Susan Wales and Robin Shope The Replacement

The Replacement

Susan Wales and Robin Shope

Revel, Jun 2006, $12.99, 368 pp.

ISBN: 0800731115

Washington Gazette political journalist Jill Lewis waits at the Capital building to meet with Senator Brown, who asked for her to see him. She thinks how frightened the Senator seemed when he called her late at night. However, before they meet, he apparently dies from a heart attack. Senator Tommy Harrison is going to replace him as the Minority Leader.

Harrison believes his predecessor was murdered and so he asks Jill to use her media sources to investigate. Her efforts prove successful forcing an autopsy to be performed that revealed that traces of MST, a toxic substance found in the venom of a very poisonous snake, is in the blood of the deceased. That leads to Bio-Tech where experiments using the substance on brain tumors were being tested. Two other people with knowledge about MST are murdered; Jill learns her "client" Senator Tommy Harrison has stock in Bio-Tech making her wonder if he could be the killer.

The reporter quickly learns how politics and big business are the modern day double helix that leads to unchecked power and some who have it use it to break laws they were sworn to uphold.. Jill courageously pursues the story though obviously aware that an insider wants her to back away. Her tenaciousness almost makes her the next victim, but also provides a fascinating and enthralling investigative political thriller for fans to enjoy.

Harriet Klausner