Television dramas love to describe their fictional plots as "ripped from today's headlines." Some episodes are so topical that producers often feel obligated to disclaim that any of the characters portrayed are based on actual events or represent real people. Because works of fiction are often published many months after the real-life events that spawned their plots, the passage of time may diminish memories. But anyone who lives in Illinois or has been exposed to the countless network appearances of our erstwhile Governor Rod Blagojevich knows all too well that David Ellis has struck a chord in his new thriller that evokes painf