Honestly, I’m a pretty big Brad Meltzer fanboy.

From comic books, novels, to children’s books, I adore almost everything that he puts out. Around my house, I just refer to him as ‘Brad.’

Does my love for All-Things-Brad extend to his newest novel, The President’s Shadow?

Yeah, it does.

So let’s get down to business:

CHARACTERS

Brad has created something unique in his main character Beecher White: an honest-to-goodness good guy whose motives are always pure and intentions the best. There’s nothing anti-hero about Beecher White, not even a little bit. He’s a classic Golden Age Hollywood hero.

But he’s not boring.

A novel with a die-hard boy scout of a character could be veritably boring. If you know that your main character is always going to do the right thing, then they can become really predictable. Yes, there is an air of predictability to Beecher, of course. But, Brad plays on that to serve up something that always keeps you guessing.

Beyond Beecher, his other characters are just as well-drawn. Each is full of life with a rich history, strong characterization, and fully realized motivations. Most are veteran characters of other books, yet each get their moment to show more depth and new elements. None of them are taken for granted.

PLOT

As I said before, Brad knows his way around a plot. Never one to skimp, Shadow boasts a strong plot that takes the reader on a whirlwind hunt for the facts against a ticking clock. Nothing feels forced but events unfold organically from the characters.

READING

This, like all the other books in the series, Shadow is just plain fun to read. Mixing political and historical conspiracy, spy elements, mystery, and a thriller pacing, Shadow is a lot of fun to read. I soared through the book, eating up the pages in chunks, and not wanting to put the book down. That this book held my attention so much right now is a testament to Brad’s skill as an author.

When all is said and done, The President’s Shadow is a really great addition to the series and great book to read.

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Check out The President’s Shadow (The Culper Ring Series)