I received an advanced copy of "The Senator" by Maya Golden Bethany, a thrilling novel centered around a current U.S. Senator embroiled in a mystery involving the EPA and his colleagues. This book captivated me with its fast-paced writing and strong character development. Although the style occasionally bordered on cheesy, it added a fun element that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The evolving relationship between the two main characters was particularly engaging, and I'm eager to see what the author writes next. For fans of political thrillers like Stacey Abrams' "Rogue Justice," this book will be a delightful read. The combination of political intrigue and personal dynamics makes "The Senator" a compelling addition to the genre.

The Senator is a fast-paced, environmental p0itical thriller. It is also a stand-alone read.

Alex Broussard is a reporter for the New York Times. She has received anonymous package with information regarding a chemical spill and two US Senators they believe to be corrupt. After much thought she reaches out to Oliver Michaels who campaigned about his hope to change Washington for the better.

One year after becoming the youngest senator in Congress, Oliver finds himself disillusioned by the bureaucracy and the power of the lobbyists. Alex arrives at his office and gives Oliver the package she received. While he is saddened to see it, he declines to help Alex who is shocked by how he has become beaten down so quickly and refuses to help her.

Alex asks a co-worker to help her investigate the reports. Between the two of them, they find themselves in danger. Meanwhile Oliver has a change of heart and gets on board to find the truth and take down the corrupt senator.

The book starts off a little slow. It wasn't until halfway through that I found myself hooked. It took a bit of time to tell the various stories and tie them all together. Once that happened it was a wonderful ride.

The Senator, by Maya Golden Bethany had me entertained from start to finish. While the premise of chemical pollution by large corporations making families sick is one that I have encountered before, this story is unique because it is wrapped up with a bow as a tantalizing political thriller.

The reader is introduced to Senator Oliver Michaels, from the state of Maine. He is a young politician who ran for office on the promise to shape up Washington DC and be a representative of the people. After a year in the trenches, his spirit has been broken. When his old friend Alex shows up with evidence of corruption, dirty insider dealings and a government coverup, she elicits Oliver's help and helps reignite the passion in him that brought him to Washington. As the story begins to unravel, Alex and Oliver find themselves and those they care about in grave danger.

While the story is in some ways predictable, it has its share of plot twists and an ending that I found satisfying as a reader. It gives insight into the inner workings of the political system and the corruption that runs rampant. The characters are dynamic and well developed. If only politicians in real life were more like Oliver Michaels; passionate, driven with good morals, conviction and commitment to representing the people, they might be able to make a real difference.

I would like to thank Rising Action Publishing Company for the ARC copy of this book to read and review. I truly enjoyed it and hope to see more from the author in the future.
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Thank you Netgalley for a free copy of this ARC. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

“The Senator” was an entertaining and exciting political thriller. As someone who is not from the US, it was easy for me to follow along and get a general idea of the inner workings of US politics, and relate to themes of corruption, and health / environmental issues. I love how the book highlights the struggles of the ordinary worker and elevates the role of journalism / free press in exposing those who abuse power and try to get away with it. If I’m being honest, i think Alex Broussard felt more like the main character vs Sen. Oliver Michaels, but both of them we’re given their chance to shine.

Slow and boring… stopped reading after the first hundred pages…. When will it get interesting… Nothing exciting… felt like I was reading a filler news story from page 55 of Sunday paper. Sorry.. Just was looking forward to a good story… but it never happened…
Page 55

I loved Maya's powerful memoir and couldn't wait to read The Senator. It was thrilling and entertaining throughout, and I'm so excited for the world get to read it, too.

Corruption at the highest levels of government finds a senator Senator Michaels and reporter Alex Broussard team up to uncover a scheme of corruption involving government officials. Illegal dumping and pollution covered up for gain send Michaels and Broussard on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth and find justice for a town whose residents are dying from unsafe environmental conditions. With a Erin Brockovich vibe, this book entertains. Recommended for those who like stories of political corruption.

The Senator, by Maya Golden Bethany, shows promise yet ultimately disappoints. My ARC had pages of gray with black writing and that was difficult to adjust to. Essentially, I felt that the novel could have had better focus and fewer characters. All of the bad guys were thinly presented and didn't much deserve an epilogue.
Yet tales of corruption carry heft when they focus on powerful people as they try to hide their involvement. This the author accomplishes, which gives an incentive to finish The Senator.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

In her debut novel, "The Senator," Maya Golden Bethany ventures into the realm of political intrigue intertwined with environmental health—a premise that promises a fresh perspective on political thrillers, particularly appealing to those in the public health sector such as myself. However, while the plot holds significant potential, the execution was not the greatest.

The narrative skims over the environmental health concerns that form the crux of the story, offering only a superficial exploration of these critical issues. Structurally, the novel adopts a point-of-view that feels more akin to a stage script than a dynamic narrative. Detailed descriptions of character movements and actions, while perhaps intended to provide clarity, instead become a distraction, hindering immersion and engagement. This approach contributes to characters that appear flat and underdeveloped, with reactions that occasionally verge on melodrama.

Transitions between scenes are abrupt and lack clear demarcation, leading to confusion about the setting and perspective. This disjointedness disrupts the reading experience, making it challenging to maintain a coherent understanding of the plot's progression. I found myself going back and rereading sections to feel sure that I was making sense of things.

The conclusion attempts to resolve all plot threads, seemingly paving the way for a sequel. However, this effort results in an ending that feels a wee bit unrealistic. A more open-ended finale, leaving certain elements to the reader's imagination, might have provided a more satisfying and thought-provoking closure. This could have easily been achieved by ending a few chapters earlier.

while "The Senator" presents a storyline with considerable promise, its potential is undermined by narrative choices and writing style. The novel earns a 2 out of 5 stars, acknowledging the intriguing plot but critiquing the execution that ultimately detracts from an enjoyable, memorable reading experience.

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Thank you to the author and the fine folks at NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. who have kindly allowed to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I found much to enjoy in this book, the final fifth felt unnecessarily drawn out, and the conclusion was not to my liking. However, the preceding sections were captivating, making this a worthwhile political thriller overall.

The Senator is Oliver Michaels, the youngest member of the Senate. He is soon disillusioned by the politics of Congress. His marriage is only one for show and they are quietly living apart except when his job requires a loving performance from the young couple. Then a college girlfriend, reporter Alex Broussard turns to him for help. The beginning of the story was a little slow but then the action and drama picked up and it became a page turner.

I received a copy of this book thanks to the author (Maya Golden Bethany), her author and the fine folks at NetGalley in return for an honest review.

When a young senator, Oliver Michaels, from the state of Maine achieves office, he entered the world of federal politics with the wide eyes of a young doe. However, after a year in office, the blinders have started to lower. He finds himself disheartened by systemic bureaucracy, partisan finger-pointing, the power of lobbyists, and the collapse of his marriage. When New York Times reporter Alex Broussard shows up at his office, Oliver is presented with a shocking corruption scheme involving two congressmen, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a chemical manufacturer.

It is at this point that New York Times reporter Alex Broussard, Michaels’ college girlfriend, contacts him about an anonymous tip she’s received about collusion between two Senators, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a corporate polluter. According to her source, the three individuals are embroiled in a pay-to-play scheme that has allowed industrial malfeasance to continue unchecked, with the dumping of tons of chemical waste into the waterway of a small, rural, Indiana town. Spiking cancer and respiratory illnesses in the area have concerned residents for decades, but it is not until Broussard and her colleagues begin investigating that the scope of the political scheme is uncovered. As the truth emerges, the culprits know they’re in trouble, but rather than come clean they concoct plans to retain their toehold on power.

With this real opportunity to clean up dirty DC politics, Alex reignites Oliver’s pledge to help people lost in messy legislative battles and abandoned by the government in sacrifice zones. Yet lofty political aspirations aren’t the only things burning with passion. Working side by side, Alex and Oliver, once an item in college, realize their feelings still linger for one another.

It’s a tense and well-wrought setup that involves a slew of people – including mafia hitmen – and numerous federal agencies. While the latter work in tandem, suffice it to say that the novel has a happy ending, and anyone needing an infusion of progressive populism – as well as an example of a politician with humility, integrity, and grit – will get a hefty dose.

Alex and Oliver’s efforts to expose the unlawful plot also uncover the fact that they are pawns in a rigged game hosted by those who will do anything to keep their positions of power and their wallets padded - even kill. The stakes continuously rise, putting Alex, Oliver, and their family and friends in grave danger. Each must decide what’s more important; the safety of their loved ones or the health of the public.

The book contains solid characters and a glimpse into the "sewer" of politics as the reader is exposed to the money and the corruptions faced by nascent politicians as they begin their ascent into the political realm. I found that the story was solid but was a little slow at times. I would give this book three and a half stars (which rounds to four on Goodreads).

As with most of my literary ramblings, these are just my thoughts.

The Senator (by Maya Golden Bethany) is part Erin Brokovitch, part political thriller. When Senator Oliver Michaels is approached by his old friend Alex to look into a possible kickback scandal, he initially refuses. But, as he finds out about the chemicals that are making people sick in a small Indiana town, he decides to help Alex. He is spurred to action after realizing that two of his colleagues were involved. What follows is a thriller that sees Alex and Oliver fight to expose the crime while attempting to avoid running into the people that would do anything to get them stop them.

I am a sucker for political storylines as my background involves working in politics in DC, so I was a sucker for the plot. Bethany creates a satisfying portrait of Michael’s, a public official who is frustrated by the lack of positive action in Congress.

I mostly enjoyed this, though I thought that the last 20% could be trimmed, and I didn’t enjoy the ending, but up until that point I was hooked. This is definitely a good political thriller. I am knocking off some stars for an unsatisfying ending. 3.5 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Maya Golden Bethany, The Senator, Rising Action Publishing | Rising Action, April 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

This is a thriller with some positive features – the topic is pertinent, the characters interesting, and the story line logical and believable. There are no confected twists or illogical events, and the narrative combines personal relationships and political themes to good effect. Maya Golden Bethany clearly cares about her topic and has a commitment to raising social issues that resonate with contemporary concerns for the environment. The prologue introduces the topic with empathy, in turn ensuring that the reader is wholly aware that solving the case that brings journalist Alex Broussard and Senator Oliver Michaels together again is vital. On the negative side, I found the constant change from present to past text made for uneasy reading and the immense amount of detail often added little to the story. It might be this that reduces the fast pace that would have maintained the tension which is essential to creating a good thriller.

The Senator deals with complex issues, establishing the difficulties those in office face when ensuring that good public policy is enacted, adhered to, and protected. Against this is the personal danger that the characters face. Also, the temptations that confront those in powerful positions are raised, juxtaposing the fear of failure, exposure and loss of income and prestige against the determination to act for the public good. Conflict between the various legal bodies, the Secret Service involvement and attempts to pass legislation are all realistic touches providing authenticity to the events.

Competing for the same man can make for heavy handed writing about the relationships. Here, Lydia, Oliver’s wife and Alex, a lover from his past deal with the breakdown of Oliver and Lydia’s marriage and Alex’s reappearance. Maya Golden Bethany does not fall into the trap of making the women nasty competitors. At times there is even a little humour and warmth between the women.

The ending, overwritten but satisfying, suggests that a further novel combining thriller, relationship and social commentary is possible.

The Senator isn't groundbreaking but it's a solid read and very thought provoking novel. It offers a nuanced look at the complexities of power and the personal toll it can take on those who wield it, even if some of the aspects of the story are a little wild and crazy .
Thanks to NetGally for advance copy

This was a strong psychological thriller novel, it had that element that I was expecting and was hoping for. I was engaged with what was happening to the characters and enjoyed getting to read this storyline. Maya Golden Bethany wrote this perfectly and am excited for more from them.

The Senator follows the journey of Oliver Michaels, the youngest senator in Congress, who finds himself disillusioned with the very system he aimed to change. The narrative kicks off when investigative reporter Alex Broussard brings a shocking scandal to Oliver’s attention, involving high-profile figures in a corruption scheme that threatens to undermine public trust and welfare. I really liked the premise of the book, but sometimes the story fell a bit flat for me. Overall, a good read, though.

The author creates a vivid portrayal of the bureaucratic maze that defines modern politics, capturing the frustrations and complexities that come with trying to enact real change. Oliver's character development is particularly compelling; readers can empathize with his idealism and subsequent disillusionment as he grapples with the harsh realities of lobbyists, partisanship, and his own recent divorce. As Oliver and Alex delve deeper into the conspiracy, the pacing quickens and the tension escalates, bringing readers along for a thrilling ride filled with unexpected twists. The story also raises essential questions about the ethical responsibilities of public servants and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their interests; quite apropos for current times in our political arena.

The Senator serves as an exploration of integrity, sacrifice, and the quest for justice in a world that often prioritizes profits over people.

#TheSenator #NetGalley

I enjoyed the book but found the plot slow. Characters were well written. Story line was interesting and relevant to today