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The Slate
9 hours, 8 minutes
An exiled political operative in search of redemption is drawn back into her past in a piercing thriller about secrets, scandals, and capital chaos by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
In another life, Agatha Cardiff was Congressman Paul Paxton’s chief of staff, a coolheaded fixer who made all his problems disappear. At Paxton’s behest, she covered up a shocking scandal that would have ruined a powerful senator’s career. It was one moral compromise too far and Agatha vowed, Never again.
After twenty years in exile, Agatha’s life in the margins of Washington, DC, is about to become much more difficult. The rules have changed in her absence—that senator is now president, and Paxton, number three in the House, expects a nomination to the Supreme Court. After all, he knows where the president’s skeletons are buried.
At the same time, Agatha’s quiet life on Capitol Hill shatters when her tenant—a woman with complex connections to DC—vanishes. Suddenly, Agatha is drawn back into a mire of corruption, blackmail, and deception precisely when she can least afford it. Any hope of redemption won’t come easy, because the true cost of Agatha’s sins is finally coming to light, and it is far from certain who will pay.
An exiled political operative in search of redemption is drawn back into her past in a piercing thriller about secrets, scandals, and capital chaos by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
In another life, Agatha Cardiff was Congressman Paul Paxton’s chief of staff, a coolheaded fixer who made all his problems disappear. At Paxton’s behest, she covered up a shocking scandal that would have ruined a powerful senator’s career. It was one moral compromise too far and Agatha vowed, Never again.
After twenty years in exile, Agatha’s life in the margins of Washington, DC, is about to become much more difficult. The rules have changed in her absence—that senator is now president, and Paxton, number three in the House, expects a nomination to the Supreme Court. After all, he knows where the president’s skeletons are buried.
At the same time, Agatha’s quiet life on Capitol Hill shatters when her tenant—a woman with complex connections to DC—vanishes. Suddenly, Agatha is drawn back into a mire of corruption, blackmail, and deception precisely when she can least afford it. Any hope of redemption won’t come easy, because the true cost of Agatha’s sins is finally coming to light, and it is far from certain who will pay.
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Published October 8, 2024
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About the author
Matthew FitzSimmons
14 books1,393 followersMatthew FitzSimmons is the author of the bestselling Gibson Vaughn and Constance Series. His latest, The Slate, will be released in October, 2024. Born in Illinois and raised in London, England, he makes his home in Washington DC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
September 17, 2024
A prologue set twenty years in the past pulls readers into political maneuverings to make problems go away. Twenty years later political operative and fixer Agatha Cardiff is living in seclusion. She had been Congressman Paul Paxton’s chief of staff. At his request, she covered up a scandal that would have ruined a senator’s career. The senator is now president and Paxton wants a nomination to the Supreme Court. At the same time, Agatha’s tenant disappears, and she is drawn back into today’s political environment.
Agatha is a gifted liar, pragmatic, and cynical about relationships. Twenty years ago, she was feared by many, ambitious, and talented. She still has a competitive streak that she thought was gone.
This book has a solid plot filled with intrigue, suspense, and a few twists. The story is thought-provoking with exciting scenes and plenty of angst. Multiple conflicts move the story forward and kept me engaged. Will Agatha find redemption? If so, what will it cost her? The story fascinated me from the prologue to its shocking conclusion.
Overall, this unsettling political thriller was gripping and suspenseful with great characterization.
Thomas and Mercer and Matthew FitzSimmons provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 08, 2024.
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My 4.05 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Agatha is a gifted liar, pragmatic, and cynical about relationships. Twenty years ago, she was feared by many, ambitious, and talented. She still has a competitive streak that she thought was gone.
This book has a solid plot filled with intrigue, suspense, and a few twists. The story is thought-provoking with exciting scenes and plenty of angst. Multiple conflicts move the story forward and kept me engaged. Will Agatha find redemption? If so, what will it cost her? The story fascinated me from the prologue to its shocking conclusion.
Overall, this unsettling political thriller was gripping and suspenseful with great characterization.
Thomas and Mercer and Matthew FitzSimmons provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 08, 2024.
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My 4.05 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
October 24, 2024
Twenty years ago Agatha Cardiff was Congressman Paul Paxton’s chief of staff, a coolheaded fixer who made all his problems disappear. At Paxton’s behest, she covered up a shocking scandal that would have ruined a powerful senator’s career. That senator is now President and Agatha’s quiet life in the margins of Washington, DC is about to become much more difficult.
I don't normally read political fiction but the premise of this one sounded interesting and so I picked up a copy from Netgalley. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. The characters are well fleshed out and the story itself is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sometimes I'm rather naive about the people chosen to run our countries and this book opened my eyes a bit as far as what might be going on behind the scenes. It's so hard to know who to believe. Agatha Cross (formerly Cardiff) is an extremely likeable character and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story. If this becomes a series, count me in. This is my first book by Matthew FitzSimmons and I'm impressed.
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: October 8, 2024
I don't normally read political fiction but the premise of this one sounded interesting and so I picked up a copy from Netgalley. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. The characters are well fleshed out and the story itself is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sometimes I'm rather naive about the people chosen to run our countries and this book opened my eyes a bit as far as what might be going on behind the scenes. It's so hard to know who to believe. Agatha Cross (formerly Cardiff) is an extremely likeable character and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story. If this becomes a series, count me in. This is my first book by Matthew FitzSimmons and I'm impressed.
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: October 8, 2024
October 3, 2024
When she was younger Agatha Cardiff worked as Congressman Paul Paxton’s Chief of Staff in Washington DC. Part of her job was to smooth over (ie. cover up) difficult situations to prevent political scandals, something she is very good at. So, she is not surprised when she is called out one night to take care of such a situation involving a Senator and a young woman in his hotel room.
Not long after those events Agatha quit her job and went travelling and since then has lived a quiet life away from politics. However, when the young woman, a young DC staffer, who rents her basement disappears, she finds herself being pooled back into that world she thought she’d left twenty years ago. The problem is the Senator who Agatha saved from a scandal is now President and Paxton is seeking an appointment to the Supreme Court.
As Agatha’s past comes back to haunt her, she discovers she still revels in political intrigue and still has what it takes to manage and manipulate people and situations to her advantage. But will the truth about the past come out and to what detriment to her?
Tightly written, this past paced political thriller is action packed with plenty of intrigue and shady political conspiracy involving greed, power and blackmail. A particularly fun read with a US election on the near horizon. Agatha is a terrific character, smart and tough and well equipped to rescue her tenant. I would love to see her back in a sequel.
With thanks to Thomas & Mercer for a copy to read via Netgalley
Not long after those events Agatha quit her job and went travelling and since then has lived a quiet life away from politics. However, when the young woman, a young DC staffer, who rents her basement disappears, she finds herself being pooled back into that world she thought she’d left twenty years ago. The problem is the Senator who Agatha saved from a scandal is now President and Paxton is seeking an appointment to the Supreme Court.
As Agatha’s past comes back to haunt her, she discovers she still revels in political intrigue and still has what it takes to manage and manipulate people and situations to her advantage. But will the truth about the past come out and to what detriment to her?
Tightly written, this past paced political thriller is action packed with plenty of intrigue and shady political conspiracy involving greed, power and blackmail. A particularly fun read with a US election on the near horizon. Agatha is a terrific character, smart and tough and well equipped to rescue her tenant. I would love to see her back in a sequel.
With thanks to Thomas & Mercer for a copy to read via Netgalley
December 12, 2024
Author Matthew FitzSimmons is a veteran novelist, but he is new to me. I picked up on the buzz generated by his most recent book, a political thriller titled The Slate. What a ride! This is a true thriller, one that gripped me at the outset and didn’t let me go till it was done with me. I’d had surgery and was dealing with a lot of drowsiness from the various medications and anesthesia, but this book didn’t care about any of that. This book—aided and abetted by narrator Mia Barron-- made me read it anyway, and I’m glad.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for the review copies. This book is available to the public now.
Agatha Cardiff is retired. She used to be a political mover and shaker, but many years ago, she was roped into doing something she didn’t want to do, and should not have done. Since then, she’s been hiding. A neighbor offers her some bedding plants, and she takes his damn head off in a single bite, because she does not want to get to know him. She doesn’t want to get to know anyone.
To make ends meet, Agatha rents out her basement flat to young Shelby. Shelby is late with her rent, and has done something regrettable in order to rectify the problem. Now, Agatha learns, Shelby is in deep trouble, being held captive on board a ship. Well, there’s no choice, not really. Agatha has to save the kid, even though it means stepping out of seclusion. And sure enough, all hell breaks loose.
As Agatha emerges from her self-protective exile, we begin to see exactly what she’s capable of. It’s a revelation! Our point of view changes occasionally, but make no mistake, this is Agatha’s story. FitzSimmons is such a badass writer that he even manages to develop this character, something I rarely see in a thriller, because it’s hard to maintain rapid pacing while dealing with backstory and internal monologue. He makes it look effortless, but you try doing that. Go on, give it your best shot.
See?
I often shy away from political thrillers because so many of them have a hugely conservative bent that sets my teeth on edge. The Slate, in contrast, plays it right down the middle, and shouldn’t offend red hats, the woke, or anyone anywhere else on the political spectrum.
Because of the narrator’s skill, I lean toward recommending this as an audio book foremost, but if you are a visual reader, don’t let that stop you, as the print version is also excellent. Highly recommended.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for the review copies. This book is available to the public now.
Agatha Cardiff is retired. She used to be a political mover and shaker, but many years ago, she was roped into doing something she didn’t want to do, and should not have done. Since then, she’s been hiding. A neighbor offers her some bedding plants, and she takes his damn head off in a single bite, because she does not want to get to know him. She doesn’t want to get to know anyone.
To make ends meet, Agatha rents out her basement flat to young Shelby. Shelby is late with her rent, and has done something regrettable in order to rectify the problem. Now, Agatha learns, Shelby is in deep trouble, being held captive on board a ship. Well, there’s no choice, not really. Agatha has to save the kid, even though it means stepping out of seclusion. And sure enough, all hell breaks loose.
As Agatha emerges from her self-protective exile, we begin to see exactly what she’s capable of. It’s a revelation! Our point of view changes occasionally, but make no mistake, this is Agatha’s story. FitzSimmons is such a badass writer that he even manages to develop this character, something I rarely see in a thriller, because it’s hard to maintain rapid pacing while dealing with backstory and internal monologue. He makes it look effortless, but you try doing that. Go on, give it your best shot.
See?
I often shy away from political thrillers because so many of them have a hugely conservative bent that sets my teeth on edge. The Slate, in contrast, plays it right down the middle, and shouldn’t offend red hats, the woke, or anyone anywhere else on the political spectrum.
Because of the narrator’s skill, I lean toward recommending this as an audio book foremost, but if you are a visual reader, don’t let that stop you, as the print version is also excellent. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2024
Hits the ground running—check.
Tight, flowing, readable prose—check.
A super-engaging, original-feeling, lead character that you are very willing to invest in—check.
Great use of close third-person POV, bringing you very close to the main characters—check.
A believable and organic-feeling inciting event to get the plot rolling—check.
Very well-paced, page-turning, character-driven arcs dropped organically into the main plot—check.
Ah, now I know why I finished this in three days, in just two main sittings! I used to read more thrillers than I do now, the reason being that when you binge on one kind of book, it becomes too easy to compare them all to the very best you’ve read. Do not look for too many twists in this tale, and don’t expect jaw-dropping revelations. What you can expect are all those elements I consider the essential things on my checklist above in order to create a very engaging and enjoyable mystery-thriller. And if you enjoy a female protagonist of a certain age (the *excellently* written Agatha is 52 in the main part of the story), then I urge you to read Slate.
I enjoyed this a lot and am very much hoping for a possible sequel. It’s a standalone story with a resolution, but Agatha is most certainly an interesting enough and sympathetic character to hang a whole series on. Until then, I’ll be checking out Matthew Fitzsimmons’s other publications.
Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read this really fun story.
Tight, flowing, readable prose—check.
A super-engaging, original-feeling, lead character that you are very willing to invest in—check.
Great use of close third-person POV, bringing you very close to the main characters—check.
A believable and organic-feeling inciting event to get the plot rolling—check.
Very well-paced, page-turning, character-driven arcs dropped organically into the main plot—check.
Ah, now I know why I finished this in three days, in just two main sittings! I used to read more thrillers than I do now, the reason being that when you binge on one kind of book, it becomes too easy to compare them all to the very best you’ve read. Do not look for too many twists in this tale, and don’t expect jaw-dropping revelations. What you can expect are all those elements I consider the essential things on my checklist above in order to create a very engaging and enjoyable mystery-thriller. And if you enjoy a female protagonist of a certain age (the *excellently* written Agatha is 52 in the main part of the story), then I urge you to read Slate.
I enjoyed this a lot and am very much hoping for a possible sequel. It’s a standalone story with a resolution, but Agatha is most certainly an interesting enough and sympathetic character to hang a whole series on. Until then, I’ll be checking out Matthew Fitzsimmons’s other publications.
Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read this really fun story.
December 16, 2024
Until the very end, I was thinking this would be a five star review. Unfortunately, the rather strange ending brought the review down to four stars. Except for the ending, this was one of my most captivating reads for 2024. This author is now on my radar for future reading.
December 22, 2025
I like FitzSimmons future tech thrillers a bit more than this political, twisty intrigue. It wasn't bad, I just never really bought into the characters. I did like the newish take on the morally corrupt female (instead of male) looking for some better karma. The story filled with crappy, white, male politicians would be kind of tired if it weren't so aptly reflected in real life.
Lets call this a winter beach read, not too involved with some easy pay off.
Lets call this a winter beach read, not too involved with some easy pay off.
October 6, 2024
The Slate is a gripping political thriller by the author of the excellent Gibson Vaughan series, about a Washington DC-based woman’s quest for redemption, years after her role in covering up a young staffer’s death. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by FitzSimmons, and this was no exception - a tight plot, a flawed but sympathetic heroine, good support characters, dastardly politicians and a believable conspiracy threatening the powers that be.
In 2001, Agatha Cardiff was asked by her boss, a powerful congressman, to save the reputation of one of his allies by removing the body of his young mistress from his hotel room after she died of an overdose. Wracked by guilt, Agatha ran away overseas and abandoned her career. Now, twenty years later, the favour is being called in and misanthropic Agatha is forced to re-enter the murky world of politics to save another young woman’s life.
This is a thriller without significant action, mystery or twists, and yet I was quickly drawn in by the writing and kept turning the pages to find out how it would all turned out. I loved the character evolution and the relationship between Agatha and Shelby. Reading this as we hurtle towards this year’s US election just highlighted how dysfunctional and corrupt their political system seems to the rest of the world. The ending was a little too open for my taste - I really hope there is to be a sequel, as I would love to read more of their and plucky journalist Isha Roy’s adventures. 4.5 rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. The Slate is published on October 8th.
In 2001, Agatha Cardiff was asked by her boss, a powerful congressman, to save the reputation of one of his allies by removing the body of his young mistress from his hotel room after she died of an overdose. Wracked by guilt, Agatha ran away overseas and abandoned her career. Now, twenty years later, the favour is being called in and misanthropic Agatha is forced to re-enter the murky world of politics to save another young woman’s life.
This is a thriller without significant action, mystery or twists, and yet I was quickly drawn in by the writing and kept turning the pages to find out how it would all turned out. I loved the character evolution and the relationship between Agatha and Shelby. Reading this as we hurtle towards this year’s US election just highlighted how dysfunctional and corrupt their political system seems to the rest of the world. The ending was a little too open for my taste - I really hope there is to be a sequel, as I would love to read more of their and plucky journalist Isha Roy’s adventures. 4.5 rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. The Slate is published on October 8th.
May 24, 2024
A good book with political intrigue is hard to find, but Matthew FitzSimmons nails it with The Slate. At the center of the book is a self-exiled former fixer, Agatha Cardiff, who left the political game after working as the chief of staff for crooked Congressman Paul Paxton and participating in covering up a scandal that involved his friend and colleague. That friend and colleague is now the President and Paul is using that scandal to blackmail the President into a Supreme Court nomination. In the meantime, Agatha’s tenant, a young lawyer over whom Agatha feels somewhat protective, disappears, which prompts Agatha to look for her. This quest ends up dragging Agatha back into the political game she once fled, putting her in the center of a deadly collision course. Staffers, lobbyists, journalists, more Congressmen, and the Russian mob all figure into the dynamic, giving Agatha a dangerous and interconnected plot to unravel. What seems like a number of unrelated characters and relationships all come together in the political quagmire of money, power, and influence in this deft and intricate story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced reader copy.
So excited to have a new political thriller from Matthew Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons does prickly characters so well (i.e. Gibson Vaughn), so Agnes is fun to hang with for the duration of the book (and the ones to come!). I also love getting dropped back into Washington DC and getting to see the city from a behind-the-curtains view. Looking forward to the next installation with Agnes.
So excited to have a new political thriller from Matthew Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons does prickly characters so well (i.e. Gibson Vaughn), so Agnes is fun to hang with for the duration of the book (and the ones to come!). I also love getting dropped back into Washington DC and getting to see the city from a behind-the-curtains view. Looking forward to the next installation with Agnes.
October 8, 2024
Political Intrigue Runs Amok
Agatha Cardiff receives a late Friday night call from her boss, Senator Paul Paxton. He needs his fixer to do something. Congressman Clark had an incident where a young girl, Charlette Haines, had overdosed. She worked in Paxton's office. Clark asks Paxton if he could have it cleaned up. She agrees to do it. Paxton wants a picture of Clark with the body. Cardiff tells Paxton she will need help, as she can't take the picture and help carry out the girl simultaneously. After Cardiff hangs up, she calls Darius McDaniel, who helps her with the dirty work. She meets up with Darius, and they drive to Middleburg. They discuss that he will take a picture of Paxton carrying out the woman. The events of this night come to a head twenty years later.
This novel has just one thread: political corruption, with two subthreads. The genesis is in the first chapter and stays dormant for twenty years. One subthread starts when an aggressive young newspaper reporter discovers that someone without judicial experience may be nominated for the Supreme Court. While that story develops, the second subthread starts with Agatha’s current situation and her young renter's missing. She discovers more political lobbyist corruption eventually erupts in the political area. The lynchpin was the coverup twenty years earlier. As the reader, the ticking time bomb is very evident. What kept my interest was how and when this scandal would be revealed.
The character of Agatha starts as a fierce Senator’s chief of staff, willing to do whatever it takes, legal and illegal, to obtain the results her boss wants. She leaves the country to escape the heat and, by a quirk of fate, does not return to Washington for some time. On the return, she no longer wants the spotlight and the constant fight that goes with it. When her renter disappears, her fierce nature rises to the surface again. She still skirts the edge of legality, but the goal is not to hide something but to free her renter. On the success of this mission, she finds herself in the middle of a political maelstrom. She must retrieve incriminating evidence leading to her old behavior to save herself. The reader sees how the character of Agatha transitions to meet her current living environment. This aspect increased my reading enjoyment.
For some aspects that can cause some readers problems, there are not any intimate scenes. Rude and vulgar language is present but not excessive. Most of the violence is described after the fact until near the end, when the threat of violence escalates. This adds much tension as to how the scene will be resolved. Overall, most readers should be able to read this novel without any issues. As this is a stand-alone novel, there are no issues of what happened in a previous novel.
The only aspect of this novel that was an issue for me was that Agatha’s activities in the present time took a little time until the connection was made to how it fits into the whole story. It was needed to show how Agatha’s character had changed and established her relationship with her renter. Once past this, the storyline proceeded quickly. I enjoyed this novel two subthreads that only join at the very end. That ending had a good feeling but was a slightly bitter undertone for me. I have read seven novels from two series by this author. He is one of my Must-Read authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and strongly recommend reading it. I am looking forward to his next novel. I rate it with five stars.
I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Agatha Cardiff receives a late Friday night call from her boss, Senator Paul Paxton. He needs his fixer to do something. Congressman Clark had an incident where a young girl, Charlette Haines, had overdosed. She worked in Paxton's office. Clark asks Paxton if he could have it cleaned up. She agrees to do it. Paxton wants a picture of Clark with the body. Cardiff tells Paxton she will need help, as she can't take the picture and help carry out the girl simultaneously. After Cardiff hangs up, she calls Darius McDaniel, who helps her with the dirty work. She meets up with Darius, and they drive to Middleburg. They discuss that he will take a picture of Paxton carrying out the woman. The events of this night come to a head twenty years later.
This novel has just one thread: political corruption, with two subthreads. The genesis is in the first chapter and stays dormant for twenty years. One subthread starts when an aggressive young newspaper reporter discovers that someone without judicial experience may be nominated for the Supreme Court. While that story develops, the second subthread starts with Agatha’s current situation and her young renter's missing. She discovers more political lobbyist corruption eventually erupts in the political area. The lynchpin was the coverup twenty years earlier. As the reader, the ticking time bomb is very evident. What kept my interest was how and when this scandal would be revealed.
The character of Agatha starts as a fierce Senator’s chief of staff, willing to do whatever it takes, legal and illegal, to obtain the results her boss wants. She leaves the country to escape the heat and, by a quirk of fate, does not return to Washington for some time. On the return, she no longer wants the spotlight and the constant fight that goes with it. When her renter disappears, her fierce nature rises to the surface again. She still skirts the edge of legality, but the goal is not to hide something but to free her renter. On the success of this mission, she finds herself in the middle of a political maelstrom. She must retrieve incriminating evidence leading to her old behavior to save herself. The reader sees how the character of Agatha transitions to meet her current living environment. This aspect increased my reading enjoyment.
For some aspects that can cause some readers problems, there are not any intimate scenes. Rude and vulgar language is present but not excessive. Most of the violence is described after the fact until near the end, when the threat of violence escalates. This adds much tension as to how the scene will be resolved. Overall, most readers should be able to read this novel without any issues. As this is a stand-alone novel, there are no issues of what happened in a previous novel.
The only aspect of this novel that was an issue for me was that Agatha’s activities in the present time took a little time until the connection was made to how it fits into the whole story. It was needed to show how Agatha’s character had changed and established her relationship with her renter. Once past this, the storyline proceeded quickly. I enjoyed this novel two subthreads that only join at the very end. That ending had a good feeling but was a slightly bitter undertone for me. I have read seven novels from two series by this author. He is one of my Must-Read authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and strongly recommend reading it. I am looking forward to his next novel. I rate it with five stars.
I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
October 11, 2024
The Slate is a fast-paced, extremelly engaging and well-written story. I could certainly see this book made in a great film as it has all the necessary ingredients to become a hit. Politics everywhere, unfortunately, is always full of unspoken secrets and in this book Mr. FitzSimmons creates the backdrop for bribery, extorsion, murder, in the highest echlons. People become currency and their lives are not the most important thing, they are a means to an end. This book will make you stay up during the night reading it in order to have the full picture. Highly recommended!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.
October 25, 2024
Getting Even
Wow. This book is really good. It goes to show that it is not safe to trust anyone in DC. Just keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Wow. This book is really good. It goes to show that it is not safe to trust anyone in DC. Just keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
May 12, 2024
I was fortunate to receive an early copy of this book and couldn’t put it down. Following Agatha Cardiff through the trials and tribulations of her career (how past becomes present day and the problems we push aside still come back to find us) grasped me and didn’t let me go. Agatha is the type of character I would call for help in pretty much any situation. Highly recommend.
September 29, 2024
Headline: Matthew FitzSimmons once again delivers a knockout of a story!
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Book Review: The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons
Published by Thomas & Mercer, October 8, 2024
★★★★★ (5.0 Stars!)
"Gibson Vaughn" (2015-2020). I've read all five books of Matthew FitzSimmons' ex-Marine /IT hacker protagonist, with the engaging, dynamic narrative spanning continents, replete but not overly saturated with hi-tech jargon, and impressively creative, in each book and at every turn, fresh ideas, angles and twists, culminating in a showdown with "The Origami Man" (2020), a shapeshifting paradox, who, as it turns out, would be the bane - and redemption of Vaughn's very existence.
"Agatha Cardiff" (2024). The premise of FitzSimmons new book is equally as brilliant, quite an enthralling introduction to his new strong female protagonist. If there were to be a Book 2, readers would expect nothing short of an awe-inspiring literary sleight of hand on how the author develops Cardiff's earth-shattering "ultimate sacrifice" finale into a series...
In his latest opus, Author FitzSimmons posits the question: Can anyone without a law degree be appointed as an Associate Justice in the Supreme Court of the United States?
The answer may come as a surprise, if not a shock! (See below)
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// The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons (2024) //
A sitting associate justice of the U.S. supreme court resigns his tenure. In due course, a slate of potential nominees is duly prepared for the president's consideration...
20 Years Earlier.
Political operative and Washington insider Agatha Cardiff, a rising star and chief of staff of a prominent congressman, gets directly involved with a clean-up job. A dirty job that involves a fatality. A crime, which would have ruined a powerful senator's career. A hideous task, which for the young woman had crossed a line. A bridge too far.
In the aftermath, Cardiff self-exiles abroad...
Present day.
Washington outsider Agatha Cardiff, back in DC, on near bare subsistence, is once again involved in a major political scandal. This time tangentially and quite unwittingly.
That senator from two decades ago is now the president of the United States. And Cardiff's former boss, an influential number three in the House of Representatives.
When a spot for an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States opens up due to a resignation, a man with neither a legal background nor a law degree, none other that the Congressional number three of the party in power, he himself, the confidential gatekeeper of the president's deepest secrets, throws his hat into the slate.
It is in that final Senate confirmation hearing, on the cusp of the appointment of the first non-lawyer since 1942, that Ms. Agatha Cardiff, former Washington insider, now existing in its fringes, decides to....
Read the book to find out!
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// Answer. Associate Justice James F. Byrnes (tenure through 1942) was the last Justice without a law degree to be appointed. In total, of the 114 justices appointed to the Court, 49 have had law degrees, an additional 18 attended some law school but did not receive a degree, and 47 received their legal education without any law school attendance. //
Matthew FitzSimmons once again delivers a knockout of a story!
Simply, an unputdownable must-read.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.
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Book Review: The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons
Published by Thomas & Mercer, October 8, 2024
★★★★★ (5.0 Stars!)
"Gibson Vaughn" (2015-2020). I've read all five books of Matthew FitzSimmons' ex-Marine /IT hacker protagonist, with the engaging, dynamic narrative spanning continents, replete but not overly saturated with hi-tech jargon, and impressively creative, in each book and at every turn, fresh ideas, angles and twists, culminating in a showdown with "The Origami Man" (2020), a shapeshifting paradox, who, as it turns out, would be the bane - and redemption of Vaughn's very existence.
"Agatha Cardiff" (2024). The premise of FitzSimmons new book is equally as brilliant, quite an enthralling introduction to his new strong female protagonist. If there were to be a Book 2, readers would expect nothing short of an awe-inspiring literary sleight of hand on how the author develops Cardiff's earth-shattering "ultimate sacrifice" finale into a series...
In his latest opus, Author FitzSimmons posits the question: Can anyone without a law degree be appointed as an Associate Justice in the Supreme Court of the United States?
The answer may come as a surprise, if not a shock! (See below)
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// The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons (2024) //
A sitting associate justice of the U.S. supreme court resigns his tenure. In due course, a slate of potential nominees is duly prepared for the president's consideration...
20 Years Earlier.
Political operative and Washington insider Agatha Cardiff, a rising star and chief of staff of a prominent congressman, gets directly involved with a clean-up job. A dirty job that involves a fatality. A crime, which would have ruined a powerful senator's career. A hideous task, which for the young woman had crossed a line. A bridge too far.
In the aftermath, Cardiff self-exiles abroad...
Present day.
Washington outsider Agatha Cardiff, back in DC, on near bare subsistence, is once again involved in a major political scandal. This time tangentially and quite unwittingly.
That senator from two decades ago is now the president of the United States. And Cardiff's former boss, an influential number three in the House of Representatives.
When a spot for an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States opens up due to a resignation, a man with neither a legal background nor a law degree, none other that the Congressional number three of the party in power, he himself, the confidential gatekeeper of the president's deepest secrets, throws his hat into the slate.
It is in that final Senate confirmation hearing, on the cusp of the appointment of the first non-lawyer since 1942, that Ms. Agatha Cardiff, former Washington insider, now existing in its fringes, decides to....
Read the book to find out!
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// Answer. Associate Justice James F. Byrnes (tenure through 1942) was the last Justice without a law degree to be appointed. In total, of the 114 justices appointed to the Court, 49 have had law degrees, an additional 18 attended some law school but did not receive a degree, and 47 received their legal education without any law school attendance. //
Matthew FitzSimmons once again delivers a knockout of a story!
Simply, an unputdownable must-read.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.
October 9, 2024
4.5 Stars 🌟
It has been a while since I've read a book by Matthew FitzSimmons, but boy oh boy, he has not lost his touch. I truly enjoyed the heck out of this book.
This book is a political thriller and we are introduced to Agatha Cardiff. At the time, she was the Chief of Staff for a very powerful politician, but mostly, she was his Chief Fixer. In the very beginning, we see in the prologue an event that occurs 21 years in the past - then we jump to the present. We aren't really told what has occurred during those years, but little by little the events begin to unfold as we get deeper into the story, and we realize that Agatha has left the life and run very far away from politics.
As usual, Mr. FitzSimmons creates a very intriguing story that succeeded in grabbing my interest from the very beginning. Yes, this is a political thriller, so there is drama, action, but most of all....ambition, which is the root of all we see.
Agatha thought she had left that life but finds herself sucked back in when someone close to her is in danger. She then realizes then that not only has she not lost her abilities, but she somehow forgot how much she enjoyed that world in which she worked.
Another winner from Mr. FitzSimmons and it did not take long for me to remember why I tagged him in my mind as an author who I really enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer along with Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for giving me the opportunity to read and listen to both the eBook and the audio versions of this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book is available for publication on October 8, 2024.
It has been a while since I've read a book by Matthew FitzSimmons, but boy oh boy, he has not lost his touch. I truly enjoyed the heck out of this book.
This book is a political thriller and we are introduced to Agatha Cardiff. At the time, she was the Chief of Staff for a very powerful politician, but mostly, she was his Chief Fixer. In the very beginning, we see in the prologue an event that occurs 21 years in the past - then we jump to the present. We aren't really told what has occurred during those years, but little by little the events begin to unfold as we get deeper into the story, and we realize that Agatha has left the life and run very far away from politics.
As usual, Mr. FitzSimmons creates a very intriguing story that succeeded in grabbing my interest from the very beginning. Yes, this is a political thriller, so there is drama, action, but most of all....ambition, which is the root of all we see.
Agatha thought she had left that life but finds herself sucked back in when someone close to her is in danger. She then realizes then that not only has she not lost her abilities, but she somehow forgot how much she enjoyed that world in which she worked.
Another winner from Mr. FitzSimmons and it did not take long for me to remember why I tagged him in my mind as an author who I really enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer along with Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for giving me the opportunity to read and listen to both the eBook and the audio versions of this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book is available for publication on October 8, 2024.
June 24, 2024
Twenty years ago, Agatha Cardiff was the chief of staff to an up and coming pitbull congressman, and she was called upon to cover up a scandal involving a powerful Senator, a friend of the congressman. Agatha left politics after that incident, and kept a low profile. But now, Agatha is caught in the limelight when she tries to help her young tenant who is missing, and once buried secrets may come to life, threatening a presidency. The Slate is a fast paced and totally engrossing political thriller that exposes a seamy underside of government, with corrupt back-room deals and blackmail as its main components. Wasting no time, the book starts off quickly with an attention-grabbing opening, then fast-forwards to present day, and the reader is definitely hooked as the story unfolds, with various characters introduced who will all play a part, even if it’s not immediately apparent, as the plot pieces start to come together. Well written, no fluff or pontificating, just a tense and taut spellbinder. Loved it! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2024
Quite a good Washington, DC-insider thriller in the opinion of this Washington, DC-outsider. In other words, the corruption, scandals, and bad behavior of the pols and other DC-operatives seems quite believable (and sadly so). The lead character Agatha is a former staffer to an up-and-coming politician for whom she helped make a problem go away some 20 years ago. As these things happen, evidence of that “problem” has become leverage against the now POTUS and, despite leaving politics after the incident, Agatha is drawn back in almost unwittingly. I enjoyed the cloak-and-dagger, tit-for-tat world of this mystery thriller, and happy to suspend belief at some of the coincidences that ramped up the tension and kept my attention.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. The publication date is Oct 8, 2024, so reserve your copy today!
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. The publication date is Oct 8, 2024, so reserve your copy today!
July 15, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars
I really enjoyed the Gibson Vaughn series and was excited to read a new book by Matthew FitzSimmons.
The Slate was fantastic. Agatha Cardiff is a complicated and intriguing character. She was chief of staff for a Congressman and his main fixer. She goes into self exile for twenty years after cleaning up a mess. When her tenant goes missing, she gets involved. So much going on. Read this book and enjoy.
5 stars
I really enjoyed the Gibson Vaughn series and was excited to read a new book by Matthew FitzSimmons.
The Slate was fantastic. Agatha Cardiff is a complicated and intriguing character. She was chief of staff for a Congressman and his main fixer. She goes into self exile for twenty years after cleaning up a mess. When her tenant goes missing, she gets involved. So much going on. Read this book and enjoy.
May 30, 2024
“The Slate” by Matthew FitzSimmons is an enjoyable mystery with plenty of political intrigue. It centers around a woman who was a “fixer” and chief of staff for a crooked congressman. After retiring and disappearing for many years, she comes back into the game to help her young lawyer tenant after she suddenly disappears. The book is filled with scandal, blackmail and unsavory DC politicians with a hint of possible justice that made me think there is potential for a sequel. The secrets and suspense will keep you reading from the very first page.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 9, 2024
Oh my god. I’m not usually a triller person, but this book might have me becoming one. This got me out of a reading slump and kept me so engaged, I didn’t want to put the book down. If you like anything political or thriller related, pick this one up!!
Special thanks to Goodreads for sponsoring a giveaway of this novel in ebook form!
Special thanks to Goodreads for sponsoring a giveaway of this novel in ebook form!
October 13, 2024
This is my first FitzSimmons book and it did not disappoint. As a former senator’s Chief of Staff, Agatha comes out of hiding, uncovering secrets as her own part in the past could be unveiled. Trouble is brewing again and this time she is determined to make things right.
The character development and sequence of events in this slow burn political thriller are expertly presented. I hope this will be a continuing series with Agatha.
The narration in this audiobook was well done without dragging the plot down.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
The character development and sequence of events in this slow burn political thriller are expertly presented. I hope this will be a continuing series with Agatha.
The narration in this audiobook was well done without dragging the plot down.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
October 30, 2025
Juicy political thriller
I always feel like I need a shower after reading a Matthew FitzSimmons political thriller! Can politics be this twisty, this dirty, this incestuous?!? I love it!
I always feel like I need a shower after reading a Matthew FitzSimmons political thriller! Can politics be this twisty, this dirty, this incestuous?!? I love it!
September 22, 2024
Review TK
* thanks to Kaye Publicity and Amazon Publishing for the ARC. The Slate publishes October 8.
* thanks to Kaye Publicity and Amazon Publishing for the ARC. The Slate publishes October 8.
October 18, 2024
Well-paced political thriller with interesting characters, great dialogue, and a few twists that took me by surprise. I loved the Gibson Vaughn series and the Constance books. Hopefully this is the start of another solid series. Matthew FitzSimmons doesn't disappoint.
November 29, 2024
Just okay
As a fan of FitzSimmons, I found this book was just okay. It's premise, while interesting, wasn't enough to hold my attention for more than a few pages at a time. It took me two weeks to finally reach the end. So, in a word, disappointing.
As a fan of FitzSimmons, I found this book was just okay. It's premise, while interesting, wasn't enough to hold my attention for more than a few pages at a time. It took me two weeks to finally reach the end. So, in a word, disappointing.
December 17, 2024
This is an attempt at political fiction; turns out to be more fiction than political, as it misses out completely on the subtlety of the political game.
Senators do not move corpses with their own hands, they get fixers to do whatever dirty job is needed. Nor do lobbyists kidnap US senators in the middle of a street in Washington.
This might work for the fans of House of Cards; if instead you are a buff of real political fiction, try for example Echo House by Ward S. Just, a real hidden gem of the genre.
Senators do not move corpses with their own hands, they get fixers to do whatever dirty job is needed. Nor do lobbyists kidnap US senators in the middle of a street in Washington.
This might work for the fans of House of Cards; if instead you are a buff of real political fiction, try for example Echo House by Ward S. Just, a real hidden gem of the genre.
October 1, 2024
Boasting an intriguing premise, “The Slate” is a suspenseful political thriller that pulled me in right from the get-go. As the story unfolds, we are immediately transported 20 years in the past, where Agatha Cardiff is a fixer tasked with covering up a DC scandal. Flash forward to the present, and blackmail is now the name of the game. Despite her jaded attitude and current low profile, the draw of the political arena pulls at Agatha, and she finds herself embroiled in yet another high profile mess she grapples to clean up.
Once again, Matthew FitzSimmons has proven himself to be quite the consummate storyteller. From start to finish, “The Slate” a very well written, detailed story that shines a spotlight on the unsavory side of politics and the vile misuse of power. If you love political intrigue, then be sure to put this book at the top of your TBR reading list.
Once again, Matthew FitzSimmons has proven himself to be quite the consummate storyteller. From start to finish, “The Slate” a very well written, detailed story that shines a spotlight on the unsavory side of politics and the vile misuse of power. If you love political intrigue, then be sure to put this book at the top of your TBR reading list.
October 21, 2024
Agatha Cross, former aide to Sen Paul Paxton, left her position 15years ago and essentially hid in plain site in Wash, DC. Her downstairs tenant promised her the rent "first thing Monday" but has since gone missing. The backstory of why Agatha left politics is the start of the book but she spends the rest of it trying to get redemption for her sins.. Now Agatha is once again pulled into the swamp of politics, dealing with the same people she left behind in order to rescue her tenant.
The storyline depicts DC as a town full of people without morals, all looking for power and not somewhere you would want to be. The ending assumes Agatha will prevail but at what cost?
A 2.5 at best,
The storyline depicts DC as a town full of people without morals, all looking for power and not somewhere you would want to be. The ending assumes Agatha will prevail but at what cost?
A 2.5 at best,
October 16, 2024
Rising to power requires ruthlessness, ambition…
…and sometimes a complete lack of conscience.
When a Supreme Court Justice unexpectedly announces that he will be stepping down, the relatively new President of the United States Harrison Clark has the opportunity to fill the position with one of the people whose names had been mentioned as solid candidates during his run for office. When instead he announces that he will nominate a Congressman with no legal background who happens to be a longtime friend, it surprises many. In a business like politics nothing is done without weighing the benefits and the costs of each decision, and this move is at best an unorthodox choice and quite possibly political suicide. What would make a savvy politician who has ascended to the pinnacle of power take such a chance?
Twenty years ago a pretty young Congressional staffer died of an apparent accidental overdose, but given where it happened (and with whom) steps were taken to conceal the full story. From the tragedy sprang opportunity for ambitious young Congressman Paul Paxton and his highly efficient chief of staff Agatha Cardiff ….compromising pictures were taken which would be used to fuel Paxton’s rise to power. It proved to be a step too far over the line for Agatha, who left the city and in fact the country for years, and upon her return to DC has maintained an extremely low profile. When a young woman who rents a room from her disappears, Agatha feels compelled to track down her tenant’s whereabouts and utilizes her somewhat rusty skills of intimidation and negotiation to save the young woman’s life. When those exploits land Agatha in the crosshairs of the media, she also shows up on the radar of those in the political game who would have preferred that she had stayed in the shadows. Soon the paths of a Russian oligarch’s henchmen, a political fixer who provides pretty young women to politicians looking for some fun, a White House aide who has sacrificed everything to get to where he is (and will do whatever it takes to stay there), and a DC reporter looking to make her mark will cross. The gamesmanship of politics can be addictive, and ethical boundaries can quickly prove to be flexible….but the higher one rises on the ladder of power, the more deadly the stakes become.
A fantastic thriller that lays bare the dark side of Washington politics, The Slate introduces the reader to a group of characters whose lives intersect in a way that proves disastrous for many. Agatha is a fascinating individual, someone who had the job of her dreams and was one of the very best at it, yet removed herself when she saw what she was willing to do to achieve her (and her boss’s) goals. She will need every one of the skills she honed on the Hill all those years ago to keep both herself and her young friend from becoming a victim of political machinations. K Street lobbyists, eager young people climbing the ladders of their chosen profession, and politicians who believe their positions shield them from the consequences of their less than savory actions all have their place on the game board and add rich detail to the story as it unfurls. Everyone has secrets to hide, but some are better at keeping them hidden then others. The Slate grabs the readers attention from the first pages and keeps it till the very end, and watching Agatha match wits with those whose very existence depends upon their ability to stay ahead of their adversaries moves is highly entertaining. Fans of author Matthew FitzSimmons earlier works as well as readers of authors like David Baldacci, George Pelecanos and James Patterson should waste no time in picking up a copy at their earliest opportunity and enjoy the ride. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercier for allowing me early access to this novel of political intrigue and power at the highest levels.
…and sometimes a complete lack of conscience.
When a Supreme Court Justice unexpectedly announces that he will be stepping down, the relatively new President of the United States Harrison Clark has the opportunity to fill the position with one of the people whose names had been mentioned as solid candidates during his run for office. When instead he announces that he will nominate a Congressman with no legal background who happens to be a longtime friend, it surprises many. In a business like politics nothing is done without weighing the benefits and the costs of each decision, and this move is at best an unorthodox choice and quite possibly political suicide. What would make a savvy politician who has ascended to the pinnacle of power take such a chance?
Twenty years ago a pretty young Congressional staffer died of an apparent accidental overdose, but given where it happened (and with whom) steps were taken to conceal the full story. From the tragedy sprang opportunity for ambitious young Congressman Paul Paxton and his highly efficient chief of staff Agatha Cardiff ….compromising pictures were taken which would be used to fuel Paxton’s rise to power. It proved to be a step too far over the line for Agatha, who left the city and in fact the country for years, and upon her return to DC has maintained an extremely low profile. When a young woman who rents a room from her disappears, Agatha feels compelled to track down her tenant’s whereabouts and utilizes her somewhat rusty skills of intimidation and negotiation to save the young woman’s life. When those exploits land Agatha in the crosshairs of the media, she also shows up on the radar of those in the political game who would have preferred that she had stayed in the shadows. Soon the paths of a Russian oligarch’s henchmen, a political fixer who provides pretty young women to politicians looking for some fun, a White House aide who has sacrificed everything to get to where he is (and will do whatever it takes to stay there), and a DC reporter looking to make her mark will cross. The gamesmanship of politics can be addictive, and ethical boundaries can quickly prove to be flexible….but the higher one rises on the ladder of power, the more deadly the stakes become.
A fantastic thriller that lays bare the dark side of Washington politics, The Slate introduces the reader to a group of characters whose lives intersect in a way that proves disastrous for many. Agatha is a fascinating individual, someone who had the job of her dreams and was one of the very best at it, yet removed herself when she saw what she was willing to do to achieve her (and her boss’s) goals. She will need every one of the skills she honed on the Hill all those years ago to keep both herself and her young friend from becoming a victim of political machinations. K Street lobbyists, eager young people climbing the ladders of their chosen profession, and politicians who believe their positions shield them from the consequences of their less than savory actions all have their place on the game board and add rich detail to the story as it unfurls. Everyone has secrets to hide, but some are better at keeping them hidden then others. The Slate grabs the readers attention from the first pages and keeps it till the very end, and watching Agatha match wits with those whose very existence depends upon their ability to stay ahead of their adversaries moves is highly entertaining. Fans of author Matthew FitzSimmons earlier works as well as readers of authors like David Baldacci, George Pelecanos and James Patterson should waste no time in picking up a copy at their earliest opportunity and enjoy the ride. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercier for allowing me early access to this novel of political intrigue and power at the highest levels.
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