Title: Toxin
Author: Paul Martin Midden
Pages: 348
Publisher: American Book Publishing Group (July, 2009)
Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Suspense / Political Thriller
Edition: ARC - Many thanks to MM Book Publicity for sending me a copy to review
Perfect for : Personal reading, book club read, guy gift
In a nutshell: If you enjoy mystery/suspense/political thriller, here is an edge-of-your-seat page turner that will keep you engrossed and wondering how it all will end! Jake Telemark, a relatively new US Senator, is contacted by the beautiful Isadore Hathaway, the daughter of the late Frank Hathaway, powerful US Senator. She proceeds to tell him that there is a conspiracy to bring down the United States Government and restructure it into a ruling body of 12 men who call themselves The Bookkeepers. As events begin to unfold, Jake begins to believe Isadore and knows that it is time to pull his military past out of the closet and get down to business. She needs his help to stop them, and soon he learns that it is kill or be killed!
Author: Paul Martin Midden
Pages: 348
Publisher: American Book Publishing Group (July, 2009)
Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Suspense / Political Thriller
Edition: ARC - Many thanks to MM Book Publicity for sending me a copy to review
Perfect for : Personal reading, book club read, guy gift
In a nutshell: If you enjoy mystery/suspense/political thriller, here is an edge-of-your-seat page turner that will keep you engrossed and wondering how it all will end! Jake Telemark, a relatively new US Senator, is contacted by the beautiful Isadore Hathaway, the daughter of the late Frank Hathaway, powerful US Senator. She proceeds to tell him that there is a conspiracy to bring down the United States Government and restructure it into a ruling body of 12 men who call themselves The Bookkeepers. As events begin to unfold, Jake begins to believe Isadore and knows that it is time to pull his military past out of the closet and get down to business. She needs his help to stop them, and soon he learns that it is kill or be killed!
Extended Review:
Characters: I really enjoyed the main characters of Jake, Dora and the secondary character of Jefferson, Jake's all-around friend/helper who also happened to be deaf. I thought that the relationship between Jake and Dora progressed appropriately given the circumstances, and I would love to see another book that focuses on Jefferson as the main character. One thing I liked was seeing Jake's thoughts put down on paper. As the action is happening, or he is thinking about something that has already occurred, you get to see his thoughts.
Story-Line: I enjoyed this political thriller. It was not as far-fetched as I had expected, and actually seemed to be very well thought out and researched. On occasion it reminded me of the television series Jericho, which at least proves that a few people are out there who realize that someday we could face some sort of threat from within our own borders that targets our government.
Characters: I really enjoyed the main characters of Jake, Dora and the secondary character of Jefferson, Jake's all-around friend/helper who also happened to be deaf. I thought that the relationship between Jake and Dora progressed appropriately given the circumstances, and I would love to see another book that focuses on Jefferson as the main character. One thing I liked was seeing Jake's thoughts put down on paper. As the action is happening, or he is thinking about something that has already occurred, you get to see his thoughts.
Story-Line: I enjoyed this political thriller. It was not as far-fetched as I had expected, and actually seemed to be very well thought out and researched. On occasion it reminded me of the television series Jericho, which at least proves that a few people are out there who realize that someday we could face some sort of threat from within our own borders that targets our government.
Readability: An easy read, even for those who are not as familiar with politics.
Overall: A fast-paced political thriller that posed a plausible story-line and which provided some great conversations!
From the Omnimystery Tour:
Jake Telemark, a junior senator from Wisconsin, enjoys his position as a moderate, common-sense legislator in Washington, D.C.—until the phone call that changes his life forever. Isadore Hathaway, daughter of the late Frank Hathaway, a renowned senatorial powerhouse, demands to see Jake immediately. During a mysterious meeting with Isadore, Jake learns an uncomfortable truth: a group of fanatical right-wing evangelicals, who call themselves The Bookkeepers, are planning to destroy the US democracy.
Shocked by Isadore’s revelation, but initially unwilling to get involved in something he can scarcely believe, Jake soon learns why Isadore Hathaway singled him out for this clandestine meeting: she’d uncovered a part of Jake’s past that he’d fought to keep hidden, not just by law, but by of the demands of his sanity. Isadore’s plea is both startling and matter-of-fact: she wants Jake to kill the men involved in this sinister plot—because if Jake doesn’t kill them, they will kill him.
When parts of Isadore’s scenario begin to come true, Jake becomes ensnared in a dangerous and deadly plot. With the country at risk and freedom hanging in the balance, Jake is thrust into excruciating circumstances. Forced to confront the demons of his past, and the demons that threaten the future of the country he serves, Jake inconveniently falls in love with Isadore. As this burgeoning relationship plays out against the backdrop of the most tumultuous time in US history, Jake Telemark must wage an intense tug-of-war between his promise to never harm another human being, and his duty to the country, and woman, he loves.
A gripping first person novel that reads like non-fiction, Toxin is briskly-paced and filled with urgency. Part provocative political thriller, part powerful psychological narrative, Toxin delivers a terrifyingly-real storyline that deftly blurs the lines between fiction and reality. Novelist Paul Martin Midden displays remarkable dexterity in his extraordinary character development, exquisite understanding of the texture and complexity of human relationships, and ability to keep the pages turning in this powerful thriller.
About the Author: (from Omnimystery Tour Page)
Paul Martin Midden is a psychologist who currently serves as Clinical Director of a nationally-recognized treatment center. Midden’s debut novel, Absolution, was released to great critical acclaim in 2007. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
Giveaway Details:
Paul Martin Midden is giving away a signed copy of his book, Toxin, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to his book tour page, http://paul-martin-midden.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 2583, for your chance to win. Entries from Wendi's Book Corner will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on their book tour page next week.”
If you have reviewed this book and would like me to add a link to your review, please include a link in your comment!
Overall: A fast-paced political thriller that posed a plausible story-line and which provided some great conversations!
From the Omnimystery Tour:Jake Telemark, a junior senator from Wisconsin, enjoys his position as a moderate, common-sense legislator in Washington, D.C.—until the phone call that changes his life forever. Isadore Hathaway, daughter of the late Frank Hathaway, a renowned senatorial powerhouse, demands to see Jake immediately. During a mysterious meeting with Isadore, Jake learns an uncomfortable truth: a group of fanatical right-wing evangelicals, who call themselves The Bookkeepers, are planning to destroy the US democracy.
Shocked by Isadore’s revelation, but initially unwilling to get involved in something he can scarcely believe, Jake soon learns why Isadore Hathaway singled him out for this clandestine meeting: she’d uncovered a part of Jake’s past that he’d fought to keep hidden, not just by law, but by of the demands of his sanity. Isadore’s plea is both startling and matter-of-fact: she wants Jake to kill the men involved in this sinister plot—because if Jake doesn’t kill them, they will kill him.
When parts of Isadore’s scenario begin to come true, Jake becomes ensnared in a dangerous and deadly plot. With the country at risk and freedom hanging in the balance, Jake is thrust into excruciating circumstances. Forced to confront the demons of his past, and the demons that threaten the future of the country he serves, Jake inconveniently falls in love with Isadore. As this burgeoning relationship plays out against the backdrop of the most tumultuous time in US history, Jake Telemark must wage an intense tug-of-war between his promise to never harm another human being, and his duty to the country, and woman, he loves.
A gripping first person novel that reads like non-fiction, Toxin is briskly-paced and filled with urgency. Part provocative political thriller, part powerful psychological narrative, Toxin delivers a terrifyingly-real storyline that deftly blurs the lines between fiction and reality. Novelist Paul Martin Midden displays remarkable dexterity in his extraordinary character development, exquisite understanding of the texture and complexity of human relationships, and ability to keep the pages turning in this powerful thriller.
About the Author: (from Omnimystery Tour Page)
Paul Martin Midden is a psychologist who currently serves as Clinical Director of a nationally-recognized treatment center. Midden’s debut novel, Absolution, was released to great critical acclaim in 2007. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
Giveaway Details:
Paul Martin Midden is giving away a signed copy of his book, Toxin, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to his book tour page, http://paul-martin-midden.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 2583, for your chance to win. Entries from Wendi's Book Corner will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on their book tour page next week.”
If you have reviewed this book and would like me to add a link to your review, please include a link in your comment!
6 Comments:
Looks like you have an international following. I know you did a nice job on the review. It was an interesting book. At times most definitely fiction but at other times like real life.
Great review! Thanks for the heads up on the giveaway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
This sounds good~ I like the story line. Book club recommendation? maybe, we havent done anything like this in a while....
This one sounds wonderful. Thank you for the giveaway link.
Thanks for the review - anxious to enter the giveaway!
Brilliant website, I had not come across wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com earlier in my searches!
Keep up the superb work!
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