Born to Run

I loved Theo. He made the book much more entertaining. I never had a friend who behaved so outrageously, yet still managed to be cherished as a friend. Theo should have his own book. It is hard to come up with fresh plots for novels. This book had one, at least far as I know. Not knowing the big secret that threatened the President until the end of the book was not unusual for a novel. I kept wondering what kind of situation or crime or scandal could result in the immediate removal of the sitting President. After all, what President in real life has ever been quickly removed from office? The President in the novel not being born in America or naturalized later comes to mind as one of the only situations where in the face of proof, a show more sitting President would have to vacate the office, no matter the politics. A great idea. show less

Description
Former Florida governor Harry Swyteck needs help from his criminal defense lawyer son Jack Swyteck. When Harry's friend, the vice president of the United States, goes hunting for alligators in the Everglades and winds up dead, the president positions Harry to be his new VP. Harry immediately asks Jack to be his lawyer. The job turns lethal, however, when Jack finds himself at the heart of a complicated cover-up that spans nearly fifty years and the globe. Before hostages can be released, an old secret must be revealed, one that could threaten the life of the president of the United States himself.

This book started off as a good political thriller, which I was expecting, but turned into a story that was mostly about a mobster show more who knows the President’s secret and is also running from other mobsters who he had stolen from. There is a lot of action making it mildly entertaining but there were some silly decisions by the FBI and others, and lucky guesses by Jack and his father that lost my interest. show less

James Grippando's 'Born to Run,' although a part of the Jack Swyteck series, works well as a stand alone novel; it was my first Grippando read.

Briefly, Jack, son of former governor Harry Swyteck, is a Miami trial lawyer with a penchant for defending hopeless cases. The novel begins with the Everglades demise of the current vice president and Harry's selection as the next VP. Jack tags along to Washington and the plot thickens when he receives a call offering to make his father the next president. Now mix in an immoral White House intern, a relentless CNN reporter, a mysterious Greek, the Mafia, and Jack's 'new' green Mustang and we're ready to run.

This is more a series mystery than a political thriller - Jack and his cohorts are the show more stars, and, I assume, well liked by regular readers. It's a quick, undemanding read, with emphasis on quick. Read this only if you have no plans to ponder the plotting and are willing to go big into suspension of disbelief.

Three stars: good enough to finish, but not good enough to keep. show less

A friend of mine received this fro Christmas so, of course, I had to borrow this book thinking Mr. Grippando was a new writer. Well, he is, to me but no longer.
This is a thrilling, fast-paced mystery and though you will probably figure out the ending, it will keep you interested to the end.
Filled with government types, hit men, lawyers, thugs, and all around "good guys" and one badly-used Bullitt-like Mustang, this is a really good yarn indeed.

Another fastly paced plot in the JACK SWYTECK series...although I enjoyed this thriller, it wasn't up to the level of the previous novels in this series...but, it is by one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite characters and it kept my interest down to the usual GRIPPANDO TWIST ending.

When the vice president who is out hunting crocodiles in the Maimi Everglades, ends up dead. Jack's father, Harry, is asked to take over as the vice president. Jack suspects the late vice president might have been murdered and that his father might be next. When Jack receives an e-mail offering to sell information about President Keyes-information that could make Jack's dad the next president-he starts to dig deeper, gathering information from everyone from the late vice-president's widow to the sister of a slain tabloid reporter. And as if Jack didn't have enough trouble, he also must deal with the fact that he's turning 40. Easy to read thriller.

Quick, light read. Nothing spectacular. The narration was bland. It was fun enough to finish, but not interesting enough for me to rewind to hear parts I missed.