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The Body Man
Who protects the secrets of the Presidency? The Body Man. And he's vanished without a trace.In a town that's obsessed with dark secrets, where the currency of power is information, The White House has kept a huge one for decades. Charged with the task of protecting and defending the Office of the Presidency from threats both outside and in, the keeper of secrets-the Body Man-has been in the shadows since the 1960s.
The Body Man has been a unique protector of American presidents ever since a previous well-known president used the first Body Man to usher women, diplomats, and other heads of state into the White House via a secret tunnel. The Body Man is drawn from the Secret Service, but he isn't on the classic protective detail, and he reports to no one. Once his term is over, he's given a huge payout and a one-way ticket to anywhere on Earth.
With a CIA conspiracy buff named Zed and The Body Man's aged neighbor Rose, former US Army Ranger and FBI Special Agent Eli Payne and his new probationary agent Kat Stone must find the Body Man before it's too late-and the trail may lead directly to the Oval Office itself.
The Body Man has been a unique protector of American presidents ever since a previous well-known president used the first Body Man to usher women, diplomats, and other heads of state into the White House via a secret tunnel. The Body Man is drawn from the Secret Service, but he isn't on the classic protective detail, and he reports to no one. Once his term is over, he's given a huge payout and a one-way ticket to anywhere on Earth.
With a CIA conspiracy buff named Zed and The Body Man's aged neighbor Rose, former US Army Ranger and FBI Special Agent Eli Payne and his new probationary agent Kat Stone must find the Body Man before it's too late-and the trail may lead directly to the Oval Office itself.
403 pages, Hardcover
First published November 11, 2021
145 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
November 9, 2021
Eric Bishop’s THE BODY MAN is superb. It is the best intrigue novel of the year. It is the plausible meeting of two entities - Deep State and Top Secrecy, that ensures and instills uneasiness among the acronyms of the national intelligence community. It sends readers on a roller coaster ride between believability and reassessment of our national security agencies. It should ensure Eric Bishop’s nomination for best thriller of the year by a new author if not a win. It takes the concept of DEEP STATE to new levels and should ring alarm bells for the American public for its plausibility and realism. Analogies may be drawn to past administrative actions and to the imperial presidency.
Bishop has created such an intricate,interwoven plot with outstanding protagonist and secondary character development, it resembles a jigsaw puzzle where each action, each character, each part of this story drops into place, linked,piece by piece by avarice, betrayal, misplaced loyalty. It depicts accurately the Washington, D.C. I knew. It brings forth a deja vu feeling of having read or lived through the actions portrayed. Like all successful thriller authors of today, there is a semblance of truth and a remittance of warning.
Bishop opens his tale with the outright kidnapping of a physically capable, athletic male right off the main corridor of Tysons Corner,one of the main business and retail sectors of greater Washington DC and the home and stomping grounds of the Beltway Bandits, Washington politicos, and the monied elite. Violent crime is pretty well unheard of in this area. The bedroom communities of Vienna, Reston, and Falls Church are adjacent to Tysons Corner and the most noted security/intelligence agency in the world, the CIA, is a mere 2-3 miles up the road. It’s risky business to execute abduction in such an area. Too much security,official and private in the area carry weapons.
Although greater Washington DC is a world cosmopolitan center of perhaps 5 million, it functions as a small, sleepy southern town where neighbors pay attention to their fellow neighbors comings and goings, take note of parked cars that do not belong to the area, and know what agency their neighbor works for. These people pay attention to details and recognize when something is out of sync or a regular pattern is not followed. They also know who to call if something appears fishy, and it ain’t the police! The die are cast when such a neighbor, Rose Lewis,a CIA spouse, takes note of a missing neighbor, Ralph Webb. Knowing Webb is affiliated with the White House, the elderly Lewis calls the local office of the FBI with the tale of a ransacked house, a starving cat, and a missing neighbor.
At this point, Bishop initiates a dialogue narrative to relay the unfolding tale. Much of the storyline and plot is told in a dialogue format, unusual in a thriller, but it makes the personalities of the various characters, both the protagonist and secondary ensemble come alive. It’s sort of like eavesdropping in a conversation at a bar or restaurant, where you can’t wait to hear the rest of the story. Rose Lewis is where we are introduced to Elijah Payne and Katherine Stone, special agents of the FBI, who work downtown and get tasked with the job of determining if a crime has occurred. Payne is a middle age male, ex-Ranger, in decent shape who has a sardonic,smart mouth, a touch of arrogance, and a condescending attitude to females, especially young 20-somethings. Katherine “Kat” Stone, raised an Army brat,is as sharp, observant and capable as Payne, with a sarcastic, “take no crap”attitude toward her new partner. At times, it’s like watching a verbal ping pong sparring match. Through this kind of dialogue the story quickly unfolds.
Payne and Stone determine Rose Lewis may have a plausible story to investigate, especially as her neighbor is Secret Service at the White House. When Secret Service at the White House nervously lies right to their face, they know they are on to something. As Payne uses his security contacts through various other agencies, he discovers the real name of the missing Ralph Webb is Nick Jordan, and he does indeed work directly with President Charles Steele in a specialized capacity as the protector and fixer of difficulties that may be illegal, embarrassing,or besmirch the Office of the Presidency of the United States. He serves and answers to the President only, and is only referred to as The Body Man. The public is unaware of his role,many even in the senior level of government are unaware of his existence.He is the bearer of secrets, of knowledge of a criminal nature regarding President Steele and his son,”Junior” who oversees the families international bank operations.
The President has been a really naughty boy and he and Junior crossed the line when they decided to sell top secret military armaments to a prince, a chief minister in the House of Saud.They crossed the line of threatening the nation, our national security by their actions in hiring an international Russian crime syndicate known as The Sanctum,for assassination, grand theft, murder, torture, the list goes on. The action revs up as Payne and Stone begin to step on toes while conducting their investigation, as moles are secreted by the President in every level of federal government. President Steele makes the arrogant and fatal mistake of dragging THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI into the subterranean chambers of the White House, The Bunker, and demand that the search for Nick Jordan and perpetrator of the attempted assassination of Jordan’s understudy, be left to the Secret Service to resolve.
The bodies are stacking up like cordwood, the fire lit may burn down the White House, time is running out. Too many mistakes, missteps have been made. Carelessness in the attention to detail. Personal friends and colleagues are killed. Thus the countdown begins. Representatives from every national intelligence and security agency are involved in the final showdown.
Eric Bishop’s THE BODY MAN is a superb tale of espionage, of betrayal for profit in the highest office of the land. He reveals how the concept of Deep State would actually operate and its threat to the national security of the United States. Each character introduced is well-developed in personality with the scope of duties clearly laid out. I loved how the descriptive dialogue carries the story. You cannot help but draw analogies to our previous administration and his family. There are many whispered secrets that float around our nation’s capital. The corruption is really blatant and pervasive and is quite capable of taking down our republic. The author’s storyline delineates how.
It’s rare to find a novice writer creating such an intricate, intertwining approach to sub plots and with such attention to detail. THE BODY MAN is a fast paced story that captivates your attention until the last page is turned. It has that smoothness of delivery that only the best seller thriller authors achieve.The plausibility of the plot is somewhat unnerving. Bishop writes with accuracy and authenticity of the true nature of DC in its people, their commitment to the job they’ve been tasked to do and in description locales. I firmly believe this novel has a shot for the title of Thriller of the Year . And thriller readers will love it! Congratulations, Eric Bishop,for a job well done. A big 5* for this, his first!
Bishop has created such an intricate,interwoven plot with outstanding protagonist and secondary character development, it resembles a jigsaw puzzle where each action, each character, each part of this story drops into place, linked,piece by piece by avarice, betrayal, misplaced loyalty. It depicts accurately the Washington, D.C. I knew. It brings forth a deja vu feeling of having read or lived through the actions portrayed. Like all successful thriller authors of today, there is a semblance of truth and a remittance of warning.
Bishop opens his tale with the outright kidnapping of a physically capable, athletic male right off the main corridor of Tysons Corner,one of the main business and retail sectors of greater Washington DC and the home and stomping grounds of the Beltway Bandits, Washington politicos, and the monied elite. Violent crime is pretty well unheard of in this area. The bedroom communities of Vienna, Reston, and Falls Church are adjacent to Tysons Corner and the most noted security/intelligence agency in the world, the CIA, is a mere 2-3 miles up the road. It’s risky business to execute abduction in such an area. Too much security,official and private in the area carry weapons.
Although greater Washington DC is a world cosmopolitan center of perhaps 5 million, it functions as a small, sleepy southern town where neighbors pay attention to their fellow neighbors comings and goings, take note of parked cars that do not belong to the area, and know what agency their neighbor works for. These people pay attention to details and recognize when something is out of sync or a regular pattern is not followed. They also know who to call if something appears fishy, and it ain’t the police! The die are cast when such a neighbor, Rose Lewis,a CIA spouse, takes note of a missing neighbor, Ralph Webb. Knowing Webb is affiliated with the White House, the elderly Lewis calls the local office of the FBI with the tale of a ransacked house, a starving cat, and a missing neighbor.
At this point, Bishop initiates a dialogue narrative to relay the unfolding tale. Much of the storyline and plot is told in a dialogue format, unusual in a thriller, but it makes the personalities of the various characters, both the protagonist and secondary ensemble come alive. It’s sort of like eavesdropping in a conversation at a bar or restaurant, where you can’t wait to hear the rest of the story. Rose Lewis is where we are introduced to Elijah Payne and Katherine Stone, special agents of the FBI, who work downtown and get tasked with the job of determining if a crime has occurred. Payne is a middle age male, ex-Ranger, in decent shape who has a sardonic,smart mouth, a touch of arrogance, and a condescending attitude to females, especially young 20-somethings. Katherine “Kat” Stone, raised an Army brat,is as sharp, observant and capable as Payne, with a sarcastic, “take no crap”attitude toward her new partner. At times, it’s like watching a verbal ping pong sparring match. Through this kind of dialogue the story quickly unfolds.
Payne and Stone determine Rose Lewis may have a plausible story to investigate, especially as her neighbor is Secret Service at the White House. When Secret Service at the White House nervously lies right to their face, they know they are on to something. As Payne uses his security contacts through various other agencies, he discovers the real name of the missing Ralph Webb is Nick Jordan, and he does indeed work directly with President Charles Steele in a specialized capacity as the protector and fixer of difficulties that may be illegal, embarrassing,or besmirch the Office of the Presidency of the United States. He serves and answers to the President only, and is only referred to as The Body Man. The public is unaware of his role,many even in the senior level of government are unaware of his existence.He is the bearer of secrets, of knowledge of a criminal nature regarding President Steele and his son,”Junior” who oversees the families international bank operations.
The President has been a really naughty boy and he and Junior crossed the line when they decided to sell top secret military armaments to a prince, a chief minister in the House of Saud.They crossed the line of threatening the nation, our national security by their actions in hiring an international Russian crime syndicate known as The Sanctum,for assassination, grand theft, murder, torture, the list goes on. The action revs up as Payne and Stone begin to step on toes while conducting their investigation, as moles are secreted by the President in every level of federal government. President Steele makes the arrogant and fatal mistake of dragging THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI into the subterranean chambers of the White House, The Bunker, and demand that the search for Nick Jordan and perpetrator of the attempted assassination of Jordan’s understudy, be left to the Secret Service to resolve.
The bodies are stacking up like cordwood, the fire lit may burn down the White House, time is running out. Too many mistakes, missteps have been made. Carelessness in the attention to detail. Personal friends and colleagues are killed. Thus the countdown begins. Representatives from every national intelligence and security agency are involved in the final showdown.
Eric Bishop’s THE BODY MAN is a superb tale of espionage, of betrayal for profit in the highest office of the land. He reveals how the concept of Deep State would actually operate and its threat to the national security of the United States. Each character introduced is well-developed in personality with the scope of duties clearly laid out. I loved how the descriptive dialogue carries the story. You cannot help but draw analogies to our previous administration and his family. There are many whispered secrets that float around our nation’s capital. The corruption is really blatant and pervasive and is quite capable of taking down our republic. The author’s storyline delineates how.
It’s rare to find a novice writer creating such an intricate, intertwining approach to sub plots and with such attention to detail. THE BODY MAN is a fast paced story that captivates your attention until the last page is turned. It has that smoothness of delivery that only the best seller thriller authors achieve.The plausibility of the plot is somewhat unnerving. Bishop writes with accuracy and authenticity of the true nature of DC in its people, their commitment to the job they’ve been tasked to do and in description locales. I firmly believe this novel has a shot for the title of Thriller of the Year . And thriller readers will love it! Congratulations, Eric Bishop,for a job well done. A big 5* for this, his first!
Read
October 29, 2021Who protects the President?
The Secret Service.
Who protects the Office of the Presidency?
The Body Man.
And he’s vanished without a trace.
In a town obsessed with secrets, The White House has kept one concealed for decades. Charged with the task of protecting and defending the office of the Presidency from threats both outside and in, the keeper of secrets, the Body Man, has managed to stay in the shadows.
Abducted in a brazen attack, The Body Man’s fate now rests in the hands of others, which is a sobering thought for a man always in control.
FBI Special Agent Eli Payne and probationary agent Kat Stone discover nothing is as it seems as they attempt to track him down and bring the abductors to justice. The clock is ticking, and the chess pieces are in motion.
Who will make a deadly wrong move—and how deep do the secrets go?
The Secret Service.
Who protects the Office of the Presidency?
The Body Man.
And he’s vanished without a trace.
In a town obsessed with secrets, The White House has kept one concealed for decades. Charged with the task of protecting and defending the office of the Presidency from threats both outside and in, the keeper of secrets, the Body Man, has managed to stay in the shadows.
Abducted in a brazen attack, The Body Man’s fate now rests in the hands of others, which is a sobering thought for a man always in control.
FBI Special Agent Eli Payne and probationary agent Kat Stone discover nothing is as it seems as they attempt to track him down and bring the abductors to justice. The clock is ticking, and the chess pieces are in motion.
Who will make a deadly wrong move—and how deep do the secrets go?
January 8, 2022
This was the first book I have read by this auhor. This was a hard book for to rate very conflicted with this one.Ithought this book started out pretty strong and had a good flow to it. I liked most of the main characters and and secondary characters. It felt pretty realistic to me but I dont think someone on probation with ther FBI would be so smart ass with her partner.I thought the second half of the book had drop off. I thought it was some somewhat predictable and the main reason for crime was not strong enough or powerfull enough for me it was kind of meh.-I was like that was what was causing all of this. T he book by its finger nails hung on to a 4 star rating be cause more so because of the first half-almost fell into the 3 star category. I would say give it a spin and I might read thre second book of the series if it does not seem to predictable.
November 30, 2021
Well-written and ambitious, such an impressive debut novel. Maybe a bit too long but I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
November 17, 2021
A couple of weeks ago I got this letter from The Office of The Body Man asking for my help in keeping his secrets and spreading the word about this new author Eric P. Bishop and his brand new book The Body Man. Well, what can you do? I had to read the book and see what all the noise is about. Wow, what a debut book from this nice guy. (Even though he want's to kill me in the sequel?) I am so pleased when someone can come up with a new twist when it comes to the struggle for power, wealth and politics and combine it with a kick ass thriller and action story. There is some really frightening stuff going on in this book and most of it is to plausible to ignore. The book has a nice flow in it and sadly it is over to soon. The characters created by Bishop is great and I look forward to see where he will take them. The pressure is on sir.
November 3, 2021
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Eric Bishop delivers a decidedly compelling debut novel with The Body Man. It’s an entertaining, twisting thriller that deserves to be published and read by the masses.
Make sure to check out the full review
Eric Bishop delivers a decidedly compelling debut novel with The Body Man. It’s an entertaining, twisting thriller that deserves to be published and read by the masses.
Make sure to check out the full review
October 30, 2021
READ MY WHOLE REVIEW AT BEST THRILLER BOOKS
It took maybe a paragraph for the action to start, and the action pedal was to the floor for the remainder of the novel. The Body Man was a riveting read that I highly recommend.
It took maybe a paragraph for the action to start, and the action pedal was to the floor for the remainder of the novel. The Body Man was a riveting read that I highly recommend.
November 9, 2021
Ever since I heard the premise for this book, I have been waiting for it to be released. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC to review.
The book begins with The Body Man, who is tasked with protecting and defending the office of the Presidency, being abducted, and it is a tight, fast-paced ride from there on in. Told from multiple points of view, including The Body Man's interrogators, the FBI agents trying to find him, and the President, it sets a break necked pace right from the beginning and doesn't let up.
This is Bishop's debut novel yet it reads like it is written by an experienced thriller author. The pace is taut and relentless, the characters are well-rounded and likeable (at least some of them) and there are even some good doses of humour to break up the unrelenting tension.
I stayed up way too late reading this book and was impressed with the veracity of Bishop's story telling and his exquisite attention to detail. As an author, I was envious.
I gave this 4 stars simply because with such a strong debut, I wanted to leave room for the 5 stars that I'm sure his next book will warrant. If you like political thrillers that give a new glimpse into the world of the US Presidency, this is one for you.
The book begins with The Body Man, who is tasked with protecting and defending the office of the Presidency, being abducted, and it is a tight, fast-paced ride from there on in. Told from multiple points of view, including The Body Man's interrogators, the FBI agents trying to find him, and the President, it sets a break necked pace right from the beginning and doesn't let up.
This is Bishop's debut novel yet it reads like it is written by an experienced thriller author. The pace is taut and relentless, the characters are well-rounded and likeable (at least some of them) and there are even some good doses of humour to break up the unrelenting tension.
I stayed up way too late reading this book and was impressed with the veracity of Bishop's story telling and his exquisite attention to detail. As an author, I was envious.
I gave this 4 stars simply because with such a strong debut, I wanted to leave room for the 5 stars that I'm sure his next book will warrant. If you like political thrillers that give a new glimpse into the world of the US Presidency, this is one for you.
November 3, 2021
Looking for a savvy espionage thriller that stays the course while keeping you engaged, wanting more, and ready for the next twist?
This is it. I was fortunate to receive an early copy from Eric, who I look up to and appreciate greatly. The Body Man was everything I expected, and then some. This is what a thriller is supposed to be like. Light on the graphic details of the action, heavy on the plot, suspense, and intrigue. Eric wove a story that kept you asking "What is the body man already?". This debut is part James Bond, part detective work, and all espionage. This is Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and Tom Clancy all in one shaken, not stirred concoction of a storyline. You feel as if the two main characters are real, not planted within the story as pawns. You never know who the body man really is, and when you do, you still feel the secrecy. Eric did a fantastic, I repeat, fantastic job of preserving the secrecy behind the body man. As I closed the book after reading the final page, I felt as if I had just read a secret, and was the only one trusted to know it.
This is Washington politics, espionage, and crafty suspense all done with surgical precision.
This is it. I was fortunate to receive an early copy from Eric, who I look up to and appreciate greatly. The Body Man was everything I expected, and then some. This is what a thriller is supposed to be like. Light on the graphic details of the action, heavy on the plot, suspense, and intrigue. Eric wove a story that kept you asking "What is the body man already?". This debut is part James Bond, part detective work, and all espionage. This is Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and Tom Clancy all in one shaken, not stirred concoction of a storyline. You feel as if the two main characters are real, not planted within the story as pawns. You never know who the body man really is, and when you do, you still feel the secrecy. Eric did a fantastic, I repeat, fantastic job of preserving the secrecy behind the body man. As I closed the book after reading the final page, I felt as if I had just read a secret, and was the only one trusted to know it.
This is Washington politics, espionage, and crafty suspense all done with surgical precision.
March 22, 2022
This outstanding political thriller is impressive on multiple levels. My interest was initially drawn by an astounding score of 4.60 stars for a debut thriller by GR readers out of a possible 5 stars. The "Body Man" in the title refers to one designated Secret Service agent on the Presidential Protective Detail tasked with protecting the Presidency itself, not necessarily the President himself or herself. That construct alone makes for an original page turning plot premise when said Body Man goes missing. Shining the light on multiple cover ups by powerful entities in DC are a veteran FBI Special Agent Eli Payne and his assigned Probationary Agent Kat Stone who fast become ensnared into a vast political conspiracy. This is one of those rare 5 star books that's so impresses serious thriller/crime fiction readers, it becomes an impossible act to follow. I only wish my reading future included more books like this one.
December 23, 2021
To start with this is an exceptional thriller, full of intrigue, drama and suspense. This does not read like a debut novel such is the standard and quality of the writing, There is a freshness about the whole feel of the book
Mystery and intrigue surround the disappearance of the Body Man, the plotting throughout is imaginative and cleverly constructed, the story told from differing characters view points which interweave and combine to bring the reader a multi layered thriller of the highest quality, subterfuge abounds
The book has moments of pure nail biting tension, the drama ratchets up with each chapter, you can feel the suspense build, the story just flows, the pace of the book is slick and fast, this is a race against time and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
In the corridors of power who can you trust and thanks to the authors writing your never quite sure who is who and to which side they necessarily belong but this just heightens the intrigue
As the you read on and race to the end, an ending which is equally as dramatic and revealing , you’re left with a sense of wow what have I just read, it’s breathtaking in combining all the elements which go into making a thriller
As much as this is an action thriller it would be nothing without the characters, here the authors brings us a veritable cast each wonderfully drawn out and brought to life on the page,you can believe in each, however, the with the main protagonists Eli Payne and Kat Stone you get a real sense of who they are and whilst Stone may be the newbie she is not written as such, she is her own person not afraid to give back and this is refreshing to see, you can see the mutual respect grow between the pair, they combine to make a team determined to seek out the truth and not to fail,
A book packed with full on action, characters which you can relate to, it has it all, there are some fantastic thrillers writers writing today and Eric P Bishop has already shown he is up there with the best
Cannot recommend this enough and definitely cannot wait to see what the author brings us next
Mystery and intrigue surround the disappearance of the Body Man, the plotting throughout is imaginative and cleverly constructed, the story told from differing characters view points which interweave and combine to bring the reader a multi layered thriller of the highest quality, subterfuge abounds
The book has moments of pure nail biting tension, the drama ratchets up with each chapter, you can feel the suspense build, the story just flows, the pace of the book is slick and fast, this is a race against time and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
In the corridors of power who can you trust and thanks to the authors writing your never quite sure who is who and to which side they necessarily belong but this just heightens the intrigue
As the you read on and race to the end, an ending which is equally as dramatic and revealing , you’re left with a sense of wow what have I just read, it’s breathtaking in combining all the elements which go into making a thriller
As much as this is an action thriller it would be nothing without the characters, here the authors brings us a veritable cast each wonderfully drawn out and brought to life on the page,you can believe in each, however, the with the main protagonists Eli Payne and Kat Stone you get a real sense of who they are and whilst Stone may be the newbie she is not written as such, she is her own person not afraid to give back and this is refreshing to see, you can see the mutual respect grow between the pair, they combine to make a team determined to seek out the truth and not to fail,
A book packed with full on action, characters which you can relate to, it has it all, there are some fantastic thrillers writers writing today and Eric P Bishop has already shown he is up there with the best
Cannot recommend this enough and definitely cannot wait to see what the author brings us next
November 9, 2021
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
The Body Man is a fantastic thriller with tightly woven plotlines, intense action sequences, and solid political intrigue that gets topped off with the perfect amount of sarcastic dialogue.
Make sure to check out the full review
The Body Man is a fantastic thriller with tightly woven plotlines, intense action sequences, and solid political intrigue that gets topped off with the perfect amount of sarcastic dialogue.
Make sure to check out the full review
December 10, 2021
Very entertaining read
I’ve been looking forward to this debut, and it didn’t disappoint. It felt like I was reading a Baldacci novel. Can’t wait for Breach of Trust.
I’ve been looking forward to this debut, and it didn’t disappoint. It felt like I was reading a Baldacci novel. Can’t wait for Breach of Trust.
November 26, 2021
Excellent debut. A treat for political thriller fans.
The Body Man is the debut novel by Mr. Bishop and is a political thriller. It's apparent that Mr. Bishop is a Vince Flynn fan not just by the reference in the book, but is apparent in the way he constructs the plot and characters in the book. I've read some brilliant thrillers this year, and The Body Man will definitely rank amongst the top 5. It's apparent that Mr. Bishop intends to write atleast a sequel to this book if not construct a series out of it. I eagerly look forward to reading his next book. I'd recommend this book not just to thriller fans, but for anyone that's up for a good read.
The Body Man is the debut novel by Mr. Bishop and is a political thriller. It's apparent that Mr. Bishop is a Vince Flynn fan not just by the reference in the book, but is apparent in the way he constructs the plot and characters in the book. I've read some brilliant thrillers this year, and The Body Man will definitely rank amongst the top 5. It's apparent that Mr. Bishop intends to write atleast a sequel to this book if not construct a series out of it. I eagerly look forward to reading his next book. I'd recommend this book not just to thriller fans, but for anyone that's up for a good read.
February 6, 2022
Eric Bishop’s THE BODY MAN is an exceptional debut Political Thriller and one that will make you question the fact that this is his first novel. His writing style and structure remind me of a Vince Flynn or Tom Clancy novel, full of non-stop action, witty dialogue, and a tightly woven plotline. Also, Bishop has nailed the extensive research of what goes on behind the closed doors of the White House, the U.S. Presidency, the Secret Service, and the FBI; plus, he’s added in a believable storyline full of secrets, betrayal, and misplaced loyalties. I can easily see this espionage novel becoming a long-standing series and one that will be a guaranteed auto-buy for me.
If you love experiencing the nail-biting suspense and tension as you flip pages, discovering more pieces to the complicated puzzle of who is betraying whom, then you need to read this novel. I’m already looking forward to devouring the next book in the series, BREACH OF TRUST.
If you love experiencing the nail-biting suspense and tension as you flip pages, discovering more pieces to the complicated puzzle of who is betraying whom, then you need to read this novel. I’m already looking forward to devouring the next book in the series, BREACH OF TRUST.
November 16, 2021
The Body Man - The man charged with protecting the Presidency of the United States, not necessarily the President but the Presidency.
When The Body Man disappears it is up to FBI special agent Eli Payne and his rookie partner, Kat Stone to find him before it is too late. Stonewalled at every turn Payne and Stone work the clues and uncover a conspiracy that may lead to the very top.
Eric P. Bishop has created an amazing novel as his first published work. An excellent plot and superb pacing make this one a page turner of the highest level. Prepare to lose some sleep once you start, it does not disappoint.
When The Body Man disappears it is up to FBI special agent Eli Payne and his rookie partner, Kat Stone to find him before it is too late. Stonewalled at every turn Payne and Stone work the clues and uncover a conspiracy that may lead to the very top.
Eric P. Bishop has created an amazing novel as his first published work. An excellent plot and superb pacing make this one a page turner of the highest level. Prepare to lose some sleep once you start, it does not disappoint.
November 23, 2021
A page turner like rarely any other. For me that was the best debut novel since Terminal List by Jack Carr. Action from start to finish with not a single dull moment through the whole book. You'll fall in love with Eli Payne and Kat Stone nearly immediately. And a story line that feels quite realistic considering real live persons in the US (and probably everywhere else too). This should be in the top 3 of every thriller list for the year. I'll read the next books in the series for sure and am very much waiting for them. With one (!) book, Mr Bishop made it amongst the top of my favourite authors.
December 7, 2024
Absolutely fascinating story about the supposed presidential "Body Man".
He disappears and it's all " silent" hands on deck to locate this protector of the "office" of the president before he can be tortured into giving up secrets that could cause worldwide devastating chain reactions.
Sound like an outlandish story straight out wonderland??
Hmmmm...
One thing I have come to realize, the older I get and the more presidential elections I experience, is that the more wild the premise is, when it concerns government and politics, the more close to the truth it probably really is.
Great story with riveting suspense and absolutely relatable and believable characters.
Stumbled across this author and book quite by accident.
So very glad I did.
On to the next book👍
He disappears and it's all " silent" hands on deck to locate this protector of the "office" of the president before he can be tortured into giving up secrets that could cause worldwide devastating chain reactions.
Sound like an outlandish story straight out wonderland??
Hmmmm...
One thing I have come to realize, the older I get and the more presidential elections I experience, is that the more wild the premise is, when it concerns government and politics, the more close to the truth it probably really is.
Great story with riveting suspense and absolutely relatable and believable characters.
Stumbled across this author and book quite by accident.
So very glad I did.
On to the next book👍
November 24, 2021
It’s two days before Thanksgiving, and I’m thankful to have so thoroughly enjoyed The Body Man. I’ve followed Eric Bishop on social media for a while, and have been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it. I was not disappointed. This is his debut novel, but you wouldn’t know it. I love an action packed thriller, which this is, but what really draws me in is an intriguing plot and well developed characters. The Body Man checks all boxes.
February 17, 2024
What an amazing debut by Eric Bishop. This man never gave up and we all have this great book to thank for it!! The Body Man comes out the gate with intrigue and twist and turns. Eric can sure weave q story qnd complex scenarios with the best of them. The characters were amazing with so much detail and background. The plot and all of its twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat all the wait to the end. And with the set up for the next book I can not wait till the next one comes out!! Eric made a fan for life!
August 10, 2022
I just finished reading Eric P. Bishop’s first novel, THE BODY MAN. This is a first-class political thriller that competes with the best of authors when in comes to developing a story with twists and turns, political intrigue, great action and fascinating characters. If you are a fan of thrillers and political intrigue, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book. The length may appear intimidating, but the writing is great and literally was a “page turner.” I look forward to more books from Bishop, and perhaps more action from THE BODY MAN.
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December 18, 2021Non-stop action
Once I started, I couldn’t put this book down! The mystery of Nick’s abduction was such a great hook. Lucky for Nick, Payne and Stone were the FBI agents that investigated Nick’s disappearance. The best part is the bad guy gets his comeuppance! Can’t wait for this author’s next book.
Once I started, I couldn’t put this book down! The mystery of Nick’s abduction was such a great hook. Lucky for Nick, Payne and Stone were the FBI agents that investigated Nick’s disappearance. The best part is the bad guy gets his comeuppance! Can’t wait for this author’s next book.
January 3, 2022
Amateur Attempt
Cliche ridden throughout, and the author really needs to pay attention to basic fundamentals of editing. So many basic editing errors drastically affect the quality.
Cliche ridden throughout, and the author really needs to pay attention to basic fundamentals of editing. So many basic editing errors drastically affect the quality.
February 24, 2022
Innumerable different spellings are cited for Camelot, the center of Arthurian lore and its world and there are probably an equal number of rumors about the vaunted administration of Number 35, or John Fitzgerald Kennedy or just JFK. From books to movies to TV and songs, the tributes, rumors, allegations and myths are a mainstay of pop culture as stalwart as the Beatles, Elvis, or their post millennium equivalent, DC/MCU superhero movies. Borrowing from JFK lore about his many dalliances and the requisite discreet shuttling away of devoted disciples, THE BODY MAN builds the case for just that type of cavalier to do the President's bidding. What is the BODY MAN or better, who is he? A White House RAY DONOVAN, the personal Winston Wolf of the presidency, an experienced USSS agent who after tenure must go on to what JUDGE DREDD adventures call 'the long walk'. Disappear forever, on taxpayer dime, enjoying margaritas by the sea, Mamasita.
Far from a vacation and quickly going from bad to worse for the Body Man, a brazen daylight snatch turns a White House Blauschein into 'Sa jia quan' and a federal beef in the making. Agency legend Condor uttered during his last days that politics is about what you do and Washington works on who you can convince to help you. The converse is true, too. If someone isn't on board, they are offboarded and waterboarded. An illicit organized entity, The Sanctum, rather than older incarnations like 'the Outfit', Black Hand, or the Crew, and invoking the images of a two part season finale of THE WALKING DEAD, is on the loose and working on behalf of the powers that be. This lean-to the Consortium, the Cartel, the Outfit, JOHN WICK's the Continental, or an international crime ring not unlike Spectre or SMERSH is omnipotent and operates at will in the Swamp, making the Body Man a mere memory.
Before goings-on can fully evolve from kidnapping and rendition to ESCAPE PLAN, and before UNSUB numero uno is transitioned from a prison barge a la 24's Jack Bauer to an offshore oil rig, law enforcement is finally catching on. Along with what feels like the USSS agents visiting the landlady early in IN THE LINE OF FIRE, Clint Eastwood's character's most used facial expression in said movie, winking, infiltrated about every character's MO in THE BODY MAN. Yes, there's lots of winking in this book. And lots of LEOs. On the case now are Eli Payne and Kat Stone, fibbies, both of them, and both have an affinity for not following the rules. Thrown together by procedural necessity, one a rook and the other an arrogant and seasoned investigator, though thought of as sloppy and undisciplined by superiors and peers.
Navigation through the maze that is geopolitical intrigue is helped by a masterful infusion of pop culture references ranging from White Snake, Metallica, ZZ Top, and more Magnum P.I. (1980s) Easter eggs than Kānaka Maoli can throw at lei at. Rounding out the requisite love are mentions and allusions to James Bond, COMMANDO, and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. Levity may erroneously look like the coin of the realm, especially since the the author has his characters getting in on making fun of the proceedings. "Trust me, when I heard about the Body Man, I figured it was some lame-ass story from a fiction writer with way too much time on his or her hands." Here you are encouraged to commit a BREACH OF TRUST--weighing in at almost 460 pages, THE BODY MAN is a veritable thriller magnum opus that has it all: intrigue, rendition, betrayal, greed, treason, politics, relentless firefights, and guns, lots of guns.
Abducting the keeper of the secrets is a matter of national security, or should be, and some of those enigmas will be held back for the inevitable sequel. The Noodle Incident shall for now remain a mystery, but one thing's for sure: THE BODY MAN doesn't wear golf shirts. Probably used more often than 'the wink' by the participants in the greatest manhunt since the white Bronco on the Santa Ana Freeway is the request to be "read in". After the the bullets stop flying and the smoke clears, consider yourself read in on the Potomac Two-Step, Old Dusseldorf, a female assassin named Merci--sweet as Belgian chocolates and deadlier than Xenia Onatopp, and an HRT B-Team including, you guessed it, George Peppard, Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz--B.A. Baracus is nowhere in sight.
THE BODY MAN is ambitious as it is complex, adventurous as it is dangerous, violent as it is thrilling. In essence, it's like THE BODY MAN takes his drink: light on the ice, heavy on the bourbon. Intoxicating in its scope, THE BODY MAN thrills with the repercussions of political f3, the veil of secrets, and the rough and tumble world of Operators for Hire. Now all of y'all, get off the wall, start getting down with gripping action, read THE BODY MAN and get Thriller satisfaction.
July 8, 2022
WOW. I picked up this thriller based on a recommendation. In reading Eric Bishop's bio prior to reading this book, it read he is from the "corporate world".
Well, I will tell you and everyone that wants to listen this...If Eric Bishop is from the corporate world as he claims, then his day job was only a cover for his clandestine identity as an alphabet agency operative! There is no way possible this book was not written by anyone other than someone that has seen real-world operational experience behind the scenes in Washington. For someone who "says" he is from the corporate world, he sure does know a heck of a lot of inside information on the inner workings of the FBI and Secret service.
I finished this book in two days (I'm a retired law enforcement supervisor of 27 years with time on my hands). His development of characters, from minor to major, is in-depth and thorough, bringing this story to life through realistic relationships of old school vs. new school. If you're a fan of investigations at the most secret level of high-profile agencies, this book is for you!
Well, I will tell you and everyone that wants to listen this...If Eric Bishop is from the corporate world as he claims, then his day job was only a cover for his clandestine identity as an alphabet agency operative! There is no way possible this book was not written by anyone other than someone that has seen real-world operational experience behind the scenes in Washington. For someone who "says" he is from the corporate world, he sure does know a heck of a lot of inside information on the inner workings of the FBI and Secret service.
I finished this book in two days (I'm a retired law enforcement supervisor of 27 years with time on my hands). His development of characters, from minor to major, is in-depth and thorough, bringing this story to life through realistic relationships of old school vs. new school. If you're a fan of investigations at the most secret level of high-profile agencies, this book is for you!
April 9, 2022
One thing that you first notice when reading Eric Bishop’s The Body Man is that this is an author who knows his stuff. And what I’m talking about here is an author who knows how to spin a good story. That’s what grabbed me the most as soon as I started reading The Body Man. While keeping track of all the characters can be a little daunting at first, once Bishop settles into the story, you don’t mind the jumping back and forth between the characters. That’s part of this high-octane thriller that keeps you riveted from one page to the next. But there’s much, much more to this story. And it is a good story. It’s the kind of story that’ll make you go, “hmm…”—maybe this could really happen. Okay, I promised myself that I would not give away any of the story, but you will definitely find yourself hooked once you start reading. Well done, Mr. Bishop. Look forward to reading your next one.
Jeffrey Miller, Bureau 39, A Frank Mitchum Thriller
Jeffrey Miller, Bureau 39, A Frank Mitchum Thriller
August 14, 2024
The Body Man protects the office of the President, but what if the President is thoroughly corrupt? When the Body Man disappears and his second is shot........one would think the President and Secret Service would go all out to figure it all out. But, no. Turns out the case is pursued by a couple of agents who get clues a bit at a time.
What a page turner! I stayed up all night to finish the book. Really liked how meticulously the bad guys planned everything, but they are thwarted by seemingly innocuous odd events and small mistakes.
Timely story, esp given current events........and the book leaves the reader hoping that there really are good and decent people who will do the right thing even in the face of unbridled power and corruption.
What a page turner! I stayed up all night to finish the book. Really liked how meticulously the bad guys planned everything, but they are thwarted by seemingly innocuous odd events and small mistakes.
Timely story, esp given current events........and the book leaves the reader hoping that there really are good and decent people who will do the right thing even in the face of unbridled power and corruption.
September 1, 2025
The Body Man is the first book in the series by an author, Eric P. Bishop, I haven't read until now. It won't be the last. This was a very enjoyable, quick read that had descriptive, short chapters. By the title of the book, this story centers around a character that does whatever is needed to protect the position of the President of the United States. Sometimes, this is a good thing... sometimes it is not. He goes missing, and the task of finding him falls to veteran FBI agent Eli Payne and his probationary agent Kat Stone. The banter back and forth between these characters is laugh-out-loud fun. Surprisingly, this is a plausible storyline, and the author's 80s and 90s references made it even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this series and will be reading the two follow-up books.
July 29, 2022
This author is definitely on my watch list for his next novel. The Body Man has a unique and interesting subject matter. The Body Man is a term applied to the U.S. President's personal assistant. The storyline focuses on what the Body Man knows about the President.
Although I really enjoyed the book, it had way too many characters. It's something I always find annoying.
This wouldn't be problematic, however, if you are able to read the book in a few days. Due to a rather hectic schedule it took me about ten days to read. Some of the time was spent going back through the book to refresh my memory.
This author has great potential!
Although I really enjoyed the book, it had way too many characters. It's something I always find annoying.
This wouldn't be problematic, however, if you are able to read the book in a few days. Due to a rather hectic schedule it took me about ten days to read. Some of the time was spent going back through the book to refresh my memory.
This author has great potential!
February 8, 2022
A conspiracy work of fiction, but the parallels of the Trump presidency seemed to me somewhat obvious, but an interesting plot line not involving the Russians and the creation of 'The Body Man' position within the presidency was refreshingly novel.The real life disputes between the director of the FBI and the President were fictionalised and believable, murky criminal cabals, plucky and humorous FBI duo, and the verbal wit was a great counterpoint and lifted the plot up to a very acceptable and enjoyable action thriller, in the realms of David Baldacci's absolute power, which I consider the gold standard for presidential conspiracy books.
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