Blind Trust

Ellen Fischer #2

by Barbara Boxer

Now married (to a Republican!) and in her second term, United States Senator Ellen Fisher (Democrat) is about to chair explosive hearings on Homeland Security. Before she goes head to head with the Vice President, whose excessive zeal in enforcing national security has begun to infringe on individual liberties, Ellen and her staff become the subjects of a barrage of charges and attacks that threaten their safety, as well as her career and marriage. This second novel by Senator Barbara Boxer is the story of dirty tricks and political survival, and the battle for integrity in the corridors of power. Combining the personal and the political, Blind Trust is an intriguing insider's view of what goes on behind closed doors in Washington, D.C.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Barbara Levy Boxer is an American Democratic politician and the current junior U.S. Senator from the State of California. She holds the record for the most popular votes in a statewide contested election in California, having received 6,955,728 votes in her 2004 re-election over former Republican Secretary of State Bill Jones.

Boxer was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, becoming one of the first of two female Jewish senators, along with Dianne Feinstein. Throughout her career, Boxer has been a vocal advocate for environmental issues, abortion rights, gun control, and medical research. She is generally classified as liberal and is often in conflict with conservative groups.

With the convening of the 110th Congress, Boxer became the first female chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee and, following the resignation of Sen. Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) from the post, she was also chosen as chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics. This made her the only senator to preside over two committees at the same time.

She holds the position of Chief Deputy Whip in Majority.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an average book. There's no real big mystery or even action in it. I was disappointed that it was only a little over 200 pages and didn't really seem to go in-depth about anything. I was hoping that Senator Boxer would be able to give us details about things that exist in Congress and the power plays that happen. I didn't really get a good connection with the senator in the book and her Republican husband or even with her staff. You were supposed to feel for them and I just couldn't. I didn't particularly get into the "bad guys" of the book either...the Republican Vice President and his nominee for Homeland Security. It was a very easy read and because I'm interested in politics then it wasn't hard to get into. However, I found it very simplistic and very predictable. I'm not sure that I'll read another one of Senator Boxer's books and I'm not sure that I could really recommend it to many readers.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

That’s Senator Barbara Boxer! .. Blind Trust is a fun book to read – not a really good book, but fun if you know anything about the current political situation in Washington. Main character = a powerful woman senator (duh!) Ellen Fischer, who is fairly recently (4 years) married to a rich Republican Congressman who was defeated in the last election by a right-wing Republican. When they married their money was put into a blind trust, now a loud-mouth right-wing radio talk host is claiming she has earned big money from oil, gas, etc. investments while playing the environmentalist to the public. How did he get the information on their blind trust when they didn’t know about it themselves? But there is more… a Dick Chaney like character is trying to become head of the head of Homeland Security. Senator Fischer is chair of the hearing committee on his nomination. It’s all fun to figure out who the characters of the book are based on.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by author Barbara Boxer. I enjoyed it and thought the story was credible when you consider often people involved in politics have other agendas besides how they run their platform to get elected. I would have liked the story wrapped up a bit better. Despite freedom of speech, it would have been interesting to see Sam Slaugher the radio talk show host of Slaughterhouse made to squirm a bit and get a bit of payback for his diatrible. The Vice President's wife packs a bag near the end of the story and take their daughter and leaves, however, I was left to wonder if she returned after his career was ended and how about Satcher and his underhanded spouse. I think a few paragraphs could have been devoted their downfall as well.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew Barbara Boxer wrote fiction... Steve found it a little scary that a senator had the time to write (or co-wrote) a book. The book is about a tough, ethical female senator from California who is the target of a right wing plot. Hmmm.... It is supposed to be an insider view of how the senate operates and according to this book senators spend more time in-fighting and horse trading then legislating. I must say it is a page turner- and worth a read if the library books you ordered online haven't reached your branch yet.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Barbara Boxer book, but I will read more. Fast paced, DC centered and politically interesting. With her background and experiences I certainly hoped throught the read that it was indeed fiction.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I have no political leanings either way, I found this book to be an enjoyable read. Didn't get a lot of inside information on the workings of the Senate hearing process in appointing a new official, though.

[Annie Kostyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second novel I've read by Senator Barbara Boxer. An insiders look at politics with the twist of what happens when it goes bad. You should read the first of the series to get a better feel for the characters. I'm not saying anything else except it's a good read. Quite a page turner.

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an continuation of her first book, A Time to Run. To be truthful, I am so distraught that Hillary Clinton lost the election, that I returned the book to the library. I'm done with politics for now..... Moving on to another book.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced political thriller, from a Washington insider. I liked the plot, and it was interesting to see all the pieces come together, as the point of view shifted between the key players.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun read.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a lot of reality in this "novel" that I could not finish but I get so sick of the "that's how the GAME is played" crap.

[MaryAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. If you decide to read it, I recommend reading A Time To Run first. You'll have a better understanding of the characters.

[Tina Baylis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really poorly written!

[Bookreaderljh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a political thriller written by an ex-Senator so there is definitely a feeling of this is what it feels like to be a politician in Washington DC. That is a politician in Washington about a decade ago. The main character is Senator Ellen Fischer Lind - a Democrat married to a retired Republican senator. She is being bombarded by accusations from political opponents in regards to her business dealings (the blind trust of the title) and innuendo regarding her chief of staff being involved with a terrorist. Her crusade and the plot of the novel is how she follows up and exposes these political stories with the truth. There is a great deal of exposure of the other side and how these dirty tricks created to discredit her in order to allow the Vice President and the nominee for Homeland Security advance their futures against her. Terrible to say but all of this seems so quaint now. There are actually people in this book ("on both sides") that have moral convictions and the lies are exposed and people actually pay for their transgressions. Easy read - liked the details about the Senate - the stories of friendship and family - and the positive ending. Looking at our current political climate - definitely a work of fiction.

[Karie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a thriller…so it’s hard for me to say if my disappointment with “Blind Trust” is with the book itself or with the genre. As much as I applaud Senator Boxer’s body of work…this book wouldn’t be what I would consider a great achievement.

The characters are barely disguised – their real-life counterparts very visible beneath the pen names. The plot also seems ripped from today’s headlines…but the behind the scenes glimpse of the Senator’s staff was interesting.

As a book to read on a plane or while sitting by a pool, this might work, but much to my dismay, I can’t say much more about it than that. I would probably pick up Senator Boxer’s next book – but might choose to get it from a library.

[Mary Mckernan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy, predictable read.