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Summary: Suspense, politics and murder ... the perfect combination.
Review: A Kennedyesque Senator Kerry Kilcannon is running for his party's nomination for president against the vice president. This book follows Kerry's campaign across the country in the days leading up to the primary. In the end, the focus is on California, where Kerry needs to win. Haunted by the assassination of his older brother whose footsteps Kerry now follows, Kerry is determined not to let an old affair ruin his chances to be president. The real suspense comes from a right to life fanatic, wanted for murdering three abortion clinic workers, who tracks Kerry to California, where he plots the assassination of the presidential hopeful. This book is like a train wreck: It is obvious what is about to happen; what is not obvious is who the mysterious assassin is. The author effectively uses flashbacks to give us a glimpse of Kerry's past, which dramatically influences who he is today: his abusive father, his Irish godfather/mentor who guides Kerry's political career, and the importance of his campaign manager. The details about the campaign, the press, and the Secret Service are astonishingly clear, but not a surprise given the research Patterson did in writing this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow at first...but then picks up
Review: At first I was dissapointed with this book. I couldn't put down Patterson's previous work, Silent Witness, and found that with this book I had trouble turning pages. But I perservered and somewhere along the way I discovered that I couldn't put the book down at all. By the time I reached the end I was sorry that it was over!
Rating: 
Summary: No safe place to hide from this awful book
Review: Upon a recommendation from a friend, I gave this book a whirl. I gave it up about half way through. I just found Kerry to be incredibly unlikeable. Patterson was not able to convince me that this guy was a Kennedy-esque politician. He should tell stories in the first person. That way he can cut back on the dialogue a little, which he is incapable of writing. In all fairness, the only really bad dialogue was that of his female characters. This guy ought to spend a little more time around woman. Learn how they talk with each other and to men. Incorporate that into his writing. That would have made all the difference in the world when I was trying to wade through this....
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Summary: Patterson has given us no safe place from boredom here!
Review: I have read most of R.N.Patterson's books - and the enjoyment quotient has ranged from moderate to high. Had to give this one up after 200 pages: insipid, putrid, shallow, and BORING!! The characters are stark and wooden - the pace that of a martini-soaked snail. I felt absolutely no empathy with anyone in this grotesque political melodrama - it almost made "election 2000" seem exciting in retrospect! Yes, I have given up reading Richard North Patterson for lent - and maybe for life.
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Summary: Our book club selection
Review: After listening to Richard North Patterson in an interview on KGO radio (San Francisco area) I suggested that my book club read this book. We did this past month. This is the first book of Patterson's that I have read and I intend to read many more. The twists and turns were interesting and most times unexpected. The connections with the past were very well done and in some ways came full circle. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: This book was predictable from beginning to end with very little depth to the story. Disappointing for Richard North Patterson who usually writes some interesting stories.
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Summary: NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL A REAL THRILLER
Review: Not being a huge fan of Patterson, I was a bit apprehensive on getting this novel, but after getting past the first couple of chapters, I was hooked!Senator Kerry Kilcannon is a candidate in the presidential elections whose brother was assassinated 12 years before, he too was running for politics. Kerry had never liked the idea of getting involved in politocs, but after a number of years as a lawyer, plus the fact the public loved his brother, he is thrust into the world of politics and the media. This is basically a story of political backstabbing, affaires, murder and what can happen when 1 mistake can ruin your whole life as well as many other peoples along the way. I have to admit that this is probably one of the best political thirller I have read in a very long time and I usually steer well-clear of anything with the US govt or army, but this one from Patterson is nothing short of sensational! Highly recommended if you like easy-to-read thrillers but one that are written beautifully, really explore their characters PLUS keep you on the edge of your seat!
Rating: 
Summary: Well......it was ok.
Review: I read this book in late 1998 and refered to it a few times during the primaries in early 2000 to compare the book to the REAL Democratic race between Gore(the REAL Dick Mason) and Bradley(the REAL Killcannon). One problem with the book, though, is that it focused a lot of attention on Killcannon's life and relationships, and not enough attention on the campaign. I have to say, though, that I would recomend this book to other people.
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Summary: The Title was better than the Book
Review: The storyline had a great deal of potential. I was bored and disappointed. This book was kind of predictable.
Rating:
Summary: Safer to avoid it
Review: This book did keep my interest to some extent until the title character has an affair on his wife and lacks the communication skills with his lover to have her avoid what was a very descriptive abortion. This made my stomach turn and was as far as I was willing to go with this. It was just too unbelievable..his wife wants to leave him because running for President is too dangerous and his feminist girlfriend choses her career over a child?
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