Law of Gravity

The old standby mystery writers, Parker, Crais, Lehane, George to name a few, don't often surprise you. You expect good; you get it. Once in awhile though you pick up a book with an author you haven't read. Such was my experience with Mr. Horn, and to his credit, I now put him in the above list. I like the 2 main characters. Barkley is a wimp. Sure, life got on its hind legs and gave him a beating. Yes. Sad. Teary. But it's time to get over it. You know. Move on. But Barkley is a mess. Anti-depressants, sleeplessness, and talk about your flight risks? Barkley's packed and ready to go to (???) Oregon. Agent Turner of the FBI on the other hand is a self absorbed witch, out for herself, motivated not just for success but for victory. Martin Green is a Jewish assistant in the Senate searching for illicit campaign funding. And suddenly he discovers . . . something. We don't know what. But he is hastily accused of treason, and then kills himself. Barkley for the AG's office and Turner for the FBI are assigned to investigate. Turner sees Barkley as an impediment and wants to dump him. Barkley couldn't care less. Except . . . . In his prozac stupor, Barkley thinks it's odd that Green killed himself because he remembers that while at college, Green spoke out harshly over the suicide of a friend saying that it was the coward's way out and solved nothing. So Green's suicide makes little sense to Barkley. That's all he has to go on. I can't tell you how magnetic the book was. And I am pleased by the reviewers who say that the prior book, "In Her Defense," is even better. I picked that up last night. Merry Christmas to me. 5 Stars. Excellent stuff. I'm a fan of Mr. Horn.

Like many of us in the real world, Philip Barkley has had a lousy time of it in his fictionalized world. He still loves and misses his ex-wife Constance who is now married to Senator and possible Presidential Candidate, Warren Young. Philip grieves for the loss of his beautiful daughter, Bebe. It is no wonder, thanks to those two problems and a host of others, he has just returned after suffering another nervous breakdown. After more than six months in a hospital, he returns to find himself non-existent in the halls of the Justice Department. Beyond the stigma of mental illness is the fact, before he collapsed, that he testified and exposed the latest political corruption at the highest levels of this nation's government. He still has his reputation of not being able to lie about the facts. For now, to serve its own ends, the Justice Department keeps him on board.Senator Warren Young has a major problem of his own. He is the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and his aide, Martin Greenberg, has vanished. A few of the clues could mean espionage, but they also mean something far more ordinary. Using his influence, Senator Young has convinced the Attorney General to have Philip Barkley run the investigation, which will solve the possible media problem. There is to be an investigation of sorts, but the result is pre-ordained. Philip Barkley's report is to publicly clear Green and in effect Senator Young of espionage so that the Senator can go forth and campaign for the Presidency. If Barkley cooperates and does what he is told, favors will be called in and they will help him relocate to Oregon where he wants to start his life over.Barkley knows that there is much more to this than meets the eye. But since he has nothing left to lose, agrees to the plan. His suspicions are quickly confirmed when he is teamed up with a naive FBI agent and before the investigation starts, new ground rules go into place. It quickly becomes evident that something strange is going on and it has roots that go back more than fifty years ago. The question is whether or not he will figure out everything in time, not only to save his life, but everyone else's.This is the second novel from Stephen Horn and just as good as his first, "In Her Defense." Once again, he has assembled an intriguing cast of characters some of which seem to be right off the latest newscast. One character nicknamed "The Blade" is absolutely hilarious and seems to closely resemble a key member of former President Clinton's team. Along with some very funny lines, there is a complex and compelling mystery and plenty of action as Barkley works to solve the case.

This very good thriller has it all: Money, Power, Love, Greed, Evil, Revenge and Redemption. It provides a believable plot with credible action based on fact, written with intelligence, sensitivity, humor and fine characterizations. This complex tale of betrayal and political intrigue offers a bonus: it ends well. There are plenty of real surprises sprinkled among some important historical facts. Most readers will have a difficult time putting Law of Gravity aside. They should start this book when they can afford to stay up all night.Philip Barkley was on the way up as a "Hill" lawyer. He was the "minority" attorney to the Appropriations Committee. If his party won the next election, Barkley would become the White House counsel. But a problem arises in a fund raising scandal. He could not just say, "I don't recall." Instead he tells the truth, resulting in infamy that damages his party and leaves him politically isolated. Philip has the big money jobs taken away, then his beloved daughter who dies from an expensive illness. Soon after, his marriage collapses, he loses his house and most of his friends. A career guy saves him with a secure but boring job writing appellate briefs at Justice. The rest of his days are destined to be pulled down the slippery slope of depression for which he has been hospitalized three times. He remains heavily medicated as this story begins. He knows he is a mere flunky for whatever paperwork needs doing. When he goes to work, that is. Most of his time is spent on sick leave. Barkley became cynical, deciding the true system of checks and balances was not among the branches of government, but between its servants wedded to self-interest, and those with principle. He still believes himself a man of principle, but nobody else does. "We don't care about politics," he says. "We're the Justice Department." They don't think he is funny.Martin Green, an Intelligence Committee aide disappears, maybe because he breached national security. Green is connected to a prominent senator who is the leading candidate for president. The FBI is investigating. Philip Barkley is assigned by Justice to provide oversight of the FBI to assure the proper report is written, making this entire problem go away. His reward will be a transfer to Portland where he can clean up his life, pass the Oregon bar, and put up his shingle as a retired Government employee. But, whoa, Green is found dead with a suicide note, and the FBI is expected to close the case before it taints the senator.Philip is not capable of creating political pap. He believes when you've got all the answers, all the pieces fit, not just a few. He realizes the FBI's suicide story is a stretch. Green seemed to be one of the good guys, not a spy on the run. Barkley inches himself in deep enough to know somebody has an agenda. Barkley is not one of the good ol' boys, and the political bosses don't like his attitude, so he resigns. He gets out of his lease and packs his car. But he secr

This is an extremely satisfying book, at a variety of levels. It's a political thriller, a historical novel, and an on-the-road adventure story.And none of the characters are what they seem - each reveals new levels as the plot thickens. Just when you think you've got a certain hero or villain figured out, a whole new side of him or her is exposed.Horn's writing style is engaging, and his dialog convincing - each character has their own voice. And when you think the story is wrapping up, the protagonists face a whole new set of challenges that seem impossible to wrap up. But I loved the way Horn ended this novel - satisfying without resorting to Hollywood cliche.But speaking of Hollywood, this would make a great movie! But whether or not this story makes it to the silver screen, I will DEFINITELY be reading more by this author.

Nicely drawn characters and a plausible story line that moves along briskly. Combines murder, national security, Presidential politics, personal struggles, and surprise plot twists. This book is as good as anything you'll find in it's genre. Beats most of the better known authors. I enjoyed his first book a lot ("In Her Defense"), and I liked this one even better. Definitely recommend it highly. Hurry up with number 3, Mr. Horn.