Sinister Forces - Softcover

Anderson (The President's Mistress, former speech-writer in the Carter administration, chronicles a fanatical heiress's political machinations in this thriller filled with treachery, murder and heroics. Widower Matt Boyle, a gifted imagemaker for President Calvin Webster, has resigned his job to care for his rambunctious son, Zeb. Nevertheless, Boyle closely watches the implementation of Webster's bilateral nuclear-arms reduction accord with the Soviet Union. One of those intent upon halting the pact is affluent, unprincipled right-winger Serena Masters, an ex-secretary of defense reminiscent of Dynasty's Alexis. Serena plots to eliminate Webster by manipulating craven Vice-President Ben Remington and hiring raffish professional killer Charlie Trueblood, but her scheme is imperiled by the President's inquisitive daughter, Jenna. When Jenna starts investigating Remington, Charlie kidnaps her, and Jenna's friend Boyle launches a search that culminates in a race against time. The novel suffers from cartoon-like characters, improbabilities and melodramatic flourishes, but the derring-do and authoritative descriptions of backstage political maneuvering may keep some readers involved.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Matt Boyle has won his spurs in the media arena and is highly regarded for his power to shape political issues and images. The President, bent on selling a major disarmament plan, recruits Matt to help. Forces opposed to disarmament kidnap the President's daughter and Matt's son as pawns in a destabilization campaign to remove the President. A blind Secret Service agent name Turk; the Vice President's wife, Peaches; and an old warhorse senator provide a colorful counterbalance to a devious assortment of plotters. Anderson ( The President's Men ) again enters the scheming Washington swamp where blackmail is the preferred currency and gut instinct the only lodestone. The magic is that he creates a few characters that thriller-weary readers can really care about. With a fast pace, moral tension, and high adventure, this tale of thwarted assassination is worth adding to popular collections. Barbara Contaty, Medical Coll. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.