Death Duty

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Inside Washington Thriller
Review: "Death Duty" is a terrible book. As a Foreign Service Officer, take it from me -- the author hasn't got the slightest idea about how the Foreign Service or the State Department works. The first chapter is exciting and when it was reprinted in the Foreign Service Journal it made me want to read the book. Boy was I disappointed.

The book is full of irritating and distracting little errors. Ben Franklin was not our first Secretary of State, he was our first overseas envoy. The seniormost officials in the Foreign Service aren't in the Senior EXECUTIVE Service - that designator is for senior Civil Service officers. The Foreign Service equivalent is the Senior FOREIGN Service. Et cetera, et cetera...

Today, Foreign Service Officers are almost certain to spend their first two tours overseas, only returning to Washington on their third tour. This was even more true at the time this book was written. Some FSOs do come back for their second tour, but these tend to be either very competitive officers who are already tenured, or officers with a serious family or other situation that compels their return. The heroine of this story isn't in the latter category, and is certainly not in the first category because she is worried about GETTING tenure (her nervousness about this is the only element in the book that rings true).

Finally, the depiction of an "inner circle" of bluebloods with trust funds (like the heroine's friend) running the Foreign Service is ridiculous. Not that cabals don't exist, but there simply AREN'T that many upper-crust types in the State Department. People like that nowadays tend to go and get jobs in international business and global banking - the pay is better and there are less bureaucratic constraints. If you want to know what kind of people are in the State Department these days, think of something more along the lines of the U.S. Attorney's office in your city.

If you're looking for a good novel about the Foreign Service or the State Department, keep looking. Unfortunately, you are likely to look for a long time because there just aren't very many good novels on this subject. "The Eighth Continent" by Philip Gould is reasonably good, at least the middle story is, and "The Ambassador" by Morris West is outstanding, although it is really a story about Vietnam - as is "Escape with Honor", an amazing NONFICTION book by Francis R. "Terry" McNamara. Then again, what is so "foreign" about the Foreign Service depicted in this book? All the action takes place in Northern Virginia or Washington, DC. Regrettably, the quest for a decent Foreign Service novel must go on.

Rating:
Summary: Inaccurate and Disappointing
Review: "Death Duty" is a terrible book. As a Foreign Service Officer, take it from me -- the author hasn't got the slightest idea about how the Foreign Service or the State Department works. The first chapter is exciting and when it was reprinted in the Foreign Service Journal it made me want to read the book. Boy was I disappointed.

The book is full of irritating and distracting little errors. Ben Franklin was not our first Secretary of State, he was our first overseas envoy. The seniormost officials in the Foreign Service aren't in the Senior EXECUTIVE Service - that designator is for senior Civil Service officers. The Foreign Service equivalent is the Senior FOREIGN Service. Et cetera, et cetera...

Today, Foreign Service Officers are almost certain to spend their first two tours overseas, only returning to Washington on their third tour. This was even more true at the time this book was written. Some FSOs do come back for their second tour, but these tend to be either very competitive officers who are already tenured, or officers with a serious family or other situation that compels their return. The heroine of this story isn't in the latter category, and is certainly not in the first category because she is worried about GETTING tenure (her nervousness about this is the only element in the book that rings true).

Finally, the depiction of an "inner circle" of bluebloods with trust funds (like the heroine's friend) running the Foreign Service is ridiculous. Not that cabals don't exist, but there simply AREN'T that many upper-crust types in the State Department. People like that nowadays tend to go and get jobs in international business and global banking - the pay is better and there are less bureaucratic constraints. If you want to know what kind of people are in the State Department these days, think of something more along the lines of the U.S. Attorney's office in your city.

If you're looking for a good novel about the Foreign Service or the State Department, keep looking. Unfortunately, you are likely to look for a long time because there just aren't very many good novels on this subject. "The Eighth Continent" by Philip Gould is reasonably good, at least the middle story is, and "The Ambassador" by Morris West is outstanding, although it is really a story about Vietnam - as is "Escape with Honor", an amazing NONFICTION book by Francis R. "Terry" McNamara. Then again, what is so "foreign" about the Foreign Service depicted in this book? All the action takes place in Northern Virginia or Washington, DC. Regrettably, the quest for a decent Foreign Service novel must go on.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent State Department thriller!
Review: For me there are several elements that combine to make for an enjoyable reading experience, namely; a narrative that builds to a climactic moment where I feel compelled to lay the book down, catch my breath, and hope that the bad guys don't prevail (in spite of my certainty that they won't) and an insider's glimpse of a world that I know very little about. "Death Duty" comes through with flying colors on both counts. Since the various reviews provided above adequately cover the plot details, I'll pass on that aspect. The book's characters are made believable by the skillful inclusion of the small details of a person's background, family, personal tastes and mannerisms that, to a considerable degree define who we really are in spite of our attempts to appear otherwise. Although the term "State Department" conjures up a rather exalted activity, "Death Duty" reminds us that, like any other bureaucracy or business, there is also an unglamorous workaday group of individuals essential to the successful functioning of the organization. We meet these people and glimpse their hopes, jealousies, career aspirations, and maneuvering for advantage as they interact and pursue their personal agendas. Because the State Department is not the local furniture factory, the consequences of their mistakes or misdeeds can have profound consequences for the nation. It is this leverage that gives the story its special tension. We recognize ourselves and our fellow workers in this well-crafted tale of both dedication to the job at hand and the abandonment of principles for personal gain. Clearly, one of the most exciting and informative books I 've read for some time.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Inside Washington Thriller
Review: I was very impressed with this book, having read it two years ago and then more recently, prompting me to want to write this review. The plot is fast-moving and the characters come across as very authentic, from Kate, the smart, wisecracking protagonist, to Witherspoon, the cool, hardworking black cop facing retirement, to the nest of preppy vipers at the State Department. Also, the setting is unusual--the US State Department--and Kimball gives great insight into the inner workings of that agency, as well as views of interesting places in and around DC that you never see featured in DC-based fiction(e.g., Dumbarton Oaks).

I was amused by the rather hysterical, nit-picking review by the reader from Alexandria, Virginia, who argued that Ben Franklin was the first US "envoy," and not secretary of state--puhleeze. I was curious, so I called a friend of a friend who works at the State Department, who said that most of the book's characterizations of the Foreign Service ring true.

He said the FS still has a country club attitude about itself, even though the current secretary, Colin Powell, is trying to change the culture. One example: Powell "integrated" the Foreign Service lounge in the State Department building so that Civil Service employees (whom many of the FS types look down on) could use it as well, resulting in howls of protest from the FS people. He said it's even worse in the US embassies abroad, where the class-conscious pecking order and brown-nosing are beyond belief.

So, gentle reader, I recommend that you judge for yourself and read the book. I guarantee a fast-paced, roller-coaster read with great characters and a surprise ending.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Political Thriller
Review: I was very impressed with this book. Stephen Kimball has written a story that is as engaging as it is suspenseful, mostly because of the exciting plot and the intelligence and humanity of its lead character, Kate Verdi. There is a host of memorable supporting characters, particularly Witherspoon, the black D.C. detective, and the nest of vipers at the State Department. I completely recommend it and hope for a sequel.

I was amused by the defensive, pedantic review submitted by the reader from Alexandria, Virginia, who apparently works at the State Department and likes to pit nicks. (Ben Franklin was the first US "envoy," not "secretary of state"--puhleeze.) I was curious about several of the points he or she makes, and called a friend of a friend who works at State who said that the kind of cablistic ring described in the novel is absolutely possible. He said that he's seen many cases of the old boy club at work there (he said it's worse than the Pentagon!), particularly in the US Embassies where the pecking order and brown-nosing are astonishing. He said Colin Powell has been trying to change this culture, but he's fighting years of ingrained patterns. (He mentioned an incident reported in the Washington Post where Powell tried to "integrate" a Foreign Service lounge with members of the Civil Service--considered hoi polloi by the FS--resulting in howls of protest by the FS.)

I won't waste your time telling you what he said about the tenure process at State and how/where people are moved around (much less systematically than Alexandria would have you believe). Just read the book and decide for yourself. Believe me, it's worth it.