Capitol threat: a novel by William Bernhardt

Disappointing *** May 9, 2007

Oklahoma lawyer Ben Kincaid is now a U.S. Senator, appointed to fill out the term of his predecessor. The plot revolves around the nomination of Judge Thaddeus Roush, by a Republican president, to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. At the ceremony announcing the nomination, Judge Roush throws a monkeywrench into the works by coming out of the closet, informing everyone that he is gay. Matters turn farcical when the body of a woman is discovered behind his garden gate. The Republican president rapidly distances himself from his nominee. It falls to the Democratic minority to push the nomination. Ben Kincaid is called upon by the Senate Minority leader to lead the charge. Ben's investigator Loving plays a key role, digging deep and coming up with the vital info at the last minute. All the ingredients of a good novel are there but Bernhardt fails to paint a convincing picture of Washington politics.