The Kingmaker

by Craig W. Turner

Ben Hathaway, a rising star in Cleveland politics, took one for the team. To protect his boss – and his career – he served three years in prison for a diabolical campaign scheme gone bad. Never said a word. Now that he’s out and looking to get back on track, though, the people he was so loyal to have turned their backs on him.

Hell bent on revenge, he decides to take on the world alone and starts his own consulting firm. But things are going slowly, and feelings of defeat are creeping in. In the cutthroat world of local politics, for Ben the writing is on the wall – his comeback is not meant to be.

Ben’s hopes are revived, however, when he’s approached by a mysterious and well-funded organization with an impossible task for him: win an unwinnable race for Cleveland city council that for a reason unbeknownst to him has national implications. He’s back in the spotlight, in a position to achieve his loftiest goals, and facing stakes that he never even imagined existed. But first, he must figure out who hired him, what they’re after, and why they believe he’s the guy to get the job done.

489 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2022

About the author

Craig W. Turner is the author of ten (10) books, including his political thrillers, the THE CAMPaiGN and THE KINGMAKER, and his non-fiction books on running effective local political campaigns. With more than 25 years’ experience in media, PR, economic development, campaign management and government relations, his newest novel, THE INFAMOUS JERSEY SHORE PICKPOCKET RING OF 1979 pulls directly from his experiences in recognition that often real life can be even more interesting than fiction.

Craig is founder and president of Momentum Public Affairs, a public relations and marketing firm headquartered in Western New York. A veteran political consultant, Craig also founded The Campaign Coach, a national campaign management and training program for first-time local candidates, in 2015.

Reviews

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book, it's fast-paced, very well written, it's near to a political campaign reality, and it just shows how people can be manipulated for the good and for the bad. In a very imaginative way, it reinforces the creed that before voting people have to research and understand their candidate's platforms before casting a ballot. Looking forward to Mr. Turner's next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maggie Deaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating dive into the mechanics and seamy underside of politics and of all that it takes to build a successful candidate as well as the machine to get him/her in office. This book engages you from the very first chapter with a fascinating young man, Ben, who had the world by the tail feathers as an influential up and coming political campaign manager, but lost it all and went to prison, thinking that the " team" he " took one for " would be there for him in return to help him begin his life again in stride, only to find that was not the intent at all. His struggle to recover and rebuild his political business/contacts encounters many unexpected detours ranging from mysterious benefactors to murders, car accidents, a number of hard fought political campaigns, and brings him not only close brushes with death but hard fought maturity and an appreciation that good and bad coexist in many people at one and the same time. I sincerely hope this will become a series as it would be one I could enjoy very much… Excellent read!