Prince of the Pharisees is a contemporary story centering on a dynamic political figure named Robert Hamilton. As his political career takes off, it becomes obvious that he is opportunistic to the point of being sociopathic. He ultimately is elected to a House seat, and then to the Senate. He picks up the endorsement of the powerful religious right, and this skyrockets him into the national spotlight. He then runs for President.

One person is able to see the truth about Robert, though, and that person is his own mother. Martha Hamilton becomes obsessed by a passion to stop her son from assuming the Presidency. It becomes a test of wills, one in which there can only be one winner. If Martha fails, however, the results may be catastrophic.

A few months ago I reviewed this book for another review site. I'm not shy about saying that this book is by far my absolute favorite of 2009. I have recommended it to numerous friends, and I've even gone so far as to buy copies of it and give them away. I apologize to the author for simply repeating a lot of what I said in my original review, but for those who have not yet seen the review, I hope you will see why I loved this book so much. I have listed below the reasons why I regard this book as being exceptional.

Firstly, the book is a beautiful example of masterful storytelling. The plot is a combination of several sub-plots, all running parallel to one another. Ultimately the storylines converge as the climax culminates. In the meantime, however, the reader is transported into a fascinating little mini-series which becomes a page-turning drama that entertains, enlightens, and inspires. Most remarkably, though, the plot never hits a dry spell. It is just as exciting at page 250 as it was during the introduction.

Secondly, the character development in this story is incredible. This author skillfully paints vivid and colorful portraits of each character, bringing them to life in a manner that few authors are capable of doing.

Thirdly, the narration itself is so fluid that it’s poetry. This author has one of the most beautiful writer’s voices I’ve ever experienced. He is subtle in his descriptions, yet also very skilled at driving home a powerful message. He very craftily infuses humor, and concludes each segment of the multi-part saga with some sort of profound statement, humorous axiom, or heart-stopping cliffhanger.

And finally, the most memorable quality of this book is the powerful ability it possesses to manipulate the reader’s emotions. I laughed, I cried, I shouted ~ this story had me on the edge of my seat. When I first picked it up, I read 104 pages without stopping. In a world where there are thousands and thousands of books available, I rarely waste precious time re-reading a story I’ve already enjoyed. In this case, though, I’m certain I will make an exception. Not only am I planning to read it again, but I’m going to encourage others to do the same. Buy one for yourself, and then send one to a friend. Yes, it really is that good! ( )