.com Aficionados of the hit TV show The West Wing who are suffering through holiday reruns will jump right into Brad Meltzer's third novel (after The Tenth Justice and Dead Even), which takes readers into the White House office of the president's own law firm and introduces a first daughter whose complex psychological problems jump-start this fast-paced thriller. Michael Garrick loves his job as deputy counsel, but when he falls for Nora Hartson, the president's daughter, the conflict between his professional ethics and his growing love for her puts him right in the middle of a murder plot that may reach all the way to the Oval Office. Meltzer excels at plotting, and he knows the back corridors, family quarters, and secret tunnels of the executive branch as well as those of the Supreme Court, which he revealed in his first two blockbusters. He's not as skillful at characterization. It's hard to believe that the sociopathic tendencies of people in a president's inner circle--or even his family--would have managed to escape the scrutiny of an FBI investigation during his rise to power. And Nora, in particular, doesn't quite come off as the misguided victim she must be in order to make the rest of the story credible. But that's not a huge quibble; Meltzer manages to make Edgar Simon, Michael's boss, the most interesting White House counsel since John Dean. The First Counsel is a cleverly commercial mix of legal thriller and political chicanery guaranteed to keep you turning pages until Meltzer puts the third branch of government in his sights, too. --Jane AdamsFrom Publishers WeeklyA date with the president's daughter draws an ambitious young lawyer into a bewildering web of scandal, extortion and murder in this formulaic but lightning-paced suspense thriller set behind the scenes at the White House. Michael Garrick works for Edgar Simon, counsel to the president, and knows the inside workings of Washington and the precarious image-management duties of the First Family. But he finds himself quickly out of his depth on a date with the volatile First Daughter, Nora Hartson, when the two see Michael's boss in a gay bar. Nora insists on following the married lawyer, and the two witness Simon making a suspicious cash drop. Subsequent events link Michael to the cash and the murder of Caroline Penzler, friend of the First Lady and the lawyer who has the dirt on all the big shots. With his career, a presidential election and perhaps his life at stake, Michael cannot trust anyone, least of all Nora, who is dogged by rumors of drug use, promiscuity and general wildness. She is the only witness to his innocence, but he is intent on protecting her, and the president, from suspicion. Meltzer (The Tenth Justice; Dead Even) sprinkles his tale with many interesting details of working in and around the White House. He relies on some heavy-handed techniques to generate suspenseDMichael is always sensing someone watching him or peering through slowly opening doorsDand the plot has a familiar Hollywood ring to it. But Meltzer's relentless narrative finally digs its hooks in, and even skeptical readers will want to continue through the twists and turns, if only to confirm their own predictions. Agent, Jill Kneerim. (Jan. 9) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Library JournalThe internal workings of the White House, the powers behind the Oval Office, and a glimpse into the private lives of the First Family are featured in both versions of Meltzer's obvious application of his knowledge of what goes on behind the closed doors of this presidential mansion. Deputy counsel Michael Garrick is a 29-year-old lawyer who enjoys the trappings of power that come from working there but is enough of an outsider not to be corrupted by the byzantine maneuverings between the president and his aides. Michael is attracted to the First Daughter, Nora, who entices him with her reckless disregard of Secret Service protection and the need to maintain a modicum of decorum in her public affairs. A first date soon turns into a desperate game of cat-and-mouse as Michael finds himself being drawn into a web of deceit, deception, danger, and death. The unabridged version, read by Scott Brick, gives more of an insight into the various characters. The First Lady, Michael's boss, Nora's brother, and many others who only make brief appearances in the abridged tapes narrated by D.B. Sweeney are fleshed out and given more substance in the full version. However, the abridged set cuts through some of the unnecessary verbiage and focuses solely on the web of intrigue that envelops Michael at every step. The nifty surprise ending in both versions comes as more of a shock in the abridged program because we have not come to know all of the main characters as fully as we have in the unabridged story. Whatever version your library buys, The First Counsel is a top-notch political thriller that takes readers into the very heart and soul of the White House. Recommended for all public libraries. Joseph L. Carlson, Lompoc P.L., CA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. what is the most popular book in the world The First Counsel
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Brad Stop cutting my favorite characters short!!!! I'm a fan!By CustomerI enjoy Brad Metzler's earnest wit, his entertaining characters and suspenseful plots-unfortunately I knew by the title how this one would end. Hope I'm not spoiling it by this clue. The characters were fantastic but I thought he could have grown one of the main characters instead of going in a different direction. He seems to kill off any troubled character instead of believing in hope for their future. This disturbs me but I absolutely love his cheeky characters and great sense of humour so I will keep reading I hope he checks out my review though because this is my second favorite character that met with tragedy. The other was in the tenth justice.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Mike Nardino was rightBy Tony LaTempaMike Nardino recommended this book years ago. I didn't read it because "too many pages. I was wrong; he was right0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. DifferentBy Fred FanningThis book was good but it had a different feel from other Brad Meltzer books I have read.