Paradigm Shift

by Anthony Muss

Could a presidential election be stolen?
They thought no one would notice.
They were wrong.

Paradigm Shift is a fascinating fiction spun from elements surrounding a recent momentous political event: The 2020 Election. It's a timely tale proving more plausible and more disturbing with each passing day and each new truth revealed.


With hints of Absolute Power, All the President's Men, Primary Colors, and Network, Paradigm Shift raises modern-day questions about politics, network news, social media, and their impact on the American populace.

Dexter Miller has sold his soul for a chance to play in the biggest arena in the world. Through the course of “guaranteeing a win," Dex loses himself, finds redemption, and then ends up sacrificing everything he holds dear on the altar of presidential politics.

Paradigm Shift is a lesson in history, economics, media, and political shenanigans. All hidden inside a political thrill ride. With love, betrayal, redemption, and vengeance, Paradigm Shift is a story too unbelievable to be anything but a well-researched fabrication. Or is it a fabrication at all?

Taking you from DC to Detroit, Philly to Phoenix, Atlanta to Wuhan, Paradigm Shift spins a fantastic fiction of a stolen election. How it occurs, who makes it happen, and what price various players pay in their pursuit of presidential power.

Genres: Fiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2024

About the author

Anthony Muss has written about Wall Street and markets for over a decade. His articles have appeared in print and online at Seeking Alpha, Yahoo Finance and have been featured as Editor’s Choice selections at The Motley Fool.

Mr. Muss has worked for three presidential campaigns, four regional print news publishers, and currently lives in the Midwest.

Paradigm Shift is his debut work of fiction.

Reviews

[Madison McMullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very seldom that I read a book and have to continuously remind myself it is actually a work of fiction. The story is believable, easy to follow, and eye-opening. A wonderful debut novel- looking forward to Muss' future books!

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but the author's purpose in writing it was confusing

This was a quick read with detailed information about certain aspects of voter fraud possible in the US system. While it claims to be fictitious, the author intentionally aligns characters and situations to modern current events and people in politics. Sure, this could hypothetically be a way to make the topics more easily contextualized by the reader, but it definitely comes off as biased and right-leaning rather than just showing problems with the system across the board. Citations for the author's research were also pulled from sources known to be biased.

There was some good plot arc, but it was followed by a pretty deus ex machina style ending that fell a bit flat and felt rushed.

All in all, it was too hard to tell whether the author was trying to inform, entertain, or influence the reader. If the goal was to combine those tactics, I think it missed the mark.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for providing me with a Kindle version of this fictional account of how a campaign developed and implemented a strategy to try to ensure that its candidate (referred to in the novel as the Senator) wins the US presidential election. The story follows Doc Allen, the chief of staff of the Senator, and Dexter Miller, a key member of the Senator’s presidential campaign, as they attempt to accomplish that desired goal. What are the specific plans that the campaign developed to try to ensure victory? Are those plans legal or illegal? How can those plans be implemented and will the campaign receive any pushback from voters or the media?

First time author Anthony Muss has a political point of view, which is clear from the beginning of the novel. Some of the personality traits of the characters, such as the Senator, the Senator’s running mate, the Speaker, and the current occupant of the White House, will be familiar to those who have even passively followed politics over the last few years. Readers who do not enjoy reading fiction with a heavy dose of politics may not enjoy this book, but there are a number of issues raised in this novel that could start important political and societal conversations.

I remember waiting in extraordinarily long lines to vote in the presidential elections of 2008, 2012, and 2016, and during those elections, I did not reside in a competitive swing state. There was a level of excitement shared by voters to go to a physical polling place and cast a ballot for their favored candidate on election day. Absentee ballots were reserved for those deployed in the military, residents who were traveling and not able to vote at their polling location on election day, and those physically not able to make it to the polls. That all changed when the Covid pandemic spread as many feared to gather in large crowds and social distancing was the norm. In response to the Covid pandemic, many states enacted changes to their voting laws with the stated purposes of simplifying the voting process, making voting more convenient, and avoiding the disenfranchisement of voters. Easing absentee ballot eligibility rules, promoting and encouraging voting by mail, relaxing ballot harvesting rules, and creating drop box locations where ballots could be returned have become prevalent in many states since Covid.

Muss raises many questions about these voting law changes specifically and the state of politics generally in this novel. Specific questions raised include: What is ballot harvesting and does it encourage greater participation in elections or is it susceptible to manipulation by an unscrupulous campaign? Are there enough safeguards in place to ensure that the mail-in ballot process is secure? Do drop boxes encourage more voters due to ease of returning ballots or could there be issues if drop boxes are not carefully monitored? Did states pass voting law reforms in accord with their state constitutions and statutes? Are extended deadlines to return mail-in ballots fair? More broad questions raised include: What’s the impact of social media on politics? Is journalism objective or does it push a political viewpoint? How does 24/7 cable news impact the political process? Is there too much money in politics? Do internet service providers have algorithms that tend to direct voters to articles that promote a certain political ideology? What does it mean to be an engaged and informed voter? Do politicians focus on long term solutions or just hot button issues of the day? These questions are critical and the way these questions are addressed will impact elections and politics for generations.

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read

Although a work of fiction you cannot help bet draw comparisons to events going on in real life. I wish that the book would have shown aspects from both sides of the arena better. It feels to be written for those that lean to the right. I personally like a little more balance in my politics.

[Catherine Matthews · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received a free copy via Good Reads giveaways*

This is the first book that I had to DNF in…I’m not sure how long. Got about 65% through. There were some great statements made in the book, but I’m taking them quite the opposite way than the author. Even if this wasn’t just thinly-veiled pro-Trump propaganda, the writing itself left much to be desired. A white man writing black characters and having them say things like “well sheeeit”……grammatical errors throughout the book…..long-winded tangents that added nothing to the story….it was all too much for me.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher/ author for gifting this Goodreads giveaway. This book read like it was a true story lifted from the pages of recent times…ballot fraud, political intrigue, and pandemic. It was a well written, quick read. I enjoyed it.

[Sherry Kilmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughtful paradody

Although this fictionalized account of what may be the basis of real events keeps your attention and is though provoking one would be the narrative it emulates could be proven by a credible journalist. Sad to say this plot has realistic basis to be drawn from. Does make you think.

[Saige Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me think

Not often does a fictional novel make me think, but this one did. I loved the fictional facts presented. Loved the conspiracies formed. Makes me look at the stories of the day in a new light.

[Annazetta Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book and the writer gave great details as to carry-out a fictitious presidential election. Sorry to say that parts of the book makes a person think of the George Bush Jr. and the Trump presidency.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You for the opportunity to win and read this book, this was something I don’t normally read. Once I started reading Paradigm Shift it gives you something to think about, like the 2020 election results. Great book, Well Done

[Juliana Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony Muss’s Paradigm Shift gripped me from the very first page. What I appreciated most was how it blended political drama with very real emotions love, betrayal, ambition, and redemption. The story of Dexter Miller felt raw and believable, a man caught in the dangerous crossroads of power and conscience. The pacing was sharp, the tension relentless, and at times I found myself questioning where the line between fiction and reality really stood. This book doesn’t just entertain; it makes you think hard about the influence of media, politics, and human greed. A timely, thought provoking thriller that left me turning pages late into the night.

[Jeremy Bejah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Paradigm Shift turned out to be a fast-paced and disturbingly plausible political thriller. What impressed me most was the way the novel blends real-world references with fictional storytelling enough to make you second-guess what’s fact and what’s invention. It reminded me of All the President’s Men with a modern, social-media twist. At times the narrative felt a little on-the-nose, but that didn’t detract from the urgency of the message. This is a book that could fuel hours of debate in a book club or classroom.

[Glenna Turney · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I won this book from Goodreads. Thank You
I appreciate all of the research the author did for this book. With this said, it was a struggle from the beginning. Once you get through the first chapter, you feel as if you are getting to the story but not really. Author has a tendency to go down rabbit holes of his research that doesn’t really add to the story. The point of the entire book, I’m not sure if there is one. I’m sorry but I just could not get through it.

[Mandi Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and thought-provoking Paradigm Shift pulls you deep into the chaos of politics, media, and power plays. It feels uncomfortably close to reality at times, which makes it all the more gripping. A mix of suspense, betrayal, and redemption that keeps you turning pages.

[Cameron Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read, very relevant in today's political climate! Very quick finish

[Vicki Galvano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads Giveaway for this very interesting and informative book. I really like the political realism in this book