One man holds the reins of power. One man vows to protect him. One man vows to destroy him.
Caught in a game of chess he didn't know he was playing until it was too late, the President makes the only move he can, plunging Washington and the nation into chaos. Stunned and reeling, Vice President David Kendall takes the oath of office and tries to heal a nation in mourning. But what the new president doesn't realize is that things in the White House aren't always what they appear to be, and sometimes what looks like the best option may turn out to be the worst. When one fatal decision triggers consequences he never envisioned, President Kendall finds himself caught up in the same game that cost his predecessor his life.
Although there was nothing he could have done, Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter is haunted by the death of the man he had vowed to protect. When his girlfriend leaves him and his boss tells him that his job is on the line, he thinks his life cannot get any worse. He soon realizes how wrong he is when he finds himself fighting to save another president from the deadly forces that he has unwittingly unleashed.
In Sheep's Clothing is a gripping, action-packed political thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
Plot: Political novels invariably involve numerous characters but once introductions are made, Beyer's fast paced plot races toward a satisfying conclusion.
Prose: Beyer’s prose is clean, with a good balance between narrative and dialogue. Descriptive passages are concise yet thorough.
Originality: Cutthroat politics don't surprise anyone in the age of House of Cards, but Beyer takes it a bit further with lethal consequences.
Characterization: All main and secondary characters feel true and are adequately limned.
Blurb: Beyer's suspenseful thriller about political intrigue and duplicity in the White House hits all the right notes. Once readers get caught up in the characters, their political backstabbing, and the thundering tension, the compulsion to read to the last page is irresistible.
Date Submitted: April 17, 2017
I'm not always a fan of political thrillers, but this one is amazing. There is lots of suspense and intrigue, from beginning to end.
Along with a great plot, we also are treated to a wide variety of characters, both heroes and villains. Matthew, the main character, is troubled by not saving the former President, and we get a deep insight into his turmoil. He is realistically flawed and human, which is always a sign of a great hero.
The author's detailed research is evident, from providing information on the mechanics of a plane, to the inner workings of the Secret Service, to the protocol of a search and rescue mission.
This story has a very plausible plot, and may well make the reader more than just a little uncomfortable. I highly recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed Tom Clancy's writing in the past.
(There is an excerpt from the next book in the series, An Eye For An Eye,at the end of this one, and I can hardly wait for it to be released!)
Rating: Four stars
In this tale of politics and betrayal, a Secret Service agent must do everything within his power to protect the president of the United States from forces that are conspiring to destroy him.
President Thomas Walters finds himself backed into a corner by an aggressive and ambitious U.S. senator from New Jersey, Tyler Rumson, who is armed with blackmail that would ruin the head of state's life. So Walters decides to end it all, abruptly throwing Vice President David Kendall into the highest job in the land with the added responsibility of guiding a nation that is mourning a fallen leader. As his vice president, President Kendall chooses Rumson, unaware of the senator's major role in his predecessor's demise. Kendall also doesn't know that Rumson is willing to do whatever it takes to push this final obstacle to the presidency out of his way. Meanwhile, Secret Service agent Matthew Richter is tortured by what he witnessed the day Walters died and can't stop wondering if there was anything he could have done to save him. When Rumson and a few carefully chosen allies orchestrate a disaster designed to take President Kendall down, Richter finds himself with a second chance to save the commander in chief--but it will take all of his intelligence, bravery, and fortitude to survive the dangerous road ahead. Beyer packs his debut novel with just enough information about Washington, D.C., and its various institutions' dueling agendas to make his wild tale feel grounded in reality without being weighed down by minutiae. Richter and Kendall are both noble, likable heroes, while Rumson is a deliciously evil villain in the mold of Frank Underwood of House of Cards. There is also a diverse cast of supporting characters, including two 20-something backpackers who find themselves tangled up in the fate of the president, that should keep the reader engaged in the human side of the story even as the plot gets dangerously close to flying off the rails. Richter is set to return in a second installment.
An intense political thriller that should attract House of Cards fans waiting for the next season.
My Rating: four bloody earpieces
Political thrillers are not really my preferred genre. I would rather read Literary fiction full of clever metaphors and symbolism that lets me wrestle with deeper layers of meaning, and unique social commentary. In comparison, political thrillers are stylistically simple; their complexity lies in the twists and turns of their plot, and the strategies and mental acrobatics necessary for the protagonists to overcome their rivals’ schemes. With that in mind, I approached In Sheep’s Clothing from a literary perspective, and despite it being an “airport read”, I was, in fact, pleasantly surprised.
With the Presidency suddenly transferred as a result of a tragic event, the new President Kendall is inexperienced and ill-equipped to deal with the political games played by those who seek power – at any cost. He doesn’t know it, but his life is in danger from those who are closest to him. It’s up to Secret Service agent Matthew Richter, reeling from his failure to prevent the recent catastrophe, to protect President Kendall and take down a widespread political conspiracy of lies,secrets and murder.
The opening scene in the novel hooked me, and from that point the suspense did not let up. Not once was I bored, and so Beyer did his job well – he kept me thrilled. With that out of the way, on a deeper level, what I really liked about this book was the depiction of the Presidents. Both Walters and Kendall were highly sympathetic characters, and their stature did not detract from their humanity; rather, their fallibility as realistic people was heightened by the expectations others had of them for merely holding that office. I felt like they were approachable and genuine, complex characters. I wanted Kendall to succeed, and I worried for his safety; I cared about him and his family. I think the wife and kids could have had a little more of a voice in the book, but that’s a separate point.
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I have to say I've been blessed by the good book fairy lately. This is the second book I've read this week that hit the 4.5 jewels rating! And they were in completely different genres and styles. Yay Me and now Yay You!
If you are a Tom Clancy fan, this book is for you. If you are a fan of suspense, human drama, political intrigue, action, thrills and chills at every corner and a hero who doesn't know that he's a hero, this book is for you. I loved it!
This really is an action packed story that I had a hard time putting down. I enjoyed the "behind the scenes" peeks at the lobbying and the general wheeling and dealing that goes on while we, the public sleeps. While you do know who (one of) the bad guy(s) is fairly quickly, the suspense keeps you turning the pages. Will he, won't he? What will he do next? Did she really just say that? It was a real guessing game right up until the end.
Our main character Matthew is immediately likable. The author makes you empathize with him as we know there was nothing he could have done to prevent the president's suicide, but we feel his frustration and helplessness all the same. I enjoyed that we are made privy to his backstory without a lot of the drudgery that sometimes accompanies setting the characters and the scene up. It tickled me that the requisite Rayban sunglasses were a factor in his motives to become a Secret Service Agent on the POTUS detail.
Character development is very strong in this book. Mr. Beyer has adeptly fleshed each of the key players out to the point that the reader will have very strong feelings towards them - one way or the other. We love Matthew, we truly like President Kendall/former VP, we hate the new Vice President Rumson and his girl/bad guy Jane as they blackmail, bully and kill to achieve their goals.
When you combine these people with the suspenseful action and meticulous details, you have one heck of a thriller - which would make a great movie. I usually don't like to compare books to movies, but two came immediately to mind: Olympus Has Fallenand White House Down, both of which I also truly enjoyed. Of course my previous mention/comparison to the Master: Tom Clancy, should be proof of how much I liked it!
I am looking forward to the next installment with Matthew Richter and I highly recommend this book: it's a page-turner!
Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it: 4.5 Jewels!
Full of authentic thrills and clever word play, L.D. Beyers’ “In Sheep’s Clothing” is master storytelling. It takes a thriller and upends it, reverses it, and then lets it settle while the reader is trying to wrap their minds around what exactly is happening.
Moving at lightning speed, the plot of the novel has one very strong-willed President who will do anything to save the country. New to the White House, President Kendall quickly learns that what goes on in the oval office does not necessarily stay in the oval office. He also soon learns that the walls have ears and nothing is as it appears to be.
Thrown into these stark revelations, the author introduces the downtrodden but resourceful Secret Agent Matthew Richter. With his own set of baggage, including a very extensive knowledge of White House operations, he partners up with the President to literally try and save the day.
Crisp and clear, Beyers’ prose is elegant and forthcoming. Details are pertinent and storylines are all relevant by the book’s end. I appreciated the lack of red herrings because I feel if you have a strong plot, then you don’t need to throw off the whiff of the reader. “In Sheep’s Clothing” is an exercise in talent and patience.
