44th A Presidential Conspiracy
Deception and conflict elevate this political thriller as horrific events propel the plot.
Clandestine manipulation and social idealism face off in this dramatic political thriller. William L. Tatro IV delves into the treacherous ministrations of a secretive organization—known as the Advisory—in 44th A Presidential Conspiracy, his intriguing fiction debut.
At first glance, this attention-grabbing novel appears to be a carefully veiled caustic description of a deceitful Democratic administration, but on closer scrutiny the book reveals an intellectual exploration of party politics and hidden agendas. Though isolated similarities can be drawn between Tatro’s portrayal of Lucius Xavier Kane and the current president, his protagonist is far removed from real life.
The Advisory grooms and controls President Kane in pursuit of a unified world order, but the president rebels and takes his ambitions in unanticipated directions: “Kane’s strategy was to create teams of two, one white and one black, to patrol areas periodically doing random searches on passersby, stopping cars, and knocking on doors, all to seek out guns, subtle annoyances, and escalating irritations.” A vicious backlash propels this shocking plan into a state of madness, filling the story with deception and conflict.
Quite polished for a first novel in its strategic plot devices and in-depth portrayal of President Kane, 44th A Presidential Conspiracy presents an American government in a state of upheaval, an atmosphere usually associated with revolution. As this gripping yet far-fetched period of mayhem ensues, a horrific series of events unfolds. Dangerous is not a strong enough word to describe what happens when powerful people collide. Frightening, potent, and deadly, this contrived but gripping novel presents a political realm on the brink of disaster.
Tatro has a gift for capturing the underlying doom in articulate phrases that turn this jarring novel into a page-turner. For instance, in this scene, set in the Caribbean, President Kane contemplates his status and observes his wife as a strange figure approaches:
From the third floor, he could see the entire breathtaking panorama. He imagined a bloodthirsty pirate taking time to put together such delicate beauty. Perhaps not such a contradiction. People were not always who they seemed to be. He had learned that fact long before becoming an assemblyman. His thoughts were interrupted by what appeared to be the shadow of Veronica strolling among the hedges. Then another shadow approached her.
Ambiguous and foreboding, this description conveys messages that reach far beyond the literal. Nothing is simply “face value” in this carefully rendered story. One must seek the underlying intent behind every word of every scene.
Tatro has been a financial and political commentator, as well as a talk show host for radio and television, for more than thirty years. His informed historical perspective fuels his writing with a timeless energy that seems to invoke the mistakes of the past as a foundation for his fiction. He warns of the corrupting influence of power based on dissolved foreign regimes. Though a tad hasty in its pacing, his book will attract an analytical audience seeking controversy. Those who read between the lines will discover a provocative question posed herein: What role does government play in a thriving nation?
Reviewed by
Julia Ann Charpentier
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
