The Latest Bombshell [Mass Market Paperback]

Michele Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2004

Kate Boothe is sitting pretty in Rome, drinking good wine, and trying to take a well-deserved breather from her work as a political consultant in Washington, D.C. Then her business partner, Jack Vanzetti, flies out to tell her that someone has been selling military secrets to the Chinese and that her least-favorite ex, muckraking reporter Lyle Gold, has been fingered as the guilty party. With the country in a state of patriotic panic, nobody is willing to take Lyle’s side. By stepping in to defend him, Vanzetti & Boothe could finally have the big win they need in order to consult on a presidential campaign.

As sharp and irreverent as its heroine—a woman who’s willing to take on the fight of her life armed only with brains, charm, and a couple of bottles of champagne—The Latest Bombshell is a witty, savvy debut.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

CNN political correspondent Mitchell's first novel is an intriguing Washington conspiracy yarn about a hapless journalist accused of selling military secrets to China. Lyle Gold is a muckraking reporter who covers the military. The accusation of spying strikes his acquaintances as improbable (he's about as honest, upright and uptight as anyone can be), but Lyle is so un-telegenic that after a few minutes in front of the cameras he has the American public clamoring for his arrest. Kate Boothe, a charismatic political consultant and Gold's ex-girlfriend, takes on the case. Shifting the media tide is not simple; the public equates Gold with anti-Americanism, and in the post September 11 political landscape the charge is especially lethal. Kate herself becomes a target of media criticism as the media scrutinize her past romantic relationships, including a recent one with the son of the Chinese ambassador to the United States. As Kate discovers the truth about who's leaking the secrets, her mission becomes daunting-the more so when a murder complicates the scandal. There are a few kinks in the plotting: evidence falls into Boothe's lap too simply, with sources coming to her out of the goodness of their hearts, and in general there is very little investigative action. But the real allure here is Mitchell's savvy, gleeful take on the ins and outs of Washington politicking, which will have the Primary Colors crowd rapt.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Kate Boothe, on vacation in Rome with a handsome lover, is tracked down by her business partner, Jack Vanzetti, and urged to take on the most challenging client since they started their political consulting business. The client is a reporter and former lover, Lyle Gold, accused of selling military secrets to the Chinese. Lyle is abrasive but honest, and Kate reluctantly agrees to take him on, at some risk to a promising new relationship. Vanzetti & Boothe combat the political forces amassing against Gold, including an administration and power brokers who have simplified the political landscape into two types: people who are either with them or against them. Kate knows she could lose everything, starting with her reputation, in her principled defense of civil liberties in the face of questions about national loyalty. Kate and Jack are up against powerful figures in Congress, the media, and the military as they fight to clear their client and preserve their firm. A fast-paced, insightful novel about politics and patriotism by CNN political correspondent Mitchell. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. 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: 288 pages
• Publisher: Plume (June 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452285445
• ISBN-13: 978-0452285446
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,891,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Toast to Kate Booth!, October 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Latest Bombshell: A Novel (Hardcover)

I highly reccommend this politcal thriller and its saucy heroine Kate Booth. It's an edgy trip through the cobblestone streets of Rome and the back rooms of Washington, D.C.: a perfect blend of political power players and gourmet delights. In Booth, Mitchell has created a female character who is clearly flawed, but all the more lovable. She is someone who you want to hang out with, just to get a taste of her exciting and non-stop action work-social-love life.I can't wait to read the next Kate Booth adventure and see if she ends up back with the gorgeous Italian or checked into rehab!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVED this story!, June 4, 2003

By 

BG (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Latest Bombshell: A Novel (Hardcover)

I loved the Kate Boothe character! She's actually human - inept in high-heels, unceremoniously dumped by a couple boyfriends - but smart & savvy enough to unravel the case of treason against her client. She's wonderful! I am hoping that Kate Boothe will re-surface in another story - a character this much fun shouldn't be retired after only one book!

I couldn't put this book down, I read it in one sitting! I think Mitchell's got a real gift with dialogue and the story is intriguing and fast-paced. The author obviously has an insider track on the world of politics - which makes the read all the more fun. If you want to have a terrific adventure, this is it!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great character, good understanding of D.C. politics, July 7, 2003

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Latest Bombshell: A Novel (Hardcover)

The Chinese have been buying more U.S. military secrets and this time the government has picked the perfect man to take the fall. Reporter Lyle Gold isn't liked by anyone, has annoyed the military on a number of occasions, and he could be the traitor. A few leaks, some political wheeling and dealing, and some post-9/11 rushing to judgement and there's no one in the country who will take Gold's case. But political consultant Kate Boothe has been out of the country. She dated Gold years before and knows that he didn't care enough about money to sell his country for more. She doesn't realize the extent to which the nation needs Gold as a scapegoat for everything that has gone wrong and agrees to work for him. What she doesn't realize is that too many people have a stake in Gold's guilt--and are prepared to take whatever steps necessary to make sure that no one raises too many questions.

Author Michele Mitchell knows her Washington D.C. politics. The who-do-you-know and where can you take me atmosphere of D.C. comes through solidly. She also grasps our national intolerance for uncertainty. If the Pentagon says Gold is guilty, only a traitor would believe him innocent--right? More importantly, though, Mitchell writes a compelling story. Kate Boothe is a sympathetic heroine, with her fears that her boyfriend has abandoned her for the latest blonde, her concerns over what her mother will think when political operatives taint her as a ..., and outright fear when the IRS breaths down her neck after being unleashed by an aggressive White House.

Warning--THE LATEST BOMBSHELL has little sympathy for talk radio, Attorneys General who take their guidance from the Old Testament rather than from the U.S. Constitution, or those who believe that our basic rights must be thrown away to protect Americanism. Even if you don't like the politics, though, the novel is worth reading for its insights into the way the U.S. government is run--and for its intriguing lead character. Very nice.