The Advance Man, a political thriller, by Rick Robinson balances the craft of writing with the creativity required to cast a truly plausible story. Robinson’s past thrillers, while great fun, always left me wanting more. I believed Robinson needed to get out of the way of his penchant for appearing hip and develop his writing skills. In The Advance Man, he’s done it. Craft equals creativity; it’s a wonderful gift to you, the reader.
I knew Robinson had the talent, I saw it finally begin to shine in Alligator Alley, a coming-of-age novel. I thought: if only he could bring that same active voice and similar introspection to his political thrillers, he could ratchet them up a notch or two. Thankfully, Robinson found the adjustment.
The Advance Man is a first-rate story and worthy of your time and money. As noted, the voice of this novel is actively stronger than that of his past thrillers and, thus, a more gratifying read.
The plot is realistic, with several story lines that eventually and succinctly overlap.
First, David Unger, an advance man (the guy who eases the way for a politician’s visit), is being hunted for the assassination of his boss the vice president of the United States. It’s a murder Unger did not commit. Second, Richard Thompson, a retired congressman is appointed interim senator from Kentucky to fill the term vacated by Senator Mack Wilson, who abruptly resigned after the VP’s assassination.
Naturally, these seemingly separate storylines meet after Thompson sets up shop in Washington, D.C., retaining most of Wilson’s staff as his own. Throw in crooked politicians, a controversial pipeline, a sharp-eyed associate who uncovers computer files filled with intriguing hints, a gay community willing to protect a falsely-accused man, a dogged FBI agent who cannot accept the obvious because it seems too pat, a Russian agent on the take and on the run, and a CIA director with connections and shameless audacity, and you have a page turner. Punch in a few D.C. historical references to enhance the backdrop and up pops aura and imagery. As a fan of Robinson’s thrillers, one knows that protagonist Thompson will end up smack dab in the middle of a bubbling brouhaha. Learning how that happens is the fun part and the journey is enhanced by the elevated level of craftsmanship I mentioned earlier.
For those of you who don’t know, Robinson has created a genre of political thrillers featuring Richard Thompson and a cast of supporting and realistic characters. My wife says, “When you read one of Rick’s books it’s like dropping in on a bunch of old friends to see what bit of adventure they’re up to this week.”
She’s hit the nail on the head. As in his other thrillers, the team surrounding Thompson makes notable contributions. Joe Bradley, the Fat Man, plays a key role. So does Michael Griffith, the creator of the Godfather Rules of Political Strategy. Ann Thompson, the senator’s wife, Jane Kline, CIA director, and Leo Argo, FBI agent extraordinaire are all back to play pivotal roles. Don’t worry, other Robinson trademarks are in the mix, too. References to baseball, lyrics from songs by the late Warren Zevon, pithy dialogue from The Godfather Trilogy, flecks of Thompson’s (read Robinson’s) Irish heritage and references to Guinness all get ink. Incidentally, I think Thompson (also read Robinson) considers Guinness the nectar of the gods and a hearty jig their native dance.
I have long held the belief that a select number of regional and local authors are every bit as good as best-selling authors. That’s why a man or woman who has struggled for decades suddenly becomes an overnight sensation, some agent or publisher finally sees the light. I venture to say that if I could magically transfer a top author’s name to The Advance Man, it would be an instant bestseller. It is as good as or better than many list-leading thrillers.
I know how difficult it is to weave a novel together. I always appreciate Rick’s effort. Aside from minor formatting issues, a few grammar blips, and hyphenation inconsistencies, The Advance Man hits the mark.
It is available on popular book websites and from Robinson’s Publisher, Headline Books here.
Donald Then, a novelist and experienced editor and journalist, is NKyTribune’s literary editor. He reviews books written by local authors or those with a Northern Kentucky setting. Reach him at author@djamesthen.com Visit his website at www.djamesthen.com.