Somehow I missed the fact that Brian De Palma, and his partner Susan Lehman, wrote a novel in 2018. So when I heard about it I immediately picked it up for a read. It’s a fast, exhilarating read that feels like a De Palma film, it has twists, reveals, and iconic moments.

A bit of a political thriller, but predominantly a revenge story, the book follows a number of characters. There’s the Pennsylvania senator, Lee Rogers, who is seeking re-election and has a raging libido, something he keeps quiet from his ill wife, there’s his fixer, Barton Brock, a cold, calculating operative who is intent on getting Rogers re-elected, and dealing with any problems that arise.

Springing from that are Elizabeth, someone who has had a run in with Brock and has had a new life thrust upon her because of it, there’s Fanny and her mother Jenny, who have connections with Lee that will play out behind the scenes of a the campaign and come to a number of shocking conclusions, culminating in an iconic sequence at the Eiffel Tower.

Filled with a dark and playful sense of humor, the book is a page-turner that packs a few surprises and is everything you would expect from a De Palma tale.

The story rips along, plays with your expectations, has some equally triumphant and tragic moments as we delve into the lives of Fanny and Elizabeth.

For Fanny it all started out innocently enough, she wanted to work on Rogers campaign, be a videographer, but when things develop between the two, she eventually realizes that she may be a liability to the campaign, no matter how she feels about him.

It’s a good thing Rogers has Brock to take care of things he can’t have come into the public eye.

De Palma and Lehman tell a great tale, one that allows each character to grow and develop, letting us follow their journeys, connect with them, and then reel from the impact of the climax on each of them. As soon as I finished it I found myself hoping that they write another book in the near future, because I love the way the story unfolded, how it played with my emotions and expectations, and the resolution which is both satisfying and distressing.

If you’re looking for a quick, crime thriller to dig into and are a fan of De Palma’s storytelling style, this is one that needs to find its way onto your reading list as soon as possible. Check it out.