Death Duty

by Stephen Kimball

Book Overview

Assigned to the death desk, responsible for bringing home the remains of Americans who die abroad, Kate Verdi is frustrated that her blue collar background is holding her back in her career. Her grim,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451191072
• ISBN13: 9780451191076
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 390 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding Inside Washington Thriller

I was very impressed with this book, having read it two years ago and then more recently, prompting me to want to write this review. The plot is fast-moving and the characters come across as very authentic, from Kate, the smart, wisecracking protagonist, to Witherspoon, the cool, hardworking black cop facing retirement, to the nest of preppy vipers at the State Department. Also, the setting is unusual--the US State Department--and Kimball gives great insight into the inner workings of that agency, as well as views of interesting places in and around DC that you never see featured in DC-based fiction(e.g., Dumbarton Oaks).I was amused by the rather hysterical, nit-picking review by the reader from Alexandria, Virginia, who argued that Ben Franklin was the first US "envoy," and not secretary of state--puhleeze. I was curious, so I called a friend of a friend who works at the State Department, who said that most of the book's characterizations of the Foreign Service ring true. He said the FS still has a country club attitude about itself, even though the current secretary, Colin Powell, is trying to change the culture. One example: Powell "integrated" the Foreign Service lounge in the State Department building so that Civil Service employees (whom many of the FS types look down on) could use it as well, resulting in howls of protest from the FS people. He said it's even worse in the US embassies abroad, where the class-conscious pecking order and brown-nosing are beyond belief.So, gentle reader, I recommend that you judge for yourself and read the book. I guarantee a fast-paced, roller-coaster read with great characters and a surprise ending.

Outstanding Political Thriller

I was very impressed with this book. Stephen Kimball has written a story that is as engaging as it is suspenseful, mostly because of the exciting plot and the intelligence and humanity of its lead character, Kate Verdi. There is a host of memorable supporting characters, particularly Witherspoon, the black D.C. detective, and the nest of vipers at the State Department. I completely recommend it and hope for a sequel.I was amused by the defensive, pedantic review submitted by the reader from Alexandria, Virginia, who apparently works at the State Department and likes to pit nicks. (Ben Franklin was the first US "envoy," not "secretary of state"--puhleeze.) I was curious about several of the points he or she makes, and called a friend of a friend who works at State who said that the kind of cablistic ring described in the novel is absolutely possible. He said that he's seen many cases of the old boy club at work there (he said it's worse than the Pentagon!), particularly in the US Embassies where the pecking order and brown-nosing are astonishing. He said Colin Powell has been trying to change this culture, but he's fighting years of ingrained patterns. (He mentioned an incident reported in the Washington Post where Powell tried to "integrate" a Foreign Service lounge with members of the Civil Service--considered hoi polloi by the FS--resulting in howls of protest by the FS.)I won't waste your time telling you what he said about the tenure process at State and how/where people are moved around (much less systematically than Alexandria would have you believe). Just read the book and decide for yourself. Believe me, it's worth it.

An excellent State Department thriller!

Death Duty is a well written thriller which not only gives the reader a personal tour of Washington, D.C. and the State Department, but leads one through a variety of emotional chills and spills. This book should be made into a movie for the big or small screen so the non-novel reader can enjoy the suspense, too.

"Good versus evil" thriller set in the foreign service ranks

For me there are several elements that combine to make for an enjoyable reading experience, namely; a narrative that builds to a climactic moment where I feel compelled to lay the book down, catch my breath, and hope that the bad guys don't prevail (in spite of my certainty that they won't) and an insider's glimpse of a world that I know very little about. "Death Duty" comes through with flying colors on both counts. Since the various reviews provided above adequately cover the plot details, I'll pass on that aspect. The book's characters are made believable by the skillful inclusion of the small details of a person's background, family, personal tastes and mannerisms that, to a considerable degree define who we really are in spite of our attempts to appear otherwise. Although the term "State Department" conjures up a rather exalted activity, "Death Duty" reminds us that, like any other bureaucracy or business, there is also an unglamorous workaday group of individuals essential to the successful functioning of the organization. We meet these people and glimpse their hopes, jealousies, career aspirations, and maneuvering for advantage as they interact and pursue their personal agendas. Because the State Department is not the local furniture factory, the consequences of their mistakes or misdeeds can have profound consequences for the nation. It is this leverage that gives the story its special tension. We recognize ourselves and our fellow workers in this well-crafted tale of both dedication to the job at hand and the abandonment of principles for personal gain. Clearly, one of the most exciting and informative books I 've read for some time.

Excellent insight into the operation of the State Dept.!!

The author showed clear knowledge of the operation of internal affairs at the State Department. Mr.Kimball's characters were not only creditable,I was pleased to see a woman cast as the hero. I also found his insight into foreign affaris well thought out and researched. This was definitly a book I had difficulty putting down,a real page turner! The flow of the story along with the characters kept me up many nights.. right up to the end,an ending that was not predictable-quite a surprise. I look forward to reading his next book,his last two books"Red Days"and"Night Cries" were equally terrific!!!