Edge of Honor [Mass Market Paperback]

Richard Herman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2000

Madeline Turner, the first female U.S. President, has already weathered globalcrises during the first months of her administration. But the balance of power has suddenly shifted dangerously and dramatically in Europe--the Russian government has fallen into the hands of a criminal--and a fearsome, re-emergent bear is on a rampage. Locked into a war of wits and weaponry with the deadly cabal of drug runners and murderers who now rule a one-time empire, Maddy Turner will need capable allies beside her--like Air Force legend Matt Pontowski, who will become the beleaguered Commander-in-Chief's confidant, friend, and more. An explosive confrontation is coming that could reshape the face of the world--and the fate of President Turner herself.Madeline Turner, the first female U.S. President, has already weathered global crises during the first months of her administration. But the balance of power has suddenly shifted dangerously and dramatically in Europe---the Russian government has fallen into the hands of a criminal---and a fearsome, re-emergent bear is on a rampage. Locked into a war of wits and weaponry with the deadly cabal of drug runners and murderers who now rule a one-time empire, Maddy Turner will need capable allies beside her---like Air Force legend Matt Pontowski, who will become the beleaguered Commander-in-Chief's confidant, friend, and more. An explosive confrontation is coming that could reshape the face of the world---and the fate of President Turner herself.Madeline Turner, the first female U.S. President, has already weathered global crises during the first months of her administration. But the balance of power has suddenly shifted dangerously and dramatically in Europe---the Russian government has fallen into the hands of a criminal---and a fearsome, re-emergent bear is on a rampage. Locked into a war of wits and weaponry with the deadly cabal of drug runners and murderers who now rule a one-time empire, Maddy Turner will need capable allies beside her---like Air Force legend Matt Pontowski, who will become the beleaguered Commander-in-Chief's confidant, friend, and more. An explosive confrontation is coming that could reshape the face of the world---and the fate of President Turner herself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite a myriad of subplots and characters, Herman's latest intricately woven, grandly schemed techno-melodrama (after Against All Enemies) delivers solid entertainment with nary a hitch. Set in 2002, it continues the travails of Madeline (Maddy) Turner, introduced in Power Curve. Having succeeded her husband after his assassination, Maddy, a highly capable though emotionally vulnerable mother of two, has become the first woman president of the U.S. Trouble is brewing in Russia as Mikhail Vashin, a wealthy megalomaniac Mafiya powerbroker, plots to use Germany as his unwitting ally in a scheme to make Poland the center for international traffic in drugs, sex, money laundering and contraband military technology. When it becomes obvious there is skullduggery afoot, savvy President Turner sends ranking Air Force General Robert Bender to Poland as ambassador. On the domestic front, during a visit to New Mexico where her 14-year-old son is in military school, Maddy becomes infatuated with General Matt Pontowski, the dashing pilot who is the father of her son's roommate. Because she plans to mount her own campaign to become her party's first official female presidential candidate, however, Maddy accepts the reality that she must put her feminine yearning aside. After Matt is sent to train Polish pilots, Ambassador Bender is assassinated and Maddy's old political nemesis, Senator Leland, blackmails her into appointing Matt's avowed enemy to fill the vacancy. Orchestrated against the counter-perils of innocent teenagers who become the targets of the Russian mob, tension builds inside the guarded meeting rooms of the White House. Herman deftly negotiates murderous chicanery, political hanky-panky, gripping air combat and steamy sex in a sweeping political epic of post-Cold War power struggles. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Herman's well-received Power Curve (1997) showed Madeline O'Keith Turner inheriting the Oval Office when the president died. Now its in the early years of the next century, when Maddy's big problem is Russias crime cartel, the Mafiya, and its leader, Mikhail Vashin. The vastly wealthy Vashin, who thinks nothing of having a naked girl thrown down a 30-story elevator shaft, has organized all the crime families and essentially taken over the government, so that the US is dealing with criminal political leaders. Now all Europe seems ready to fall under the cartel's yoke. What's worse, Yaponetz, a Russian godfather of crime doing time in a US federal prison, is organizing a terrifically effective crime family here. What to do with him? Maddy suggests that America trade him to Russia . . . for a nuke. The Russians now want Poland back, but so does Germany. War looks imminent, and the author (a former Air Force pilot) flaunts his skills describing fighter-jet action at high altitudes. Meanwhile, Maddy has her own problems in Washington as power forces shift beneath her feet. With Elizabeth Dole making presidential waves, and Hillary Rodham Clinton sniffing at New York's senatorial seat, the country seems ready for a novel about women in power. Herman has wisely left room for a trilogy. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Reprint edition (April 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380802694
• ISBN-13: 978-0380802692
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #578,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Herman's best with interesting politics, November 12, 1999

By 

Mr N Forbes-warren "author of RESURGENCE and ... (Newport, South Wales, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edge of Honor (Hardcover)

Poland is in crisis. The Russian Mafia want to expand their operations there, and Germany's Chancellor is buying up land in the west of the country. The US, with Madeline Turner as President decides to intervene, which leads to a series of interwoven subplots involving ongoing hero Matt Pontowski training Polish Air Force pilots in air combat in F-16s and becoming almost romantically involved with Turner . . . his son Little Matt at a military academy has adventures of his own, and the President is under siege from tabloid press scandals as well as Russia and Germany. To top that, a super high-tech elite force has been set up in Poland to combat Mafia ops, with aid from the CIA. But does this solve or worsen Mikhail Vashin's ambitions with his prosperous 'Mafiya' and his determination to make cash from drugs? What will be the outcome? Altogether, this is one of Herman's best, up there with FIREBREAK and CALL TO DUTY. After reading the disappointing DARK WING with too much subplots, EDGE OF HONOUR has just about the right emphasis on each character. Very hard to fault, and an interesting read with clever plotting.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fast moving but disappointing, July 21, 2000

By 

Michelle Sundin (Redneck Riviera) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edge of Honor (Mass Market Paperback)

The latest book is fast paced but disappointing. A number of the more fleshed out and interesting characters from earlier books are killed. The second most interesting and decisive military leader of prior tomes has become almost cardboard and comical in his stupidity. Maddy, the president, has lost her edge. Herman's earlier books were more realistic, this one leaves you not caring if the left wing/right wing romance blossoms further, the kids survive boarding school, or the presidency is further shamed by idiot advisors. On the bright side -Maddy's feminism is perfect - parroting the claptrap that comes right out of Hollywood movies and network TV. The military, a subject Herman knows well, is well represented in prior books, but is too phoney at times. Regarding the White House machinations - bring back the guillotine. Herman does keep you wondering what stereotype will next pop up and meet a well-deserved end. In spite of the negatives, this book is difficult to put down and isn't a total stinker. You just wish the REAListic people hadn't been killed off. And there are enough patently and smarmy loose ends by the last chapter, you can almost hear the screams of the publisher "sequel coming".

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Another Quickie "Thriller", July 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Edge of Honor (Mass Market Paperback)

If you're sitting in an airport or on the beach and need a distraction, go ahead and buy this book. But it really is a waste of time. The characters are flat, the plot is far less than thrilling and even the word craft is less than expected from this author (hey - does the President's 11-year-old daughter have to repeatedly 'flounce' out of the room?) Much like Tom Clancy has opted to put his name on second-rate books that he didn't write, Edge Of Honor seems to be a book that was quickly slapped together, relying on character development originated in previous novels.

This is a waste of time & money.