December, 2016: Everyone thought the election was over… An idealistic young researcher uncovers a series of deaths among Electors and must race against time and a secret, deadly efficient conspiracy. When Matthew Yamashita discovers a series of unexplained deaths among Electors, he and his advisor must work to get the information out and stop the plot.
They are joined by an FBI agent, Imogen Trager. Although initially sceptical, she, too, begins to glimpse just how deep the conspiracy goes. Theirs becomes a race against time to get their information to light before the Electors meet on December 19, 2016. The conspirators always seem one step ahead of them, and it’s unclear who, if anyone, they can trust. The stakes could not be higher. If the plot succeeds, the government itself would no longer derive its
A solidly crafted, high-concept thriller that mixes hot-button issues of election rigging and conspiracy theory, Faithless Elector proves both timely and poignant. McCrone has certainly done his homework and it’s to his credit that his plot stands in contrast to many of today’s thrillers which often seem simple-minded and lacking in genuine depth. Observant and intelligent it’s accurate in its broad strokes without allowing detail to overwhelm his narrative. In fact, it’s a relatively quick read and whilst another author might have left us adrift in a sea of coincidences, propitious breaks, fabricated leads and fudged plot twists, McCrone keeps it straight by sticking resolutely to its subject.
Great book, a true page turner.
Verified Purchase
If there were an award for topical novels, "Faithless Elector" would be this year's winner. Mr. McCrone condenses a complex subject (our electoral system) into the fabric of a fast paced novel. He writes dialog between his characters so well that you think you have met them or want to. He creates dynamic tension as well as Hammet but in longer, more developed structures.
"A gripping and intelligently executed political drama."
In this debut thriller, a college professor stumbles on a plot to rig an American presidential election.
The presidential contest in 2016 is vertiginously close, and Diane Redmond becomes the first female occupant of the Oval Office, narrowly winning by four electoral votes. Matthew Yamashita is a political science graduate student in Seattle conducting a national demographic survey of all the Electoral College voters, the subject of his dissertation under his adviser, professor Duncan Calder. Matthew begins to discover some statistical anomalies: there’s an unusually high number of electors turning up dead during the election, all of them Democrats, all of them in states dominated by Democratic voters and without laws constraining faithless electors. . . .
"The pleasure of Faithless Elector lies not just its smooth evocative prose, but in the author's justified confidence that good writing can make chases through recognizable locales sufficiently exciting without a Navy SEAL or a terrorist plot." Lauren Kiefer, Plattsburgh (NY) Press-Republican
The Book House, an independent book shop in Summertown (Oxford, UK), is now carrying Faithless Elector
Steph Renee interviews author James McCrone regarding the current political climate and Faithless Electors. 11:00am, WURD-900AM (Philadelphia)
James McCrone will read from his new novel, Faithless Elector, at noon at the Rothermere American Institute, Oxford University. Admission is free
James McCrone will read from his new novel, Faithless Elector at 2pm in the Library. Admission is free
Highland Park Public Library, 31 North 5th Ave. Highland Park, NJ 08904
