Join Books.org — it's free

Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin — book cover
Fiction, Mystery & Crime

Executive Privilege

by Phillip Margolin
Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Log in to track your reading progress.

Overview

"When private detective Dana Cutler is hired by an attorney with powerful political connections, the assignment seems simple enough: follow a pretty college student named Charlotte Walsh and report on where she goes and whom she sees. But then the unexpected happens. One night, Cutler follows Walsh to a secret meeting with Christopher Farrington, the president of the United States. The following morning, Walsh's dead body shows up and Cutler has to run for her life." In Oregon, Brad Miller, a junior associate in a huge law firm is working on the appeal of a convicted serial killer. Clarence Little, now on death row, claims he was framed for the murder of a teenager who, at the time of her death, worked for the then governor, Christopher Farrington. Suddenly, a small-time private eye and a fledgling lawyer find themselves in possession of evidence that suggests that someone in the White House is a murderer. Their only problem? Staying alive long enough to prove it.

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin is back, this time with a powerful tale of murder that snakes its way through Washington, D.C.'s halls of power, leading straight to the White House and the most powerful office on earth.

When private detective Dana Cutler is hired by an attorney with powerful political connections, the assignment seems simple enough: follow a pretty college student named Charlotte Walsh and report on where she goes and whom she sees. But then the unexpected happens. One night, Cutler follows Walsh to a secret meeting with Christopher Farrington, the president of the United States. The following morning, Walsh's dead body shows up and Cutler has to run for her life.

In Oregon, Brad Miller, a junior associate in a huge law firm is working on the appeal of a convicted serial killer. Clarence Little, now on death row, claims he was framed for the murder of a teenager who, at the time of her death, worked for the then governor, Christopher Farrington. Suddenly, a small-time private eye and a fledgling lawyer find themselves in possession of evidence that suggests that someone in the White House is a murderer. Their only problem? Staying alive long enough to prove it.

Executive Privilege, with its nonstop action, unforgettable characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, proves once again that Phillip Margolin—whose work has been hailed as "frighteningly plausible" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) and "twisted and brilliant" (Chicago Tribune)—belongs in the top echelon of thriller writers.

Publishers Weekly

What a concept: the President of the United States as a possible serial killer. And ace suspense writer Margolin pulls it off beautifully, with the help of narrator Jonathan Davis, who is the perfect choice to cool off a hot concept and make it human (as he did with Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash). Davis' fine third-person narration is matched by his performance as Dana Cutler, a beautiful and sharp D.C. private detective who is hired to follow a young college student who ends up dead after a secret meeting with president Charles Farrington. Davis also excels as an Oregon lawyer who is working on the Death Row appeal of a convicted killer. The inmate says he was framed for the murder of a teenager who, at the time of her death, worked for then-governor Farrington. A Harper hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 7).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author, Phillip Margolin

While his love for Perry Mason novels inspired him to spend 25 years as a criminal defense attorney, Phillip Margolin eventually left the courtroom to pen his own authoritative, twist-laden legal thrillers, including Gone but Not Forgotten and Ties That Bind.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

From Barnes & Noble

To private detective Dana Cutler, her latest assignment almost seems like child's play. She has been hired by an attorney to tail college student Charlotte Walsh on her daily rounds. Everything moves along predictably, until one night the pretty young miss scurries off to a very private meeting with the president of the United States. And to make matters worse, Charlotte is found dead the next morning, transforming Cutler almost overnight from hunter into hunted. Fast-breaking, nonstop action; memorable protagonists.

Publishers Weekly

What a concept: the President of the United States as a possible serial killer. And ace suspense writer Margolin pulls it off beautifully, with the help of narrator Jonathan Davis, who is the perfect choice to cool off a hot concept and make it human (as he did with Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash). Davis' fine third-person narration is matched by his performance as Dana Cutler, a beautiful and sharp D.C. private detective who is hired to follow a young college student who ends up dead after a secret meeting with president Charles Farrington. Davis also excels as an Oregon lawyer who is working on the Death Row appeal of a convicted killer. The inmate says he was framed for the murder of a teenager who, at the time of her death, worked for then-governor Farrington. A Harper hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 7).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Associated Press

“Just the kind of sizzling mystery needed for this long, hot summer. Margolin is the master of the successful suspense mystery. He gives you liberal doses of danger and evil villains, and keeps the action moving. Believable characters and compelling writing…another exciting trip through one of Margolin’s fast-paced plots.”

Booklist

"Story lines collide in this pulse-pounding thriller . Expect plenty of buzz for this one as a result of both the intriguing premise and the well-wrought narrative."

Washington Post Express

"Page-turning...a rip-roaring conclusion...more twists than the Columbia River Gorge. Is it fun? A helluva lotta."

National Examiner

"(A) thrilling page-turner."

Brunswick News (Georgia)

"Phillip Margolin [is] a crafty storyteller who keeps you on the edge of your seat with frighteningly real scenarios. EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE is a must read this summer."

Portland Oregonian

"Looking for summer reading? Gather your hammock, some iced tea and this page-turner of a book, one of Margolin’s most absorbing and richly textured to date."

Pittsburgh Tribune

"Margolin is the master of the successful suspense mystery. With believable characters and compelling writing, EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE adds up to another exciting trip through one og Margolin’s plots [and] is just the kind of sizzling mystery needed for this long, hot summer."

USA Today

"Sizzle factor: .38 Special hot."

Bookloons.com

"Phillip Margolin has surprises up his sleeve for readers right to the end of this shocking thriller."

Cosmopolitan

"A sexy summer read—the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Mixing crime and politics may make for a bad career, but it sure as hell makes for some good reading."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Margolin has mastered all the elements of a successful suspense mystery. The action moves quickly. His prose is compelling: nothing is what it seems, and there are surprises even after the reader has been fooled into thinking the mystery is solved."

Bookreporter.com

"Chock full of harrowing chases, desperate situations and politics running rampant. Add in the corruption of power and the destructive force of lust, and you have all the ingredients for a winning thriller. Another page-turning read."

Associated Press Staff

"Just the kind of sizzling mystery needed for this long, hot summer. Margolin is the master of the successful suspense mystery. He gives you liberal doses of danger and evil villains, and keeps the action moving. Believable characters and compelling writing…another exciting trip through one of Margolin’s fast-paced plots."

Madison County Herald

"Reckless, fast, with no-holds-barred action and suspense, EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE will have you glued to your reading corner with a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door."

Book Details

Published
April 1, 2009
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Pages
480
Format
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN
9780061236228

More by Phillip Margolin

Similar books