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Washington, D.C., buzzes with fundraisers and murders in this political thriller. The book begins with death and child naiveté when the wealthy Hawthorne family’s eldest son is found dead in the Potomac. News of Tyler’s body reverberates throughout Washington, setting in motion cutthroat events that unfold afterward. The murderer is revealed midway through the story, at which point the book title’s meaning becomes clear. But first, readers follow determined junior congressman Jerry Sharpe, who hunts for “kings and queens of the political ocean.” His past is gradually disclosed as he enacts a violent chess match against the Hawthorne matriarch, Mildred, who Jerry suspects is responsible for his mother’s death.
Meanwhile, journalist Skylar Nicholson searches for the next big story and probes Tyler’s death, issuing a rallying cry for crime safety. She also happens to be related to the Hawthornes, and as people keep dying, Skyler delves deeper, becoming mired in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. At the same time, Jerry carries out his vicious plan for vengeance, inching closer to the truth of his mother’s death, propelling the narrative toward a shocking end and revelation.
Diaz and Marino have crafted an absorbing tale assembled with flawed characters reminiscent of Shakespearean tragedy but which mirrors America’s toxic political arena. They capture the essence of a crooked town and the political machinations and inner workings of the power-hungry elites who run it. As the story’s central antihero, Jerry is, at times, likable even though he commits horrific deeds. He wrestles with his demons, most notably in the pivotal and beautifully rendered scene where he remembers his mother’s death in her house. In contrast, Skyler is a force of good who strives to maintain justice in an unfair world. It’s an intriguing exploration of corruption, dark familial secrets, and the pursuit of justice.