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Ripped-from-the-Headlines
The Castle
The Political Thriller of the Year
Politics is war. And nobody survives a war with Rawson Griggs.
For fans of Vince Flynn and Harlan Coben comes an unputdownable new thriller from internationally bestselling author Jason Pinter that will have you reading long into the night.Remy Stanton is a young, ambitious corporate strategist who intervenes in an armed robbery one night, saves two lives, but is nearly killed in the process. And when he wakes up in the hospital, Remy learns that one of the intended victims was Alena Griggs, the daughter and sole heir of Rawson Griggs, a brilliant, brash billionaire - and one of the most powerful men in the world. Suddenly Remy finds that he has become an overnight celebrity - and he receives an offer he can't refuse.
Rawson Griggs is about to announce an unprecedented run for President of the United States, and he offers Remy, the man who saved his beloved daughter's life, a position in his campaign. Suddenly Remy is thrust into the maelstrom of the most controversial Presidential election in history, where buried secrets and stunning acts of violence rock the nation. And as his own star grows brighter, Remy finds himself drawn to the intelligent yet down-to-earth Alena Griggs, whose marriage is strained by the relentless pressures of fame and politics.
Yet as the revolutionary Griggs movement builds steam, shocking events cause Remy to suspect a dark undercurrent running beneath Rawson's campaign. And when he discovers the full, disturbing truth, Remy will have to make a choice: stay the course, or jeopardize everything he cares about. And possibly lose his life in the process.
"Jason Pinter takes the traditional thriller in bold new directions." -- New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen
Politics is war. And nobody survives a war with Rawson Griggs.
For fans of Vince Flynn and Harlan Coben comes an unputdownable new thriller from internationally bestselling author Jason Pinter that will have you reading long into the night.Remy Stanton is a young, ambitious corporate strategist who intervenes in an armed robbery one night, saves two lives, but is nearly killed in the process. And when he wakes up in the hospital, Remy learns that one of the intended victims was Alena Griggs, the daughter and sole heir of Rawson Griggs, a brilliant, brash billionaire - and one of the most powerful men in the world. Suddenly Remy finds that he has become an overnight celebrity - and he receives an offer he can't refuse.
Rawson Griggs is about to announce an unprecedented run for President of the United States, and he offers Remy, the man who saved his beloved daughter's life, a position in his campaign. Suddenly Remy is thrust into the maelstrom of the most controversial Presidential election in history, where buried secrets and stunning acts of violence rock the nation. And as his own star grows brighter, Remy finds himself drawn to the intelligent yet down-to-earth Alena Griggs, whose marriage is strained by the relentless pressures of fame and politics.
Yet as the revolutionary Griggs movement builds steam, shocking events cause Remy to suspect a dark undercurrent running beneath Rawson's campaign. And when he discovers the full, disturbing truth, Remy will have to make a choice: stay the course, or jeopardize everything he cares about. And possibly lose his life in the process.
"Jason Pinter takes the traditional thriller in bold new directions." -- New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2017
631 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
Jason Pinter
28 books618 followersJason Pinter is the bestselling author of HIDE AWAY and A STRANGER AT THE DOOR in his Rachel Marin series, as well as six other novels: the acclaimed Henry Parker series (The Mark, The Guilty, The Stolen, The Fury, and The Darkness), the stand-alone thriller The Castle, as well as the middle-grade adventure novel Zeke Bartholomew: SuperSpy, and the children’s book Miracle. His books have over one million copies in print worldwide and have been optioned for film. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Thriller Award, Strand Critics Award, Barry Award, and Shamus Award, and more
He is the Founder and Publisher of the independent publisher Polis Books, as well as Agora, an imprint launched in 2019 dedicated to diverse and underrepresented voices in crime fiction. He was honored by Publishers Weekly’s Star Watch, which “recognizes young publishing professionals who have distinguished themselves as future leaders of the industry.” He has written for the New Republic, Entrepreneur, the Daily Beast, Esquire, and more. He lives in New Jersey, with his wife and their two daughters. Visit him at www.JasonPinter.com, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @JasonPinter.
He is the Founder and Publisher of the independent publisher Polis Books, as well as Agora, an imprint launched in 2019 dedicated to diverse and underrepresented voices in crime fiction. He was honored by Publishers Weekly’s Star Watch, which “recognizes young publishing professionals who have distinguished themselves as future leaders of the industry.” He has written for the New Republic, Entrepreneur, the Daily Beast, Esquire, and more. He lives in New Jersey, with his wife and their two daughters. Visit him at www.JasonPinter.com, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @JasonPinter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 4, 2017
Good thriller, but...
Enjoy reading books written by this author, but reading this book was reliving 2015/16 all over again, with little more twists. Rawson Griggs is character so similar to, you know who, ( Meathead) and he is running as third party candidate. Like the ending, wish that could have happened in the real life.
Enjoy reading books written by this author, but reading this book was reliving 2015/16 all over again, with little more twists. Rawson Griggs is character so similar to, you know who, ( Meathead) and he is running as third party candidate. Like the ending, wish that could have happened in the real life.
June 7, 2017
This book hits you like a cannonball and doesn't let up. I'm excited to read Pinter's prose again. Obviously, I'm professionally biased, being published by Pinter's Polis Books - that said, this book was a high-octane rollercoaster of a read, and frightening in how closely it veers to reality. Pinter's prose is taut and smooth and his characters are compelling and memorable. Pinter's a pro, THE CASTLE is a fun romp and you'll find yourself entertained and enthralled pretty quickly. Grab it later this year.
September 8, 2017
Ripped from the headlines? Maybe, if you get your news from CNN or the Huffington Post. More accurately, it was ripped from the deranged mind of a useful idiot. A radical disciple of Saul Alinsky and Hillary Clinton. Having said that, the writing wasn't bad if you can overlook the typos and editing errors. The antagonist was made to resemble Donald Trump as a murdering, maniacal, win at all cost, corrupt, treasonous, scumbag; even down to Rawson Griggs character using the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" as his theme song at his campaign rallies. (Very subtle Pinter)! The fact is that Pinter's POTUS wannabe in actuality represented the epitome of the Clinton crime syndicate. The dirtiest, most corrupt political machine in history. The character's personality may have been Trumpesque, but his psychotic nature was pure Clintonian.
Go ahead and read this book. You might find it entertaining, but keep the proper perspective throughout. Remember who really left behind a trail of dead bodies, who colluded with foreign governments for obscene profit and political advantage, who felt entitled to succeed the worst president in history, and who misused and abused her positions for her own personal ambition and insatiable greed.
Enjoy!
Go ahead and read this book. You might find it entertaining, but keep the proper perspective throughout. Remember who really left behind a trail of dead bodies, who colluded with foreign governments for obscene profit and political advantage, who felt entitled to succeed the worst president in history, and who misused and abused her positions for her own personal ambition and insatiable greed.
Enjoy!
July 4, 2017
This is a speeding freight train of a book. Once I started it, I didn’t want it to stop. I’m so glad Pinter is back to writing because someone needed to write a book that makes a statement about the insanity that went on with the recent election and current political climate right now. Who better than Jason Pinter? The story opens with Remy Stanton, a likeable and ambitious corporate executive who has always wanted more out of life. Little does he know that’s exactly what he’ll get when he intervenes in an armed robbery that saves two peoples’ lives but lands him in the hospital. One of the targeted victims is Alena Griggs, the beautiful daughter of wealthy business tycoon, Rawson Griggs. Griggs pays Remy back by offering him a job which eventually turns into a presidential campaign position. The cultural and political references are often times chilling. The story plunges us into a dark undercurrent of deceit and murder and rockets toward a grim but ultimately satisfying climax. Even if you don’t normally read political thrillers (I don’t), you need to pick this up. It’s that good.
June 27, 2017
Topical as anything in the news today, Pinter gives us a story about a Presidential election with dire consequences. While this book is clearly ripped from the headlines, I found the protagonist, Remy Stanton, to be even more compelling than than anything else in the novel. Stanton is someone who wants to do the right thing, and when he does, he's pulled into a world of fame and a spotlight he didn't expect. And, he kind of likes it. Once things start going bad (and it's a thriller, so of course they go bad), Stanton is truly put through the ringer.
If you haven't already, make sure you check out this harrowing thriller. You won't regret it.
If you haven't already, make sure you check out this harrowing thriller. You won't regret it.
March 16, 2020
Predictably boring & politically motivated
I am so very sorry I wasted time reading this book! After his Rachel Marin book, I thought The Castle would be another mystery. I could not have been more wrong! It’s so full of crap that is so obviously biased against our President that it’s actually laughable. The author doesn’t even try to hide his blind, liberal views! I will never read another book by this author. I only continued because I wanted to see if it got any better but was not allowed even that minor wish.
I am so very sorry I wasted time reading this book! After his Rachel Marin book, I thought The Castle would be another mystery. I could not have been more wrong! It’s so full of crap that is so obviously biased against our President that it’s actually laughable. The author doesn’t even try to hide his blind, liberal views! I will never read another book by this author. I only continued because I wanted to see if it got any better but was not allowed even that minor wish.
January 23, 2018
If you're experiencing some Trump news fatigue, The Castle is an excellent escape, of a sort. This fast-paced thriller is about a corrupt egotistical businessman, Rawson Griggs, who has a lot in common with 45, except he's even more sinister. Remy Stanton discovers this after he saves Griggs' daughter's life, joins the campaign and gets a close up view of the greed behind the campaign. This book has all sorts of political twists and turns, many reminiscent of the 2016 election, from the candidate singling out a journalist to foment a fired up, press-hating crowd to planted stories and more. The parts that differ from real life are also riveting but still made me wonder, could something like this actually happen? An excellent read for both mystery lovers and politics junkies (though you don't have to be either of those to get into it).
February 23, 2020
A must read if you hate Trump. If, however, you're part of the other half of the country, you may find this book and the Trump-like character eye roll worthy. The worst part, for me at least, is that I really enjoyed every other Jason Pinter book. I discovered him through Kindle First Reads and enjoyed his characters and writing style immensely. I binge read the Henry Parker series in less than week and had such high hopes for The Castle. In a country as broken as ours, I cannot understand why anyone would write something as divisive as this book.
February 5, 2019
This review is also posted on my blog :
https://onewordtoomuch.wordpress.com/...
It’s a fast pacing read with surprises and tension on each chapter. Love this thriller that I can’t wait to finish it and see how the ending goes. Sure not a disappointing read. The pace of the story is set up quite expertly. Starting out slowly and as the story progressed the tension is going up until at some moment reach the peak and descent into a happy ending.
The story started slowly with the story of Remy, a regular guy with a regular job and income. Things started to escalate fast when he rescued an attempted murder on Alena Griggs and her husband. He got all the honors from Rawson’s Griggs and even landed a job as Rawson’s campaigner for the President. But during his time with Rawson, he found that the political world is indeed dirty and it really could do you harm especially if you know too much.
What I like is as a reader you get a glimpse of how the political world works. It might not the same with every country, but you get the gist of it. The darkness, the behind the scene, backstabbing, blackmailing, bribing, it even might involved a bit of crime. It also highlights the use of social media in political campaign which proves to be effective.
The characters are strong and suitable for this story. Remy is pictured sometimes being a bit of sarcastic (only in his thoughts) but he grew up after about half of the book. Alena although pictured like a damsel in distress, in the end is a strong woman. Rawson is pictured as a ruthless person, suitable for being a politician and business man. This is not a story with a bunch of weepy characters.
The end is a bit too good to be true. It’s not disappointing, it’s just a bit too perfect. Nevertheless, this is an interesting read that make you want to turn each page to see how it ended up.
Recommend for those who love fast pacing read with political background, hold your heart fast since there are a lot of chasing around, and a thriller with a bit of crime and mystery on the side.
https://onewordtoomuch.wordpress.com/...
It’s a fast pacing read with surprises and tension on each chapter. Love this thriller that I can’t wait to finish it and see how the ending goes. Sure not a disappointing read. The pace of the story is set up quite expertly. Starting out slowly and as the story progressed the tension is going up until at some moment reach the peak and descent into a happy ending.
The story started slowly with the story of Remy, a regular guy with a regular job and income. Things started to escalate fast when he rescued an attempted murder on Alena Griggs and her husband. He got all the honors from Rawson’s Griggs and even landed a job as Rawson’s campaigner for the President. But during his time with Rawson, he found that the political world is indeed dirty and it really could do you harm especially if you know too much.
What I like is as a reader you get a glimpse of how the political world works. It might not the same with every country, but you get the gist of it. The darkness, the behind the scene, backstabbing, blackmailing, bribing, it even might involved a bit of crime. It also highlights the use of social media in political campaign which proves to be effective.
The characters are strong and suitable for this story. Remy is pictured sometimes being a bit of sarcastic (only in his thoughts) but he grew up after about half of the book. Alena although pictured like a damsel in distress, in the end is a strong woman. Rawson is pictured as a ruthless person, suitable for being a politician and business man. This is not a story with a bunch of weepy characters.
The end is a bit too good to be true. It’s not disappointing, it’s just a bit too perfect. Nevertheless, this is an interesting read that make you want to turn each page to see how it ended up.
Recommend for those who love fast pacing read with political background, hold your heart fast since there are a lot of chasing around, and a thriller with a bit of crime and mystery on the side.
December 7, 2017
Ripped from the headlines is right on in describing this tale. When a young man in a so so job happens on an apparent attempted murder while walking in the park and interferes saving the couple but getting shot in the process his life changes dramatically. It turns out the woman of the couple is the daughter of a mega developer and tycoon who offers the young man a job with his team at a great salary but some strong restrictions on his actions. Basking in the glow of being haled in the press as a hero, agrees to the job. something he will regret later. The tycoon is running for President on his won party, the "Mayflower Party" and claims the he will be financing it all himself. Sound familiar? When he orchestrates huge rallies with "red hats" and works up the crowds his popularity grows. When his polls show him lagging behind is established rivals he resorts to dirty tricks, his daughter's husband mysteriously ends up floating in the river, his lavish tower office and home in the city is subject to demonstrations and there are rumors deals with the Russians. Now is it familiar? More hardball attacks on the press and our young man get wise and resigns to the determent on his friend and himself. A very interesting piece and you could almost be reading the daily papers and not a novel.
April 27, 2018
So, YES, uncanny parallels to the elections of 2016. So, oddly, because of it, I almost compared it to reality, and many times found it on point and other times found it incredulous. So I'm not sure that's fair either way.
The writing was detailed, fast-paced, instructional, and relatable. I would have loved to have rated this even higher, but I didn't feel the empathy I normally feel when I am really loving a story on some level. Again, the nearness of the material may have clouded me. I'm not sure.
So, for pure escapism, if you can ignore some of the parallels, yes, read this! enjoy it for its own purity! The characters are pretty well fleshed out, although I found Rawson Griggs to be a cardboard cutout of too many "powerful" fictional men we read about. Maybe I'm just over the testosterone of our own administration.
Jason Pinter writes really really well, and I am really looking forward to reading more of his books.
The writing was detailed, fast-paced, instructional, and relatable. I would have loved to have rated this even higher, but I didn't feel the empathy I normally feel when I am really loving a story on some level. Again, the nearness of the material may have clouded me. I'm not sure.
So, for pure escapism, if you can ignore some of the parallels, yes, read this! enjoy it for its own purity! The characters are pretty well fleshed out, although I found Rawson Griggs to be a cardboard cutout of too many "powerful" fictional men we read about. Maybe I'm just over the testosterone of our own administration.
Jason Pinter writes really really well, and I am really looking forward to reading more of his books.
July 25, 2017
"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep.
I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."
- Alexander the Great
This epic quote from Alexander the Great quite succinctly sums up both the political landscape in America today as well as the fictionalized one created by Jason Pinter in his electrifying new thriller entitled THE CASTLE. The comparisons do not end there, but I digress. Let's start with our protagonist.
Jeremy 'Remy' Stanton is one of a million other hard-working, over-achieving young people seeking to take their very own bite out of The Big Apple. It won't be his hard work and determination on the job that gets him noticed but the split second and seemingly random act that occurs one night after work.
Remy is leaving one of his favorite Midtown drinking establishments when he comes across a tense scene. A young couple is being terrorized by two armed robbers. Whether it be his intestinal fortitude, liquid fortification or a combination of both --- Remy springs into action to defend the intended robbery victims. He is successful but does not find out exactly what happened until he wakes up in a NYC hospital after requiring life-saving surgery for the bullet that pierced his shoulder and part of a major artery.
When he awakens the first face he sees is the young woman he had saved. She may not have looked familiar at night (and after a few cocktails) but Remy is immediately able to place her now as Alena Griggs --- daughter of the billionaire real estate developer and one of the most recognized men in the world, Rawson Griggs. Alena's mother passed away when she was a little girl so her Daddy means the whole world to her. In fact, Rawson is held in much higher esteem than even her husband, Paul Bracewell, who was with her at the time of the attempted robbery.
Money is no object when it comes to seeing Remy heal up quickly. Once Rawson personally vets Remy and has his own face-to-face with him he sees an opportunity. Ever the opportunist, Rawson Griggs seizes the chance to use this accidental meeting between his daughter and Remy Stanton and decides to use it to help him in his ultimate end game --- becoming a third party candidate who is elected President of the United States. Rawson has plenty of detractors and others who simply don't take his run seriously. Unlike the current 45th President of the United States (no need to continue drawing comparisons to the fictional Griggs because they are endless), Griggs has created his own party to defy both the Democrats and Republicans ---The Mayflower Party. His platform and ideas for widespread and global reform will really seem familiar to anyone who has watched the news or read a newspaper in the last two years, but election is not a foregone conclusion. Getting someone like Remy Stanton, the golden boy of social media, in his camp could open many doors, minds and pockets to support Grigg's Presidential run and essentially put him over the top.
Of course, if you go the other route and get on Rawson's bad side he can essentially destroy you and everyone you know in the blink of an eye. This is what has been occurring between Rawson and his wishy-washy son-in-law Paul. When readers learn that Paul has in fact been playing double-agent and reporting everything he knows about Rawson to the Campaign Manager of the Democratic contender you just know things are not going to end well.
Meanwhile, Remy is enjoying the ride. He is part of Team Griggs and they are all well on their way to the ultimate victory. He also appears to have a flowering relationship with Alena, even though any possible relationship would also not end well. The Rawson Griggs Campaign has many enemies including a terrorist who attacks them at his very own high-rise, nicknamed The Castle, in Midtown Manhattan. Several people lose their lives in that attack and Griggs uses that to build and create a new foundation of sympathy for those who may have been on the fence about supporting his efforts.
It seems like nothing can go wrong for Remy. Of course, this being a thriller penned by master plotter Jason Pinter, you recognize that the euphoria will be very short lived. When Remy is approached by the same Democratic contact that Paul Bracewell has been dealing with (the ironically named Paul Rimbaud) he is given a virtual slap in the face about realizing who Rawson Griggs really is and why Remy and the country are in really big trouble if his campaign succeeds. Initially, Remy scoffs at these allegations and turns Rimbaud away. But the wheels in Remy's head keep turning...
Remy has a moment of morality and begins digging into Rawson Griggs on his own and that places him firmly at the crossroads part of the novel. I have to stop here so as to preserve the many twists, turns and surprises Jason Pinter has in store for you. Let's just say you won't be disappointed and there will not be a single character involved you won't feel differently about before the novel's conclusion.
THE CASTLE is really hot stuff as well as incredibly relevant and timely. It's also compulsively readable and deserves to be in the hands of every commuter, beach-goer, traveler and late-night insomniac who loves to read. However, if you're a commuter in NYC, be sure and read this one carefully looking over your shoulder and casually gazing at your fellow passengers the entire time. You never know who might be watching...
Reviewed by Ray Palen
I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."
- Alexander the Great
This epic quote from Alexander the Great quite succinctly sums up both the political landscape in America today as well as the fictionalized one created by Jason Pinter in his electrifying new thriller entitled THE CASTLE. The comparisons do not end there, but I digress. Let's start with our protagonist.
Jeremy 'Remy' Stanton is one of a million other hard-working, over-achieving young people seeking to take their very own bite out of The Big Apple. It won't be his hard work and determination on the job that gets him noticed but the split second and seemingly random act that occurs one night after work.
Remy is leaving one of his favorite Midtown drinking establishments when he comes across a tense scene. A young couple is being terrorized by two armed robbers. Whether it be his intestinal fortitude, liquid fortification or a combination of both --- Remy springs into action to defend the intended robbery victims. He is successful but does not find out exactly what happened until he wakes up in a NYC hospital after requiring life-saving surgery for the bullet that pierced his shoulder and part of a major artery.
When he awakens the first face he sees is the young woman he had saved. She may not have looked familiar at night (and after a few cocktails) but Remy is immediately able to place her now as Alena Griggs --- daughter of the billionaire real estate developer and one of the most recognized men in the world, Rawson Griggs. Alena's mother passed away when she was a little girl so her Daddy means the whole world to her. In fact, Rawson is held in much higher esteem than even her husband, Paul Bracewell, who was with her at the time of the attempted robbery.
Money is no object when it comes to seeing Remy heal up quickly. Once Rawson personally vets Remy and has his own face-to-face with him he sees an opportunity. Ever the opportunist, Rawson Griggs seizes the chance to use this accidental meeting between his daughter and Remy Stanton and decides to use it to help him in his ultimate end game --- becoming a third party candidate who is elected President of the United States. Rawson has plenty of detractors and others who simply don't take his run seriously. Unlike the current 45th President of the United States (no need to continue drawing comparisons to the fictional Griggs because they are endless), Griggs has created his own party to defy both the Democrats and Republicans ---The Mayflower Party. His platform and ideas for widespread and global reform will really seem familiar to anyone who has watched the news or read a newspaper in the last two years, but election is not a foregone conclusion. Getting someone like Remy Stanton, the golden boy of social media, in his camp could open many doors, minds and pockets to support Grigg's Presidential run and essentially put him over the top.
Of course, if you go the other route and get on Rawson's bad side he can essentially destroy you and everyone you know in the blink of an eye. This is what has been occurring between Rawson and his wishy-washy son-in-law Paul. When readers learn that Paul has in fact been playing double-agent and reporting everything he knows about Rawson to the Campaign Manager of the Democratic contender you just know things are not going to end well.
Meanwhile, Remy is enjoying the ride. He is part of Team Griggs and they are all well on their way to the ultimate victory. He also appears to have a flowering relationship with Alena, even though any possible relationship would also not end well. The Rawson Griggs Campaign has many enemies including a terrorist who attacks them at his very own high-rise, nicknamed The Castle, in Midtown Manhattan. Several people lose their lives in that attack and Griggs uses that to build and create a new foundation of sympathy for those who may have been on the fence about supporting his efforts.
It seems like nothing can go wrong for Remy. Of course, this being a thriller penned by master plotter Jason Pinter, you recognize that the euphoria will be very short lived. When Remy is approached by the same Democratic contact that Paul Bracewell has been dealing with (the ironically named Paul Rimbaud) he is given a virtual slap in the face about realizing who Rawson Griggs really is and why Remy and the country are in really big trouble if his campaign succeeds. Initially, Remy scoffs at these allegations and turns Rimbaud away. But the wheels in Remy's head keep turning...
Remy has a moment of morality and begins digging into Rawson Griggs on his own and that places him firmly at the crossroads part of the novel. I have to stop here so as to preserve the many twists, turns and surprises Jason Pinter has in store for you. Let's just say you won't be disappointed and there will not be a single character involved you won't feel differently about before the novel's conclusion.
THE CASTLE is really hot stuff as well as incredibly relevant and timely. It's also compulsively readable and deserves to be in the hands of every commuter, beach-goer, traveler and late-night insomniac who loves to read. However, if you're a commuter in NYC, be sure and read this one carefully looking over your shoulder and casually gazing at your fellow passengers the entire time. You never know who might be watching...
Reviewed by Ray Palen
March 28, 2018
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Castle by Jason Pinter.
I have read several of Pinter's books - the Henry Parker series and I really liked them. This new book is a standalone and introduces Remy Stanton a young man who lives an ordinary life in New York City. One night he sees a mugging and he acts quickly, saves the couple in jeopardy, and is suddenly a hero. What he doesn't realize is that he has saved one of the richest men in the world's daughter and husband from being killed. Overnight Remy becomes a hero, and Rawson Griggs, who is the father of one of the victims, gives Remy the chance of a lifetime to work with him.
Remy is overcome with his good fortune and is quickly swept up in the Griggs family. Remy quickly sees that Griggs has an agenda - he is running for the US President and he wants Remy to work on his campaign.
Remy starts to see cracks in the Griggs machine and then the murders, secrets, and mystery start and Remy wonders how he got involved in this mess and how can he possibly get out without being killed himself.
This is fast paced and this book is mirrored to the current political climate. Readers will think they are reading the New York Times. Good Read.
I have read several of Pinter's books - the Henry Parker series and I really liked them. This new book is a standalone and introduces Remy Stanton a young man who lives an ordinary life in New York City. One night he sees a mugging and he acts quickly, saves the couple in jeopardy, and is suddenly a hero. What he doesn't realize is that he has saved one of the richest men in the world's daughter and husband from being killed. Overnight Remy becomes a hero, and Rawson Griggs, who is the father of one of the victims, gives Remy the chance of a lifetime to work with him.
Remy is overcome with his good fortune and is quickly swept up in the Griggs family. Remy quickly sees that Griggs has an agenda - he is running for the US President and he wants Remy to work on his campaign.
Remy starts to see cracks in the Griggs machine and then the murders, secrets, and mystery start and Remy wonders how he got involved in this mess and how can he possibly get out without being killed himself.
This is fast paced and this book is mirrored to the current political climate. Readers will think they are reading the New York Times. Good Read.
April 10, 2020
I am going to review this book from a purely reader's perspective. Yes, there are some similarities to a recent election, but there are also HUGE differences as well. So...in the interest of keeping politics completely out of this - I'm choosing to just focus on the written story. One of my HUGE pet peeves is when authors politicize fiction books...or let their personal views come out in a fiction book, but, that's just me. I read to get away from things...okay, enough about that.
This is my second book by this author and he has not disappointed yet. This story started off with a bang and did a pretty good job of keeping up the excitement until the very end. The male MC (Remy) is a very likable character - complex, with integrity and compassion and a strong sense of right and wrong. Griggs is also a very good antagonist and a man that becomes very easy to dislike.
The story arc was good - though I will admit, it kind of went from "all is okay" to a complete megalomaniac destruction scenario. A little bit too quick, drastic and sudden for me - but nothing that makes the story irredeemable.
Good character development from the main MC's (but OMG Alena, poor girl) and a nice story arc.
I will gladly continue to read books from this author :)
This is my second book by this author and he has not disappointed yet. This story started off with a bang and did a pretty good job of keeping up the excitement until the very end. The male MC (Remy) is a very likable character - complex, with integrity and compassion and a strong sense of right and wrong. Griggs is also a very good antagonist and a man that becomes very easy to dislike.
The story arc was good - though I will admit, it kind of went from "all is okay" to a complete megalomaniac destruction scenario. A little bit too quick, drastic and sudden for me - but nothing that makes the story irredeemable.
Good character development from the main MC's (but OMG Alena, poor girl) and a nice story arc.
I will gladly continue to read books from this author :)
July 20, 2017
The names were changed to protect the absurd and guilty.
This is almost a replay of the 2014 to 2016 campaign and election season. But it was stated the story was ripped from the headlines. The various events and challenges were moved from one candidate and spread to the other two. The similarities to the three surviving candidates was clear. But. Of course. This deserves to be read. It is quite the page turner. The writer's style is quite engaging. I was thoroughly entertained.
Now why did I not think this was a 4 or 5 star? First the editing was horrible. Wrong words were chosen throughout the story. The editing program is handy but nothing beats a real live editor who can see correctly spelled words are incorrectly misplaced. Second. The moving of the scandals and innuendos from one to another was so obvious to show favor to the person elected. Check it out for these are my opinions . Your mileage will vary.
This is almost a replay of the 2014 to 2016 campaign and election season. But it was stated the story was ripped from the headlines. The various events and challenges were moved from one candidate and spread to the other two. The similarities to the three surviving candidates was clear. But. Of course. This deserves to be read. It is quite the page turner. The writer's style is quite engaging. I was thoroughly entertained.
Now why did I not think this was a 4 or 5 star? First the editing was horrible. Wrong words were chosen throughout the story. The editing program is handy but nothing beats a real live editor who can see correctly spelled words are incorrectly misplaced. Second. The moving of the scandals and innuendos from one to another was so obvious to show favor to the person elected. Check it out for these are my opinions . Your mileage will vary.
October 9, 2020
A Reason to Vote
Scary stuff here. This book really hits close to home in many ways. Corrupt politicians, foreign interference, egotistical candidate, questionable campaign promises, yes men staffers, out of control campaign rallies, rabid followers ,and much more. Rawson Griggs idea of a perfect America was a total disregard for the Constitution & human rights. His ideas were Big Brother on steroids. Make sure you know your candidate before you vote. Remember this is the person who is in control of our Nation & will hopefully consider us as human beings not sheep who will blindly follow each other to destruction.
FYI: Not meaning to be critical but whoever edited this book did a haphazard job. I found numerous errors in spelling & context & I wasn't consciously looking for them.
Scary stuff here. This book really hits close to home in many ways. Corrupt politicians, foreign interference, egotistical candidate, questionable campaign promises, yes men staffers, out of control campaign rallies, rabid followers ,and much more. Rawson Griggs idea of a perfect America was a total disregard for the Constitution & human rights. His ideas were Big Brother on steroids. Make sure you know your candidate before you vote. Remember this is the person who is in control of our Nation & will hopefully consider us as human beings not sheep who will blindly follow each other to destruction.
FYI: Not meaning to be critical but whoever edited this book did a haphazard job. I found numerous errors in spelling & context & I wasn't consciously looking for them.
November 8, 2020
Could have been 4-stars, but not quite there!
And, one reason this is not a better book, is because it’s blatantly based on a certain US President who’s nothing more than a rich bully (though, the ‘rich’ part of the description might be conjecture). Sure, this book has a different ending than what occurred in 2016, but the principle and background issues were pretty comparable — particularly knowing this Review is being written a day or so after the real-life thug held his wimpy press conference, whining about how legally counted votes were fraudulent.
The writing in this book was OK, but it doesn’t grab The Reader; frankly, it was hard to keep interest in the book, and difficult to want to keep reading to the next pages. The end of the tale was probably best, but it was NOT enough to bolster the quality of the rest of the book.
And, one reason this is not a better book, is because it’s blatantly based on a certain US President who’s nothing more than a rich bully (though, the ‘rich’ part of the description might be conjecture). Sure, this book has a different ending than what occurred in 2016, but the principle and background issues were pretty comparable — particularly knowing this Review is being written a day or so after the real-life thug held his wimpy press conference, whining about how legally counted votes were fraudulent.
The writing in this book was OK, but it doesn’t grab The Reader; frankly, it was hard to keep interest in the book, and difficult to want to keep reading to the next pages. The end of the tale was probably best, but it was NOT enough to bolster the quality of the rest of the book.
May 20, 2020
This is an anti -Trump novel
Very well written, I like the writer's style. But I was disappointed when I realized I was reading a political novel, not a fiction based thriller. I made it through 60% of the book and quit. If I want to study a presidential campaign I will read the news. This is obviously a critique of Donald Trump, and it makes him out to be a murderer and a villain. Trump has his strengths and failings, but he is not the character portrayed in this book "ripped from the news". I'm going to skip ahead to other writings by Jason Pinter, as he is compelling writer.
Very well written, I like the writer's style. But I was disappointed when I realized I was reading a political novel, not a fiction based thriller. I made it through 60% of the book and quit. If I want to study a presidential campaign I will read the news. This is obviously a critique of Donald Trump, and it makes him out to be a murderer and a villain. Trump has his strengths and failings, but he is not the character portrayed in this book "ripped from the news". I'm going to skip ahead to other writings by Jason Pinter, as he is compelling writer.
August 9, 2017
The Castle is an excellent thriller that is entertaining throughout. As other reviewers have stated this story is ripped from the headlines. While the events of the last year appear to have influenced the plot of this story, it stands on its own as a great novel. The author has done a great job of creating realistic characters that I found myself rooting for and against. The pace of this book always felt perfect to me. There is plenty of action and I had such a great time reading this book. This book is highly recommended for fans of thrillers and political intrigue.
January 7, 2018
Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction..
I find it hard to believe Jason Pinter isn't being pestered by Trump's lawyers !This book comes dangerously close to the realities of our past election and the current administration. Difference is this book is fiction. As they say sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a quick read but it really left me shaking my head.
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I find it hard to believe Jason Pinter isn't being pestered by Trump's lawyers !This book comes dangerously close to the realities of our past election and the current administration. Difference is this book is fiction. As they say sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a quick read but it really left me shaking my head.
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August 6, 2020
Too depressing for words!
This story reads almost like a documentary. Wonderful billionaire decides to run for President but turns out he's as evil as Lucifer himself!
It's hard to describe this story - it's about an election. It's about a hero. It's about lies and deceit. It's about campaign finance laws that are toothless. It's about removing your opponents permanently. It's about foreign money into a campaign.
It's exciting and quite believable!
This story reads almost like a documentary. Wonderful billionaire decides to run for President but turns out he's as evil as Lucifer himself!
It's hard to describe this story - it's about an election. It's about a hero. It's about lies and deceit. It's about campaign finance laws that are toothless. It's about removing your opponents permanently. It's about foreign money into a campaign.
It's exciting and quite believable!
September 6, 2017
I loved all of Jason Pinter's Henry Parker books and so was thrilled to learn that Pinter had written another novel. The Castle certainly lived up to my expectations! Full of suspense, The Castle is a real page turner. The characters are beautifully developed, and the story's subtle commentary on our current political climate is brilliant. I read The Castle in a day; I could not put it down!
December 24, 2017
Horrifyingly similar!
Horrifyingly similar to who is the president now along with the antics of his campaign. Too bad the story only ended this way in the book.
Characters were strong and believable. Topic was interesting and not so complicated that you couldn't follow along.
Very interesting read and I look forward to reading more of this authors works.
Horrifyingly similar to who is the president now along with the antics of his campaign. Too bad the story only ended this way in the book.
Characters were strong and believable. Topic was interesting and not so complicated that you couldn't follow along.
Very interesting read and I look forward to reading more of this authors works.
December 29, 2017
FANTASTIC!!!
What a thriller!!! It was very hard to stop reading. There were a few editing problems that should have been caught and corrected. Great character development and a story that kept building with excitement and anticipation of the outcome. Would Remy survive? What a great ending!
What a thriller!!! It was very hard to stop reading. There were a few editing problems that should have been caught and corrected. Great character development and a story that kept building with excitement and anticipation of the outcome. Would Remy survive? What a great ending!
February 27, 2018
DNF'd this early. My 1 star is for what I heard and I asked for a refund.
From the numerous 4-star reviews I expected this to be above average. Instead, from the first page I found the writing terribly amateurish as was the character development. It felt like a first attempt - and not a good one at that.
From the numerous 4-star reviews I expected this to be above average. Instead, from the first page I found the writing terribly amateurish as was the character development. It felt like a first attempt - and not a good one at that.
March 15, 2018
Wow, I was glued to this book from the first page. I have read all books by this author and have given them all 5 star ratings, if there is a 10 star rating this book deserves it.
For a thrilling ride, right out of today,s headlines you have got to read this book. Beware, you lose sleep
For a thrilling ride, right out of today,s headlines you have got to read this book. Beware, you lose sleep
January 17, 2020
A fast paced hard to put down read.
An incredible and scary story. Scary because you can easily see something like it happening for real. Especially after our recent election campaign's. The characters have a real life feel, and will work their way into your heart, some of them at least. You're going to find yourself hating the biggest crook you've ever met.
An incredible and scary story. Scary because you can easily see something like it happening for real. Especially after our recent election campaign's. The characters have a real life feel, and will work their way into your heart, some of them at least. You're going to find yourself hating the biggest crook you've ever met.
July 16, 2020
Don't forget to breathe
I love Jason Pinter. He is an excellent writer who makes you feel like you're right there in the world he has written. I found myself at times holding my breathe in anticipation to what was next for Jeremey. I was disappointed with some of the story line and was heavy handed in some areas. But pushed through because I loved Jeremy's character so much.
I love Jason Pinter. He is an excellent writer who makes you feel like you're right there in the world he has written. I found myself at times holding my breathe in anticipation to what was next for Jeremey. I was disappointed with some of the story line and was heavy handed in some areas. But pushed through because I loved Jeremy's character so much.
August 20, 2020
Wow, what a cliff hanger!
Absolute power truly does corrupt. Amazing detail in this plot. Amazing evil that can occur in politics. Parts of this book feel like they came right from the headlines. Money is one amazing corrupting force. If you have enough you can even but a presidency. I couldn't put it down. Definitely a page turner.
Absolute power truly does corrupt. Amazing detail in this plot. Amazing evil that can occur in politics. Parts of this book feel like they came right from the headlines. Money is one amazing corrupting force. If you have enough you can even but a presidency. I couldn't put it down. Definitely a page turner.
January 2, 2022
This is a bunch of bull!
This story says ripped from the headlines. Instead of using Trump’s name, the name Griggs is used. This book is written to make our actual POTUS TRUMP to look like a democRAT. Democrats is made up of pedos, killers, thieves, etc… if you support TRUMP… MOVE ON. Do not give it the time of day.
This story says ripped from the headlines. Instead of using Trump’s name, the name Griggs is used. This book is written to make our actual POTUS TRUMP to look like a democRAT. Democrats is made up of pedos, killers, thieves, etc… if you support TRUMP… MOVE ON. Do not give it the time of day.
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