Hail to the Chief, by John Leslie and Carey Winfrey

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Terrific Political Thriller!

What a solid thriller with a fascinating and plausible premise. Strange that the even has never happened in reality.

Fast forward several presidents in the future. The first woman has been elected president.

Before she is inaugurated, she has an aneurysm burst, leaving her comatose with condition questionable. It is uncertain if she will regain her abilities, that is, if she even survives.

So begins a fast moving, complicated thriller that will keep you longing for the next page to see what comes next.  The politics involved is engrossing, without particular emphasis on party lines.

Our hero in the story is “Skeeter” Jamison, campaign manager, now the president’s Chief of Staff, the man responsible for her successful run. He has no choice but to step up to handle the new circumstances.  That means far more than anticipated–even for a president–within and without of the White House.

You have the disabled president-elect, her husband—also a politician with his own agenda, the Vice President Elect with less on his agenda, an up and coming reporter who holds a secret, and many more with their own interests.  Who to trust for help and advice?  In an environment we have come to expect from our nation’s capitol, everyone takes every action seemingly based on polls or political advantage.

One might think the story would settle down there, but the authors added another twist to draw the reader in deeper still.

Very realistic, very involved, and totally entertaining.

Audio from Audible

I was so pleased to listen to this one. Narrator, David Wood, is terrific, especially his pacing.  He reads it at just the story speed, as you would expect in a conversation.  It’s the first I’ve heard by Mr. Wood, but will be looking for more. His voice and tone are both well suited to the character, Skeeter.  You can hear a sample of the story and narration here on Audible.

This appears to be the first time Carey Winfrey and John Leslie have co written a book.  It was a wonderful collaboration.  I can easily see Skeeter involved in future campaigns  I hope we can look forward to a sequel.

I was provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Merry Citarella, often writing as Merrci, writes on a wide range of topics. Recently relocated to the Oregon Coast in the northwest United States, she frequently writes travel features on the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She specializes in health and aging, Alzheimer’s Disease, food, lifestyle, and book reviews. For more information you can see her on The Writers’Door. You can read more articles here or at her websites Alzheimers HQ and Simple Living Ideas

Author: Merry Citarella

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