Toxin
By: Paul Martin Midden
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: American Book Publishing Group (March 31, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158982492X
ISBN-13: 978-1589824928
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.8 inches
If you like political thrillers, you will love Toxin by Paul Martin Midden. This is both a fascinating look into the political schemes that go on and delves into the "what if" conspiracies that go on in the world of politics that Americans are often very much unaware of.
Though not highly experienced in the genre of politics or political fiction, I have read a few that have captivated me and Toxin is no exception. This is a story that is incredibly easy to get into and the story wraps itself around the reader, drawing them into the world of Junior Senator Jake Telemark and Isadore (Dora) Hathaway, the stunning daughter of a high powered former Senator. Dora is convinced there is a plot going on to take over power of the White House and she calls upon Jake, a former snipper, to help save not only them, but the world.
In the beginning Jake is not convinced of such a conspiracy going on, but it isn't long before Dora presents enough information and evidence that this scheme is highly underway and needs to be destroyed before the democracy of the world is brought to it's knees. With life, death and the security of the nation hanging precariously, Jake must do everything in his power to put a stop to this group of madmen. Not only that, but just where will his growing love and desire for Dora fit into the entire mess?
Gripping from the first page to the last, Toxin is sure to keep readers up at night, turning pages until the final conclusion explodes and the back cover is closed. I truly enjoyed Toxin and can't wait to read more by this excellent author.
*overall rating 4/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Toxin:
Jake Telemark, a junior senator from Wisconsin, enjoys his position as a moderate, common-sense legislator in Washington, D.C.—until the phone call that changes his life forever. Isadore Hathaway, daughter of the late Frank Hathaway, a renowned senatorial powerhouse, demands to see Jake immediately. During a mysterious meeting with Isadore, Jake learns an uncomfortable truth: a group of fanatical right-wing evangelicals, who call themselves The Bookkeepers, are planning to destroy the US democracy.
Shocked by Isadore’s revelation, but initially unwilling to get involved in something he can scarcely believe, Jake soon learns why Isadore Hathaway singled him out for this clandestine meeting: she’d uncovered a part of Jake’s past that he’d fought to keep hidden, not just by law, but by of the demands of his sanity. Isadore’s plea is both startling and matter-of-fact: she wants Jake to kill the men involved in this sinister plot—because if Jake doesn’t kill them, they will kill him.
When parts of Isadore’s scenario begin to come true, Jake becomes ensnared in a dangerous and deadly plot. With the country at risk and freedom hanging in the balance, Jake is thrust into excruciating circumstances. Forced to confront the demons of his past, and the demons that threaten the future of the country he serves, Jake inconveniently falls in love with Isadore. As this burgeoning relationship plays out against the backdrop of the most tumultuous time in US history, Jake Telemark must wage an intense tug-of-war between his promise to never harm another human being, and his duty to the country, and woman, he loves.
A gripping first person novel that reads like non-fiction, Toxin is briskly-paced and filled with urgency. Part provocative political thriller, part powerful psychological narrative, Toxin delivers a terrifyingly-real storyline that deftly blurs the lines between fiction and reality. Novelist Paul Martin Midden displays remarkable dexterity in his extraordinary character development, exquisite understanding of the texture and complexity of human relationships, and ability to keep the pages turning in this powerful thriller.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Paul Martin Midden:
Paul Martin Midden is a psychologist who currently serves as Clinical Director of a nationally-recognized treatment center. Midden’s debut novel, Absolution, was released to great critical acclaim in 2007. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
Paul’s background is not in writing or literature. He worked for twenty-five years as a psychologist, primarily with Catholic priests and religious men and women. It was out of this work that his first novel, Absolution, was born.
Paul was born and raised in St. Louis, where he has lived throughout much of his adult life. Boarding school in Chicago and a two-year stint in the Peace Corps in Morocco were major exceptions.
In the Peace Corps, Paul taught English as a second language. Upon his return to the US, he continued teaching English in the International Programs Department of Saint Louis University, where he entered graduate school. He holds a Master’s and Doctorate from that fine institution.
A career in clinical practice followed. In addition to seeing patients in therapy, Paul worked in a number of high-intensity treatment settings, including hospitals, extended residential centers, and, most recently, an intensive outpatient program. He has been on the medical and academic staffs of major local hospitals.
In the past three years, Paul has turned to writing fiction, initially as a pastime. He is presently completing a third novel. Paul is married and has two children.
You can visit Paul at his website: http://www.paulmidden.com/index.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY!!!
“Paul Martin Midden is giving away a signed copy of his book, Toxin, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to his book tour page, http://paul-martin-midden.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 6051, for your chance to win. Entries from Cafe of Dreams will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on their book tour page next week.”
By: Paul Martin Midden
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: American Book Publishing Group (March 31, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158982492X
ISBN-13: 978-1589824928
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.8 inches
If you like political thrillers, you will love Toxin by Paul Martin Midden. This is both a fascinating look into the political schemes that go on and delves into the "what if" conspiracies that go on in the world of politics that Americans are often very much unaware of.
Though not highly experienced in the genre of politics or political fiction, I have read a few that have captivated me and Toxin is no exception. This is a story that is incredibly easy to get into and the story wraps itself around the reader, drawing them into the world of Junior Senator Jake Telemark and Isadore (Dora) Hathaway, the stunning daughter of a high powered former Senator. Dora is convinced there is a plot going on to take over power of the White House and she calls upon Jake, a former snipper, to help save not only them, but the world.
In the beginning Jake is not convinced of such a conspiracy going on, but it isn't long before Dora presents enough information and evidence that this scheme is highly underway and needs to be destroyed before the democracy of the world is brought to it's knees. With life, death and the security of the nation hanging precariously, Jake must do everything in his power to put a stop to this group of madmen. Not only that, but just where will his growing love and desire for Dora fit into the entire mess?
Gripping from the first page to the last, Toxin is sure to keep readers up at night, turning pages until the final conclusion explodes and the back cover is closed. I truly enjoyed Toxin and can't wait to read more by this excellent author.
*overall rating 4/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Toxin:
Jake Telemark, a junior senator from Wisconsin, enjoys his position as a moderate, common-sense legislator in Washington, D.C.—until the phone call that changes his life forever. Isadore Hathaway, daughter of the late Frank Hathaway, a renowned senatorial powerhouse, demands to see Jake immediately. During a mysterious meeting with Isadore, Jake learns an uncomfortable truth: a group of fanatical right-wing evangelicals, who call themselves The Bookkeepers, are planning to destroy the US democracy.
Shocked by Isadore’s revelation, but initially unwilling to get involved in something he can scarcely believe, Jake soon learns why Isadore Hathaway singled him out for this clandestine meeting: she’d uncovered a part of Jake’s past that he’d fought to keep hidden, not just by law, but by of the demands of his sanity. Isadore’s plea is both startling and matter-of-fact: she wants Jake to kill the men involved in this sinister plot—because if Jake doesn’t kill them, they will kill him.
When parts of Isadore’s scenario begin to come true, Jake becomes ensnared in a dangerous and deadly plot. With the country at risk and freedom hanging in the balance, Jake is thrust into excruciating circumstances. Forced to confront the demons of his past, and the demons that threaten the future of the country he serves, Jake inconveniently falls in love with Isadore. As this burgeoning relationship plays out against the backdrop of the most tumultuous time in US history, Jake Telemark must wage an intense tug-of-war between his promise to never harm another human being, and his duty to the country, and woman, he loves.
A gripping first person novel that reads like non-fiction, Toxin is briskly-paced and filled with urgency. Part provocative political thriller, part powerful psychological narrative, Toxin delivers a terrifyingly-real storyline that deftly blurs the lines between fiction and reality. Novelist Paul Martin Midden displays remarkable dexterity in his extraordinary character development, exquisite understanding of the texture and complexity of human relationships, and ability to keep the pages turning in this powerful thriller.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Paul Martin Midden:
Paul Martin Midden is a psychologist who currently serves as Clinical Director of a nationally-recognized treatment center. Midden’s debut novel, Absolution, was released to great critical acclaim in 2007. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
Paul’s background is not in writing or literature. He worked for twenty-five years as a psychologist, primarily with Catholic priests and religious men and women. It was out of this work that his first novel, Absolution, was born.
Paul was born and raised in St. Louis, where he has lived throughout much of his adult life. Boarding school in Chicago and a two-year stint in the Peace Corps in Morocco were major exceptions.
In the Peace Corps, Paul taught English as a second language. Upon his return to the US, he continued teaching English in the International Programs Department of Saint Louis University, where he entered graduate school. He holds a Master’s and Doctorate from that fine institution.
A career in clinical practice followed. In addition to seeing patients in therapy, Paul worked in a number of high-intensity treatment settings, including hospitals, extended residential centers, and, most recently, an intensive outpatient program. He has been on the medical and academic staffs of major local hospitals.
In the past three years, Paul has turned to writing fiction, initially as a pastime. He is presently completing a third novel. Paul is married and has two children.
You can visit Paul at his website: http://www.paulmidden.com/index.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY!!!
“Paul Martin Midden is giving away a signed copy of his book, Toxin, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to his book tour page, http://paul-martin-midden.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 6051, for your chance to win. Entries from Cafe of Dreams will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on their book tour page next week.”
3 comments:
Great review of the book. It was something I may not have picked up but am certainly glad I did. The author definitely did good revealing the conflict Jake had. I would recommend this for reading.
The more I read about Toxin, the more anxious I am to get the book! Thanks for your review - I'm off to try to win the giveaway!!
I am a subscriber and would like to win this book.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
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