The Greater Good: A Thriller (Hardcover)

by Casey Moreton (Author) "IF HE DIDN'T GET OUT NOW, HE'D NEVER FORGIVE HIMSELF..." (more)
Key Phrases: postal box, camper shell, New York, James Ettinger, Brooke Weaver (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A high-velocity political thriller from a gifted first-time novelist follows the hunt for a videotape that terrifyingly reveals Washington's deadliest secret: the shocking identity of the vice president's assassin.

First, there is the bullet -- the bullet fired from the rifle of one of the world's most elusive assassins. Second, there is the body -- the body of the vice president of the United States. Finally, there is the secret, a secret poised to wreak chaos so potent as to bring the highest powers of government to their knees. Welcome to the high-stakes world of The Greater Good, a heart-pounding, lightning-paced suspense novel that boldly marks the arrival of a singular new writing talent, Casey Moreton.

Hours before an assassin's bullet rips through his bedroom window, Vice President James Ettinger makes an explosive confession on videotape. When the smoke clears in the aftermath of the assassination, the tape has vanished. And the race is on. From the dizzying heights of Washington insider power to the subterranean realm of win-at-all-costs political maneuvering, the quest to find the mysterious videotape snatches readers up in a relentless whirlwind of espionage, brutal policy warfare, and the intricate machinations of no-holds-barred power brokering.

Only one thing is clear: those responsible for Ettinger's death will stop at nothing to make sure his final words are never heard.

Putting his crew of engaging, multidimensional characters through their paces as they negotiate a treacherous political maze, novelist Casey Moreton proves himself a natural storyteller with seemingly unlimited surprises up his sleeve.

About the Author
Casey Moreton lives with his wife, Kari, in Rogers, Arkansas. This is his first novel.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Atria (March 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743456572
• ISBN-13: 978-0743456579
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,277,130 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent political crime thriller, February 29, 2004

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The president and the vice president of the United States knew what they had to do to get elected and they gladly paid the price. During their sixth year in office Vice President James Ettinger can no longer live with the guilt so he makes a video tape and sends it to a television news producer and then sends a cryptic letter of apology to his brother. Shortly after the video tape is mailed, James is killed by skilled assassin Olin St. John who makes a clean getaway.

The people behind the assassination don't know that the vice-president recorded his dirty dealings until the tape is in the mail. Using his fiancée Megan as a pawn, they force St. John to track down the tape and kill anyone who gets in his way. While Megan is held hostage, a worker at NBC watches the tape and knows she is being hunted. She must elude the killers until she can figure out how to get the tape into the right hands so the truth will come out about the presidential election.

In the case of THE GREATER GOOD, most of the plot is laid out in the first few chapters but that doesn't detract from reader enjoyment because one key point is left out to the end but long before that the whirlwind plot draws the audience into the storyline. This is William Casey Moreton's debut novel and it is an excellent political crime thriller on a par with the works of Tom Clancy, Tom Grisham, and Dan Brown. No telling what one may find in Wal-Mart as this author will definitely be one of tomorrow's superstars.

Harriet Klausner

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb and inspired storyteller, March 23, 2004

By	Larry Gandle (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is a certain knack in writing a thriller. Primarily it has to do with the pacing of the story combined with sympathetic characters. The best writers know just how to stretch out the suspense to keep the pages flying and the reader's eyes glued to the page whatever the hour. In many ways, this talent is an innate gift. A gift that was generously bestowed on Casey Moreton as is evidenced in this- his very first novel.
The Vice President of the United States makes a videotape confession just prior to resigning. However, before he could make the announcement of his resignation, a sniper's bullet ends his life. The videotape, however, is already in the mail. Shadowy government agents are on the trail of the tape and wreak death and destruction in their wake. The assassin, St. John, wants out of the killing life as he has fallen in love with Megan. He wants nothing more than the five million dollars he is owed and to live a normal life. In the meantime, Joel Benjamin is about to kill himself in an airport until he sees the face of his long lost daughter, Megan. He tries to unsuccessfully to follow her. His life's mission now becomes finding her. Of course, all of these characters' paths must continuously interweave in a death's dance to the very end.
THE GREATER GOOD is a truly remarkable debut thriller. Casey Moreton is a superb and inspired storyteller and with so many mediocre books being published, this is a relatively rare feat. The characters are cleverly conceived and skillfully portrayed. Alternating point of view heightens suspense and adds additional fuel to the already brisk pacing. With a compelling story and a highly satisfying conclusion, this is one of the most entertaining books of the year.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars When in trouble, break glass, December 23, 2005

By	Douglas De Bono - Author of No Safe Harbor (Minnetonka, mn United States) - See all my reviews

First off, if you are going to write this genre, then recognize that there are people out there who know weapons, know the law and know unarmed combat. This books fails in all of those details.

It is not that it is poorly written, but we have your basic corrupt republican administartion interested in buying bullets and expanding the "evil" military. They want to keep a terrible secret from getting loose.

Then there is a cold blooded assassin, who starts out good, but makes dumb mistake after dumb mistake.

There is the idealistic jornalist that starts running for her life around page 200.

And the billionaire bad guys and biillionaire good guys. I'm sure this novel appealed to the New York publishing establishment's world view--does the word cliche mean anything?

Finally, when we have a chance for an interesting ending, the author pulls a rabbit out of the hat to make everything better.

This plot was terribly predictable.