Lawrence Alexander Rubicon

Rubicon

Lawrence Alexander

Morrow, May 2008, $24.95

ISBN: 0061456403

California Democratic Senator Bobby Hart learns that terrorists plan an attack on America timed to disrupt the presidential race. Hart tries to prevent the disruption that he learns is dubbed "Rubicon". However, in Los Angeles the Democratic nominee dies in a suicide bombing and likewise the Republican candidate in Atlanta.

Like most of the country, Hart assumes Islamic extremists killed the two candidates and others because suicide bombing is their MO. However, as he digs a bit deeper, he begins to believe someone else outside of the Middle East is responsible for the terrorist acts, but who remains shadowy and he fears the assassinations are the first ploy from someone planning to cross like Caesar the Rubicon; only in America that river happens to be the Potomac.

Although over the top especially with its not subtle comparisons to the Bush White House, fans of action-packed political thriller swill appreciate the aptly named RUBICON. The story line is fast-paced from the opening suicide bombings until the final revelations are revealed. Perhaps the only major drawback is the heroic senator's wife who exists to make Hart seem human, but only distracts from the exciting escapade driven subplots; fans will skip those intrusive interludes to focus on the entertaining RUBICON.

Harriet Klausner