Richard North Patterson's masterful portrayals of law and politics at the apex of power have made him one of our most important writers of popular fiction, bringing explosive social problems to vivid life through characters who are complex, richly imagined, and intensely real.
Now in 'Balance Of Power', Patterson confronts one of the United States' most emotional and inflammatory issues - the terrible toll of gun violence - revealing the hidden connections among guns, money and the fight for power in the White House, the Congress and the courts.
Reading this on a bus in USA could get you shot.
Richard North Patterson must have a HUGE set of spherical objects. To write and publish this book while living in the USA is pretty much an invitation to the "Right to Arm Bears" lunatic fringe. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying all gun owners are nuts. But I think most would agree that there are some nuts in the USA who happen to own guns. And this book tells both sides of that story with a definite bias towards gun control. Set against the backdrop of domestic violence and a massacre that would get headlines round the world on even the busiest news day. It's obviously deeply researched and intended to be informative BUT the author has got the knack of keeping the pages flicking, over & over, while he has you in the classroom.
Natalie, 11/12/2008
