Rating: 
Summary: Philip (retired attorney)
Review: This is an extraordinary book. There is no question that the author is anti-gun, as the author freely acknowledges in the "Afterword", but anyone who reads this book must be clearly impressed with the level of research & investigation the author has done. Alot of the "political thrillers" published strain the imagination of the reader with plots that are either fanciful or improbable. This book is in clear contrast to those other books. My hat is clearly off to Mr. Pattetrson.
Rating: 
Summary: Radical liberal propaganda, that's all
Review: While the book may have some merit as an adventure-suspense novel, it comes across as a thinly veiled radical liberal political propaganda vehicle designed only to convince readers that private gun ownership is bad and must be totally banned. There are many half truths and false statements in the book that distort the factual reality of gun possession. For example, Patterson says that violent crime felons "can go into a gun show and buy enough handguns to arm the whole Al Quyeda network." This is a gross lie and Patterson should know better. There are adequate safeguards and procedures in Federal and state laws that effectively prevent that. As well, gun possession by felons is a Federal crime punishable by a long prison term and hefty fine. There are a number of other lies and false statements in the book, all designed to convince the American Public to give up one of its most important and powerful civil rights--private gun ownership. This, of course, is what the promoters of a totalitarian system of government want for this country, rule by "what we say the law is," not law written in absolute terms that protect the freedoms of the people. Private gun ownership has been the cornerstone of our system of civil liberties, individual freedoms and security since the founding of this country, and it attests that there is no other country in the world that comes close to our freedoms. Patterson obviously wants to change all that. You can tell where the book is coming from from its dustcover ratings by such discredited national radical liberal figures as Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy. Save your money and buy Tom Clancy or another responsible author.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Discussion
Review: The author is an excellent writer. His two major themes of Gun Control and the political process leave one wondering about what really goes on in Washington, DC. Whether Charleton Heston or Sarah Brady are your heroes, Patterson does an excellent job. Keeping track of the political maneuvering throughout the book is a process in itself. His cast of characters was a great help. His writing is a reflection of today's politics, whether good or bad. At times, his writing is cumbersome and stilted, but then, so is reality.
Rating:
Summary: Propoganda
Review: This is blatant anti-gun rights propoganda. He intentionally distorts the issue and lies throughout the book about gun laws. The worst argument is the fact that some people think that Al-Qaeda is going to buy guns from gun shows and than use them on Americans. This argument falls apart when you consider the fact that you can buy a full auto AK-47 in Pakistan for $85, as opposed to a semi-automatic AK-47 in the US for $300. Al Qaeda's probably a little short on cash right now and I doubt that they would want to risk traveling to the Great Satan to buy an outrageously expensive gun when they could just head off down to the market and buy one there. The whole Al Qaeda buying guns from the US is basically crap put out by the Brady Center to capitalize off the fear of terrorists.
Rating:
Summary: A FIRST-RATE READING OF POLITICAL INTRIGUE
Review: With numerous stage, television, and film roles to her credit you'd expect Patricia Kalember to deliver a first-rate reading - she does and raises the bar with her rendering of Richard North Patterson's latest D.C. based thriller. With "Balance of Power" Patterson once more focuses on fictional Democratic politician Kerry Kilcannon. Recently elected to the presidency Kerry is set to marry his fiancé, television journalist Lara Costello. When Lara' sister is again brutalized by her abusive husband, John Bowden, Kerry intervenes. Then, the horrific: shortly after the wedding Bowden goes on a wild rampage shooting the innocent, including his wife and their daughter. Kerry is so affected by this carnage that he promises to battle gun violence which means turning over Washington's most powerful lobby, the SSA or Sons of the Second Amendment. It's at this point that Patterson's knowledge of Washington, its politics and power brokers really comes to the fore as Kerry becomes involved in a no-holds-barred battle with his nemesis, Senate Majority Leader Frank Fasano. There is enough political intrigue and legal maneuvers in "Balance of Power" to keep everyone listening from rapid-fire start to boffo finish. - Gail Cooke
Rating:
Summary: Mindless attacks make this book a winner
Review: Ric Patterson's work has matured to the point that he is somewhere out there far beyond most of the legal eagles who write much of the mindless twaddle that passes for American literature and shows up regularly on best seller lists. Patterson's last three books have taken on some of the most controversial subjects in American life, and although those who might have helped him present a more balanced view of gun and Pro-Life advocates refused to be interviewed, he has done a remarkable job of addressing some of the very few reasoned and defensible positions staked out by the radical right wing (apparently the largest and most powerful part)of the Republican Party, as well as the Ku Klux Klan, militant Pro-Lifers, Neo-Nazis and "skinheads" along with various fundamentalist and Christian Identity groups that pass for "conservatives" these days. The multiple one star reviews, obviously written by mindless NRA hacks, are for the most part laughable, several of the writers claiming previously to have been Patterson fans. Unless you happen to be one of these trigger-happy NRA jerks, you can pretty much ignore whatever they have to say and get on to the four and five star reviews by Patterson's more literate and thoughtful readers. Patterson is the very best political novelist writing today. His books are extensively researched, well written and edited, and will teach those with an open mind much they were not aware of, or misunderstood. I can't wait for Patterson's next work. wfh
Rating:
Summary: Preachy, liberal tract.
Review: I was hoping for a legal & political thriller (a la John Grisham, one of my favorite authors). Instead I got a preachy, liberal tract. While I am politically conservative, I am also pro-gun control and therefore supportive of that same position taken by book's main character, President Kilcannon. But after the first few chapters I was ready to get a gun and shoot him myself. And while this may sound trivial, every white male character in this book is either a scum-bag or the victim of a white male scum-bag, while heroic women & minorities leap from every corner. Although I am also a white male as well, all I expect in my books is a realistic mix characters - some good & some bad & most a little of each, regardless of their gender or race. I tried to keep an open mind & stay with it, but I finally had to put it away unfinished. Very disappointing. Patterson ain't no Grisham...
Rating:
Summary: Masterful Piece of Propaganda!
Review: Although Richard North Patterson is a masterful story teller and has written several excellent novels in the past, his most recent works are nothing more than masterful examples of left wing propaganda. I am neither a gun owner nor a gun advocate, but I found this book to be extremely one-sided in its handling of this controversial issue. I don't know what has happened to this talented author, but this is the second book in a row in which he has twisted the facts to suit his own agenda. Don't waste your time on this unbalanced story. Read one of Mr. Patterson's earlier works instead. He has definitely lost one formerly dedicated fan!
Rating:
Summary: Balance?
Review: No Balance Found Here Since joining the board of the Brady Campaign, formerly known as Handgun Control Inc., Richard North Patterson has slid from respected novelist to shabby propagandist. In his new book, Balance of Power, the former attorney attempts to advance the Brady gun ban agenda by deliberately misleading readers about federal gun laws.
Patterson writes that "someone convicted of a violent crime can go to a gun show, and buy enough semi-automatic handguns to arm the whole al Qaeda network." The implication is that federal law prohibiting felons from purchasing and possessing firearms somehow is waived at gun shows, and that is a lie.
Patterson writes of plastic guns designed to slip through magnetometers, failing to inform readers that plastic guns do not exist and their future design is banned by federal law. Similarly, Patterson repeatedly talks about so-called "cop-killer bullets," but not about the congressional ban imposed in 1986.
Patterson suggests a pistol is "designed to be easily convertible to automatic fire." He doesn't say that under federal law any such firearm is classified as a machine gun and that anyone making such an illegal conversion would face a ten year federal prison term. The same penalty attaches to simple possession of such a gun.
Patterson writes that unannounced inspections of gun dealers are restricted to one a year, even for dealers the BATFE believes are failing to run background checks. In truth, of course, there is absolutely no limit on dealer inspections that may be made related to actual criminal investigations.
Patterson writes of a "dirty dealer who didn't bother with background checks," and of a gun company that "kept shipping him guns after they knew that." This as prelude to the announcement that there is proposed legislation that would "immunize that same company and the crooked leader (sic)." Patterson's clear target of course, is the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act." He knows like the Brady Campaign knows that this proposed legislation absolutely would not immunize the dealer or the gun company against any criminal charges or negligent action. They just cannot help themselves from lying about it.
Debate is one of this Republic's most cherished freedoms, recognized by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. However, this book does not contribute anything to the gun control debate in this country because, as always, when gun-ban proponents cannot carry on an honest debate, they rely upon lies and distortions.
Shame on Richard North Patterson for his lack of integrity.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction at best, Left leaning Political DO DO at worst
Review: I read this book with an open mind. I am a gun owner myself but have not gotten into the whole anti-gun, pro-gun debate before. I read the story and was scared stiff. I couldn't believe the way the gun industry and NRA were seemingly letting criminals get away with so much by opposing laws that we keep us safe. After I read the novel I went and did some research and noth9ing was adding up. I then went to my brother-n-law who is a former ATF special agent. I was shocked to find that everything in this book about the current gun laws, NRA, and the gun industry was a BIG LIE. I read the other reviews and MARIA777 covered most of them in her review so I will not go back over them. I have since read a few books about the gun issue and I recommend the following: The Bias Against Guns: Why Almost Everything You've Heard About Gun Control Is Wrong. Guns and Violence: The English Experience. The Courage to be Free by Charlton Heston (can be purchased on the NRA website). Hope this helps.
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