Strike the Bell Boldly

Here's a surprising (some might say refreshing) throwback in the mucky trough of Washington political novels--a saga of ambition thoroughly marbled with idealism that ends with everybody out-noble-ing everybody else. Just elected Senator, ex-Governor Jason Crockett of Washington State hits Monument Town all fresh and eager and green and ready to sit at the feet of that Senatorial has-been, boozy, lonely Austin Barraclough, who can barely make it to the Capitol these days but has political wit and wisdom galore to dispense. Jason laps it up, encourages Barraclough to get back into the power-broking business, and starts sleeping around, despite wife Sheila's warmth and allure, with Barraclough's bitchy real-estater niece, Esme. Presidential Convention time cometh, with Jason heartily supporting fellow Washingtonian Paul Ormsbee, but then Ormsbee coronaries out, and the field is open. Jason? God-fearing Zack Boone? The revitalized Barraclough? That's when the idealism hits the fan, and even if it's highly improbable, it's decently crafted by the veteran author Longstreet.