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I am not sure how I discovered MATTHEW QUIRK but I am sure glad I did. It may have been from watching the Netflix series entitled THE NIGHT AGENT, another of his books. THE 500 is book one in his two book (as of 12/22/23) series featuring Harvard University trained lawyer Mike Ford. It was the author’s first book. There are several more, both in this series, another series and stand-alones. I look forward to reading them.
During his last year at the acclaimed Cambridge, Massachusetts Harvard law school, Henry Davies recruits Mike. The former is the principal lobbyist at the Davies Group located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Mike has a considerable debt load brought on by his mother’s cancer medical bills and his school costs. The lure of the Davies Group is a starting salary of $200,000 per year plus a 30% bonus based on success.
500 is the number of movers and shakers in Washington, D.C., either in the government of the U.S. or in the private sector. By hook or by crook, Davies has most of them under his control, whether they know it or not. Mike starts out as a low-level associate doing research, conducting surveillances and writing reports.
He develops two friendships at the company. Everett Tucker Straus IV, aka “Tuck�, who comes from a family with a long history of high-level government jobs in Intelligence and the State Department. His other friend is Annie Clark who is also the romantic interest in Mike’s life. Her father is Sir Lawrence Clark, a very rich and powerful man. Annie is her father’s pride and joy. He is overly protective of her.
Davies� chief associate/partner is William Marcus a former Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.) field operative and executive. He supplies the “muscle� for the Davies Group. He assigns tasks to Mike and trains him in the ways and means of high-power lobbying.
The motto of the Group is M.I.C.E. - money, ideology, compromise/coercion, and ego. Find a person’s weak point based on these concepts, and you can manipulate that individual.
After several months of low-level assignments, Mike is finally given a plum. Recruit Congressman Eric Walker. Eric represents a district in the Deep South and is considered a sure bet to enter the 500. One night, Walker invites Mike to go with him after a party. Mike is reluctant but goes along because that is what is expected of him. They go to a crack house/bordello and it does not end well for them. Davies now has power over Mike. The client that wants Walker in his camp is Radomir Dragovis a Serbian arms dealer and wanted criminal.
While researching Eric, Mike uncovers a story that could change his life and relationship with Henry Davies. He also finds out information about his estranged con man father. His dad went to prison for 24 years when Mike was a teen. They have not been on good terms since. Mike has a brother, Jack, whom he has not seen for several years because of his criminal activity.
If you are a fan of political thrillers, this is for you. If what the author says about the country’s capital is true, it is not a pretty picture. There is action galore, a little romance and great characters. Mr. Quirk is a formidable writer. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!
GO! BUY! READ! NOW!