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Charlie and Margaret Marder #2
The Devil May Dance
Charlie and Margaret discover the dark side of Hollywood in Jake Tapper's follow-up to New York Times bestseller The Hellfire Club—an "excellent" cocktail of corruption and ambition (Publishers Weekly).
Charlie and Margaret Marder, political stars in 1960s Washington DC, know all too well how the tangled web of power in the nation's capital can operate. But while they long to settle into the comforts of home, Attorney General Robert Kennedy has other plans. He needs them to look into a potential threat not only to the presidency, but to the security of the United States itself. Charlie and Margaret quickly find themselves on a flight to sunny Los Angeles, where they’ll face off against a dazzling world of stars and studios. At the center of their investigation is Frank Sinatra, a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and a rumored mob crony, whom Charlie and Margaret must befriend to get the inside scoop. But in a town built on illusions, where friends and foes all look alike, nothing is easy, and drinks by the pool at the Sands and late-night adventures with the Rat Pack soon lead to a body in the trunk of their car. Before they know it, Charlie and Margaret are being pursued by sinister forces from Hollywood’s stages to the newly founded Church of Scientology, facing off against the darkest and most secret side of Hollywood’s power. As the Academy Awards loom, and someone near and dear to Margaret goes missing, Charlie and Margaret find the clock is not only ticking but running out. Someone out there knows what they’ve uncovered and can’t let them leave alive. Corruption and ambition form a deadly mix in this fast-paced sequel to The Hellfire Club.
Charlie and Margaret Marder, political stars in 1960s Washington DC, know all too well how the tangled web of power in the nation's capital can operate. But while they long to settle into the comforts of home, Attorney General Robert Kennedy has other plans. He needs them to look into a potential threat not only to the presidency, but to the security of the United States itself. Charlie and Margaret quickly find themselves on a flight to sunny Los Angeles, where they’ll face off against a dazzling world of stars and studios. At the center of their investigation is Frank Sinatra, a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and a rumored mob crony, whom Charlie and Margaret must befriend to get the inside scoop. But in a town built on illusions, where friends and foes all look alike, nothing is easy, and drinks by the pool at the Sands and late-night adventures with the Rat Pack soon lead to a body in the trunk of their car. Before they know it, Charlie and Margaret are being pursued by sinister forces from Hollywood’s stages to the newly founded Church of Scientology, facing off against the darkest and most secret side of Hollywood’s power. As the Academy Awards loom, and someone near and dear to Margaret goes missing, Charlie and Margaret find the clock is not only ticking but running out. Someone out there knows what they’ve uncovered and can’t let them leave alive. Corruption and ambition form a deadly mix in this fast-paced sequel to The Hellfire Club.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2021
1160 people are currently reading
4676 people want to read
About the author
Jake Tapper
17 books978 followersJake Tapper is the best-selling author of six books, his most recent being All the Demons Are Here, to be published July 11, 2023 by Little Brown & Co.
On April 24, 2018, Little, Brown and Company published Tapper's first novel, a political thriller entitled The Hellfire Club. The novel follows a fictitious freshman Congressman discovering corruption and conspiracy in 1950s Washington, at the height of the McCarthy era. The book debuted at Number 3 on the New York Times Best-Seller List for Hardcover fiction, and remained on the Best-Seller list for four weeks total. The Associated Press called The Hellfire Club "insightful...well-written and worthwhile." Tablet Magazine called the novel "startlingly good." USA Today said the author "sizzles" and "proves he has the page-turning knack in his entertaining debut novel."
The sequel to The Hellfire Club, The Devil May Dance, was released in May 2021, and continues the story of the lives of Charlie and Margaret Marder.
Tapper is also the author of The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, a critically acclaimed book about U.S. troops in Afghanistan that debuted at number 10 on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardback non-fiction. Bob Woodward described the book as "Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live—and die—at the point of the spear" and Jon Krakauer called it "a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book."
In 2014, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society recognized Tapper for the book and his reporting on military topics in general with the Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism. A Rod Lurie-directed film adaptation of The Outpost was released in July 2020, starring Milo Gibson, Orlando Bloom, Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones.
In addition to The Outpost, Tapper is the author of Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency, based on the 2000 Presidential election, that The Washington Post called "lively", the Chicago Tribune "a churning effusion well worth reading" and The Daily Telegraph "engrossing". He also wrote Body Slam: The Jesse Ventura Story (St. Martin's Press) that was excerpted by The Washington Post Magazine.
On April 24, 2018, Little, Brown and Company published Tapper's first novel, a political thriller entitled The Hellfire Club. The novel follows a fictitious freshman Congressman discovering corruption and conspiracy in 1950s Washington, at the height of the McCarthy era. The book debuted at Number 3 on the New York Times Best-Seller List for Hardcover fiction, and remained on the Best-Seller list for four weeks total. The Associated Press called The Hellfire Club "insightful...well-written and worthwhile." Tablet Magazine called the novel "startlingly good." USA Today said the author "sizzles" and "proves he has the page-turning knack in his entertaining debut novel."
The sequel to The Hellfire Club, The Devil May Dance, was released in May 2021, and continues the story of the lives of Charlie and Margaret Marder.
Tapper is also the author of The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, a critically acclaimed book about U.S. troops in Afghanistan that debuted at number 10 on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardback non-fiction. Bob Woodward described the book as "Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live—and die—at the point of the spear" and Jon Krakauer called it "a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book."
In 2014, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society recognized Tapper for the book and his reporting on military topics in general with the Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism. A Rod Lurie-directed film adaptation of The Outpost was released in July 2020, starring Milo Gibson, Orlando Bloom, Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones.
In addition to The Outpost, Tapper is the author of Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency, based on the 2000 Presidential election, that The Washington Post called "lively", the Chicago Tribune "a churning effusion well worth reading" and The Daily Telegraph "engrossing". He also wrote Body Slam: The Jesse Ventura Story (St. Martin's Press) that was excerpted by The Washington Post Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 490 reviews
May 22, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded down
I’m a huge fan of Jake Tapper and his CNN show. So, I jumped at the chance to read his political thriller. Taking place in 1961/62, it covers all the big names - RFK, the Rat Pack, L. Ron Hubbard, Hitchcock, the well known mob names.
Charlie Marder is a NY congressman, an ex- soldier dealing with PTSD. He’s forced to help RFK investigate Sinatra’s mob ties. I love that Tapper inserts all sorts of fun political facts, like RFK being friends with Senator Joe McCarthy and gossipy facts about the various stars. It’s a fun, newsy sort of thriller. Perfect for those that want lots of name dropping. Sinatra is portrayed as a middle aged, spiteful grump. All the Rat Pack as philandering misogynists. There’s enough alcohol to sink a ship.
The writing has an old fashioned 1950s detective story feel to it. It meanders at times. The pace, somewhat slow in the first half, really picks up in the second. The rescue scene towards the end of the book is so unbelievable as to border on a bad movie cliche.
In summary, it’s an easy beach read. Make sure to read the author’s notes. I was impressed with the research Tapper did to write this book.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy of this book.
I’m a huge fan of Jake Tapper and his CNN show. So, I jumped at the chance to read his political thriller. Taking place in 1961/62, it covers all the big names - RFK, the Rat Pack, L. Ron Hubbard, Hitchcock, the well known mob names.
Charlie Marder is a NY congressman, an ex- soldier dealing with PTSD. He’s forced to help RFK investigate Sinatra’s mob ties. I love that Tapper inserts all sorts of fun political facts, like RFK being friends with Senator Joe McCarthy and gossipy facts about the various stars. It’s a fun, newsy sort of thriller. Perfect for those that want lots of name dropping. Sinatra is portrayed as a middle aged, spiteful grump. All the Rat Pack as philandering misogynists. There’s enough alcohol to sink a ship.
The writing has an old fashioned 1950s detective story feel to it. It meanders at times. The pace, somewhat slow in the first half, really picks up in the second. The rescue scene towards the end of the book is so unbelievable as to border on a bad movie cliche.
In summary, it’s an easy beach read. Make sure to read the author’s notes. I was impressed with the research Tapper did to write this book.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy of this book.
May 16, 2021
I’m a big fan of Jake Tapper as a news anchor, so I was happy to learn that this book, like his reporting, contains precise and accurate facts, biting wit, and a lot of intelligence. Historical fiction of the 50s is not my usual genre, but Jake completely held my interest with his tales of politics and the Rat Pack. Many of the historical facts are true. The trick is seeing where the fiction begins. (I have no trouble believing that Frank Sinatra’s diet and exercise plan did in fact consist of bourbon, cigarettes, and poker.) I did not read the first book in this series, The Hellfire Club, but that did not at all lessen my enjoyment of this intelligent and witty detective novel. Fans of politics, Rat Pack history, and old-fashioned mysteries will love this one. Like his news, the book is meticulously researched and shows a great deal of Jake’s charming and hilarious personality.
Thanks to Little, Brown, NetGalley, and Jake Tapper for this fun and original ARC.
Thanks to Little, Brown, NetGalley, and Jake Tapper for this fun and original ARC.
December 27, 2023
Jake should stick to his day job.
June 3, 2021
While I enjoy Jake's TV personality, the subject matter, writing style and approach aren't appealing; were I older I might feel differently. A tale of the mafia's connection to the Rat Pack and Sinatra seemed intriguing enough, though I'd heard most of this before. At the end of the day, an author's ability to engage the reader with unusual characters, plot, surprises and momentum is what counts, and this slogs along like a horse drawn carriage to nowhere. There's little more to be said; yet another DNF.
June 2, 2021
I really like and respect Jake Tapper on cnn. And so I really tried to like this book. But sadly he front-loaded every Hollywood character imaginable, loosely connected them with a congressman and his wife - and her runaway niece! All to make a story that strains credulity. The writing is pedantic and quite simply the book is a bore!
April 22, 2021
Back in 2018, when I read Jake Tapper’s novel The Hellfire Club, I said it was “four and a half stars, rounded down to four because it isn’t QUITE a five – but I would bet his next one will be.” Now here we are with a sequel, The Devil May Dance, bringing back New York Congressman Charlie Marder and his wife, zoologist Dr. Margaret Marder. And like The Hellfire Club, this one is also “ very Mad Men-ish, with lots of cocktails, smoking, and the rampant racism and sexism that were so accepted at the time. “ One of my favorite lines: “Amoral, vacuous, meaningless, exploitative–sure. And? Was this virility not what America embraced?”
For this book, it is now the 60s, and rather than taking place mostly in Washington, Charlie and Margaret are tasked by Attorney General Robert Kennedy to investigate a potential threat to both his brother’s presidency and also the nation’s security. Charlie and Margaret go to Los Angeles, where their investigation centers on Frank Sinatra, a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and a rumored buddy of mob figures including San Giancana and his cronies.The male members of the Rat Pack are incredibly racist and sexist and Margaret, holder of a PhD in Zoology, was “… increasingly reminded of her 1940s fieldwork observing chimpanzees “
There are lots of boozy late-night adventures with Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack, but once a dead body turns up in the trunk of their rental car, things start to take a darker turn. Famous names are everywhere, including Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley Maclaine, and L. Ron Hubbard and his new Church of Scientology. In a line referencing Sinatra and his pals that seems equally applicable to the current political climate, Charlie muses that “...being a sociopath didn’t mean an absence of charisma.”
As real events such as the Academy Awards ceremony happen, someone near and dear to Margaret has gone missing, so she and Charlie need to step up the pace of their investigation. It’s a fast-paced story, and packed with real events and names of real people. It’s heavily researched, with complete citations for research sources at the end. It’s very entertaining, and for some it may be a bit depressing. As Sinatra notes, “Bad men exist ad worse men carry out their orders–and the rest of us avert our eyes.” The source of the title is Sinatra’s next line, spoken when they are at his compound in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area), “Everyone comes out here to dance with the devil, and the devil may dance. That’s what they should have up there on that hill, instead of [bleep]ing Hollywood.”
Thanks to Little, Brown and Co and NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for this review. Solid and a good example of Jake Tapper’s research skills and attention to detail.
For this book, it is now the 60s, and rather than taking place mostly in Washington, Charlie and Margaret are tasked by Attorney General Robert Kennedy to investigate a potential threat to both his brother’s presidency and also the nation’s security. Charlie and Margaret go to Los Angeles, where their investigation centers on Frank Sinatra, a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and a rumored buddy of mob figures including San Giancana and his cronies.The male members of the Rat Pack are incredibly racist and sexist and Margaret, holder of a PhD in Zoology, was “… increasingly reminded of her 1940s fieldwork observing chimpanzees “
There are lots of boozy late-night adventures with Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack, but once a dead body turns up in the trunk of their rental car, things start to take a darker turn. Famous names are everywhere, including Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley Maclaine, and L. Ron Hubbard and his new Church of Scientology. In a line referencing Sinatra and his pals that seems equally applicable to the current political climate, Charlie muses that “...being a sociopath didn’t mean an absence of charisma.”
As real events such as the Academy Awards ceremony happen, someone near and dear to Margaret has gone missing, so she and Charlie need to step up the pace of their investigation. It’s a fast-paced story, and packed with real events and names of real people. It’s heavily researched, with complete citations for research sources at the end. It’s very entertaining, and for some it may be a bit depressing. As Sinatra notes, “Bad men exist ad worse men carry out their orders–and the rest of us avert our eyes.” The source of the title is Sinatra’s next line, spoken when they are at his compound in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area), “Everyone comes out here to dance with the devil, and the devil may dance. That’s what they should have up there on that hill, instead of [bleep]ing Hollywood.”
Thanks to Little, Brown and Co and NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for this review. Solid and a good example of Jake Tapper’s research skills and attention to detail.
August 8, 2023
(And yes, this is the same Jake Tapper of CNN)
‘This is the follow up to “The Hellfire Club,” Trapper’s earlier thriller about McCarthy-era Washington. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
To understand this book, we need to examine the social landscape of Hollywood back in the 1960’s. The glitz and the glamour of it all. Transformative, as well. Newly freed from McCarthyism, an influx of young producers and directors produced content that was more violent, sexually explicit and cynical – something not yet seen in American cinema. The Rat Pack (remember Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.) were at the peak of their popularity, and mobsters were tied (although not seen directly) to the entertainment industry.
This is what Tapper is bringing to the table in his historical fiction piece. He wants you to see what is the real past, and run with the nostalgia – mixing fact with fiction.
Yet, as he writes this believable plot, he writes these characters who are a bit wooden and caricature-based.
The scenery is great, but the characters, well…
He also tiptoes around race relations. He tiptoes around it through comments made to Sammy Davis Jr., the only African-American member of the Rat Pack. But the racially charged dialogue between him and the other Rat Pack members feels like a poor substitute for actual racial tension and detracts from the book’s realism. And that is where the book failed us readers.
He also spread the plot a bit thin. Was there really a need for a sub-plot on the Church of Scientology?
Did Margaret our protagonist really need to be on the set of The Birds?
The plotline is also suffering with protagonist Charlie and his PTSD, alcoholism and infidelity. What happened? How was it resolved?
This book had potential, but, it seemed to move in so many directions, it lost its way.
‘This is the follow up to “The Hellfire Club,” Trapper’s earlier thriller about McCarthy-era Washington. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
To understand this book, we need to examine the social landscape of Hollywood back in the 1960’s. The glitz and the glamour of it all. Transformative, as well. Newly freed from McCarthyism, an influx of young producers and directors produced content that was more violent, sexually explicit and cynical – something not yet seen in American cinema. The Rat Pack (remember Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.) were at the peak of their popularity, and mobsters were tied (although not seen directly) to the entertainment industry.
This is what Tapper is bringing to the table in his historical fiction piece. He wants you to see what is the real past, and run with the nostalgia – mixing fact with fiction.
Yet, as he writes this believable plot, he writes these characters who are a bit wooden and caricature-based.
The scenery is great, but the characters, well…
He also tiptoes around race relations. He tiptoes around it through comments made to Sammy Davis Jr., the only African-American member of the Rat Pack. But the racially charged dialogue between him and the other Rat Pack members feels like a poor substitute for actual racial tension and detracts from the book’s realism. And that is where the book failed us readers.
He also spread the plot a bit thin. Was there really a need for a sub-plot on the Church of Scientology?
Did Margaret our protagonist really need to be on the set of The Birds?
The plotline is also suffering with protagonist Charlie and his PTSD, alcoholism and infidelity. What happened? How was it resolved?
This book had potential, but, it seemed to move in so many directions, it lost its way.
June 20, 2021
Great storyline. JFK, RFK, The Mob, The Rat Pack, and Hollywood...this thriller has it all. Hard to put down.
January 12, 2022
U.S. Congressman Charlie Marder, and his wife, Margaret, return to find themselves in the midst of political intrigue in Hollywood. Attorney General Bobby Kennedy, Jr. wants Frank Sinatra investigated for his mob connections with President Jack Kennedy’s upcoming visit to the west coast. While hanging out with the Rat Pack; Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Shirley MacLaine; in a cemetery in Los Angeles in January 1962, the Marders discover a dead woman in their car trunk. The decadence and underbelly of Tinseltown is revealed with runaway girls seeking fame, the Church of Scientology, underage sex, drugs, the mob, and blackmail. While it was entertaining to read about the shenanigans of Hollywood stars and its players, a night at the Oscars, and a New Year’s Eve performance at the Copa Room of the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, the tale became convoluted and improbable. How far does the conspiracy extend? The research was incredible. 3.5 stars.
September 9, 2021
Too much Hollywood name dropping and not enough plot.
February 3, 2025
Looking for a different type of book, I again sought Jake Tapper’s historical mystery thriller. Tapper provides another solid story in this sequel, offering wonderful historical flavouring, all about a congressman who is sent to the West Coast as a Hollywood consultant while taking on an investigation. When a body appears in his vehicle, Charlie Marder is once again in the hot seat, though his connections help show that he has little reason to be involved. However, that may not be enough. A great follow-up novel by Tapper that had me hooked from the start.
Charlie and Margaret Marder have a made a name for themselves in political Washington. They are pulled into the mix of the political tidal wave known as the election of John F. Kennedy. Now, in late 1961, they are approached by the Attorney-General, Robert Kennedy, to help uncover a threat to the president and the country as a whole. This could be a wonderful chance for Congressman Marder to also use his experience as a soldier and politician to serve as a consultant on some Hollywood films in the making.
The mission is centred on Frank Sinatra, popular crooner and Hollywood actor. While Sinatra is an ardent supporter of Kennedy, there is also a hushed rumour that he’s connected to the mob. Congressman Marder must befriend the man and get the truth, all to protect the country. While the line is blurred between friend and foe, Charlie and Margaret soon find themselves in the middle of a Rat Pack adventure that ends with a body in the congressman’s vehicle. While no one actually believes Charlie Marder is a killer, he must clear his name. This will mean pushing into the depths of the dark side of Hollywood, where nothing is as easy to maneuvre though at any point.
Forced to connect with the newly-founded Church of Scientology, Charlie and Margaret find themselves concerned about the whispers they are hearing regarding young girls and the Hollywood elite. There is so much pressure round town that no one can trust even their closest friends. Margaret is pulled into the mix when someone close to her goes missing, perhaps a warning to stop investigating the murder. However, Congressman has never shied any from a mystery and he’s not about to stop at this point. Tapper delivers another strong story with history paving the way in a mystery like few others.
I have long regarded Jake Tapper as a strong journalist, but his two mystery novels have left me happy to see his expanded abilities. Tapper knows what he is doing and crafts a strong thriller with great twists. The narrative moves along with ease, using both great storytelling and a historical backdrop to push things along. With numerous aspects to the story, things gain momentum with ease and keep the reader in the middle of the mix. As with the debut novel, history keeps the reader intrigued, as name and location drops help add excitement to things. The characters are also ones the attentive reader will know, though their personalities also fit nicely into the larger story. Plot points and surprises work well, mixing actual events from the time with the story’s numerous twists. This provides the reader with a healthy balance and keeps the reader from knowing too much in short order. I am eager to see where things are going and have the next novel in the series ready to go.
Kudos, Mr. Tapper, for another great piece!
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July 14, 2021
I do like listening to Jake Tapper on CNN so I was interested to see what he had written. I've not read the first book. To get out more of the book it helps if you know what was going on in the early 1960's. Maybe I would have known more about that time if I had been born in the US. I grew up in Sweden and moved to the US 20 years ago.
There were a lot of people in this book. If I had read the book in kindle I would have been able to search for a name and see what was written about that person earlier in the book. I gave up on listening to the book at night, trying to go to sleep.
It seems like the written book had the author's notes which would have been very helpful. A list of who was who in this book would have helped me knowing who they were talking about. I still liked the book and the story.
The audio book I'm listen to was published by Hachette book group, ISBN: 9781 5449 13 7457. This publication doesn't show up.
There were a lot of people in this book. If I had read the book in kindle I would have been able to search for a name and see what was written about that person earlier in the book. I gave up on listening to the book at night, trying to go to sleep.
It seems like the written book had the author's notes which would have been very helpful. A list of who was who in this book would have helped me knowing who they were talking about. I still liked the book and the story.
The audio book I'm listen to was published by Hachette book group, ISBN: 9781 5449 13 7457. This publication doesn't show up.
June 28, 2021
Terrible………just terrible
June 2, 2021
I agree with Isabel in her review that Jake should stick to his day job. The premise of the book held promise but the execution fell far short of my expectations. Yes, it was fun to read about the Rat Pack and spend time with Frank Sinatra but the whole book was like a cut and paste from news stories from other sources all mashed up together. If you are younger, (I'm 65) many of these stories will seem fresh, almost like revelations to you. Students of history will know that this is just a merger of a lot of names, incidents, and facts.
I began to skim read at about page 200 because I couldn't stand the stretched-out narrative. The book and author could have used a more proficient editor.
I began to skim read at about page 200 because I couldn't stand the stretched-out narrative. The book and author could have used a more proficient editor.
May 15, 2021
If Jake Taper hadn’t written this book I do not believe it would have been published. So if you have nothing else to read ok, otherwise skip it.
June 9, 2021
Pulp fiction. Tapper is a far better reporter/journalist.
June 3, 2021
A pitch perfect portrait of the 1960s. The portrait of Frank Sinatra is just so telling much as the portrait of Joe McCarthy was in Tapper's earlier novel.
Best scene: Frank Sinatra smashing up the help pad in a rage when JFK bags him on the trip.
I found something fascinating on every single page. What a terrific portrait of the 60s. Just bought a copy for my mom who is 91 and lived those years.
Best scene: Frank Sinatra smashing up the help pad in a rage when JFK bags him on the trip.
I found something fascinating on every single page. What a terrific portrait of the 60s. Just bought a copy for my mom who is 91 and lived those years.
July 22, 2021
Loved THE DEVIL MAY DANCE! What a great thriller! Going back to 1961-1962 with the rat pack and several notables from the 1960s. Good story too!
June 12, 2021
Wanted to love it, but found it not very entertaining. Trying to figure out why. I think the author appeared to be trying to cram in everything on his "outline"--the mob, Kennedy, Cuba, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Congress, child sex rings, Scientology, etc. While he succeeded in weaving all those threads together with skill, for me, the final product is lacking in character motivation and emotional punch.
May 18, 2021
I love Jake Tapper...the journalist and the host of The Lead. I love classic Hollywood, the Rat Pack, and that entire era. That said it was as if this book had to cram every headline persona in that era into these 300 pages. In addition it became way too repetitive with always mentioning full names of celebrities. The plot was ok. Not terrible. Not great.
June 17, 2021
Before anything is said, I have never been more excited about a book coming out in my entire life. A book that follows a storyline based with Robert F Kennedy on one end and Frank Sinatra at the other is, without any exaggeration, the single absolute microcosm of my top interests. My mouth literally fell open when I first heard of this book, and the does not happen to me often. So, as I write this review, I may be doing so with rose colored glasses, but I shall try to be as impartial as possible.
Upon thinking of a single word to describe the book, the first to come to mind was “fun,” but upon closer examination that word is absolutely wrong. That is not to say it was not an enjoyable read, but fun is the wrong word. When I first picked the book up, I was expecting a more high class, almost white collar type of conflict, like maybe a tax evasion scandal or something, which would have led to a mod hit. I was wrong. In all honesty this book was far darker than I expected, and if memory serves, it is far darker than the first novel in the series. The book (kind of spoiler, but it is just the plot) ultimately revolves around a ring of pedophilia, which was really not what I expected. So, as a warning, this book is awfully dark, so if you wanted to pick up the story as a bit of a pick-me-up thriller, you probably ought to look elsewhere. It is dark and heavy stuff.
That said, I still generally enjoyed the read. I wrote earlier of how two of the major players in the novel, Sinatra and RFK, are perhaps the two people who have ever walked the Earth that I am most interested in, so to see them in the same book made me giddy. But my interest in them, I believe, at the risk of sounding arrogant allowed me to look at the book with a bit more of a legitimate critical eye. With that in mind, I felt that, in regards to the historical details, Tapper was on point with pretty much everything. His characterizations of the real figures, like RFK and the Rat Pack, were all very solid. But what really stood out to me was host characterization of Sinatra. From what I have seen and read, the character of Frank Sinatra was nearly flawless. Tapper did a marvelous job conveying the complexity of Frank, which as a fan I appreciate, and as a reader helped my reading experience. For once, (spoiler alert kind of) Sinatra was not portrayed as a heartless monster, but as a moody fellow who is deeply flawed but just as deeply decent. Along with the characterization, the story was straight up good. Similar to the first book in the series, the beginning was a little bit slow, but ultimately the book was a boulder, slowly picking up speed as it rolls down the hill. By about 5/8 of the way through the book, be sure to have time available, because not even the willpower of Hercules could allow one to put this book down from that point.
All things considered, I did take a star away from the book, however. Simply, a lot of the times the book felt as if it was just rambling on, and a lot of the little anecdotes had seemingly nothing to do with the plot. The thing about those is that they clearly come from the passion that Tapper has for the subjects of the book, which is appreciated and makes those anecdotes still a little enjoyable. However, there are times where the book becomes a hamster wheel and ultimately does not go anywhere. Still, as I said before, that clearly comes from the passion and the fun that Tapper must have had writing this book, so I can still appreciate and respect that. Nevertheless, it is enough to warrant a loss of a star.
The Devil May Dance is not a book that will make you rethink everything in your life, not is it a light hearted children’s book (absolutely do not read this to your kid). And yet, it is a book that I would highly recommend. It is a nice, quick read, and one that will get the adrenaline pumping a little bit. It gets a little cheesy here and there, but I suppose that cheese is good unless you have too much of it, which this book does not. Ultimately, the characters are all rock (the fictional characters, the Marder’s, are also complicated and likeable) and the plot is quite gripping, which makes for a pretty good book. Two thumbs up. And so I sing to this book that words that Frank Sinatra once sang, “I get no kick from champagne, mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all. So tell me, why should it be true? That I get a kick out of you.”
Upon thinking of a single word to describe the book, the first to come to mind was “fun,” but upon closer examination that word is absolutely wrong. That is not to say it was not an enjoyable read, but fun is the wrong word. When I first picked the book up, I was expecting a more high class, almost white collar type of conflict, like maybe a tax evasion scandal or something, which would have led to a mod hit. I was wrong. In all honesty this book was far darker than I expected, and if memory serves, it is far darker than the first novel in the series. The book (kind of spoiler, but it is just the plot) ultimately revolves around a ring of pedophilia, which was really not what I expected. So, as a warning, this book is awfully dark, so if you wanted to pick up the story as a bit of a pick-me-up thriller, you probably ought to look elsewhere. It is dark and heavy stuff.
That said, I still generally enjoyed the read. I wrote earlier of how two of the major players in the novel, Sinatra and RFK, are perhaps the two people who have ever walked the Earth that I am most interested in, so to see them in the same book made me giddy. But my interest in them, I believe, at the risk of sounding arrogant allowed me to look at the book with a bit more of a legitimate critical eye. With that in mind, I felt that, in regards to the historical details, Tapper was on point with pretty much everything. His characterizations of the real figures, like RFK and the Rat Pack, were all very solid. But what really stood out to me was host characterization of Sinatra. From what I have seen and read, the character of Frank Sinatra was nearly flawless. Tapper did a marvelous job conveying the complexity of Frank, which as a fan I appreciate, and as a reader helped my reading experience. For once, (spoiler alert kind of) Sinatra was not portrayed as a heartless monster, but as a moody fellow who is deeply flawed but just as deeply decent. Along with the characterization, the story was straight up good. Similar to the first book in the series, the beginning was a little bit slow, but ultimately the book was a boulder, slowly picking up speed as it rolls down the hill. By about 5/8 of the way through the book, be sure to have time available, because not even the willpower of Hercules could allow one to put this book down from that point.
All things considered, I did take a star away from the book, however. Simply, a lot of the times the book felt as if it was just rambling on, and a lot of the little anecdotes had seemingly nothing to do with the plot. The thing about those is that they clearly come from the passion that Tapper has for the subjects of the book, which is appreciated and makes those anecdotes still a little enjoyable. However, there are times where the book becomes a hamster wheel and ultimately does not go anywhere. Still, as I said before, that clearly comes from the passion and the fun that Tapper must have had writing this book, so I can still appreciate and respect that. Nevertheless, it is enough to warrant a loss of a star.
The Devil May Dance is not a book that will make you rethink everything in your life, not is it a light hearted children’s book (absolutely do not read this to your kid). And yet, it is a book that I would highly recommend. It is a nice, quick read, and one that will get the adrenaline pumping a little bit. It gets a little cheesy here and there, but I suppose that cheese is good unless you have too much of it, which this book does not. Ultimately, the characters are all rock (the fictional characters, the Marder’s, are also complicated and likeable) and the plot is quite gripping, which makes for a pretty good book. Two thumbs up. And so I sing to this book that words that Frank Sinatra once sang, “I get no kick from champagne, mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all. So tell me, why should it be true? That I get a kick out of you.”
May 21, 2021
*Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars*
The second novel from CNN anchor Jake Tapper about his fictional Congressman Charlie Marder and his zoologist wife Margaret, this time with the duo working under a Democratic administration - the Kennedys in 1962, and with Charlie already having served for four terms in the U.S. House.
The Kennedys, with AG Bobby Kennedy taking the action and lead in the book, coercing Charlie and Margaret to head to Tinseltown (LA) to find out what connections Frank Sinatra has to the Mob, and what they are up to.
If the plot seems a let down compared to the previous entry "The Hellfire Club, you aren't alone in that. At first, while I was interested in the Rat Pack and 1960s Hollywood (that seemed to mirror many of the themes of the Netflix series Hollywood as well), but I got somewhat bored at the beginning - the book opens up when the Marders are already in Hollywood and enmeshed with the Rat Pack, and then jumps backwards in time to show how they got to Hollywood and became attached to the Rat Pack.
While the later half of the book does pick up in action, and does rather well in connecting the dots, the book seemed weaker compared to the first book. I felt that Tapper was more focused on the Rat Pack and the decadence and decay of Hollywood, rather then keeping all of his eggs in one basket. You get the sense that more than the Marders, its Sinatra who is the actual star and object of fascination by Tapper, to where Margaret (who gets more star power this time around) and Charlie are just naive enough that we believe they are the good guys, but also shrewd enough to solve the case the way they are able to.
If you liked the Hellfire club and wanted to continue with the characters and see where the series had gone, make it a point to pick up this political historical thriller.
The second novel from CNN anchor Jake Tapper about his fictional Congressman Charlie Marder and his zoologist wife Margaret, this time with the duo working under a Democratic administration - the Kennedys in 1962, and with Charlie already having served for four terms in the U.S. House.
The Kennedys, with AG Bobby Kennedy taking the action and lead in the book, coercing Charlie and Margaret to head to Tinseltown (LA) to find out what connections Frank Sinatra has to the Mob, and what they are up to.
If the plot seems a let down compared to the previous entry "The Hellfire Club, you aren't alone in that. At first, while I was interested in the Rat Pack and 1960s Hollywood (that seemed to mirror many of the themes of the Netflix series Hollywood as well), but I got somewhat bored at the beginning - the book opens up when the Marders are already in Hollywood and enmeshed with the Rat Pack, and then jumps backwards in time to show how they got to Hollywood and became attached to the Rat Pack.
While the later half of the book does pick up in action, and does rather well in connecting the dots, the book seemed weaker compared to the first book. I felt that Tapper was more focused on the Rat Pack and the decadence and decay of Hollywood, rather then keeping all of his eggs in one basket. You get the sense that more than the Marders, its Sinatra who is the actual star and object of fascination by Tapper, to where Margaret (who gets more star power this time around) and Charlie are just naive enough that we believe they are the good guys, but also shrewd enough to solve the case the way they are able to.
If you liked the Hellfire club and wanted to continue with the characters and see where the series had gone, make it a point to pick up this political historical thriller.
May 10, 2021
I absolutely loved The Hellfire Club so I was really excited to read this one. This is a great follow-up but I did find that moving the novel out of DC left me with a little bit of disappointment since so many novels of this era take place in Vegas and LA. However, the link between Hollywood and politics is unavoidable, especially in the 60s when the lines between the two professions blurred. That was one of my biggest takeaways here was that the moment politicians became celebrities, and garnered admiration the way movie stars and musicians did, the integrity of our governing system fell a notch. That might not be Tapper's point, but it was on my mind a lot.
As for the plot, it was so full of historical details and facts, just as in book one, that was so interesting. I think every political history junkie on earth should read Jake's books because he puts so much character into the time period and inserts so many real moments that you almost believe it's a documentary or biography. It's a bit like Forest Gump too in how you're witnessing historical moments known and lesser-known.
The pace is fast and there are a lot of moving parts just as in book one so I think this is a solid sequel. For anyone who hasn't read the first book, you won't get lost. There's enough recap to get you into the characters but I know I enjoyed it more because I already know NY Congressman Charlie Marder and his wife Margaret. This badass couple have become quite invaluable to the government at this point so I can't wait to see what they come up with next!
As for the plot, it was so full of historical details and facts, just as in book one, that was so interesting. I think every political history junkie on earth should read Jake's books because he puts so much character into the time period and inserts so many real moments that you almost believe it's a documentary or biography. It's a bit like Forest Gump too in how you're witnessing historical moments known and lesser-known.
The pace is fast and there are a lot of moving parts just as in book one so I think this is a solid sequel. For anyone who hasn't read the first book, you won't get lost. There's enough recap to get you into the characters but I know I enjoyed it more because I already know NY Congressman Charlie Marder and his wife Margaret. This badass couple have become quite invaluable to the government at this point so I can't wait to see what they come up with next!
June 12, 2021
A somewhat interesting look at Hollywood creeps interspersed with politics. Extremely testosterone driven. Men will appreciate it more than women, IMHO. Although it does take place in the early sixties when that was the norm. Also, those who appreciated the Rat Pack may enjoy seeing another side to them. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 13, 2021
This was a great story made much more interesting by adding the actual Rat Pack, Kennedys and other notable 1960's celebrities as actual characters in the story. I really enjoyed this one although it might be for the older readers who remember who these people were.
August 22, 2021
The Devil May Dance is the sequel to The Hellfire Club with the same main two characters. However, this book feels more like a fanfiction about the characters rather than an official part of their story. Namedropping famous 1960's Hollywood stars feels weird and unnatural to be hanging out with a Congressman and it's hard to take the book seriously.
May 19, 2021
The plot was very good, kept me reading until I was done.
However, although I do love the 60s and have my fondest memories in the late 50s, 60s, and early 70s, it seemed that Tapper was trying to get in too much, like cramming in everything he knew or had researched about it. I would have liked it more subtle.
However, although I do love the 60s and have my fondest memories in the late 50s, 60s, and early 70s, it seemed that Tapper was trying to get in too much, like cramming in everything he knew or had researched about it. I would have liked it more subtle.
May 26, 2021
I think all the hype about this book has to be because its author is Jake Tapper of CNN, my favorite mainstream media anchor. I thought his first novel The Hellfire Club was terrible. The Devil May Dance was actually better. The fact-based 1960s mystery set in Rat Pack Hollywood featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., etc. and focusing on mob ties and studio supported trafficking of underage girls (cue Matt Gaetz) was interesting. It seemed like Tapper learned to write dialogue that was not as stilted as in The Hellfire Club (it was still a little cliched, but given the 1960s setting it wasn't as annoying), and he spared us the extraneous detailed history lessons that riddled The Hellfire Club. Having said all that, the story would have been more believable if Charlie and Margaret were FBI, cops or private investigators, rather than a congressman and his zoologist wife who apparently had read all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and therefore knew how to get out of all kinds of life threatening situations and crack a mystery.
May 17, 2021
With another successful installment in his period detective novels starring Congressman Charlie Marder and his wife, Margaret, Jake Tapper again proves that he's more than an excellent journalist, but an impressive fiction writer as well. Though the start was a bit slow, once you make it a few chapters in, you'll be unable to put down this tale of intrigue that also features the Kennedy's, the Rat Pack, and other Hollywood royalty from the '60s. Let's hope Tapper has a third - and a fourth, fifth, sixth, and so on - installment up his sleeves. And let's hope a Hollywood studio quickly buys up the rights to both "The Hellfire Club", "The Devil May Dance", and whatever subsequent sequels are on the way so that these cinematic novels can be enjoyed by audiences around the world on the big screen.
July 14, 2021
This is the follow up to “The Hellfire Club,” Trapper’s earlier thriller about McCarthy-era Washington, except this time the historical characters in the novel are members of the original (to some of us) “Rat Pack” of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc. It takes a certain chutzpah to try to create believable dialog for characters many of us think we know based on hours and hours of TV-viewing, but Tapper pretty much pulls it off and lets us get into the interaction of politics and entertainment of the early ‘60’s. There’s also a pretty decent political/murder thriller involved, too.
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