Dark Horse

It was intelligent, slick, and fast-paced. I couldn't believe the nerve of the Shakespeare McCann character! Even though I hated McCann, I could hardly wait to see what he would do next!!! I loved this book!! Thank you Mr. Richardson for your ability to provide characterizations and descriptions succinctly, yet still give the reader a clear picture of the events as they unfolded. You are a wonderful storyteller.

I am amused by some of the negative reviews which accuse this book of being too outlandish and unbelievable. I love to read, and when I pick up a book I want to be entertained. Reality checks are not a prerequisite. And there is a lot in this book that outrageously defies reality. Which is why it is so much fun to read. I zipped through this book, laughing out loud (which made my poor husband believe I had gone over the edge). Shakespeare McCann is so unbelievably evil you almost gotta love him. (I see Jack Nicholson playing him in the movie, if it is made). I don't think the author expects anyone to take this book as a serious indictment of our political system. This is pure and simple entertainment. To take it seriously is to ruin the fun. Just read it for the sheer enjoyment of a good yarn.

This book was an easy read and highly entertaining. Unfortunately there is no credibility. The antics that take place here could never happen, the press would go crazy over a candidate with no past, the people seem too gullible, McCann never says anything of substance, and the death of Hammond...well, a reviewer below said it, there is no way he would have been out riding a horse instead of at campaign headquarters. It gets to be too much, but it still was highly entertaining.

Entertaining, but preposterous, novel about a run for a congressional seat in South Texas. The dark spirits of Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and especially Ross Perot permeate almost every page of the book. Mitch Dutton, the sincere but slightly dense Democratic candidate who is playing the part of the biennial sacrificial lamb to longtime Republican Congressman George "Hurricane" Hammond, finds himself a surprising frontrunner for the seat after Hammond dies of a supposed heart attack after falling from a horse. Hammond's replacement is one Shakespeare McCann, who placed second in the primary and who promptly begins to campaign against poor Dutton by beating him up in an alley behind a restaurant. McCann has a wonderful time personally running his mysterious come-from-nowhere campaign -- handing out vanilla ice cream imported from Costa Rica wrapped in red, white and blue napkins while engaging in blackmail (shaking down the Republican party for $100 grand), several murders, rape and various other campaign dirty tricks and activities. Dutton and his campaign managers, on the other hand, never quite see McCann coming and until the very end hardly put up a fight at all. The book is by Doug Richardson, author of the screenplay for Die Hard II. One imagines the difficulty he had in removing his tongue from his cheek once the book was done. The only caveat I have with the book is that McCann is so over-the- top bad that my suspension of disbelief broke down a few times. This is not a serious book about the state of politics in America. It is, however, a deeply twisted, dark and funny story about the lack of limits on ambition in society. Read this for fun, not enlightenment -- it's a hoot! Be aware of graphic violence, sex, and an astonishing array of mean-spirited acts by one human being against another. [byl strother]

One of the surest election outcomes is that of the reelection of Hurricane Hammond back to the Congress. There is no reason to believe that his Democratic opponent, reformer Mitch Dutton, has even the slightest of chance to pull off the upset of the century. However, everything suddenly changes when Hurricane, running unopposed to gain the Republican nod, dies in a hunting accident on Primary Day. The Republicans have no one to run against Mitch, who has abruptly become the front runner. Through a quirk in the election rules, a total unknown, Shakespeare McCann, steals the nomination. Mitch plans to run a high campaign, discussing the relevant issues. What he and his campaign brain thrust do not understand is that their opponent will do anything, including murder, to become the next Congressman from Texas. Shakes attacks everyone related in any manner to Mitch. He uses every dirty trick known to politicians and several known to gangsters. By the time Mitch realizes that he faces a colossal evil, it may be to late as Shakes is closing in on stealing the election. DARK HORSE is a fascinating, very refreshing political thriller that will excite fans of the genre. The story line is fast paced, and the villain is one the vilest and sneakiest characters to come along in a long time (or at least since the last election). In spite of the fact that Mitch seems like a lightweight, leaving readers rooting for Shakes to steal the election, Doug Richardson scribes an interesting tale. Harriet Klausner