Dark Horse: A Political Thriller (Hardcover)

by Ralph Reed (Author)
Key Phrases: delegation scandal, travel aide, secure package, Bob Long, David Petty, White House (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
For Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition, politics is a man's world to its very core—especially when it comes to the race for president, which is at the center of this first novel. Women characters are either wives with drinking problems, tarts who use sex to get ahead professionally (but not that far) or VP candidates chosen purely for show, who are belittled behind the scenes for lack of experience and lightweight intelligence. Democrats are drunks who play dirty and bloody each other's noses. Cue the white knight—Gov. Bob Long, newly come to Christ, a true independent candidate—to save the day, rock both parties' worlds and remind the country about good values and the meaning of patriotism. Long is God's candidate, and with Christian leaders taking his side, he just might trump Republicans and Democrats alike. Reed's prose is average for a potboiling political thriller, and the crisis-laden plot keeps the pages turning, but the novel's specifically Christian agenda will satisfy some readers and alienate others. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"Ralph Reed, a top-flight political player, has done it again with Dark Horse. This political thriller is a spellbinding mix of suspense and intrigue that takes the reader on a behind-the-scenes tour of a bitter and hard-fought presidential campaign. Dark Horse, a timely account of the best and worst of American politics, is a must-read." -- Sean Hannity, host, The Sean Hannity Show, and cohost, Hannity & Colmes

"Ralph Reed has written a lively novel that crackles with real-life political drama. Dark Horse is a page-turner that combines an insider's knowledge of politics with the suspense of a thriller. You won't be able to put it down." -- Karl Rove, former senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush

"Only Ralph Reed is capable of extending a political thriller to the realm of the spiritual and the devotional. Dark Horse is an exciting read that beats even the real thing of 2008 for suspense and drama." -- Robert D. Novak, syndicated columnist and television commentator

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; First edition first printing. edition (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416576495
• ISBN-13: 978-1416576495
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #364,335 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark Horse, September 22, 2008

By	Joan H. Zellner "political junkie" (Buford, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For political junkies, this is a fasinating book, especially as respects the present election. It is amazing that Ralph Reed could write a book that, in many ways, follows the present campaigns. We will just have to wait and see if everything works outs as he projects in this book.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Look Behind the Curtain, June 21, 2008

By	Bill Wood "Perimeter reader" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Dark Horse is a fast paced story that could have been easily lifted from newspapers or right off of the network news programs. Although it was a little challenging at the very beginning, probably due to the reader being dropped into the middle of a political process with a large cast of characters, Once you sort out the players the payoff is worthwhile. Ralph Reed has been involved in bare knuckled politics for many years. It is obvious from the tags for this book, that he continues to be a lightening rod of vitriol from his political adversaries. I suppose success brings both adoration and vilification.

Notwithstanding all of that, Dark Horse is a fun read, in the way that Bill Buckley's Blackford Oakes series are fun to read. One gets the sense that as this story unfolds the reader is treated to a behind the scenes look at the intrigue of a national campaign. Who better to let us in on that than one who has been in the center of many political storms over the years. Though Reed portrays politicians and religious leaders reasonably realistically, every one appears to be brawlers when the gloves come off in the heat of the battle. it is easy to imagine that much of the story was drawn from Reed's experience as a consultant in the political process and a former candidate for office himself. That little touch of realism makes the story that much more interesting.

If you are looking for a fun read with a little constitutional education and political drama, Dark Horse fits the bill. For the aspiring young politico, Dark Horse captures the heat and emotion and does so in a manner that one would not mind their kids picking up the book and reading it. Hopefully Ralph will give us another book in the no so distant future that extends the story line of some of the interesting characters we have met in this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For The Politically Minded Only, March 3, 2009

By	Lance M. Hester (Gig Harbor, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reed's interview on The Daily Show made this book sound more interesting than I found it. I appreciate the detail that went into the plot; and i appreciate the character development even better. But I was painfully bored with the story. And since i paid for the thing, i made myself hang in there until the end. There is a fun "thriller" scene buried in the middle of it somewhere that got my attention. Otherwise, for the non-political-junkies out there, don't do it. for the political junkies, it's probabaly a lot of fun.