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The Big Lie: A Jack Swyteck Novel

Review

The Big Lie: A Jack Swyteck Novel

It's nearly impossible to get away from all of the news coverage surrounding the 2020 presidential election. We are coming off of the impeachment trial against President Trump and are now embroiled in the battle for the Democratic nomination. All of this is great fodder and extremely timely for legal thriller author James Grippando. Known primarily for his Jack Swyteck series set in southern Florida, Grippando takes on the madness of the upcoming election with his latest novel, THE BIG LIE.

Incumbent Republican President Malcolm MacLeod wins re-election by a slim margin in the Electoral College. One of the things that may have brought down his Democratic opponent, Florida Senator Evan Stahl, is that he had an extramarital affair that came out during the campaign. Initially, Stahl's wife and children leave the country to get away from it all. What made the allegations that much more alarming is the rumor that the affair was with another man.

"No matter which side of the political spectrum you land on, readers will be swept up in this non-stop story that seems to have a new revelation or twist in every chapter."

President MacLeod and his re-election machine saw the blood in the water and went to work on an enormous smear campaign against Stahl. It seems to have worked, and MacLeod is about to be elected to a second term. Not so fast, says Stahl. Apparently unruffled by all the coverage of his affairs and familial issues, Stahl refuses to go away quietly. He contests that Florida, one of the three battleground states, should be counted in his Electoral College total. Why? Because a Republican Florida elector is planning to throw her support to him.

Having been so badly affected by the tragedies at Columbine, the Pulse nightclub and Parkland High School, gun lobbyist Charlotte Holmes decides to vote her conscience rather than with her party. This radical shift, in fact, would give Stahl the Electoral College votes he needs to claim the presidency, despite all of the negative publicity he has received.

Grippando sets up a fight-to-the-finish showdown in the Florida courtroom. It's ironic that Florida is a “Stand Your Ground” state because both the Republicans and Democrats refuse to give in on this battle that ultimately may decide the presidential election. Miami attorney Jack Swyteck, who previously had refused to work on the Stahl case, has no problem stepping in to become Charlotte’s legal representative. It is here where the gloves will come off completely. The Republican legal machine will target Charlotte for violating a statute originally written by Alexander Hamilton, which states that electors are forbidden to break from their party at voting time. They also will come after her personally with serious allegations from her past.

However, fans of this stellar series will know that Swyteck has more than a few aces up his sleeve ready to be used at any time. He will fire back against the Republicans, both locally in Tallahassee, Florida, and on the national level with MacLeod's team. Will this be enough, or will we finally see Swyteck smacked down against a much more impressive opponent?

THE BIG LIE is so exciting to read and could not come out at a better time. No matter which side of the political spectrum you land on, readers will be swept up in this non-stop story that seems to have a new revelation or twist in every chapter.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on February 28, 2020

The Big Lie: A Jack Swyteck Novel
by James Grippando

  • Publication Date: November 17, 2020
  • Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
  • ISBN-10: 0063035553
  • ISBN-13: 9780063035553