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The 45th
What if a political party in disarray turned to a man to lead them with no political background?
What if a country torn apart by ideology turned to a man whose charisma belied a complete lack of governing experience?
What if a country elected a President based not on qualifications, but on hope?
Would this man lead the country into a new era of fortune and prosperity? Or would he lead them into total and complete chaos?
D.W. Buffa has proven himself as one of the absolute best political writers working today, and in THE 45TH he creates a work of compelling fiction that’s as timely as this morning’s news. THE 45TH will leave you breathless, enraged, and unable to forget it once the last page is turned.
What if a country torn apart by ideology turned to a man whose charisma belied a complete lack of governing experience?
What if a country elected a President based not on qualifications, but on hope?
Would this man lead the country into a new era of fortune and prosperity? Or would he lead them into total and complete chaos?
D.W. Buffa has proven himself as one of the absolute best political writers working today, and in THE 45TH he creates a work of compelling fiction that’s as timely as this morning’s news. THE 45TH will leave you breathless, enraged, and unable to forget it once the last page is turned.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2019
11 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
D.W. Buffa
34 books68 followersD.W. Buffa (full name: Dudley W. Buffa) was born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area. After graduation from Michigan State University, he studied under Leo Strauss, Joseph Cropsey and Hans J. Morgenthau at the University of Chicago where he earned both an M.A. and a Ph. D. in political science. He received his J.D. degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Buffa was a criminal defense attorney for 10 years and his seven Joseph Antonelli novels strive to reflect, from his own experience, what a courtroom lawyer does, the way he (or she) thinks, and the way he feels about what he does.
Buffa had been writing for pleasure for many years when Henry Holt and Co. decided to publish his first novel, The Defense, in 1997. The week it was published, Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, the literary critic of the New York Times, called The Defense ‘an accomplished first novel" which ‘leaves you wanting to go back to the beginning and read it over again."
The Defense was followed by The Prosecution and then The Judgment, which was one of the five books nominated in 2002 for the Edgar Award as best novel of the year. While the first three novels are set in Portland, the author's fourth novel, The Legacy, takes place in San Francisco and is as much a political thriller as it is legal thriller. Star Witness tells the story of Stanley Roth, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, who is charged with murder of his famous movie star wife.
Breach of Trust, published in 2004, was considered by one critic as "one of the few books that fifty years from now will really matter." It offers readers a scintillating look at Washington politics. Buffa's seventh Joseph Antonelli novel, Trial by Fire, was released in 2005; in this latest Antonelli book, the focus is on the media and the role that television "Talking heads" increasingly play in very high profile criminal cases. Publishers Weekly says of Trial by Fire, "In this intelligent, gripping legal thriller... fast moving dialogue and fine sense of characterization keep the reader hanging on for the ride."
The author's last several novels reflect a subtle shift in storyline from D.W. Buffa's original 'judicial' arena into the the broader one of politics. Buffa has built a new series around protagonist Senator Bobby Hart, an Antonelli-type everyday hero of strong moral fiber who is willing to take on "The Establishment" for the betterment of his constituents...
D.W. Buffa lives in Northern California.
Buffa had been writing for pleasure for many years when Henry Holt and Co. decided to publish his first novel, The Defense, in 1997. The week it was published, Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, the literary critic of the New York Times, called The Defense ‘an accomplished first novel" which ‘leaves you wanting to go back to the beginning and read it over again."
The Defense was followed by The Prosecution and then The Judgment, which was one of the five books nominated in 2002 for the Edgar Award as best novel of the year. While the first three novels are set in Portland, the author's fourth novel, The Legacy, takes place in San Francisco and is as much a political thriller as it is legal thriller. Star Witness tells the story of Stanley Roth, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, who is charged with murder of his famous movie star wife.
Breach of Trust, published in 2004, was considered by one critic as "one of the few books that fifty years from now will really matter." It offers readers a scintillating look at Washington politics. Buffa's seventh Joseph Antonelli novel, Trial by Fire, was released in 2005; in this latest Antonelli book, the focus is on the media and the role that television "Talking heads" increasingly play in very high profile criminal cases. Publishers Weekly says of Trial by Fire, "In this intelligent, gripping legal thriller... fast moving dialogue and fine sense of characterization keep the reader hanging on for the ride."
The author's last several novels reflect a subtle shift in storyline from D.W. Buffa's original 'judicial' arena into the the broader one of politics. Buffa has built a new series around protagonist Senator Bobby Hart, an Antonelli-type everyday hero of strong moral fiber who is willing to take on "The Establishment" for the betterment of his constituents...
D.W. Buffa lives in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 18, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, D.W. Buffa, and Polis Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
At a time when presidential politics suffers an indelible stain comes a book by D.W. Buffa that will shake the core of American political leadership. In the midst of a divisive campaign for the Republicans to choose their next presidential candidate comes a dramatic turn of events that few could have predicted. Majority Leader of the Senate, Louis Matson, leads the Michigan delegation to the Republican National Convention with the power to serve as kingmaker. When Matson is chosen to chair the convention and offer its keynote address, both candidates—Trump and Cruz, no less—seek to pander to him, in hopes that he will offer them the needed delegates to win. Matson is unsure what he ought to do, but knows that it is time to make a big splash with his speech. Knowing his limits, Matson turns to a long-time friend and current political recluse, Julian Drake. A visit to Drake’s California home leads to long-winded and deep political discussions with Matson, helping to shape what will be the speech of a lifetime. When Matson returns with the speech Drake penned for him, he refuses to let anyone see it ahead of its delivery, knowing that it has the ability to blow the field wide open. On speech night, a set of events begin that sees the speech delivered and minds opened. The content of this speech not only puts everything Republicans have held in jeopardy, but also seeks to reexamine how politicians interact with the electorate and Americans on a larger scale. Drake leaves the convention a new man with a mission, leaving traditional politics behind him. With the role of 45th President of the United States on the line, it is anyone’s game, though the rules have changed dramatically. A thought-provoking novel for any who have an understanding of the US political system and its hypocritical nature, Buffa leaves the writer with much to process. Recommended for those who wish to read and think outside the box with a political thriller of sorts that is as diametrically opposed to the current Administration.
Political thrillers tend to focus on the machine and how it is manipulated in order to churn out the most conniving and ruthless winner. Buffa seeks to suspend this norm as he posits what might happen if someone had the knowledge and ability to buck the trend and offer some insightful thoughts on the US political system. Pushing views long held in philosophy and in ages past, Buffa challenges much of what the reader understands of the current political system and what it chooses to label as important. With much of the book’s focus on Julian Drake and his return from obscurity, the reader is able to learn a little of what drove the man to disappear in the middle of a congressional campaign and how he used a decade out of the limelight to develop thoughts and skills that many would say are from a bygone era. With a determination to speak the truth rather than spin, Drake comes across as somewhat idealistic, perhaps what Buffa prefers at a time when many are jaded. His desire to look to the past to shape a future for America is likely the most refreshing aspect of the novel, though it may be lost in the need for mudslinging. There are others who make their mark in the novel—thankfully, Trump and Cruz make only brief cameos—and help to push this alternative mentality forward throughout. Buffa uses his cast as vessels to show all that is wrong and could be changed with the system at a time when it seems the rule of law is but a phrase sewn on a throw pillow. The story was surely not what I expected, particular with the title and early mention of the GOP’s two Neanderthals from 2016, but shaped up into something that resonates with me as I look forward to 2020 and all that is to come. Refreshing and quite controversial at the same time, Buffa delivers something that will have readers talking well past the book’s publication.
Kudos, Mr. Buffa, for keeping me thinking throughout and wanting to get my hands on more of your work. Well done, indeed!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
At a time when presidential politics suffers an indelible stain comes a book by D.W. Buffa that will shake the core of American political leadership. In the midst of a divisive campaign for the Republicans to choose their next presidential candidate comes a dramatic turn of events that few could have predicted. Majority Leader of the Senate, Louis Matson, leads the Michigan delegation to the Republican National Convention with the power to serve as kingmaker. When Matson is chosen to chair the convention and offer its keynote address, both candidates—Trump and Cruz, no less—seek to pander to him, in hopes that he will offer them the needed delegates to win. Matson is unsure what he ought to do, but knows that it is time to make a big splash with his speech. Knowing his limits, Matson turns to a long-time friend and current political recluse, Julian Drake. A visit to Drake’s California home leads to long-winded and deep political discussions with Matson, helping to shape what will be the speech of a lifetime. When Matson returns with the speech Drake penned for him, he refuses to let anyone see it ahead of its delivery, knowing that it has the ability to blow the field wide open. On speech night, a set of events begin that sees the speech delivered and minds opened. The content of this speech not only puts everything Republicans have held in jeopardy, but also seeks to reexamine how politicians interact with the electorate and Americans on a larger scale. Drake leaves the convention a new man with a mission, leaving traditional politics behind him. With the role of 45th President of the United States on the line, it is anyone’s game, though the rules have changed dramatically. A thought-provoking novel for any who have an understanding of the US political system and its hypocritical nature, Buffa leaves the writer with much to process. Recommended for those who wish to read and think outside the box with a political thriller of sorts that is as diametrically opposed to the current Administration.
Political thrillers tend to focus on the machine and how it is manipulated in order to churn out the most conniving and ruthless winner. Buffa seeks to suspend this norm as he posits what might happen if someone had the knowledge and ability to buck the trend and offer some insightful thoughts on the US political system. Pushing views long held in philosophy and in ages past, Buffa challenges much of what the reader understands of the current political system and what it chooses to label as important. With much of the book’s focus on Julian Drake and his return from obscurity, the reader is able to learn a little of what drove the man to disappear in the middle of a congressional campaign and how he used a decade out of the limelight to develop thoughts and skills that many would say are from a bygone era. With a determination to speak the truth rather than spin, Drake comes across as somewhat idealistic, perhaps what Buffa prefers at a time when many are jaded. His desire to look to the past to shape a future for America is likely the most refreshing aspect of the novel, though it may be lost in the need for mudslinging. There are others who make their mark in the novel—thankfully, Trump and Cruz make only brief cameos—and help to push this alternative mentality forward throughout. Buffa uses his cast as vessels to show all that is wrong and could be changed with the system at a time when it seems the rule of law is but a phrase sewn on a throw pillow. The story was surely not what I expected, particular with the title and early mention of the GOP’s two Neanderthals from 2016, but shaped up into something that resonates with me as I look forward to 2020 and all that is to come. Refreshing and quite controversial at the same time, Buffa delivers something that will have readers talking well past the book’s publication.
Kudos, Mr. Buffa, for keeping me thinking throughout and wanting to get my hands on more of your work. Well done, indeed!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 28, 2019
When I read this book's blurb, I was immediately fascinated by it and the promise it held. Sadly, it couldn't live up to it, which is mostly due to the portrayal of the main character, whose holier-than-thou appearance started to get on my nerves about a third into the novel.
It started out well enough, lounging into an alternative (recent) history starting some time before the 2016 US presidential election. Louis Matson, an old political veteran, is fed up with the current state of politics, especially with those of the Republican party. Neither of their two top candidates - Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, who both appear for some short, most unflattering cameos - is fit to be president, so Matson more or less pulls a rabbit out of his hat: Enter Julian Drake, former political superstar on the rise to true greatness until private circumstances made him leave the political circus. Now, having lived the last twelve years as some kind of reclusive eremite, he's back to save everybody: the Republican party, the people of the United States and the way people think in general.
Sounds like a lot, and indeed, it is. Drake's rise from nowhere to the top of the free world happens almost automatically, neither the accompying circumstances (what happens to his family, the ones he was so eager to protect all these years ago - they changed his whole life, yet they don't even make an appearance as characters) nor the reactions after the elections and his first months in office are explored any futher than within the closest boundaries of his immediate friends & foes (we get no reaction from the outside world, from the people, let alone other states).
Instead, everything here is focused on Julian Drake and that became too much very fast, due to the fact that with Julian, everything is over the top. He's the cleverest, smartest, most intelligent, well read and what not person you can think of; a person so good and pure and full of good intentions, his halo must weight a ton. And he's always been that way. Once a journalist - one of the two female characters here who get more than one line of dialogue and a hint of a backstory - tries to uncover Julian's history, she meets up with old teachers and coaches from his high school and university years, who all sing the same song: Julian was always special, and actually, he was the one teaching them, even back then. This glorification of the holyness of Julian Drake makes up about a third of the novel, another third is Julian and his (male) sparring partner of choice philosophing on and on about the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Al-Farabi, Averroes, Nietzsche and what other important men such as Lincoln, Churchill and Kennedy made of those. Which could be super interesting, but not for pages and pages in such a book marketed as (political) thriller.
I know this is mainly my frustration speaking here, but this novel could've been so much more to my liking. I mean, I can totally see what Buffa tried to do here, the message he was trying to drive home. He touches a lot of good, valid points, be it the critique of the educational system, the drifting apart of societies due to financial unjustice, the general concentration of personal wealth as the only true means of succes and what not. Those are good, interesting points to ponder on, as are some of the historical ties and philosophocal ideas he presents. I also was very interested in his critiqual view of the western (especially US) involvement in the Middle East.
However, though many themes presented here resonated with me, the feeling of all of this, especially the character of Julian Drake, was way, way too much for me. I couldn't get over my constant annoyance with Drake, and eventually, the ending (which was coming from a mile away) only added to that. Some of Julian's political views added to my dislike of him, plus, this book had a lot of typos which also added to my level of annoyance (I know this is an ARC and I hope they'll get fixed for the first edition).
Sorry, but this was, for me, a rather frustrating and disappointing read. Barely two stars - an "okay" rating - for an intriguing idea and some interesting ideas.
It started out well enough, lounging into an alternative (recent) history starting some time before the 2016 US presidential election. Louis Matson, an old political veteran, is fed up with the current state of politics, especially with those of the Republican party. Neither of their two top candidates - Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, who both appear for some short, most unflattering cameos - is fit to be president, so Matson more or less pulls a rabbit out of his hat: Enter Julian Drake, former political superstar on the rise to true greatness until private circumstances made him leave the political circus. Now, having lived the last twelve years as some kind of reclusive eremite, he's back to save everybody: the Republican party, the people of the United States and the way people think in general.
Sounds like a lot, and indeed, it is. Drake's rise from nowhere to the top of the free world happens almost automatically, neither the accompying circumstances (what happens to his family, the ones he was so eager to protect all these years ago - they changed his whole life, yet they don't even make an appearance as characters) nor the reactions after the elections and his first months in office are explored any futher than within the closest boundaries of his immediate friends & foes (we get no reaction from the outside world, from the people, let alone other states).
Instead, everything here is focused on Julian Drake and that became too much very fast, due to the fact that with Julian, everything is over the top. He's the cleverest, smartest, most intelligent, well read and what not person you can think of; a person so good and pure and full of good intentions, his halo must weight a ton. And he's always been that way. Once a journalist - one of the two female characters here who get more than one line of dialogue and a hint of a backstory - tries to uncover Julian's history, she meets up with old teachers and coaches from his high school and university years, who all sing the same song: Julian was always special, and actually, he was the one teaching them, even back then. This glorification of the holyness of Julian Drake makes up about a third of the novel, another third is Julian and his (male) sparring partner of choice philosophing on and on about the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Al-Farabi, Averroes, Nietzsche and what other important men such as Lincoln, Churchill and Kennedy made of those. Which could be super interesting, but not for pages and pages in such a book marketed as (political) thriller.
I know this is mainly my frustration speaking here, but this novel could've been so much more to my liking. I mean, I can totally see what Buffa tried to do here, the message he was trying to drive home. He touches a lot of good, valid points, be it the critique of the educational system, the drifting apart of societies due to financial unjustice, the general concentration of personal wealth as the only true means of succes and what not. Those are good, interesting points to ponder on, as are some of the historical ties and philosophocal ideas he presents. I also was very interested in his critiqual view of the western (especially US) involvement in the Middle East.
However, though many themes presented here resonated with me, the feeling of all of this, especially the character of Julian Drake, was way, way too much for me. I couldn't get over my constant annoyance with Drake, and eventually, the ending (which was coming from a mile away) only added to that. Some of Julian's political views added to my dislike of him, plus, this book had a lot of typos which also added to my level of annoyance (I know this is an ARC and I hope they'll get fixed for the first edition).
Sorry, but this was, for me, a rather frustrating and disappointing read. Barely two stars - an "okay" rating - for an intriguing idea and some interesting ideas.
April 14, 2020
I was hoping for an easy read but instead was transported back to Philosophy 101. Interesting for a metaphysical read but short on plot and character development.
March 1, 2019
The Democrats put up a candidate no one likes or trusts. The Republicans can’t get out of their own way. And the American people don’t really matter to either party. When a relative unknown mesmerizes the delegates at the national convention with a speech for the ages, the story is off and running. This novel does much more than entertain. It forces the reader to think and react to lessons in history and philosophy from Ancient Greece and Rome, Renaissance Europe, The UK, and the founding fathers of America. The book demands a response as the new president raises issues that force us to examine our values.
September 8, 2025
The cover states that this is "A Thriller". It isn't. It is an overly long treatise, polemic, wishful fairy tale, what have you, outlining the author's conservative political views. And his petty dislikes--he really doesn't like the Clintons or gay marriage. He doesn't think the latter should be legal because one should not pass laws without understanding that EVERYONE may do whatever the law allows. In this case, that means millions of same sex marriages, a collapsed birth rate and no future generations. His rationale boggles the mind.
Everyone and everything in this book is ludicrous, including the barely there 'plot'. And I understand that this is a work of 'fiction', but it isn't really. It is the author's attempt to make Americans more serious (certainly a worthy ambition) by reading Western (white) philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, Nietzsche, Heidegger, etc. Like he, an old white WASP male-- as in, the population cohort that has had the power for so long and got us into so much of our current predicament--did.
This book made my teeth hurt. Not the least because the author inserted himself into the proceedings--and was SO obvious about it. It was minor, but I'm not a fan of that kind of lazy writing.
In the end, I felt like the overriding theme of the book was that the author really misses the good old days of the all-powerful patriarchy. Ugh.
Everyone and everything in this book is ludicrous, including the barely there 'plot'. And I understand that this is a work of 'fiction', but it isn't really. It is the author's attempt to make Americans more serious (certainly a worthy ambition) by reading Western (white) philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, Nietzsche, Heidegger, etc. Like he, an old white WASP male-- as in, the population cohort that has had the power for so long and got us into so much of our current predicament--did.
This book made my teeth hurt. Not the least because the author inserted himself into the proceedings--and was SO obvious about it. It was minor, but I'm not a fan of that kind of lazy writing.
In the end, I felt like the overriding theme of the book was that the author really misses the good old days of the all-powerful patriarchy. Ugh.
March 9, 2023
An incredible premise, but the execution left me so frustrated, I had to skip the middle pages and get to the ending. So wordy!! Maybe I missed something by not reading the whole book, but to me, there was no heart to this story. Julian Drake is supposed to embody true conservatism, but his ideas to redistribute wealth are more like socialism. He expresses a conservative idea that pushes against LGBTQ marriage, because they cannot produce children(really?). That’s when I started to dislike him.
May 13, 2025
I could not wait to finish this book.
I was already invested and had to see how it ended.
I know this sounds “remedial” but this book had so many words..like when you ask someone what time it is and they tell you how to build the watch.
Interesting yes, but every detail just went on and on.
I finished it but I won’t be reading it again
I was already invested and had to see how it ended.
I know this sounds “remedial” but this book had so many words..like when you ask someone what time it is and they tell you how to build the watch.
Interesting yes, but every detail just went on and on.
I finished it but I won’t be reading it again
June 18, 2019
Very difficult to assign a rating to this book. It was so different. Although it is identified as a thriller, I do not believe it was. However, it was a great read about the inner workings of politics. If you are interested in philosophy, I strongly recommend it.
May 23, 2019
A so so political thriller.
July 14, 2019
Wow! A great book that will challenge your philosophy and beliefs. Enjoy.
August 29, 2019
Do not miss this one...contemporary yet loaded with historical details
October 13, 2019
Only reason I gave this 3 stars is because it’s by D.W. Buffa. It’s simply boring and tedious!
October 29, 2019
Several discussions of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers..
January 7, 2020
The book was an interesting concept. The editing was horrible. Many mistakes.
June 28, 2025
I had trouble liking this book because of the main character. He was so arrogant that I really got tired of reading it. The ending was predictable.
December 5, 2019
Less than ordinary political manipulation, not so thrilling, story was done much better in Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.
May 15, 2019
A new candidate that turns politics as usual on it's ear. That premise attracted me. I can not say that The 45th was a bad read, I was entertained and actually informed. I think the storyline became lost at times in the side journeys where characters espoused the theories of famous philosophers and touted the glory of past politicians and orators. As I stated, the premise drew me in, I thought the set up to the story was great. I thought the overall pacing was off. I might suggest this book as a discussion selection for those interested in political commentary or theory. As a political thriller it was a bit too predictable and meandering.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews