DARK HORSE

Ralph Reed's background as a right-wing Christian political player is readily apparent in his first novel, a scandal-laden story about an American presidential race, first published in June 2008. Governor Bob Long loses his party's nomination for the presidency in a bitter brawl over credentials and then stuns the country by announcing his bid as an independent. Narrator L.J. Ganser utilizes consistency and a deft touch with irony to enhance the pedestrian text. But even Ganser's accomplished reading doesn't add much zest to the tedious detail about political strategy and tactics. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this novel is its startlingly prophetic parallels with the actual 2008 presidential campaign, including the first African-American nominee and a relatively inexperienced female running mate. N.M.C © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]