Dark Ambition (Paperback)

by Allan Topol (Author) "Jeb Hines saw a man in a trench coat walking from the bottom of the cul de sac..." (more)
Key Phrases: arms package, maintenance room, Clyde Gillis, White House, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
John Grisham and Richard North Patterson may have a new successor in Topol. The Washington D.C. lawyer's second thriller (after Spy Dance) exposes a power-hungry group of people in the White House's inner sanctum. When womanizing Secretary of State Robert Winthrop is murdered, Washington's top brass push for a quick conviction of Winthrop's African-American gardener, even though many doubt his guilt. Eventually, federal prosecutor Ben Hartwell and Gillis's attorney, Jennifer Moore (also Hartwell's old flame), team up to uncover an intricate operation linking Winthrop's murder to officials in the Chinese government who loathed the secretary for supporting arms build-up in Taiwan, and to someone who may have close ties to the Oval office. Suspicions fall on a broad cast of characters, including the President's chief of staff and a young FBI agent appointed to the case. As entertaining as it is complex, this energetic narrative is loaded with close calls and compelling relationships. While keeping track of the numerous key characters isn't always easy, Topol weaves a convincing conspiracy theory.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
John Grisham and Richard North Patterson may have a new successor in Topol. -- Publishers Weekly, January 6, 2003

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (January 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451410645
• ISBN-13: 978-0451410641
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #616,885 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Riveting adventure!, May 28, 2003

By	Newt Gingrich (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews ("THE")

Topol might be the most riveting spy-adventure writer in America today. Dark Ambition is his second novel, and it continues the pacing and excitement of Spy Dance, his first novel (which you should read immediately if you enjoy Dark Ambition).

Dark Ambition unveils the perplexing murder of an indiscreet Secretary of State, combining powerful maneuverings in Washington, tangled detective work, and underhanded court dealings. Various characters are linked to the murder, from corrupt Chinese government officials who detested the Secretary of State for his support of Taiwan's weapons' buildup, to the most intimate of the presidential Oval Office advisors.

The masterful plot moves seamlessly between Washington, China, Zurich, London, and New York, while at the novel's core is the American process of honest, courageous people battling bureaucracy to ascertain the truth. I found myself solidly immersed in Topol's multi-faceted conspiracy and am eagerly anticipating his next work.

4.0 out of 5 stars ENJOYABLE READ , February 11, 2008

By	MR Dave "Mr Dave." (albany, ny) - See all my reviews

I thought this book was very well written, the ending was kind of stretched out but not too bad. The characters were well written and interesting and believable. Not super heros like some spy novels, and the villians were cunning, not paper tigers. I will definitely read another of his novels!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Topol At His Best, October 14, 2006

By	Michael L. Slavin "HardBopper" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is quite a suspenseful and exciting read. The Secretary of State,a close friend of the President, is murdered in his home. The President wants the case solved quickly. There are false leads and his gardener is an early suspect. As the investigation broadens more candidates come into play. The Chinese had instigated a plot filming him while sexually involved with a woman. They anticipated that he could be blackmailed into dropping his support for Taiwan. Plenty of high level governmental intrigue involving the Secretary of Defense, the President's chief of staff,the head of operations for the CIA and a highly trained female assasin. I particulary enjoyed this read since the author concentrated on the plot without interjecting his ideological feelings as he has in some of his more recent writings.