Helpful Score: 5
An exciting mystery with one compelling cliffhanger after another! If you enjoyed the T.V. hit "THE WEST WING," you will love this! The ending is an absolute shocker!
Helpful Score: 5
This one totally sucked me in. A book review quoted on the back cover says it's "fast-paced and suspenseful throughout" and that is actually true. This is a guy who knows the economy of words. I have a very low quota for thrillers, and I was reading along (very quickly), thinking this was a simple, toss-away read like any old Grisham or Crichton novel and not really that bothered by it when sometimes the characters seemed to take a sharp left-turn out of nowhere and for no explained reason. Plot points occasionally need to come out of nowhere in a thriller. However, there was one sharp out-of-nowhere twist at the end (meant to explain the entire mystery) that left me feeling slightly nauseated. It was so sudden and random, in fact, that it pretty much wiped out my opinion of the novel up to then. So the casual recommendation I was going to offer "to fans of light thrillers" is now heavily qualified by the bad feeling this book left me with. I kinda resent the way the narrative jerked me around.
Helpful Score: 4
Stayed up until 3:00 AM to finish this one. Fast-paced and suspenseful to the last page!
Helpful Score: 4
suspense and intrigue. a young lawyer in Legal counsel office at White House gets involved w/president's daughter and more then he can imagine. politics, murder, drugs and much more. Action never ends. Although a little long it is a fast read. I enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 4
I have never been into politics much but this book really held my attention!
Helpful Score: 2
Shadow is the Secret Service code name for First Daughter Nora Hartson. A young White House lawyer begins dating Nora, ... they witness one night something they were never meant to see... and become ensnared in a secret agenda that includes betrayal and murder!!
Janis K. (scrapbooklady) reviewed The First Counsel (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
"The First Counsel" kept me up late, even though I'd never read Meltzer before and had no special expectations. It is written in clear and comfortable language. Brad Meltzer has a strong handle on his character, Michael Garrick, a Midwestern kid that has "done good" and is out of his depth emotionally, working as a counsel in the White House. The weakest point is in the character's friendship with Nora, the first daughter, although arguably, the author may be trying to demonstrate the protagonist's own weaknesses. That is how his idealism blunts him from reading people correctly. I found Nora a difficult character to like. A real strength, by contrast, is his coloring of DC and its surrounding area, as well as the friendship between Michael and Trey. Trey provides much of the steadiness and humor for the story...If you like books in the style of James Patterson, David Baldacci and Harlan Coben, I think you will enjoy "The First Counsel", I know I did.
Helpful Score: 1
A man faces a lot of pressure when dating the first daughter of the U.S., especially if she is sexy, rebellious and maybe a little bit crazy like Nora Hartson. But young White House lawyer Michael Garrick thinks he is up to the task. Their first date begins with a wild car chase to shake off Nora's ever-present Secret Service tail and ends when Nora and Michael see something they were never meant to see something that will put Michael's career, and his life, in danger. As witnesses to an ever-widening conspiracy, Michael and Nora find themselves tangled in a web of intrigue and under suspicion for murder. As the pressure increases, Nora makes herself scarce; when she does surface, she seems even more vulnerable and crazed, leaving Michael to decide if she is, in fact, part of the conspiracy or, like him, a victim of it. As he tries to make sense of the trap surrounding him, he finds himself not knowing whom, if anyone, to trust.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a good book. I kept wondering what was going to happen everytime the main character was backed in a corner - which seemed often. It was a fast read.
Helpful Score: 1
A man faces a lot of pressure when dating the first daughter of the U.S., especially if she is sexy, rebellious and maybe a little bit crazy like Nora Hartson. But young White House lawyer Michael Garrick thinks he is up to the task. Their first date begins with a wild car chase to shake off Nora's ever-present Secret Service tail and ends when Nora and Michael see something they were never meant to see something that will put Michael's career, and his life, in danger. As witnesses to an ever-widening conspiracy, Michael and Nora find themselves tangled in a web of intrigue and under suspicion for murder. As the pressure increases, Nora makes herself scarce; when she does surface, she seems even more vulnerable and crazed, leaving Michael to decide if she is, in fact, part of the conspiracy or, like him, a victim of it. As he tries to make sense of the trap surrounding him, he finds himself not knowing whom, if anyone, to trust.
Helpful Score: 1
A REALLY GOOD READ, INVOLVING THE SECRET SERVICE AND THE PRESIDENTS' DAUGHTER.
A very enjoyable, speedy read that will especially be of interest to "West Wing" and "Commander in Chief" fans.
Kept my attention late into the night. Enjoyable mystery from a capable author.
Shadow is the Secret Service code for First Daughter, Nora Hartson. And when White House lawyer Michael Garrick begins dating the irresistible Nora, he's instantly spell bound, just like everyone else in her world. Then, late one night, the two witness something they were never meant to see. Now, in a world where everyone watches your every move, Michael is suddenly ensnared in someone's secret agenda. Trusting no one, not even Nora, he finds himself fighting for his innocence-and ultimately, his life. ....
good fast read. exciting. good suspense. highly recommend for a plane trip or the beach.
Gretchen G. (trunkshow) -
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the suspense and the unexpected turns. The quality of detail in the description of locations and situations provided evidence the writer knew the area and work situations. It was so believable.
At one point in the book I realized I was tense and scared what would happen next to the main characeter, Michael.
The who-done-it was so well woven into the story that I hadn't figured it out until I was almost to the point where the author told us. (I was thinking about where I'd stopped reading the night before as I was driving and suspected the guilty party since he'd made reoccuring appearances, but wouldn't have guessed the connection to the murder.)
Have loadned it to another murder mystery fan, then this will be posted to share.
Wondering if all Meltzer's book are this involved?
At one point in the book I realized I was tense and scared what would happen next to the main characeter, Michael.
The who-done-it was so well woven into the story that I hadn't figured it out until I was almost to the point where the author told us. (I was thinking about where I'd stopped reading the night before as I was driving and suspected the guilty party since he'd made reoccuring appearances, but wouldn't have guessed the connection to the murder.)
Have loadned it to another murder mystery fan, then this will be posted to share.
Wondering if all Meltzer's book are this involved?
I'm glad I stayed with this book as early on, I found the lead character very immature. I did anticipate a strong personality & in fact did see some character growth in that area as the story progressed. Kudos to Brad Meltzer for his excellent insight with respect to the inner workings of the White House & particularly the Secret Service.
A thriller, but seems highly unbelievable (aren't most of them). No way that one person to avoid Secret Service so many times. Politics can be seedy and this book definitely leaned toward that. There were some redeeming aspects of the characters, and I enjoyed the book, but in the end I felt it went on too long.
Decent read by not very implausible plot. The "inner workings" and description of the White House, especially the residence, was quite interesting - and made the book worth picking up...
Lori S. (GroovyGlitterGirl) -
WOW! Fast paced, page turning, gut wrenching, wonder who is on my side, mystery :) One of his best!
Tracy H. (sweettulip) - , reviewed The First Counsel (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 40 more book reviews
Abridgment
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Interesting story, how close to home we'll never know.
Dave D. (wickedgoodbooks) reviewed The First Counsel (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 19 more book reviews
4 cassettes / 6 hours
MELTZER HAS ONCE AGAIN DONE A GREAT POLITICAL THRILLER, I DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS OVER!!
Exciting mystery with many twists.
Shadow is the secret Service code name for First daughter Nora Hartson. White House lawyer, Michael Garrick begins dating Nora. Late one night they witness something they were not intended to see. Now Michael is ensnared in someone's secret agenda, fighting for innocence and his life.
Will keep you guessing
I love Brad Meltzer's books, but, when I started this one about a lovely boy-man lawyer in the White House, I thought 'great, another book about a freaky, high-strung chick who loves to play games and take chances and she's gonna take him down with her', but once I got past the first part of the book, it really held my attention. I was caught up in it until the very end when we find out who's trying to frame him and I must say, I was surprised with all of the revelations! Great book!
Excellent book. Well written, one of his best works.
This begins entirely too slow. I almost gave up on it, the book could easily be 100 pages or so less. But once it got going it was a great thriller.
I just couldn't get into this book. Certainly a first for me when reading Meltzer. He is a great author so don't let this review discourage you from reading his other books
I don\'t know why this made it as NY Times bestseller. While it did hold my attention, I could and did put it down before I finished it in one or two settings
A young lawyer working in the office of the White House Counsel and dating the president's daughter becomes a suspect in the high-profile death of a collegue. This was an entertaining political thriller similar to the sort of thing you might expect from Grisham.
Read my full review at:
My Epinions Review
Read my full review at:
My Epinions Review
LOVE HIS BOOKS. FAST, SUSPENSEFUL AND TOTALLY EDGE OF YOUR SEAT. THIS GUY IS THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO LEGAL THRILLERS.
Each step seemed logical and even right at the time, but--- young lawyer Michael Garrick gets in over his head...
Tricky plotting, many surprises.
From back cover: John F. Kennedy, Jr., was Lark. Amy Carter was Dynamo. Chelsea Clinton was Energy. Now meet Shadow. Shadow is the Secret Service code name for First Daughter Nora Hartson. And when White House lawyer Michael Garrick begins dating the irresistible Nora, he's instantly spellbound, just like everyone else in her world. Then, late one night, the two witness something they were never meant to see. Now, in a world where everyone watches your every move, Michael is suddenly ensnared in someone's secret agenda. Trusting no one, not even Nora, he finds himself fighting for his innocence--and ultimately, his life.
Brat Meltzer's runaway bestseller takes us down the rabbit hole of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and paints a riveting picture of a danger only one man will ever know... What it's like to fall in love with the world's most powerful daughter.
Tricky plotting, many surprises.
From back cover: John F. Kennedy, Jr., was Lark. Amy Carter was Dynamo. Chelsea Clinton was Energy. Now meet Shadow. Shadow is the Secret Service code name for First Daughter Nora Hartson. And when White House lawyer Michael Garrick begins dating the irresistible Nora, he's instantly spellbound, just like everyone else in her world. Then, late one night, the two witness something they were never meant to see. Now, in a world where everyone watches your every move, Michael is suddenly ensnared in someone's secret agenda. Trusting no one, not even Nora, he finds himself fighting for his innocence--and ultimately, his life.
Brat Meltzer's runaway bestseller takes us down the rabbit hole of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and paints a riveting picture of a danger only one man will ever know... What it's like to fall in love with the world's most powerful daughter.
This book had some twists and turns that brought the reader along with it. I was pretty sure I knew how this would end and it surprised me. This is the first Brad Meltzer book that I've read and I will be reading more.
great book
Melanie A Wardlow (Mel) -
I would suggest that if anyone wants to read this book and they are not sure if they would like it don't spend full price for the paperback. It didn't stink but it wasn't great.
I have enjoyed all his books and look for more!
Good Read
Aficionados of the hit TV show The West Wing who are suffering through holiday reruns will jump right into Brad Meltzer's third novel (after The Tenth Justice and Dead Even), which takes readers into the White House office of the president's own law firm and introduces a first daughter whose complex psychological problems jump-start this fast-paced thriller. Michael Garrick loves his job as deputy counsel, but when he falls for Nora Hartson, the president's daughter, the conflict between his professional ethics and his growing love for her puts him right in the middle of a murder plot that may reach all the way to the Oval Office.
Good, easy read
The cover is the same picture but w/ the author's name written differently.
Good, easy read.
I have never read Meltzer but if his other novels are as fast paced as this one he is definatly on my reading list. Meltzer gave us a nice little insight into the Washington pressure cooker. I liked the protagonist but I thoughts he lacked a backbone at times.. or at least he lacked good judgment. I hated the First Daughter from the moment she appeared on the page but she did keep things interesting.
I am reading right now, so will not comment at this time.
Loved this book. It went quickly and before I new it, the day zipped by. A great book!
Great read.
White House lawyer Michael Garrick and the President's daughter Nora, witness something they were never meant to see.
Now Michael cann trust no one,not even Nora,as he fights for his innocence-and ultimately,his life.
Now Michael cann trust no one,not even Nora,as he fights for his innocence-and ultimately,his life.
One of my favorites by Meltzer.
