service, but is tagged as a pariah for what he did (or did not do) while protecting the previous president.

When chaos ensues during a presidential trip home from Seattle, Agent Richter must work to get to the heart of the matter and determine who is trying to turn the US Government on its head and put President Kendall in harm’s way. He will have to battle the elements, his doubts, and those around him who turn a blind eye to his concerns, all while trying to stay calm. The country relies on him to reveal the truth before someone else cane take up residence in the Oval Office and turn the country into their own plaything. A chilling thriller that has all the political elements needed to keep the attentive reader hooked.

While I had not heard of L.D. Beyer before I picked up this book, I am glad I took the gamble. Beyer offers up a stunning debut novel that kept me intrigued until all the pieces fell into place. A great narrative opening only gets better as the reader learns more about what happened and how a new president has assumed control. With a handful of political insiders, the story soon gains momentum and depth while trying to deduce exactly who is on which side of the game. Beyer peppers in a number of key characters who emerge as important in their own regard, while never revealing too much at any one time. Short chapters and number vignettes in each allow the reader to see the full picture and varied points of view to better understand what is taking place and who might be worth aligning with throughout. Plot points are key and there are many here, Beyer builds them up with ease and keeps the reader wondering when the next one is set to arrive. I cannot say enough about this book and am eager to get my hands on the next novel in the series, praying it will be as eventful.

Kudos, Mr. Beyer, for a political thriller that stands out among many others.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Jim A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good novel for a political thriller. The sitting president commits suicide while being blackmailed by an ambitious rival. (Not a spoiler, in prologue). The secret service agent, Richter, is fighting his own demons as it happened on his shift. The now president brings the blackmailer and his schemes into the White House as the new VP.

Very well researched and plotted out. Those who enjoy this type thriller will appreciate the author's work with this one.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading! Fans of Vince Flynn will love it!

This was a remarkably well written political thriller. We learn who the villain is in the Prologue and get to see the story unfold in the subsequent chapters. It’s about the lust for power and the unscrupulous means some will go through to achieve it. It is also about a Secret Service Agent who does everything in his power to protect the President including parachuting out of a mortally wounded Air Force One with him, protecting him in survival mode and finally getting him safely back to DC where he belonged. Remarkably giving this synopsis isn’t really a spoiler. It’s not what they did, it’s how they did it! Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC for an honest review.

[John Bohnert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally engrossed in this fascinating political thriller. I'm very glad that I discovered this author. I plan to read AN EYE FOR AN EYE soon.

[Charles Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

When President Thomas Walters killed himself, Vice President David Kendall is installed as President. He quickly learns that not everything in the White House, or in Washington, is what it seems, and that the very thing that drove Walters to suicide could also threaten his life.
Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter was the closest agent to Walters, but still not close enough to stop him, and that still haunts him even as he vows to protect the new President.
Both men find themselves running for their lives after an attempt is made to assassinate Kendall while he’s onboard Air Force One enroute back to Washington, DC.
In Sheep’s Clothing by L.D. Beyer, which I received as a gift, is a chilling tale of political intrigue at the highest levels of government and the depths of human depravity. The author takes readers on a whirlwind ride through the machinations of government and the twists of the human condition, in a story chock full of ‘insider’ details about the organs of government and the often faceless people who make it up. It’s no exaggeration to say that this book is a page-turner, so don’t start reading if you don’t have three hours to do nothing else. A profound story of the corruption of power, and how the insane desire for power is the most corruptive of all. After reading this book, you’ll never see Washington the same way again.

[Argum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.

Great story and plotting. Lots of narrator and scene shifts kept reader a bit off balance but heightened tension in some places. Some loose ends keep me from making it a five star.

The book opens with the President skeet shooting pondering his blackmail problem at the hands of a sitting Senator. Before anyone knows what is happening he turns the gun on himself. The agent standing next to him is our main character and for part of the book he is struggling with what he could have done better having no idea that the blackmail existed.

The VP takes over and his new VP is none other than the shady senator only the President knew was behind the blackmail that drove him to suicide. Soon a plan is being developed to kill the new President so he can move up to the head spot. After a dramatic escape from that attempt the single Secret Service agent, still wrestling with the loss of the last president, they work together to both bring down the conspiracy and escape detection for their own safety.

Brad Meltzer fans will enjoy. Folks who dislike too many viewpoints will not. Putting the next in the series on my to read list

[Akeating2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I like political thrillers and this one had a good plot line. It reminded me of the current tv show Designated Survivor. I would have made this 4 stars except I felt like there were too many characters introduced in the first part of the book and it was a little distracting. I would read the next in this series.

[Jeremy Landau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent and fast-paced political thriller, introducing a new character to our realm of intrigue.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political thrillers are not really my preferred genre. I would rather read Literary fiction full of clever metaphors and symbolism that lets me wrestle with deeper layers of meaning, and unique social commentary. In comparison, political thrillers are stylistically simple; their complexity lies in the twists and turns of their plot, and the strategies and mental acrobatics necessary for the protagonists to overcome their rivals’ schemes. With that in mind, I approached In Sheep’s Clothing from a literary perspective, and despite it being an “airport read”, I was, in fact, pleasantly surprised.

It was odd, Walters thought, that the possibility of losing the presidency, of losing his wife, and possibly being cast aside as a social pariah didn’t bother him nearly as much as the prospect of facing his father. He was a sixty-six year old man, he was the President of the United States, and he was still afraid of his father.

With the Presidency suddenly transferred as a result of a tragic event, the new President Kendall is inexperienced and ill-equipped to deal with the political games played by those who seek power – at any cost. He doesn’t know it, but his life is in danger from those who are closest to him. It’s up to Secret Service agent Matthew Richter, reeling from his failure to prevent the recent catastrophe, to protect President Kendall and take down a widespread political conspiracy of lies,secrets and murder.

His interactions with the public were carefully orchestrated and limited. There were times when he found himself staring out the windows of the second floor residence at the tourists and the occasional protestors in the distance on the other side of the fence. The times he had ventured out beyond the gates had been behind the bulletproof glass of an armored limousine, with scores of Secret Service agents intent on keeping the public at a distance. And each time, they had urged, if not insisted, that he wear a bulletproof vest. He liked the agents assigned to him, and he knew they meant well. Still, it was odd, he thought. Never had he felt so exposed, where his every move was watched. And yet, never had he felt so isolated.

The opening scene in the novel hooked me, and from that point the suspense did not let up. Not once was I bored, and so Beyer did his job well – he kept me thrilled. With that out of the way, on a deeper level, what I really liked about this book was the depiction of the Presidents. Both Walters and Kendall were highly sympathetic characters, and their stature did not detract from their humanity; rather, their fallibility as realistic people was heightened by the expectations others had of them for merely holding that office. I felt like they were approachable and genuine, complex characters. I wanted Kendall to succeed, and I worried for his safety; I cared about him and his family. I think the wife and kids could have had a little more of a voice in the book, but that’s a separate point.

So much of this is a dance, Kendall thought. Although he was no stranger to negotiation, the diplomatic exchanges between nations were very different from the deal-making in the business world. Today, their initial dance was part of the mating ritual, the intent to see if, hopefully, they were compatible dance partners. The goal was to inform each other of their respective viewpoints and the key issues affecting each of their nations. The real discussions would come later between their diplomatic teams. First, though, Kendal and Magaña had to find a way to dance together without stepping on each other’s toes. That was difficult when both men wanted to lead.

A lot of these books run the risk of being a bit dry and technical, focusing too much on the specs of the weaponry and technology, or the logic of the political schemes, or descriptions of the action. While this book does have a lot of action, tech and explosions, it goes a bit further by having some wonderfully vivid descriptions of the processes behind the scenes of politics, and the security measures that are taken to protect the President – it’s a very well-researched novel and I struggled to poke any holes in it. Beyer evokes a feeling of intrigue and deception reminiscent of The West Wing or House of Cards, although Beyer’s villains may lack the sinister sophistication of, say, Francis Underwood.

Her day could vary from absolute boredom as she stood guard for hours at a time to an intense adrenaline rush as she responded to potential risks. She could be in four different cities in the course of one day. She could also, as part of a small team, manage the dynamics of a large, excited and often volatile crowd. And there were an almost infinite number of scenarios, related dangers and emotions in between.

The weaknesses of the novel, perhaps, lie in the simplicity of its villains. The mastermind behind the sinister plot comes across as rather childish and impulsive, throwing temper tantrums over things that he should, after a long career in politics, be used to controlling himself over. I didn’t buy the main premise behind his motivation, and that failure to convince me was enough to knock a star off my rating. Additionally, I felt the female characters were disappointingly flat and stereotyped, and they needed a little more work to bring them up to the narrative level of Richter or Kendall. Other than that, barring a few minor typos, I think this is a pretty solid attempt, and it was worth reading.

She had the highest level of security clearance and was routinely exposed to classified information. She had witnessed all sorts of personal failures by the politicians she had been charged to protect over the years. Unethical behavior like infidelity, lying, stealing, drug addiction and obsession with pornography – it seemed to come with the territory. It seemed the higher some people climbed up the ladder of success, the less they believed that society’s rules applied to them.

I think the female characters in the novel, both good and evil, could have had a little more complexity in their characters; they seemed a little unrealistic to me. This novel (and the ensuing sequels, as this is the first of a series focusing on the adventures of Agent Matthew Richter) could probably become a successful film franchise along the lines of Tom Cruise movies. It is more down-to-earth than a lot of political thrillers I’ve read, but the villains never quite scared me into believing they had a chance of winning. In Sheep’s Clothing is a quick page-turner with a good story.

I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair, honest review. Read more of my reviews on Literogo.com

[ReBecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Sheep's Clothing is an action-packed, page-turning, political thriller! From page one I was hooked and couldn't get enough of this book. This is the first book I've read of L.D. Beyer's and it won't be my last. I enjoyed following President David Kendall and Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter on a very suspenseful journey. I can't wait to see what is in store next for these two.

The book reminded me of the movie Olympus Has Fallen and the Has Fallen film series. If you are a fan of the movie series, I would highly recommend In Sheep's Clothing, you will not be disappointed!

****

Vice President David Kendall has taken the oath of office after the tragic death of President Thomas Walters. As the nation is healing from Walter's death, former Vice President Kendall is adapting to his new role as President. One of his first tasks is finding a new Vice President. Kendall's top pick is no other than Tyler Rumson, a senator from New Jersey, who drove President Walters to suicide after blackmailing him. With Tyler Rumson now Vice President he begins to develop a plan to kill Kendall.

Meanwhile, Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter is still mourning the death of President Walters. With his job now on the line, he is doing the best he can to protect the current President, David Kendall.

While aboard Air Force One an assassination attempt is made on President Kendall. As the plane is going down, Kendall and Richter are able to escape. Soon they find themselves in great danger and with no one to trust. Richter will stop at nothing to make sure President Kendall survives but as they get closer to figuring out who is behind the assignation, the more dangerous things become.

[Kinsey Breland .: avid_midnight_reader :. · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of “secret identity” scenes in here where you didn’t know who exactly you were following at certain points. In some ways, this was great. It added to the thriller and mystery of what was going on. It also made some things a little confusing at the moment. There were so many people behind the attempt to assassin the President. It was cool to watch how all these moving pieces worked together, and seeing everything come together at the end.

I was surprised when the man at the head of this whole conspiracy actually attempted to kill the President in front of an audience right when he was being arrested. He said himself that the evidence they had didn’t prove that he had anything to do with a murder attempt or the bombing. They didn’t have solid proof against him. He lost that leverage when he went to attack the President at the end.

The ending felt like a bit of a let down. We already knew who was behind the assassination attempt from almost the very beginning, and there was no kind of twist at the end. I was expecting something more from the ending that I just didn't get.

3.5 stars

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The president's suicide has catapulted David Kendall into the top job without warning. Just as he's slowly getting the hang of being in charge of the whole country, someone close to him has decided to remove him by force, going to extreme lengths to get the job done. Secret Service agent Matthew Richter has already lost one president - and he'll do whatever it takes to make sure he won't lose another.

Fastpaced action that kept me hooked - looking forward to the next book.

[Melba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one that held my attention from start to finish, and I felt like I couldn't finish it fast enough. It as a gripping story, and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. There were a few parts that made me cry, but it was such a believable story & made me think. Something like this could be possible today, but I pray that it never happens in my lifetime.

[Pierce Dierker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book and exciting read. The plot line while a little ridiculous made for a good story. Characters get thrown at you in the beginning but levels out as the book goes making it not so confusing. My biggest gripe was the second half seemed to drag on a little as richters paranoia would not let up

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not a bad thriller, but it isn’t great.

The first part of the book set the stage for Agent Richter and his internal struggles of being on the President’s Protective Detail. His struggle surfaces after President Walters blows his brains out during routine skeet shoot. No matter how many times Richter plays it through his and mind and the encouragement from colleagues, he can’t accept that he could not have prevented it. What he doesn’t know, is why Walters did it.

As a reader, we don’t have to wait too long to find out who the villain is- Senator, to be Vice-President Rumson. This man, through small steps, favors and general conniving and blackmail, has built a formable network of individuals who will do anything to help him achieve his goal of President of the United States. Why are we told who the villain is in the first chapter? For me, it definitely squashed the suspense part of the novel.

The best part of the story is the build-up to President Kendell’s trip to and back from Seattle. You know what’s going to happen, but how has yet to be seen. This is well written and thought out.

From this point on, for me, it went flat. The President and Richter are the only survivors of the crash. That’s not exactly true, there are two others but that would be a severe spoiler giveaway.

They are rescued by two kids who decided to take a hike in the Nez Perce National Park. Unbeknown to them would be going straight in to a massive blizzard and the survivors of Air Force One.

The crash leads to one of the biggest SAR efforts in US history. The force behind the search is acting President Rumson. He want the office so badly, he’s sent a few of chips to look for the missing POTUS to confirm his passing or assist him in meeting his maker.

The story line is there, but I just didn’t feel the execution was properly pulled off. There were some interesting twists and turns, yet I never felt the mounting tension and excitement as say Ludlum or Clancy. It almost came across as Mr. Beyer was trying to be too calculating thus clouding the drive of the story.

All in all, not a bad read

Three Stars

[Benjamin Roosevelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I have read a mystery that was both riveting and that made me truly uncomfortable......this one did. Most mysteries are too far removed from our normal lives to leave much of an impact after finishing. In Sheep's Clothing was close enough to possible, and to our lives to make me think hard about a very uncomfortable subject....The research behind producing this book must have taken years. Either that or L.D. Beyer is far more gifted that just about any other mystery author I have read in the last decade! Once the action starts, you won't want to put it down. Trust me. I crammed it into that 10 p.m. - Midnight. time frame for a few evenings. My immediate thought after finishing was, "How Did Mr. Beyer Pull That Off!" It is worth your time. Certainly if you enjoyed Tom Clancy 20 or 30 years you might just think "In Sheep's Clothing" is better. Enjoy.

[Susanne Leist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the story had complicated technical terms, many government agencies, and endless characters, I became vested in the main characters. The president might be considered the main character, but I believe Matthew Richter was the one who brought us along with him on his journey to save the president. His loneliness and pain came across even through his stoic personality. I'm happy there's going to be a book two.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret Service agent guarding President on Air Force One flying through bad storm. Explosion occurs. Who are the bad guys? Who survives? Who's still missing?

I liked this story and might try to find its sequel. Kindle freebie or good deal when I downloaded it. The author writes well, a plus for any book!

[Scott Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book, so i picked it up on Amazon. If this is a first book, all I can say is that I'm looking forward to the next one! I'm usually a little slow to get engaged with a book, but 10 or 15 pages in and I found myself staying up way too late at night. More Matthew Richter!

[Phyllis Rile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Well Written/Very Well Read

I could hardly put the book the down to go to bed. The story makes the reader wonder if such a thing could actually happen some day. Strongly recommend the book be read.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mathew Richter, a particularly resourceful Secret Service Agent struggles to protect the President from an ingenious assassination conspiracy in this fast moving survival story that will keep you furiously turning the pages. Very highly recommended.

[Tulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend.

Suspenseful fast paced political thriller. Scary, especially in this political atmosphere. Love the Matthew Richter's character, will be reading the next book.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading an action-packed political thriller and I found it in “In Sheep’s Clothing”. L.D. Beyer has written a page-turning, fast-paced novel that will have you speculating and wondering throughout. The story opens with the President of the United States committing suicide while skeet-shooting with a number of Secret Service agents. It seems that someone has blackmailed him not to seek re-election. He obviously saw no way out of his dilemma. Matthew Richter is one of the President’s agents and feels in some way responsible that he could not stop what happened.

His Vice-President, David Kendall has taken the reins of the country. Matthew Richter has been assigned to this president as well. He takes his job very seriously and is highly motivated to keep this new leader safe.

President Kendall has chosen a man for his Vice-President who seems to be on a different wave-length than Kendall. Tyler Rumson has been in politics for years and has used his influence to garner people whom he can maneuver to do his bidding. He wants to be President…badly. He is determined that David Kendall will not run for re-election. When he finds out the opposite, Rumson calls in his markers. He has to do something to stop the President.

In a spectacular event, Air Force One crashes on a flight from Seattle to Washington, D.C. What caused the crash? Did anyone survive the crash? Was it terrorism or sabotage? Was Matthew Richter able to do his job in keeping the president safe? Do not start reading this book unless you can finish it in one or two sittings. You will NOT be able to put it down.

I loved the way Mr. Beyer develops his characters and keeps the reader in suspense trying to decide who the bad guys are. The Matthew Richter Thriller Series will now be on my reader list.

I purchased a Kindle print copy of this book from Amazon.com. No review positive or otherwise was required – all opinions are my own. You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-nZ, and other reviews on my blog at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com.

[Kaamil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly well-written novel

In the author's note, Beyer makes it clear that this book took approximately 20 years to write. He was able to write a small portion of it many years ago, but was only able to truly focus on it recently.

While all the details mentioned are phenomenally accurate, specifically regarding the presidency, the time span is certainly evident. The first half of the book has been beautifully worded, but the plot is exceptionally slow and dare I say it-- boring. A reader can detect that the writer was not truly focused.

However, the second half of the book, which I imagine was written when Beyer was more focused, was definitely more gripping than the first half. The plot was gripping, the characters seemed more real, and the pages appeared to fly by.

The only other critique I have is that there are one too many characters, and if you don't pay attention to their roles from the beginning, you may be rather confused by the second half half of the novel.

So, pay attention and enjoy the novel! It is definitely a good one.

[Petisia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well versed political thriller packed with a conspiratorial plot of intrigue, mystery and suspense. Most enjoyable was the absence of improbably acts of physical and combat feats often amplified in other thrillers I’ve read; creating a reasonable perception that the scenario in this portrayal could actually take place.

The protagonist, Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter, is a personable character gifted with qualities of competence, emotional intelligence, empathy and humility. The introduction of the 40+ other individuals were well placed throughout the story and character development was limited to the most relevant players.

I was wholeheartedly engaged in this novel after reading the prologue and the ebb and flow of Beyer’s writing style made the narrative a polished read. Looking forward to reading the sequel, An Eye for an Eye, and following Richter’s future perilous adventures. Side note: A sincere thank you to the author for including the meaning of each acronym introduced throughout this thriller.

[Eric Wadsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What A Great Book!!
I will be honest though, the first hundred pages or so were a bit slow to me. I understand there has to be a background and who is who review of the characters, but I was anxious the story and action to begin. And let me tell you, once it did, it did not stop!! I love the movie Olympus has Fallen and although this is a completely different story plot, the content and characters are similar. This was a great, thrilling read and I really enjoyed it.

Secret Service Agent Richter carries the president through tremendous obstacles after an assassination attempt is made on the president. Not only are they fighting to stay alive in harsh conditions, but they are running from the same group that already tried to murder them. Richter and the President hold strong and unravel who they can trust and who is actually behind this attempted assassination.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was/is a very intense, high action political thriller that has the reader thinking, "Holy shit, what if"? The plot of the story is what if a sitting president's, vice president decides that he wants the top slot. This means taking out the president and everybody in the way. This especially includes one Secret Service agent who is dead set on the president not dying. This is where the story takes off because every situation, every choice can mean the difference between life and death for the agent and the bona fide president. This is not a story about desk bound characters, but one in where people die. The characters are three dimensional and believable and bring the story to life

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy - I liked this book. It had conspiracy, action, a couple of good guys (newly installed President Kendall and Secret Service agent Matthew Richter), political intrigue, and much more!

When the President commits suicide while skeet shooting, the country is thrown for a loop. New Pres. Kendall jumps in and tries to take the reins of the country; agent Richter is his primary body guard (who is suffering guilt that he couldn't stop the suicide). Naturally, Kendall leans heavily on the advice of the leaders of his party and his advisors, but begins to feel that something is amiss; there's a hidden agenda. Hmmm. We recognize the bad guy and are shown his agenda, but how can Richter ensure Kendall is safe and the dangers are averted. I enjoyed all aspects of this book!

[Srikkanth G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing special

If you are picking this book expecting a pot boiler political thriller, then you will be disappointed.

Mr Kendell becomes the President of USA after the unfortunate death of current President.

People within close circles don't like Mr Kendell. Assassination attempt and the chase. That's it.

There is no political backstabbing, criss crossing or hair splitting stuff.

Even the action is unbelievable. The action writing is flimsy and there are too many loop holes in them.

Character development is non existent.

Overall, a disappointing book considering how they are marketing this as a Novel version equal to House of Cards and Designated Survivor.