"A rip-roaring novel about guns, lawyers, and politics . . . This is a great read by a masterful writer."
--SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY
"ALWAYS KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT. Patterson has the rare gift of enthralling as he informs."
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The Guardian (London)
"REVEALING . . . WILL LEAVE YOU LOBBYING FOR MORE."
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Entertainment Weekly "PATTERSON TURNS UP THE HEAT."
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The Dallas Morning News "A MUST READ."
--FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
"THOUGHT-PROVOKING . . . [Patterson's] passion for politics, public discussion, and gun control are infectious and admirable."
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USA Today "[A] SPELLBINDING NOVEL . . . Patterson's extensive research, plot skills, and ability to create engaging, authentic dialogue set his writing apart. . . . believable and eloquent."
--Associated Press
"
Balance of Power is a compelling story, fully worthy of Richard North Patterson, which is made even more intriguing by its detailed insight into the world of special-interests politics in Washington, D.C."
--SCOTT TUROW
"A masterpiece . . . From the first page, President Kilcannon faces plot twists that challenge his resourcefulness and moral character."
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The Tulsa World "Compulsive reading . . . An engrossing blend of courtroom and political drama."
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The London Times
"IMPORTANT READING, EVEN ESSENTIAL . . . Patterson masterfully touches all the right historical reference points to lure us into his story. . . . The image of the gun--and what to do about it as a society--linger long after the covers close."
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Ft. Myers News Press "Patterson has done his homework, and
Balance of Power presents a clear picture of the arguments and political realities on both sides of the debate."
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The Denver Post "A powerful, in your face, condemnation of the American political system that abets gun violence . . . Patterson makes no apologies as he denounces a system in which money buys Congressional votes [and] ethics mean nothing."
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The Midwest Book Review "A harsh, persuasive indictment of the politics that breeds gun violence in America . . . bare-knuckle, page-turning, political infighting. For ordinary folk, it's good stuff. For political junkies, think Harry Potter."
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Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"One of [Patterson's] best . . . Fascinating . . . A thoughtful exposition of an important issue . . . [
Balance of Power] will entertain, challenge, inform--and, just maybe, open a few minds."
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Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA)
"
Balance of Power and
Protect and Defend stand as a remarkable project in popular fiction: an extension of the genre of the legal thriller to explore the morality and strategies of U.S.'s greatest civic controversies."
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The Guardian (London)
The marriage of President Kerry Kilcannon and TV journalist Lara Costello is marred by the unspeakable massacre of innocent civilians by gunfire, setting in motion a fierce debate over the issue of gun violence and revealing the hidden connections among guns, money, and the battle for power in Washington. Reprint.