Deception Point by Dan Brown details from bookadda

In the world of page-turning thrillers, Dan Brown holds a specialplace in the hearts of many of us. After his first book, Digital Fortress, almost passed me by, he wrote Angels and Demons, which was probably one of the half-dozenmost exciting thrillers of last year. It is a pleasure to reportthat his new book lives up to his reputation as a writer whoseresearch and talent make his stories exciting, believable, and justplain unputdownable.

The time is now and President Zachary Herney is facing a verytough re-election. His opponent, Senator Sedgwick Sexton, is apowerful man with powerful friends and a mission: to reduce NASA'sspending and move space exploration into the private sector. He hasnumerous supporters, including many beyond the businesses who willprofit from this because of the embarrassment of 1996, when theClinton administration was informed by NASA that proof existed oflife on other planets. That information turned out to be premature,if not incorrect. The embattled president is assured that a rareobject buried deep in the Arctic ice will prove to havefar-reaching implications on America's space program. The find,however, needs to be verified.

Enter Rachel Sexton, a gister for the National ReconnaissanceOffice. Gisters reduce complex reports into single-page briefs, andin this case the president needs that confirmation before hebroadcasts to the nation, probably ensuring his re-election. It'stricky because Rachel is the daughter of his opponent. Rachel isthrilled to be on the team travelling to the Arctic Circle. She isa realist about her father's politics and has little respect forhis stand on NASA, but Senator Sexton cannot help but have aproblem with her involvement.

Adventure, romance, murder, skulduggery, and nail-bitingtension ensue. By the end of Deception Point, the reader will bemuch better informed about how the space program works and howpoliticians react to new information. Bring on the next Dan Brownthriller! --Otto Penzler, Amazon.com