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Empty Treasures
The corruptive power of money and ambition in American politics begins in Venice where a Washington woman reporter trying to repair a bad marriage suddenly spots a professional jeweler, a key figure in the world of Washington's powerful social and political elite. When she returns to Washington she is shocked to discover that the jeweler has not returned and has, in effect, disappeared. This piques her curiosity and what she uncovers goes to the heart of political corruption on a grand scale; deals with diamonds smuggled into the country to finance a Presidential political campaign and how money and politics impacts on family, children, friends and lovers. This tantalizing and complex thriller deals with the dark side of ambition and the lengths people will go in an effort to attain political power.
466 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
46 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Warren Adler
79 books112 followersWarren Adler was an American author, playwright and poet. His novel The War of the Roses was turned into a dark comedy starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
Adler was an essayist, short-story writer, poet and playwright, whose works have been translated into 25 languages.
Adler was an essayist, short-story writer, poet and playwright, whose works have been translated into 25 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 20, 2019
Disappointing political “thriller”
A good half of the book consists of interior monologues by the two principal characters, which I found tedious and eventually started skimming. Elly is a problematic character, deluding herself with “facts” that are wrong and engaged in various unethical journalistic practices in her determination to get the story, sacrificing her marriage and nearly destroying her target in the process, only to redeem herself at the tail end. He, on the other hand, is also deeply compromised, but passed off as a nice guy. Despite the obvious conflict of interest, their affair is inevitable. That she even manages to get so many stories out of such thin material strains credibility, even with the support of her crusading editor, whose eagerness for one last hurrah leads him to overlook the obvious. All in all, not the exciting political thriller, even if one makes it to the last few pages when all gets wrapped up in a pretty bow!
A good half of the book consists of interior monologues by the two principal characters, which I found tedious and eventually started skimming. Elly is a problematic character, deluding herself with “facts” that are wrong and engaged in various unethical journalistic practices in her determination to get the story, sacrificing her marriage and nearly destroying her target in the process, only to redeem herself at the tail end. He, on the other hand, is also deeply compromised, but passed off as a nice guy. Despite the obvious conflict of interest, their affair is inevitable. That she even manages to get so many stories out of such thin material strains credibility, even with the support of her crusading editor, whose eagerness for one last hurrah leads him to overlook the obvious. All in all, not the exciting political thriller, even if one makes it to the last few pages when all gets wrapped up in a pretty bow!
January 15, 2019
Interesting!
This story combines intrigue, corruption, politics and friendships into a news headline based on assumptions with too little facts. The plot presents possibilities that could actually happen. Read and see if you agree.
This story combines intrigue, corruption, politics and friendships into a news headline based on assumptions with too little facts. The plot presents possibilities that could actually happen. Read and see if you agree.
March 11, 2019
Nice
Good read ....a reporter set to expose the true to make her mark in journalism .... government cover up.... Relationship woes .... Secrets ....
Good read ....a reporter set to expose the true to make her mark in journalism .... government cover up.... Relationship woes .... Secrets ....
December 13, 2012
Once again, Alder is in top form as he delivers a plot rich with raw emotions. He shows how ambition, taken over by greed & the search for power, corrupts and spreads, affecting everyone it touches. With all too real flawed characters, clever dialogue & timely subject matter, Adler exposes the human foibles in all of us and how relationships get tested every day. Adler is never heavy handed in delivering messages, but always manages to get them across with a light, and sometimes humorous touch. This is another one of his novels that could easily be made into a movie.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews