The First Counsel

I read The Tenth Justice earlier this year and was looking forward to finding more titles by Brad Meltzer. This one certainly does not disappoint. One of the professional reviewers suggested that some of the other authors of legal fiction "move over" for Brad Meltzer. I think Brad Meltzer definitely knows how to use the setting of Washington, D.C. to fullest advantage as a setting to his legal thrillers. His characters captivate your attention as each is introduced and as they begin to interact, the adrenaline starts pumping and doesn't stop until the riveting conclusion. Can't wait to find another title by this author. I'll be particularly interested if he can illuminate another thriller beyond 'the district'.

Brad Meltzer knows how to right a political thriller. This latest of his is as good as the rest. Michael Garrett is a White House lawyer and he's dating the First Daughter. For a kick one night they try, successfully, to ditch the Secret Service agents and then see Michael's boss drop what has to be blackmail money in a hiding place. And the adventure begins. It's wild and it's fast and it's really good. This book won't be out until December but it is worth the wait, I promise.

If anything, I have learned more about my own reading pleasures through this book. I prefer a book that is realistic but still helps me escape from the realism of daily life, that develops relationships that matter, where evil is unquestionably identified, and where good clearly triumphs over evil. This book struck me as similar to a long, hard game of chess with a total stranger - at the end I know little of my opponent, in fact only what he has deliberately chosen to reveal, and it still ends in a clear stalement. No one wins, and it leaves a sense of discouragement and failure. Despite the clear suspense and unpredictable twists, this book left me regretting I had spent the time reading it.

I found "The First Counsel" interesting enough to allow me finish it and find out who was the "bad guy", but all along the way I found myself distracted by the fact that the characters, their behavior, and the dialog was unrealistic. None of the characters were believable, and I was totally unsympathetic to their ongoing difficulties. If it wasn't for the fact that I have somewhat of a stubborn streak, and wanted to finish what I started, this was the kind of book I could have easily simply put aside half way through and never pick it up again.
And any comparison of Michael Garrick, the lawyer in this book, to the lawyers in any of John Grisham's books is limited to the fact that they may both be practicing attorneys. But this book had show more little or nothing to do with being a lawyer, and as a character, Michael Garrick was most unlawyerly. show less

I have read a number of Brad Meltzer's books, and I don't know how I missed this when it first came out.

The First Counsel is an outstanding book--well written and with a great plot. Michael Garrick is a White House lawyer who begins a relationship with Nora Hartson, daughter of the President of the United States. Taking on such a relationship would definitely bring its own set of problems; however, with Nora, nothing is normal, and "problems" is an understatement.

A seemingly innocent night out on the town throws Michael into the center of a murder investigation with $10,000 of money intended for the victim in his name at a police station. The Secret Service, the FBI, and internal staff are all out to find the killer, and most of them show more are looking at Michael.

Can Nora help him or will she throw him to the wolves?

Great book! show less

My only frame of reference for White House intrigue is the TV series, West Wing. The First Counsel is also an exciting romp through the corridors of power, although in a much darker sense. But most aspects of the story rang true. The characters were interesting, and fit well in the plot. I can see why I bought more Meltzer novels.

My review is on my Blog, Nate's Library, specifically at: http://nates-library.blogspot.com/2008/08/brad-meltzer-first-counsel.html

I would have rated this a little higher normally because I do enjoy reading Brad Meltzer and have been working my through his books since I first read Book of Lies. After reading that book I decided I need to work my way through the authors other works. So far this is the only one that I felt was slow to get going, but once the story moved I loved the twists and turns. Even though I gave this one a three start I still plan on reading the rest of the authors books so far.