For the past 20 years, Agatha Cardiff has lived a secluded life on the outskirts of D.C. She was once the chief of staff for Congressman Paul Paxton. But after covering up a potential scandal for him, one that would have ruined Senator Harrison Clark’s career, she left politics and swore to never get into a situation like that ever again. But now, her tenant Shelby goes missing. Feeling responsible for the young woman, she searches for answers. Only the truth is much more complicated than Agatha ever imagined. And by getting involved in Shelby’s rescue, Agatha risks her own skeletons coming to the surface. Especially now that Harrison is President of the United States, and Paul is calling in those favors from the past to secure a nomination to the Supreme Court. The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons is a political crime thriller in which Agatha must dust off her political savvy and cut-through intuition to not only unveil decades-long corruption, but also keep her own involvement a secret – lest she pays the price herself.

Matthew FitzSimmons delivers a well-paced and highly engaging story with The Slate. Readers know the crime and the perpetrators from the very beginning. The fun and suspense lies in watching how Agatha will handle the situation 20 years later, amongst high-stakes situations. The number of characters and their relationships with one another requires readers to pay special attention. But once we see how it all falls into place, the extra effort is worth it. The political aspect of the story is in full swing with decades-long relationships and closed-door deals that shape policy. Add in the clever and fierce protagonist and a gripping third-act that doesn’t quit, and readers will want to put The Slate at the top of their reading lists

Author Matthew FitzSimmons is a veteran novelist, but he is new to me. I picked up on the buzz generated by his most recent book, a political thriller titled The Slate. What a ride! This is a true thriller, one that gripped me at the outset and didn’t let me go till it was done with me. I’d had surgery and was dealing with a lot of drowsiness from the various medications and anesthesia, but this book didn’t care about any of that. This book—aided and abetted by narrator Mia Barron-- made me read it anyway, and I’m glad.

My thanks go to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for the review copies. This book is available to the public now.

Agatha Cardiff is retired. She used to be a political mover and shaker, but many years ago, she was roped into doing something she didn’t want to do, and should not have done. Since then, she’s been hiding. A neighbor offers her some bedding plants, and she takes his damn head off in a single bite, because she does not want to get to know him. She doesn’t want to get to know anyone.

To make ends meet, Agatha rents out her basement flat to young Shelby. Shelby is late with her rent, and has done something regrettable in order to rectify the problem. Now, Agatha learns, Shelby is in deep trouble, being held captive on board a ship. Well, there’s no choice, not really. Agatha has to save the kid, even though it means stepping out of seclusion. And sure enough, all hell breaks loose.

As Agatha emerges from her self-protective exile, we begin to see exactly what she’s capable of. It’s a revelation! Our point of view changes occasionally, but make no mistake, this is Agatha’s story. FitzSimmons is such a badass writer that he even manages to develop this character, something I rarely see in a thriller, because it’s hard to maintain rapid pacing while dealing with backstory and internal monologue. He makes it look effortless, but you try doing that. Go on, give it your best shot.

See?

I often shy away from political thrillers because so many of them have a hugely conservative bent that sets my teeth on edge. The Slate, in contrast, plays it right down the middle, and shouldn’t offend red hats, the woke, or anyone anywhere else on the political spectrum.

Because of the narrator’s skill, I lean toward recommending this as an audio book foremost, but if you are a visual reader, don’t let that stop you, as the print version is also excellent. Highly recommended.

Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5

Interesting plot. Agatha, was once the congressman's chief of staff and fixer. Now retired and living a quiet life, one of tenant vanishes. Suddenly, Agatha is drawn back to her old life. Coincidently, the current president is being blackmailed by something that she had once "fixed".

Story was well written but I didn't get the sense that Agatha was the badass person she was meant to be. Yes she lied and covered up some scandals but that's all in the world of politics.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Matthew FitzSimmons for an ARC of 'The Slate' in exchange of an honest review.

I really admire Matthew FitzSimmons’ talent. I have followed him since his first book in the Gibson Vaughn series. He is a great writer who has often dealt with the dirty, gritty underside of politics. “The Slate” is a fast moving, twisted and dark look at the potential for mayhem that can be wreaked by the power brokers and politicians that we not just tolerate but elect to act on our behalf. Those Titans of the political realm who can’t stay faithful, can’t help but reach for what will be their destruction and their fixers who chose or are forced to extricate their bosses from their ultimate downfall and demise.

Fitzsimmons’ characters are brilliant and excel at what they do, but in equal measures they are badly flawed and so identifiable in today’s world. His dialog and inner thoughts are on point and add dimension. You would like to believe that this is just a great fictional political thriller, but it hits the measure of truth that makes it all so believable.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a copy.

This is a bang-up, old-school political thriller of the very best kind. In his note at the end, the author invokes the Gene Nackman film 'No Way Out' as one of his inspirations for the novel and says he hoped to raise the bar by invoking DC as a real place in ways in which 'No Way Out' perhaps failed. If that was his goal here, he clearly succeeded.

One quibble. I really didn't like the ending. On the one hand, it was too pat, too and-almost-everybody-lived-happily-ever-after. On the other, I thought the effort to spin that pat ending with a 'No Way Out' style twist was awkward and clumsy. Worse, it was entirely unnecessary. By then, the novel had developed its own weight and grativas. The cheap theatrics were entirely uncalled for.

Even the clunky ending couldn't spoil my enjoyment of a truly fine political thriller, however. It's absolutely the best one I've read in decades.

Twenty years ago Agatha Cardiff was Congressman Paul Paxton’s chief of staff, a coolheaded fixer who made all his problems disappear. At Paxton’s behest, she covered up a shocking scandal that would have ruined a powerful senator’s career. That senator is now President and Agatha’s quiet life in the margins of Washington, DC is about to become much more difficult.

I don't normally read political fiction but the premise of this one sounded interesting and so I picked up a copy from Netgalley. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. The characters are well fleshed out and the story itself is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sometimes I'm rather naive about the people chosen to run our countries and this book opened my eyes a bit as far as what might be going on behind the scenes. It's so hard to know who to believe. Agatha Cross (formerly Cardiff) is an extremely likeable character and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story. If this becomes a series, count me in. This is my first book by Matthew FitzSimmons and I'm impressed.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: October 8, 2024

The Slate by veteran political novelist Matthew Fitzsimmons contains the topical drama of today's and the past: political machinations, misery, and corruption. Twenty years ago, Agatha C. was told by her boss to eradicate and make a typical Washington, D.C. scandal disappear. She does so successfully, and all is quiet until now when blackmail rears its inevitable ugly head. The Slate is an exciting and realistic story of politics, greed, lust, and temptation. The novel is for all, especially political junkies who will eagerly immerse themselves in this fascinating and true-to-life story of what makes the wheels go around in the U.S.A.

Loved this political thriller set in Washington DC. Agatha Cross used to work for a congressman, Paul Paxton as his chief of staff and to an extent, his “fixer”. Something happened 20 years ago that led her to flee and basically go underground. She seems to love her new life working remotely and being unknown and under the radar. She rents out her basement to make ends meet, but when something happens to her tenant, she’s thrown back into fixer mode, but this time on the good side. However, your past always seems to catch up to you. Great story, loved the characters, well written and will be reading more by this author.

Rising to power requires ruthlessness, ambition…

…and sometimes a complete lack of conscience.

When a Supreme Court Justice unexpectedly announces that he will be stepping down, the relatively new President of the United States Harrison Clark has the opportunity to fill the position with one of the people whose names had been mentioned as solid candidates during his run for office. When instead he announces that he will nominate a Congressman with no legal background who happens to be a longtime friend, it surprises many. In a business like politics nothing is done without weighing the benefits and the costs of each decision, and this move is at best an unorthodox choice and quite possibly political suicide. What would make a savvy politician who has ascended to the pinnacle of power take such a chance?
Twenty years ago a pretty young Congressional staffer died of an apparent accidental overdose, but given where it happened (and with whom) steps were taken to conceal the full story. From the tragedy sprang opportunity for ambitious young Congressman Paul Paxton and his highly efficient chief of staff Agatha Cardiff ….compromising pictures were taken which would be used to fuel Paxton’s rise to power. It proved to be a step too far over the line for Agatha, who left the city and in fact the country for years, and upon her return to DC has maintained an extremely low profile. When a young woman who rents a room from her disappears, Agatha feels compelled to track down her tenant’s whereabouts and utilizes her somewhat rusty skills of intimidation and negotiation to save the young woman’s life. When those exploits land Agatha in the crosshairs of the media, she also shows up on the radar of those in the political game who would have preferred that she had stayed in the shadows. Soon the paths of a Russian oligarch’s henchmen, a political fixer who provides pretty young women to politicians looking for some fun, a White House aide who has sacrificed everything to get to where he is (and will do whatever it takes to stay there), and a DC reporter looking to make her mark will cross. The gamesmanship of politics can be addictive, and ethical boundaries can quickly prove to be flexible….but the higher one rises on the ladder of power, the more deadly the stakes become.
A fantastic thriller that lays bare the dark side of Washington politics, The Slate introduces the reader to a group of characters whose lives intersect in a way that proves disastrous for many. Agatha is a fascinating individual, someone who had the job of her dreams and was one of the very best at it, yet removed herself when she saw what she was willing to do to achieve her (and her boss’s) goals. She will need every one of the skills she honed on the Hill all those years ago to keep both herself and her young friend from becoming a victim of political machinations. K Street lobbyists, eager young people climbing the ladders of their chosen profession, and politicians who believe their positions shield them from the consequences of their less than savory actions all have their place on the game board and add rich detail to the story as it unfurls. Everyone has secrets to hide, but some are better at keeping them hidden then others. The Slate grabs the readers attention from the first pages and keeps it till the very end, and watching Agatha match wits with those whose very existence depends upon their ability to stay ahead of their adversaries moves is highly entertaining. Fans of author Matthew FitzSimmons earlier works as well as readers of authors like David Baldacci, George Pelecanos and James Patterson should waste no time in picking up a copy at their earliest opportunity and enjoy the ride. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercier for allowing me early access to this novel of political intrigue and power at the highest levels.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Matthew FitzSimmons’ “The Slate” is a gripping political thriller that masterfully intertwines secrets, scandals, and the quest for redemption. This novel stands out for its intricate plot and well-drawn characters, making it a compelling read.

The story follows Agatha Cardiff, a former political operative who once served as Congressman Paul Paxton’s chief of staff. Agatha, known for her ability to fix problems and cover up scandals, has been living in exile for twenty years after a moral compromise that pushed her to the edge. Her quiet life is disrupted when her tenant disappears, pulling her back into the murky waters of Washington, D.C. politics. As Agatha navigates corruption and blackmail, she must confront both the ghosts of her past and the powerful figures in her present.

FitzSimmons excels in creating complex, believable characters. Agatha Cardiff is a standout protagonist—flawed, determined, and deeply human. Her journey is one of redemption and self-discovery, making her a character readers can root for. The supporting cast, including the ambitious Paul Paxton and the enigmatic tenant, add depth and intrigue to the narrative.

FitzSimmons’ writing is sharp and evocative, capturing the high-stakes world of political maneuvering with precision. The pacing is brisk, with each chapter ending on a note of suspense that keeps readers hooked.

The dialogue is crisp and realistic, reflecting the tension and urgency of the character's situations.

“The Slate” delves into themes of power, corruption, and the cost of redemption. It explores the moral ambiguities of political life and the personal toll it takes on those involved.

FitzSimmons’ nuanced portrayal of these themes adds depth to the story.

“The Slate” is a standout political thriller that combines a fast-paced plot with rich character development and thought-provoking themes.

Matthew FitzSimmons has crafted a novel that is entertaining and insightful, offering readers a thrilling ride through the dark corridors of power.

Whether you’re a fan of political dramas or simply enjoy a well-told story, “The Slate” is a must-read.

The Slate is a fast-paced, extremelly engaging and well-written story. I could certainly see this book made in a great film as it has all the necessary ingredients to become a hit. Politics everywhere, unfortunately, is always full of unspoken secrets and in this book Mr. FitzSimmons creates the backdrop for bribery, extorsion, murder, in the highest echlons. People become currency and their lives are not the most important thing, they are a means to an end. This book will make you stay up during the night reading it in order to have the full picture. Highly recommended!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

4.5 Stars 🌟

It has been a while since I've read a book by Matthew FitzSimmons, but boy oh boy, he has not lost his touch. I truly enjoyed the heck out of this book.

This book is a political thriller and we are introduced to Agatha Cardiff. At the time, she was the Chief of Staff for a very powerful politician, but mostly, she was his Chief Fixer. In the very beginning, we see in the prologue an event that occurs 21 years in the past - then we jump to the present. We aren't really told what has occurred during those years, but little by little the events begin to unfold as we get deeper into the story, and we realize that Agatha has left the life and run very far away from politics.

As usual, Mr. FitzSimmons creates a very intriguing story that succeeded in grabbing my interest from the very beginning. Yes, this is a political thriller, so there is drama, action, but most of all....ambition, which is the root of all we see.

Agatha thought she had left that life but finds herself sucked back in when someone close to her is in danger. She then realizes then that not only has she not lost her abilities, but she somehow forgot how much she enjoyed that world in which she worked.

Another winner from Mr. FitzSimmons and it did not take long for me to remember why I tagged him in my mind as an author who I really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer along with Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for giving me the opportunity to read and listen to both the eBook and the audio versions of this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book is available for publication on October 8, 2024.

Political Intrigue Runs Amok

Agatha Cardiff receives a late Friday night call from her boss, Senator Paul Paxton. He needs his fixer to do something. Congressman Clark had an incident where a young girl, Charlette Haines, had overdosed. She worked in Paxton's office. Clark asks Paxton if he could have it cleaned up. She agrees to do it. Paxton wants a picture of Clark with the body. Cardiff tells Paxton she will need help, as she can't take the picture and help carry out the girl simultaneously. After Cardiff hangs up, she calls Darius McDaniel, who helps her with the dirty work. She meets up with Darius, and they drive to Middleburg. They discuss that he will take a picture of Paxton carrying out the woman. The events of this night come to a head twenty years later.

This novel has just one thread: political corruption, with two subthreads. The genesis is in the first chapter and stays dormant for twenty years. One subthread starts when an aggressive young newspaper reporter discovers that someone without judicial experience may be nominated for the Supreme Court. While that story develops, the second subthread starts with Agatha’s current situation and her young renter's missing. She discovers more political lobbyist corruption eventually erupts in the political area. The lynchpin was the coverup twenty years earlier. As the reader, the ticking time bomb is very evident. What kept my interest was how and when this scandal would be revealed.

The character of Agatha starts as a fierce Senator’s chief of staff, willing to do whatever it takes, legal and illegal, to obtain the results her boss wants. She leaves the country to escape the heat and, by a quirk of fate, does not return to Washington for some time. On the return, she no longer wants the spotlight and the constant fight that goes with it. When her renter disappears, her fierce nature rises to the surface again. She still skirts the edge of legality, but the goal is not to hide something but to free her renter. On the success of this mission, she finds herself in the middle of a political maelstrom. She must retrieve incriminating evidence leading to her old behavior to save herself. The reader sees how the character of Agatha transitions to meet her current living environment. This aspect increased my reading enjoyment.

For some aspects that can cause some readers problems, there are not any intimate scenes. Rude and vulgar language is present but not excessive. Most of the violence is described after the fact until near the end, when the threat of violence escalates. This adds much tension as to how the scene will be resolved. Overall, most readers should be able to read this novel without any issues. As this is a stand-alone novel, there are no issues of what happened in a previous novel.

The only aspect of this novel that was an issue for me was that Agatha’s activities in the present time took a little time until the connection was made to how it fits into the whole story. It was needed to show how Agatha’s character had changed and established her relationship with her renter. Once past this, the storyline proceeded quickly. I enjoyed this novel two subthreads that only join at the very end. That ending had a good feeling but was a slightly bitter undertone for me. I have read seven novels from two series by this author. He is one of my Must-Read authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and strongly recommend reading it. I am looking forward to his next novel. I rate it with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons was such a great political thriller!
Well written with a good plot. Fast pace and action-packed. An entertaining read.

The Slate is a gripping political thriller by the author of the excellent Gibson Vaughan series, about a Washington DC-based woman’s quest for redemption, years after her role in covering up a young staffer’s death. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by FitzSimmons, and this was no exception - a tight plot, a flawed but sympathetic heroine, good support characters, dastardly politicians and a believable conspiracy threatening the powers that be.

In 2001, Agatha Cardiff was asked by her boss, a powerful congressman, to save the reputation of one of his allies by removing the body of his young mistress from his hotel room after she died of an overdose. Wracked by guilt, Agatha ran away overseas and abandoned her career. Now, twenty years later, the favour is being called in and misanthropic Agatha is forced to re-enter the murky world of politics to save another young woman’s life.

This is a thriller without significant action, mystery or twists, and yet I was quickly drawn in by the writing and kept turning the pages to find out how it would all turned out. I loved the character evolution and the relationship between Agatha and Shelby. Reading this as we hurtle towards this year’s US election just highlighted how dysfunctional and corrupt their political system seems to the rest of the world. The ending was a little too open for my taste - I really hope there is to be a sequel, as I would love to read more of their and plucky journalist Isha Roy’s adventures. 4.5 rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. The Slate is published on October 8th.

Boasting an intriguing premise, “The Slate” is a suspenseful political thriller that pulled me in right from the get-go. As the story unfolds, we are immediately transported 20 years in the past, where Agatha Cardiff is a fixer tasked with covering up a DC scandal. Flash forward to the present, and blackmail is now the name of the game. Despite her jaded attitude and current low profile, the draw of the political arena pulls at Agatha, and she finds herself embroiled in yet another high profile mess she grapples to clean up.

Once again, Matthew FitzSimmons has proven himself to be quite the consummate storyteller. From start to finish, “The Slate” a very well written, detailed story that shines a spotlight on the unsavory side of politics and the vile misuse of power. If you love political intrigue, then be sure to put this book at the top of your TBR reading list.

Agatha was a talented and resourceful fixer as Chief of Staff for Paul Paxton a Cngressman until she got involved in a coverup with a young intern who overdosed while meeting her boyfriend - another Congressman who’s star was rising fast. Paxton wanted Clark to owe him and the whole incident had caused Agatha to resign and disappear out of the country for a while. Since then she has lived in DC under the radar and far away from politics. When she has to help her tenant, Shelby, out of a sticky situation she finds ties to Paxton and Clark especially fishy when Paxton is suddenly nominated as a most unconventional and unlikely nominee for Supreme Court Justice. Could that fix from long ago that has haunted her be involved and is her part in it putting her and Shelby in danger? Very twisty political thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Agatha work her fixer magic like a game of chess!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #The Slate

When she was younger Agatha Cardiff worked as Congressman Paul Paxton’s Chief of Staff in Washington DC. Part of her job was to smooth over (ie. cover up) difficult situations to prevent political scandals, something she is very good at. So, she is not surprised when she is called out one night to take care of such a situation involving a Senator and a young woman in his hotel room.

Not long after those events Agatha quit her job and went travelling and since then has lived a quiet life away from politics. However, when the young woman, a young DC staffer, who rents her basement disappears, she finds herself being pooled back into that world she thought she’d left twenty years ago. The problem is the Senator who Agatha saved from a scandal is now President and Paxton is seeking an appointment to the Supreme Court.

As Agatha’s past comes back to haunt her, she discovers she still revels in political intrigue and still has what it takes to manage and manipulate people and situations to her advantage. But will the truth about the past come out and to what detriment to her?

Tightly written, this past paced political thriller is action packed with plenty of intrigue and shady political conspiracy involving greed, power and blackmail. Agatha is a terrific character, smart and tough and well equipped to rescue her tenant. I would love to see her back in a sequel.

Headline: Matthew FitzSimmons once again delivers a knockout of a story!

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Book Review: The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons
Published by Thomas & Mercer, October 8, 2024

★★★★★ (5.0 Stars!)

"Gibson Vaughn" (2015-2020). I've read all five books of Matthew FitzSimmons' ex-Marine /IT hacker protagonist, with the engaging, dynamic narrative spanning continents, replete but not overly saturated with hi-tech jargon, and impressively creative, in each book and at every turn, fresh ideas, angles and twists, culminating in a showdown with "The Origami Man" (2020), a shapeshifting paradox, who, as it turns out, would be the bane - and redemption of Vaughn's very existence.

"Agatha Cardiff" (2024). The premise of FitzSimmons new book is equally as brilliant, quite an enthralling introduction to his new strong female protagonist. If there were to be a Book 2, readers would expect nothing short of an awe-inspiring literary sleight of hand on how the author develops Cardiff's earth-shattering "ultimate sacrifice" finale into a series...

In his latest opus, Author FitzSimmons posits the question: Can anyone without a law degree be appointed as an Associate Justice in the Supreme Court of the United States?

The answer may come as a surprise, if not a shock! (See below)

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// The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons (2024) //

A sitting associate justice of the U.S. supreme court resigns his tenure. In due course, a slate of potential nominees is duly prepared for the president's consideration...

20 Years Earlier.
Political operative and Washington insider Agatha Cardiff, a rising star and chief of staff of a prominent congressman, gets directly involved with a clean-up job. A dirty job that involves a fatality. A crime, which would have ruined a powerful senator's career. A hideous task, which for the young woman had crossed a line. A bridge too far.

In the aftermath, Cardiff self-exiles abroad...

Present day.
Washington outsider Agatha Cardiff, back in DC, on near bare subsistence, is once again involved in a major political scandal. This time tangentially and quite unwittingly.

That senator from two decades ago is now the president of the United States. And Cardiff's former boss, an influential number three in the House of Representatives.

When a spot for an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States opens up due to a resignation, a man with neither a legal background nor a law degree, none other that the Congressional number three of the party in power, he himself, the confidential gatekeeper of the president's deepest secrets, throws his hat into the slate.

It is in that final Senate confirmation hearing, on the cusp of the appointment of the first non-lawyer since 1942, that Ms. Agatha Cardiff, former Washington insider, now existing in its fringes, decides to....

Read the book to find out!

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// Answer. Associate Justice James F. Byrnes (tenure through 1942) was the last Justice without a law degree to be appointed. In total, of the 114 justices appointed to the Court, 49 have had law degrees, an additional 18 attended some law school but did not receive a degree, and 47 received their legal education without any law school attendance. //

Matthew FitzSimmons once again delivers a knockout of a story!

Simply, an unputdownable must-read.

Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.

The Slate is a political thriller from Matthew FitzSimmons.

"Agatha was Congreesman Paul Paxton's chief-of-staff and fixer who made all his problems disappear. She helped him cover up a scandal that could have ruined a powerful senator's career. Now, twenty years later, Agatha has hidden herself away, no longer involved in Washington politics. But now that powerful senator is President and Paxton wants a Supreme Court nomination - because he knows where the skeletons are buried."

FitzSimmons writes a well-paced story and a great character in Agatha. She has let herself go a little, but still has some backbone and a few tricks up her sleeve. The character arcs culminate in a big showdown with an unexpected party. And that's where it lost me. I realize the story belongs to the author but it felt like a little bit of a let-down - not what I was expecting. First 90% - couldn't get enough. Last 10% - Is that it?

If you love a political thriller or love a great character, this is a good option.