This could have been much better--interesting premise but too many convenient (lazy?) plot devices for me. Jack McClure, an ATF agent, is chosen to help in the search for a to-be-inaugerated president's daughter because his daughter went to school with her. The story bounces back and forth between present and his past. I expected more from the guy chosen by Ludlum's estate to continue the Bourne series. ( )

I enjoyed First Daughter (in fact, I read the whole book in 24 hours). It is intricate enough to keep you guessing with enough action and intrigue to keep you from thinking too much. The effects of dyslexia, positive and negative, on Jack McClure’s life and daily functioning are not only interesting but integral to the plot. Also interesting is the interplay between religion and atheism, though this is where, unfortunately, some of First Daughter’s potential audience may be lost.

The struggle of separating church from state, which has increasingly been lost in the United States in the last decade (maybe it has been longer, but I live outside the United States and am going by what enters my consciousness through the international news), is central to First Daughter. There is a battle between secular and religious views fought throughout the book both in the main plot and in the private lives of all the characters.

The characterization of religion and the religious is unflattering (and, arguably, so is that of the secularists), which may offend or at the very least put off some readers. The positions on both sides are extreme. I was not offended, but I was starting to tire of it by the end of the book. For another perspective, see Christine’s review at She Reads Books. First Daughter is worth reading, whichever side of the argument you inhabit, as a glimpse of a possible future, but don’t expect nuanced philosophical positions (it is, after all, a thriller first).

You can see more of my reviews at Booklorn.com. ( )

What a change of pace from the series of books that I had been reading -- and I loved every page, every line of it. Lustbader writes with such brilliance and suspence that it captivates you from the very beginning until the very end. The twist of McClure having dyslexia is impressive as Lustbader allows it to become McClure's unique weapon and not just as a lame attempt to defend those with his mental disorder. His writing is well-written, the research that went into it well-gathered and he explains all the government terms and procedures so well that you can undersand it even if you're politically-disabled. The story was woven with characters and plots that were all interconnected beautifully and it kept you guessing. The conspiricies and betrayals in the novel protrayed the dark side of the government. This portrayal of the things people do with their power and selfishness is so realistic that it might even sadden you that it seems hard to really trust anyone in the book. This novel was compelling, suspenseful and can't-stop-turning-the-page-cant-yet-sleep-until-its-done-going-to-have-dreams-about-it good! Definitely a MUST READ for everyone, for those who love suspense, and even for those who don't. ( )

First Daughter is as topical as you can get. It’s a political thriller set in the days before a Christian leaning, hard line foreign policy president leaves office. His predecessor promises change and moderate care. Sound familiar?

The president elect’s daughter, Alli, has been taken hostage and Jack McClure, a friend of the president-elect, is brought in to assist the various government agencies in the search. McClure also happens to be the father of a recently deceased daughter who just happened to be Alli’s dorm mate and friend. There are several sinister plots co-exiting in this twisting, turning who-done-it.

I’m probably the wrong sort of person to review this novel, as I never read thrillers, and have read only a handful of political leaning novels, period. If you include politics in the story, you can just about forget me reading your book. However, I did finish First Daughter without too mush offense. Lustbader does a fine job keeping all the plot and story lines moving and the ending has a little surprise thrown in for good measure. I only felt one continuity error in the political theme. I wasn’t sure exactly what Lustbader was trying to say or if he was even trying to make a statement.

For those who like political thrillers, I think First Daughter is probably your cup of tea.

...also reviewed on Many A Quaint and Curious Volume ( )

The political climate in the United States is tense right now as the presidential candidates pull out all the stops, each wanting that coveted position as leader of the U.S.A. Eric Van Lustbader’s novel, First Daughter, plays right into that, as one ultra-conservative President makes way for the newly elected moderate one.

When President-Elect Edward Carson’s daughter, Alli, is kidnapped, fingers are immediately pointed in the direction of secular revivalists whose aim is to take the growing religious fervor out of politics and the government. ATF Agent, Jack McClure, is assigned to the task force set up to find Alli and to capture the person or people behind her kidnapping. A long time friend of Mr. Carson’s, Jack is one of the few people he knows he can trust.

The investigation takes Jack deep into his past, where he relives his childhood as an abused and misunderstood boy. He was in his late teens before he was able to find help for his dyslexia, which he found through a kind pastor and rough around the edges mentor, both of whom took Jack into their hearts and lives. The current investigation seems eerily similar to crimes committed in his old neighborhood all those years ago. Despite orders to do otherwise, Jack decides to hunt down his own leads.

Jack has always been dedicated to his job, putting it first above all else, including his family. When tasked with finding the President-Elect’s daughter, Jack couldn’t be more determined. In fact, the investigation has a more personal tie to him. His daughter, Emma, had once been best friends and roommates with Alli Carson. Jack never felt he knew his own daughter and feels guilty for not being there for her when she needed him most. A car crash stole her away from him and finding Alli is, in small part, a way to redeem himself.

Author Eric Van Lustbader has indeed written a suspenseful and complex novel. He takes two extremes and pits them against each other, challenging the role faith plays in government. Is faith a guiding force in creating a moral and upstanding society or has man made it a manipulative tool to spread fear and oppression, making those in control more powerful? The author himself challenges the reader to think about such questions.

Corruption, faith, false leads, secrets, redemption, prejudice, and self-discovery are all components in First Daughter. Jack McClure battles his own demons as he searches for Alli, trying to save her from whatever evil holds her captive. He is a well-drawn and well-rounded character. His own journey throughout the book is the one that touched me the most. I especially liked being drawn into his past, listening to old blues albums with him and hanging out at the library. I learned a little more about dyslexia than I had known before. For Jack, it proved to be both a disability and also a strength.

I was less certain about Alli, whose confusion and self-doubts bled through the pages. It suited the part she played in the story well, however. She made for an easy target. On the other side of the coin, was the main antagonist, a character who is both cunning and intelligent—and oh, so utterly creepy--making for one of the scariest of villains I have encountered this year.

The book started out slow for me as I got my mind around the many characters being introduced and tried to understand each of their agendas—or at least get a baseline. While some of those agendas remained shrouded in mystery until near the end, they did become clearer as the story unfolded. I enjoyed First Daughter overall.