Rating: 
Summary: A dubious sort of hero
Review: ACCESS TO POWER is the first book by Robert Ellis, so some things will be forgiven - but not all.Frank Miles is one of three partners of a Washington, D.C. media-consulting firm heavily involved in the ongoing off-year election campaigns. One of Frank's clients is rich brat Mel Merdock, running for a Virginia U.S. Senate seat against the incumbent, Lou Kay. The Virginia race is taking a normally sleazy course until the night one of Frank's partners, Woody, is murdered in the firm's offices. The reader alone knows from the first bullet that the killer is Raymond, but is left with Frank to discover the motive and Raymond's employer. Frank's management of Mel's campaign becomes increasingly manic and disjointed as he delves into Woody's killing in the face of police complacency and a rash of additional bodies hitting the pavement. I was taught long ago that the necessary elements in a work of fiction are a protagonist, an antagonist, and a conflict between the two. Although everything else is window dressing, common sense suggests that the author make the protagonist at least reasonably heroic in the sympathies of the reader. And what is Frank? He's a disinformation artist that manipulates the media in any way possible, using whatever blend of fact and fiction works, to bamboozle the electorate into voting for his candidate over the other guy. Now, maybe I'm an old-fashioned troglodyte, but is this the 21st century's idea of heroic? Who would admire such a political pimp other than other media consultants and the politicians he serves? Darned if I know. And that's why it was hard for me to care about Miles and his predicaments at any point in this thriller. Had he been gunned down by the Bad Guy, I might have even cracked a smile. If Frank is the lead character in future Ellis novels, I won't be buying. My blatant prejudice against our "hero" aside, the plot of ACCESS TO POWER is commendably clever and complex for a debut work. Almost too complex, since, as the personal and professional betrayals between the characters accumulated, I nearly had to keep a scorecard of who was stabbing whom in the back. It wasn't a pretty sight. Had this been a book from an accomplished writer of fiction, I would likely have awarded 3 stars at most. At 4, I'm being generous in the hope Ellis gets better.
Rating: 
Summary: The only good thing is that reads fast...
Review: After reading the reviews on ..., this book seemed like a slam dunk...a great political thriller. It was anything but. My first warning sign should have been "a novel in the tradition of Vince Flynn." I don't like Mr. Flynn's work and Mr. Ellis follows in the tradition of overblown plots, fairly weak dialogue, and no character development. This might work for a major motion picture, but for 400 pages it is absurd. There is little to like in the characters, but then again we don't get to know them at all. The story flies along in short bits and nothing seems real. A media consultant hero is a stretch to begin with, but who knows it might have worked. Instead, we get absurd ideas, weak characters, and convoluted stories. Yikes.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Vacation Book!
Review: Damn that Robert Ellis! I read Access to Power on the recommendation of a friend, and I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. Which is great, except that it kept me up until 4 o'clock on a Monday morning, which made me useless for work that day. Access to Power is the best thriller I've read since the heyday of Robert Ludlum. The novel shows a real sophistication about Washington politics, and it's a first-rate murder mystery besides. Ellis writes in short, compelling chapters that make the book really easy to read -- and almost impossible to stop reading! This is a great book for a vacation or a long trip. If you like mysteries, it will hook you right from the start, and you'll enjoy a great roller-coast ride as the plot winds along to the surprise ending. A great beach book!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Vacation Book!
Review: Damn that Robert Ellis! I read Access to Power on the recommendation of a friend, and I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. Which is great, except that it kept me up until 4 o'clock on a Monday morning, which made me useless for work that day. Access to Power is the best thriller I've read since the heyday of Robert Ludlum. The novel shows a real sophistication about Washington politics, and it's a first-rate murder mystery besides. Ellis writes in short, compelling chapters that make the book really easy to read -- and almost impossible to stop reading! This is a great book for a vacation or a long trip. If you like mysteries, it will hook you right from the start, and you'll enjoy a great roller-coast ride as the plot winds along to the surprise ending. A great beach book!
Rating:
Summary: Pushing The Mystery/Thriller Forward: Politics As Crime
Review: Every five years or so, it seems a new writer comes along and gives the genre a big push. Scott Turow and John Grisham turned the legal thriller upside down. James Ellroy drove the historical epic to the heights of literature. James Lee Burke breathed new life into the detective story. These are all well-known names. And Robert Ellis deserves to be set right beside them. Access to Power is a political thriller unlike any I've ever read before. As one murder begets another, Ellis peels off layers of corruption in bits and pieces. The result is a haunting view of the world we live in. Politics as crime performed in real time from the inside out. The novel unfolds in a straightforward manner. I found Ellis's writing to be colorful, if not poetic at times. Here's a brief sample, a short description of a minor character: "Zain's glasses were so thick, Frank had never been able to tell what color his eyes were. Fingerprint gray maybe, with a smudge of blue." This kind of storytelling is like word candy. The track the story races down is fast and furious. And Access to Power is loaded with plenty of juice for the ride.
Rating:
Summary: Pushing The Mystery/Thriller Forward: Politics As Crime
Review: Every five years or so, it seems a new writer comes along and gives the genre a big push. Scott Turow and John Grisham turned the legal thriller upside down. James Ellroy drove the historical epic to the heights of literature. James Lee Burke breathed new life into the detective story. These are all well-known names. And Robert Ellis deserves to be set right beside them. Access to Power is a political thriller unlike any I've ever read before. As one murder begets another, Ellis peels off layers of corruption in bits and pieces. The result is a haunting view of the world we live in. Politics as crime performed in real time from the inside out. The novel unfolds in a straightforward manner. I found Ellis's writing to be colorful, if not poetic at times. Here's a brief sample, a short description of a minor character: "Zain's glasses were so thick, Frank had never been able to tell what color his eyes were. Fingerprint gray maybe, with a smudge of blue." This kind of storytelling is like word candy. The track the story races down is fast and furious. And Access to Power is loaded with plenty of juice for the ride.
Rating:
Summary: Dirty Politics Unearthed
Review: Fast-paced, good plot, interesting characters, great writing and a refreshing protagonist...who could ask for anything more in a book? In his debut novel, ACCESS TO POWER, Robert Ellis has given readers all that and more.
Short chapters, sharp dialogue, and witty prose make this book an unputdownable political thriller. Just when I thought it had all been done before, Robert Ellis breathes new life into the genre in a big way!
Rating:
Summary: Not your same old political thriller
Review: I highly recommend this book. It moves quickly and retains your interest from the very first chapter. Even though character development was brief, it was done very well. The plot was not overly sophisticated, but again it was done well and was not too predictable. If you like political or legal thrillers - give this one a try.
Rating:
Summary: A Knock Out - But you better lock your doors
Review: I read the first chapter, put the book down, turned every light in the house on, made sure the doors were locked and bolted, ran back to my chair, and didn't get up until I was finished ... Robert Ellis's "Access to Power" is the best mystery thriller I've read this year. I think I liked it so much because it stands out. Something new and different. Frank Miles is a political consultant with a problem - his partner's been murdered and DC's finist can't figure it out. Frank investigates on his own. Then there's another murder and another. While all this is happening, Ellis unloads on Washington in a way that blew my mind. The characters jump off the page. Frank Miles is cool and kept me going. George Raymond may be the most vicious bad guy I've ever met in a book. But Ellis's depiction of women really got to me as well. He obviously knows women and likes them. "Access to Power" packs a heavy punch. The twists and turns are ingenious and thrilling. I can't wait for his next one.
Rating:
Summary: Best Hit Man Ever
Review: I really dug this book. As Frank Miles runs a senate campaign and investigates his best friend's murder, George Raymond haunts Washington DC trying to cover his tracks and multiple murders. But Raymond has a few hangups, as I guess most anyone who kills people for a living would. He has this thing for self-help tapes and listens to them in his car. George Raymond is an unbelievably great character and redefines bad guys for all time. I'll never forget this incredible person. While he scared the blank out of me, there's a hint of humor in the guy. At times I thought I could hear the author laughing in the background. Robert Ellis's Access to Power would make a great movie. I can't believe I found this book.
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