Quick Review: THE DAYS TO COME by Tom Rosenstiel (Ecco)

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021 Civilian Reader Review Days to Come, Ecco, Most Anticipated 2021, Politics, Rena & Brooks, Thriller, Tom Rosenstiel

A new president upends Washington norms, and Rena & Brooks deal with cyberthreats, corporate espionage

Billionaire entrepreneur David Traynor has big dreams for fixing a broken government in his first term as president of the United States. In the months before his inauguration, he’s developed daring and, in some cases, secret strategies to solve the climate crisis, force Congress to work again, and rebuild America’s economy — and that’s just the beginning. Everyone in the capital is scrambling to adapt to the new disruptor in chief’s bold agenda, though many, both at home and abroad, also want to see Traynor and his steely vice president, Wendy Upton, fail. Unsure of whom he can trust, Traynor intends to turn to an unusual group of people to advise him, including the savvy and sometimes ruthless DC fixers Peter Rena and Randi Brooks.

Though he is at the height of his career, Rena finds his world in chaos. His personal life is a mess; he wonders if his work — saving powerful people from their mistakes — has become too cynical. When malicious, untraceable cyberattacks related to his past start seeping from the dark corners of the internet, Rena’s doubts overwhelm him. Then an unpredictable tragedy throws the country into crisis, and he must come out of his stupor.

If Rena wants to help the new president salvage American politics, he will first have to reckon with his own demons and come to grips with a world far different from the one he once believed in. With the government and the country polarized and on the cusp of enormous change, Tom Rosenstiel’s The Days to Come is a clever, gripping thriller and a cogent meditation on how to heal a divided country.

In this fourth instalment in Rosenstiel’s Rena & Brooks series, the political fixers and their team are tasked with investigating one of the secret plans the new president has launched. It’s a story of political maneuvering and gridlock, cyber-threats, and some of the most important issues that face us today. I very much enjoyed it. Continue reading →

New Books (March-April)

April 25, 2021April 22, 2021 Civilian Reader New Books Alex de Campi, Amanda Foody, Brian Staveley, Cassandra Khaw, Choi Jin-young, Christine Lynn Herman, CL Werner, Craig Nova, David Wragg, Elaine Murphy, Gareth Hanrahan, Gav Thorpe, Jadie Jang, Joe R Lansdale, John French, Kotaro Isaka, Lee Mandelo, Megan O'Keefe, Mikaella Clements, Mike Lawson, Neil Sharpson, Onjuli Datta, Peter F. Hamilton, Peter Heller, Richard Lange, S Qiouyi Lu, Stacey Abrams, Tom Rosenstiel

Featuring: Stacey Abrams, Mike Brooks, Choi Jin-young, Mikaella Clements, Onjuli Datta, Alex de Campi, Amanda Foody, John French, Peter F. Hamilton, Gareth Hanrahan, Peter Heller, Christine Lynn Herman, Kotaro Isaka, Jadie Jang, Cassandra Khaw, Joe R. Landsdale, Richard Lange, Mike Lawson, S. Qiouyi Lu, Lee Mandelo, Elaine Murphy, Craig Nova, Megan E. O’Keefe, Gareth L. Powell, Tom Rosenstiel, Neil Sharpson, Brian Staveley, Gav Thorpe, C.L. Werner, David Wragg

Continue reading →

Quick Review: OPPO by Tom Rosenstiel (Ecco)

November 25, 2019November 25, 2019 Civilian Reader Review Ecco, Harper Collins, Oppo, Politics, Rena & Brooks, Thriller, Tom Rosenstiel, Washington DC

The third Rena & Brooks Washington, D.C., thriller

The story of a senator who is offered the vice presidential slot by both parties’ presidential nominees and then gets ominous threats

It’s presidential primary season in Washington, DC, and both parties are on edge. At campaign rallies for all the candidates around the country, there are disturbing incidents of violence and protest and shocking acts of civil disobedience. Rena and Brooks are happy to sit it out.

Against this backdrop, Wendy Upton, the highly respected centrist senator, must make a choice: she’s been offered the VP slot by both parties’ leading candidates. When she receives an anonymous, unnerving threat that could destroy her promising career, she hires Peter Rena to investigate her past and figure out which side is threatening her and what they are threatening her with.

As Rena digs through the senator’s seemingly squeaky-clean past, he must walk the tightrope between two parties at war with each other and with themselves, an electorate that is as restive as it has ever been, and a political culture that is as much driven by money as it is by ideology.

In this third outing for Rosenstiel’s political fixers Peter Rena and Brooks, the fixers are hired to investigate a threat made against a centrist Republican senator who has been approached by frontrunners in both parties offering her the VP slot on their respective tickets. An examination of the devolution of American (presidential) politics, and the dark forces that manipulate the electorate and process, I enjoyed this novel. Continue reading →

New Books (April-May)

April 27, 2019 Civilian Reader New Books Andrea Bartz, Anthony Ryan, Brian McClellan, Claire North, Claudia Gray, Denise Mina, Gareth L. Powell, Greg Egan, H.G. Parry, Hank Phillippi Ryan, HG Parry, Jackson Ford, Jeffery Deaver, Jennifer duBois, Jessica Yellin, John French, Kate Davies, Keren Landsman, Lauren Acampora, Lindsey Davis, Mark Lawrence, Martin Clark, Megan O'Keefe, Michael Blumlein, Michael Moreci, Peter Fehervari, Peter Newman, Rachel Howzell Hall, Richard Russo, Saad Z Hossain, Sebastien de Castell, Steph Cha, Suzanne Palmer, Tade Thompson, Tom Chatfield, Tom Rosenstiel, Will Harris

Truly, my ~~cup~~ shelves runneth over recently. Had a bit of an uptick in new review copies and also books bought (I have an impulse problem…). I think among this bonanza is something that should appeal to pretty much any fiction fan, so take a look!

Featuring: Lauren Acampora, Andrea Bartz, Michael Blumlein, Steph Cha (x2), Tom Chatfield, Martin Clark, Kate Davies, Lindsey Davis, Jeffery Deaver, Sebastien de Castell, Jennifer duBois, Greg Egan, Peter Fehervari, Jackson Ford, John French, Claudia Gray, Rachel Howzell Hall, Will Harris, Saad Z. Hossain, Keren Landsman, Mark Lawrence, Brian McClellan, Denise Mina, Michael Moreci, Peter Newman, Claire North, Megan O’Keefe, Suzanne Palmer, H.G. Parry, Gareth L. Powell, Tom Rosenstiel, Richard Russo, Anthony Ryan, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Tade Thompson, Jessica Yellin

Continue reading →

Quick Review: THE GOOD LIE by Tom Rosenstiel (Ecco)

March 25, 2019 Civilian Reader Review Ecco, Good Lie, Most Anticipated 2019, Peter Rena Series, Politics, Thriller, Tom Rosenstiel

A tragedy abroad causes a domestic political scandal: but what really happened?

When a shadowy American diplomatic complex is attacked in North Africa, the White House is besieged by accusations of incompetence and wild conspiracy theories. Eager to learn the truth, the president and his staff turn to Peter Rena and his partner, Randi Brooks. The investigators dive headfirst into the furtive world of foreign intelligence and national security, hoping to do it quietly. That becomes impossible, though, when it blows up into an all-out public scandal: Congress opens hearings and a tireless national security reporter publishes a bombshell exposé.

Now, Rena and Brooks are caught in the middle. The White House wants to prevent debilitating fallout for the president, the military appears to be in shutdown mode, the press is hungry for another big story, and rival politicians are plotting their next move. Rena learns the hard way that secrets in Washington come with a very high price.

In this second novel featuring political fixer Peter Rena, he and his consulting firm are hired by the president to investigate the bombing of an overseas American military base. An interesting and intelligent investigative story, I enjoyed this. Continue reading →

New Books (August)

August 25, 2018August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Anna Smith Spark, Arthur St. John Trevelyan, Axl Rosenberg, Ben Fountain, Cherise Wolas, Chris Wraight, Christopher Krovatin, Craig Davidson, D.B. Jackson, David Annandale, David Gordon, Duncan Crowe, Esi Edugyan, Eyal Kless, Flynn Berry, Gregory B. Jaczko, James Peak, Jane Yolen, Jessica Barry, John French, Jonathan Maberry, Jussi Adler-Olsen, Kim Stanley Robinson, M R Carey, Martha Wells, Mary Adkins, Matthew Quirk, Michael Rutger, Miles Cameron, Mindy Mejia, N.S. Dolkart, Sam Lipsyte, Sara Paretsky, Sebastien de Castell, Steven James, Tom Rosenstiel, Victor Montgomery Cornwall, William W. Freehling

Featuring: Mary Adkins, Jussi Adler-Olsen, David Annandale, Jessica Barry, Flynn Berry, Miles Cameron, M.R. Carey, Victor Montgomery Cornwall, Craig Davidson, Sebastien de Castell, N.S. Dolkart, Esi Edugyan, Ben Fountain, William W. Freehling, John French, Christopher Golden, David Gordon, Charlaine Harris, D.B. Jackson, Gregory B. Jaczko, Steven James, Eyal Kless, Sam Lipsyte, Jonathan Maberry, Mindy Mejia, Sara Paretsky, Matthew Quirk, Kim Stanley Robinson, Axl Rosenberg, Tom Rosenstiel, Michael Rutger, David Small, Anna Smith Spark, Arthur St. John Trevelyan, Martha Wells, Cherise Wolas, Chris Wraight, Jane Yolen

Continue reading →

Upcoming: THE GOOD LIE by Tom Rosenstiel (Ecco)

August 21, 2018 Civilian Reader Upcoming Ecco, Good Lie, Harper Collins, Most Anticipated 2019, Peter Rena Series, Politics, Tom Rosenstiel

Tom Rosenstiel‘s debut novel, The Shining City, is an excellent political thriller that introduced readers to political fixer Peter Rena. The novel presented a rather clear-eyed view of Washington, D.C., which was rather refreshing: lots of cynicism, frustration with the ever-growing divide between parties, etc.

I read it some time ago, and have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up ever since, and my anticipation was only boosted after the author confirmed via Twitter that a sequel was on the way. The Good Lie, which will again feature Peter Rena, is due to be published early next year by Ecco. Because we now have a cover and synopsis, I thought I’d share them on CR. Here’s the synopsis:

An intelligent and propulsive international political thriller in which political fixer Peter Rena is hired by the president to investigate the bombing of an American military base overseas

With intelligence, style, and a breakneck pace, The Good Lie explores the contours of secrets, lies, and the dangers of a never-ending war.

The Good Lie is due to be published in North America by Ecco, on February 12th, 2019.

Follow the Author: Website, Goodreads, Twitter

Quick Review: SHINING CITY by Tom Rosenstiel (Ecco)

April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 Civilian Reader Review Crime, Ecco, Harper Collins, Legal, Politics, Shining City, Thriller, Tom Rosenstiel, Washington DC

Political intrigue and machinations surrounding a SCOTUS nomination. And a killer looking for revenge…

Peter Rena is a “fixer.” He and his partner, Randi Brooks, earn their living making the problems of the powerful disappear. They get their biggest job yet when the White House hires them to vet the president’s nominee for the Supreme Court. Judge Roland Madison is a legal giant, but he’s a political maverick, with views that might make the already tricky confirmation process even more difficult. Rena and his team go full-bore to cover every inch of the judge’s past, while the competing factions of Washington D.C. mobilize with frightening intensity: ambitious senators, garrulous journalists, and wily power players on both sides of the aisle.

All of that becomes background when a string of seemingly random killings overlaps with Rena’s investigation, with Judge Madison a possible target. Racing against the clock to keep his nominee safe, the President satisfied, and the political wolves at bay, Rena learns just how dangerous Washington’s obsession with power — how to get it and how to keep it — can be.

This is a very fine debut novel. It is the story of a judicial confirmation, the personal and political aspects of such a fight, colliding with a quest for vengeance. If you’re looking for an intelligent political drama, then Shining City is for you. One of my favourite reads of the year so far. Continue reading →

New Books (July-August)

August 17, 2016August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Adi Tantimedh, Amy S Foster, Andy McNab, Bracken MacLeod, Bruce Sterling, Chris Holm, Clint Emerson, D Nolan Clark, David Eggers, Frank Owen, Gaie Sebold, Humfrey Hunter, Janie Chang, Jason Diamond, Jessie Burton, Joe Haldeman, Joe Ide, John Connolly, Joseph Finder, Lauren Beukes, Lev Grossman, Liz Moore, Margaret Atwood, Matthew Smith, Max Gladstone, Megan O'Keefe, Melina Marchetta, Michael Koryta, Mick Wall, Neil Gaiman, Nickolas Butler, Nicola Moriarty, Peter Spiegelman, Peter Swanson, Ransom Riggs, Rob Boffard, Roy Scranton, Seanan McGuire, Tom Rosenstiel, William Gibson

BlackRoad-02 Crop

Featuring: Margaret Atwood, Lauren Beukes, Rob Boffard, Jessie Burton, Nickolas Butler, Janie Chang, D. Nolan Clark, John Connolly, Jason Diamond, David Eggers, Clint Emerson, Joseph Finder, Amy S. Foster, Neil Gaiman, William Gibson, Max Gladstone, Lev Grossman, Joe Haldeman, Chris Holm, Humfrey Hunter, Joe Ide, Michael Koryta, Bracken MacLeod, Melina Marchetta, Seanan McGuire, Andy McNab, Liz Moore, Nicola Moriarty, Megan O’Keefe, Frank Owen, Tom Rosenstiel, Meg Rosoff, Roy Scranton, Gaie Sebold, Matthew Smith, Bruce Sterling, Peter Swanson, Adi Tantimedh, Mick Wall

Above artwork: Black Road #2 (crop), by Garry Brown (Image Comics) Continue reading →