Access To Power

From Publishers Weekly Drawing on his experience as a high-profile media consultant, first-time author Ellis spins a potent political thriller that deftly conveys the superficiality and shrewdness of life on Capitol Hill. When renowned image-maker Frank Miles is hired to wage a no-holds-barred advertising blitz for Mel Merdock, a senatorial candidate with deep pockets and few morals, Frank's primary concern is to win the race, even if his client isn't the best man for the job. Three weeks prior to election day, Frank's longtime business partner and friend, Woody, is murdered during what appears to be a botched robbery. Unable to shake the feeling that Woody's death was no accident and aware of the considerable enemies his sometimes sleazy media schemes have earned him, Frank does some investigating of his own and uncovers a shocking trail of corruption that leads all the way to the White House. Ellis writes in crisp, punchy prose, mirrored by the novel's short, sound bite-like chapters, which are skillfully woven to form an absorbing narrative. A side story involving a romance between Frank and an associate is a pleasing touch, and Ellis's painstaking attention to character development, pacing and detail will ensure that this hard-hitting debut will leave conspiracy buffs hungering for more. (Aug.)Forecast: The book's plain, dark cover won't catch a browser's eye, but print advertising in USA Today and the Washington Post will help generate respectable sales for this debut thriller. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From the Publisher In his savvy and stunningly suspenseful first novel, Robert Ellis combines his insider's knowledge of political machinations with the breakneck pacing, intricate, compelling plot, and complex characters one would expect from a well-seasoned writer. ROBERT ELLIS is the international bestselling author of Access to Power , The Dead Room (a No. 1 Amazon.com bestseller in the US and UK), and the critically acclaimed Los Angeles Times bestseller City of Fire , The Lost Witness , and Murder Season - selected as top reads by Booklist , Publishers Weekly , National Public Radio , The Chicago Tribune , The Toronto Sun , The Guardian (UK), The Evening Telegraph (UK), People Magazine , USA Today , and The New York Times . His novels have been translated into more than ten languages and are read in more than thirty-five countries.Born in Philadelphia, Robert moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a writer, producer, and director in film, television, and advertising. Robert studied writing with Walter Tevis, author of The Hustler , The Man Who Fell to Earth , and The Color of Money , and with John Truby, screenwriter and author of The Anatomy of Story . His books have garnered praise from authors as diverse as Janet Evanovich and Michael Connelly. For more information, visit him online at robertellis.net. Read more