Rating: 
Summary: an EXCELLENT story!
Review: This is an extremely satisfying book, at a variety of levels. It's a political thriller, a historical novel, and an on-the-road adventure story.And none of the characters are what they seem - each reveals new levels as the plot thickens. Just when you think you've got a certain hero or villain figured out, a whole new side of him or her is exposed. Horn's writing style is engaging, and his dialog convincing - each character has their own voice. And when you think the story is wrapping up, the protagonists face a whole new set of challenges that seem impossible to wrap up. But I loved the way Horn ended this novel - satisfying without resorting to Hollywood cliche. But speaking of Hollywood, this would make a great movie! But whether or not this story makes it to the silver screen, I will DEFINITELY be reading more by this author.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Political Thriller!
Review: This is my second time reading a Stephen Horn novel and it definitely won't be my last. This was an excellent read. Moved at a steady pace and was so hard to put down. Very compelling. The ending kind of slowed down but was no less compelling. Loved the meaning of the term "law of gravity". Very fitting for the villian. Would definitely love to read another story featuring Phillip Barkley. He was a very likable character. I highly recommend this novel. Can't wait to see what Mr Horn gives us next.
Rating:
Summary: A System of Checks and Balances
Review: This very good thriller has it all: Money, Power, Love, Greed, Evil, Revenge and Redemption. It provides a believable plot with credible action based on fact, written with intelligence, sensitivity, humor and fine characterizations. This complex tale of betrayal and political intrigue offers a bonus: it ends well. There are plenty of real surprises sprinkled among some important historical facts. Most readers will have a difficult time putting Law of Gravity aside. They should start this book when they can afford to stay up all night. Philip Barkley was on the way up as a "Hill" lawyer. He was the "minority" attorney to the Appropriations Committee. If his party won the next election, Barkley would become the White House counsel. But a problem arises in a fund raising scandal. He could not just say, "I don't recall." Instead he tells the truth, resulting in infamy that damages his party and leaves him politically isolated. Philip has the big money jobs taken away, then his beloved daughter who dies from an expensive illness. Soon after, his marriage collapses, he loses his house and most of his friends. A career guy saves him with a secure but boring job writing appellate briefs at Justice. The rest of his days are destined to be pulled down the slippery slope of depression for which he has been hospitalized three times. He remains heavily medicated as this story begins. He knows he is a mere flunky for whatever paperwork needs doing. When he goes to work, that is. Most of his time is spent on sick leave. Barkley became cynical, deciding the true system of checks and balances was not among the branches of government, but between its servants wedded to self-interest, and those with principle. He still believes himself a man of principle, but nobody else does. "We don't care about politics," he says. "We're the Justice Department." They don't think he is funny. Martin Green, an Intelligence Committee aide disappears, maybe because he breached national security. Green is connected to a prominent senator who is the leading candidate for president. The FBI is investigating. Philip Barkley is assigned by Justice to provide oversight of the FBI to assure the proper report is written, making this entire problem go away. His reward will be a transfer to Portland where he can clean up his life, pass the Oregon bar, and put up his shingle as a retired Government employee. But, whoa, Green is found dead with a suicide note, and the FBI is expected to close the case before it taints the senator. Philip is not capable of creating political pap. He believes when you've got all the answers, all the pieces fit, not just a few. He realizes the FBI's suicide story is a stretch. Green seemed to be one of the good guys, not a spy on the run. Barkley inches himself in deep enough to know somebody has an agenda. Barkley is not one of the good ol' boys, and the political bosses don't like his attitude, so he resigns. He gets out of his lease and packs his car. But he secretly sticks to the case, becoming a bother to everybody. Key pieces don't fit, but nobody wants to hear about them. The deeper he digs, the more old and new bodies seem to pile up. Sinister is a key word here. Horn writes too cleverly for us to figger everything out, but he dribbles details throughout the book to encourage our speculations. Thankfully, Horn keeps us continually involved and doesn't wait to pile all his dicoveries up at the end of the book. The good part is that Barkley seems to be taking back control of his life, and getting his confidence back. He drops his medication to keep a clear head. Maybe big clues will be uncovered from New York Police, the National Archives or the famous New York Library. How about Phoenix, Floriday, Hungary, Germany, or the Capitol? He solicits help from cronies he knew back when he had power. He discovers he is being followed and his phones are tapped. Now he knows he is on the right track, and sells his car to get money for expenses. Ask around, he thinks. If you're stuck for an answer, you're not asking the right questions. But he can't do it all by himself. A tough and interesting Irishman named McSorley pops up with help, followed by many bumps in the road as they follow their quest. Time for a game of baseball and redemption. One well-crafted surprise leads to another. Life becomes more complicated. It seems like a lot of people aren't going to come out of this story alive, and we still can't tell the good guys from the bad. There are lots of people who could be the evil dooers. And we don't yet know their motivation. This compelling story holds you right up until the last chapter, with red herrings and dialog that fits memorable characters. We don't get all the loose ends tied up neatly, but they do fit. We are rewarded with a nicely paced, plausible tale that isn't so brisk that it loses credibility. Legal scholar Stephen Horn can write political intrigue like nobody's buysiness. He has the background. An engineering degree from Rutgers. Company Commander of the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. Retired Prosecutor for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division where he tried lots of cases, including the killing of four Kent State students and the assassination of Martin Luther King. He is now in private practice in the Capitol area where he is working on his third novel. The first, In Her Defense, is highly recommended. This one is as good, or better. We look forward to many more books from him because Horn tells a Gresham-class believable story that makes you wish it didn't end so soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Law of Gravity
Review: This was a boring book. I had been looking forward to reading it, because I read Horn's first book and liked it very much. It was tight and fresh. This one comes across as the obligatory follow-up to a success; written before the author had anything really new to tell his readers... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title
Rating: 
Summary: s-l-o-w; couldn't finish it
Review: Thrillers are supposed to be thrilling and move briskly along. This book does neither. Cardboard characters, contrived plot, way too much meaningless descriptive background...avoid.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre at best
Review: You would think that I would praise this book since the author is an acquaintance. However, maybe I have read too many spy novels or legal thrillers but this plot was boring to me. Maybe I should write a book since within the first 20 pages I acurately predicted the plotline and the resulting drama. Looking at the other reviews, maybe to them it wasn't too obivious but since I know the author and I saw the characters and I know a little bit about history--I put it together and there you go. I did miss one twist so I guess it wasn't the worst book I have read but maybe a $4 book(out of $10).
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre at best
Review: You would think that I would praise this book since the author is an acquaintance. However, maybe I have read too many spy novels or legal thrillers but this plot was boring to me. Maybe I should write a book since within the first 20 pages I acurately predicted the plotline and the resulting drama. Looking at the other reviews, maybe to them it wasn't too obivious but since I know the author and I saw the characters and I know a little bit about history--I put it together and there you go. I did miss one twist so I guess it wasn't the worst book I have read but maybe a $4 book(out of $10).
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