Loved every single thing about this one! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing in this one. I was captivated from the beginning until the end and I’m really hoping it will be a series because I want more! Highly recommend this one!

Mia Barron is a perfect narrator for this one!

Meet Agatha Cardiff. 20 years ago she was a political operative and fixer working for Congressman Paul Paxton as his chief of staff. She was asked to cover up a scandal that would ruin his political career. Agatha was good at her job and she walked away. Today, she is living off the grid, secluded. However, now Paul Paxton is the President. Agatha being the competitive and gifted liar that she is, becomes drawn into the political scene once again.
From the prologue to the conclusion I was drawn in and held there. This book has a very 'real' feel to it. The events that happen on the pages are plausible and could happen. Agatha Cardiff may be flawed, but she is real and the kind of heroine that you will get behind and want to see more of. This is a very well-paced, page turning character driven novel, that I did not want to take a break from reading.

Reading this as our nation gets closer and closer to a major election heightened everything for me. It really highlights just how dysfunctional and corrupt our political system is no matter what side of the fence you are on. Staffers, lobbyists, journalists, more Congressmen, and the Russian mob all figure into the dynamic, giving Agatha a dangerous and interconnected plot to unravel. I hope there is a sequel to this story. Agatha is an amazing character.

“‘These men like to move fast and break things and people. They're not interested in getting bogged down in nuance. That means that everyone and everything that crosses their path gets sorted into broad binaries. This or that. Yes or no. Safe or dangerous.’

‘And now I'm dangerous?’

‘You didn't fit into their worldview, so of course you're dangerous.’”
▪️Matthew Fitzsimmons, The Slate

Synopsis: "An exiled political operative in search of redemption is drawn back into her past in a piercing thriller about secrets, scandals, and capital chaos."

Publishing: October 8, Brilliance Publishing
Narrator: Mia Barron
#Gifted from NetGalley and Brilliance Audio

This thriller is an adventure of twists, scandal, intricate and complex relationships, and a fascinating cast of well written characters. But it's also a nauseating imagining of what very likely actually goes on behind closed doors of political giants. It made me feel rather sick more than once, but, don't get me wrong, this thriller is excellent!

And Mia Barron was perfect for this book. She did a variety of female voices in addition to the male voices, and that was helpful in keeping the names straight but also made it so immersive.

********** 10 Stars
"The Slate" by Matthew FitzSimmons is an absolute masterpiece that deserves every one of its 10 stars! From the very first moment, I was drawn into a world that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. FitzSimmons masterfully blends a gripping narrative with intricate character development, creating a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The audiobook format truly brings the characters to life, with the narrator’s captivating performance enhancing the already brilliant writing. The pacing is perfect, with twists and turns that are unexpected yet entirely believable. FitzSimmons’ attention to detail and rich world-building transport you right into the heart of the story.

What I appreciated most was the exploration of complex themes that resonate deeply, making the plot not only entertaining but also meaningful. The characters are relatable and flawed, navigating challenges that mirror real-life struggles, which adds an additional layer of depth to the narrative.

I highly recommend *The Slate* to anyone who enjoys a thrilling ride packed with suspense, strong character arcs, and a narrative that lingers long after you finish. This audiobook is a must-listen, and FitzSimmons has solidified his place as one of the great storytellers of our time. Don't miss out on this incredible journey!

This is my first FitzSimmons book and it did not disappoint. As a former senator’s Chief of Staff, Agatha comes out of hiding, uncovering secrets as her own part in the past could be unveiled. Trouble is brewing again and this time she is determined to make things right.
The character development and sequence of events in this slow burn political thriller are expertly presented. I hope this will be a continuing series with Agatha.
The narration in this audiobook was well done without dragging the plot down.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

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.

Good, quick read

I listened to the audio book version and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is not a high-energy book that kept me at the edge of my seat, but the plot was good. A Washington DC aide helped her boss hide the body of a young co-worker that died, naked, in his hotel room and it comes back to bite her. The characters were good and it was easy to listen to without losing focus. There is some violence, but nothing major. I don't know if I will remember this book in a week, but I have consistently liked the work I have read by this author and I will gladly order the next in line.

Quite a good Washington, DC-insider thriller in the opinion of this Washington, DC-outsider. In other words, the corruption, scandals, and bad behavior of the pols and other DC-operatives seems quite believable (and sadly so). The lead character Agatha is a former staffer to an up-and-coming politician for whom she helped make a problem go away some 20 years ago. As these things happen, evidence of that “problem” has become leverage against the now POTUS and, despite leaving politics after the incident, Agatha is drawn back in almost unwittingly. I enjoyed the cloak-and-dagger, tit-for-tat world of this mystery thriller, and happy to suspend belief at some of the coincidences that ramped up the tension and kept my attention.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. The publication date is Oct 8, 2024, so reserve your copy today!

Full of scandal, drama, and chaotic politics, this is such a fun political thriller to enjoy during an election year!

Premise - Agatha Cardiff is an exiled political operative, sucked back into the center of things when her tenant, a young Hill staffer secretly moonlighting as a sugar baby, disappears.

AHHHHH FitzSimmons is a new-to-me author but his voice is so polished and perfect for a political thriller. This story sucked me right in and would. Not. Let. Go. Drama drama drama!!!

I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Mia Barron. She did a great job! Her read (and somehow her voice itself?) perfectly matched a political thriller and it really leant to the DC atmosphere. I felt like I was back on the Hill (albeit a more scandalous version) while listening to this!

Thanks, NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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 the ending 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?

Mia Barron does a great job with the audio, especially the showdown near the end.

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