Smoke and Mirrors

by Barbara Michaels

Book Overview

Joining the campaign of a charismatic congresswoman, young Erin Hartsock arrives in Washinton, D.C., filled with idealism and ambition. But her enthusiasm dissolves into terror when the campaign takes a malevolent turn. Someone...something...has begun threatening Erin and her colleagues. First come the strange fires, then a seemingly accidental death. As the election nears, Erin fears that she just may be a murderer's next candidate.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671670379
• ISBN13: 9780671670375
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Isn't Politics Scary Enough?

I thought the subject of politics was scary enough, but then I read Mrs. Michael's book. Politics took a whole new meaning for me. I am not usually naive, but if Smoke and Mirrors is anything like true politics than I have been oblivious. Mrs. Michael's weaves a thrilling tale that kept me on the edge of my seat through the use of very believable characters, and an enticing plot. The story makes you think, and get involved, and it is obvious that Mrs. Michaels is a born story-teller.

Ain't archaeology, but still great!

This book was great. I loved Michaels' technique of slowly unveiling and manipulating each character's dark secrets of the past. She managed to ignite the actual thrill and intrigue of the political game, and this heightened my enjoyment while reading this novel. During the story, Erin becomes so caught up with Rosemary's political problems with Buzz Bennett, that she is simply oblivious to the sickly dangers that lie around her during every day, every moment of her stay. Erin manages to solve the mystery behind the mysterious Richmond fire that killed a number of tiny children and in the process, she discovers the ugly side of the political arena. I enjoyed every page to the fullest degree. In the story, politics is presented to the reader as an exhilarating game; an adventurous game; a dangerous game. This book is certainly a perfect curl-up-at-homer for a rainy afternoon.

Good Book

Its one of Michaels typical good books. You know, there are those typical good books that you expect out of a favorite author, and then there are those books that disappoint you, but that you read them anyway because you are just so used to the style of the author and are loyal to them. Well, this book had all the basic elements needed for a good Michaels or Peters' book. It had romance, suspense, humor, intrigue, and and insight into a particular type of world. In this case that was the world of politics. In many of her other books it is the world of Egyptology or archaelogy. She gives a lot of information about a certain type of lifestyle or industry and entertains by encompassing it with the romance and adventures of her funny characters. Again, typically good Micheals book.