Synopsis:
Set in a near future that feels uncomfortably close to today, this political and psychological thriller begins with a newly elected president who has surged to power on a strong gun-control platform, igniting fierce opposition across a deeply divided America. At the center of the administration is Spencer, the president’s loyal “Body Man”—the aide responsible for managing his schedule, shielding him from chaos, and quietly keeping the wheels of power turning. At the same time, Carl—a disgraced Marine sniper with a bad conduct discharge—finds himself pulled into the orbit of a growing Alt-Right movement that sees violence as the only path forward. When Carl is recruited to assassinate the new president, the plan is meant to send a message that will shake the nation.
But when the assassination attempt goes catastrophically wrong, the consequences spiral far beyond what anyone expected. Riots erupt in cities across the country, unrest ripples through the military, and the president begins to buckle under the weight of the crisis. As the government struggles to maintain control, Spencer finds himself wielding far more influence than any presidential aide should have, making decisions that could alter the course of the nation.
Told from both sides of the conflict, the story explores ambition, radicalization, and the fragile balance of power in a country where the line between hero and villain depends entirely on where you stand.
Author Bio:
Al Pessin is a former member of the White House and Pentagon press corps, a 15-year foreign correspondent, and the award-winning author of the political thriller Body Man. His previous novels—Sandblast, Blowback, and Shock Wave—are international military spy thrillers published by Kensington and have earned a Florida Book Award and multiple Royal Palm Literary Awards. During his journalism career with Voice of America, he reported from Afghanistan and Iraq, covered uprisings in Beijing, Kyiv, Cairo, and Manila, and was expelled from China for his coverage of the Tiananmen Massacre. He has also taught graduate-level journalism at Northwestern University and published commentary in outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Politico, and DefenseOne.
Visit Al at his website and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
