Guile

“This book gives you a sense of how politics happens in real life because Craig Snyder has lived it.” – Andrew Yang, former Democratic candidate for President of the United States    

“Written by someone who knows the way Washington works, Guile is an action packed adventure with twists and turns to keep you guessing.” – Christine Todd Whitman, former GOP Governor of NJ and Cabinet member for US President George W Bush     

“I’ve been a Washington journalist for decades, but there are events and moments you just can’t reproduce unless you were in the room. This is the behind the scenes story I’ve always wanted to read, by an author who has been there and done that. A gripping, propulsive roman a clef. Have fun guessing the real-world names of the characters. Craig Snyder knows them all.” – Barton Gellman, journalist and author with awards including the Pulitzer Prize, an Emmy for documentary filmmaking, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize    

“Snyder has been a national political insider and highest level operative for three decades and it shows in the authenticity and details on every page of this gripping ‘House of Cards’ style novel.” – James Greenwood, former GOP Congressman 

“His long career in government and politics has given Craig Snyder an inside look at how things work. His lively mind has transformed his knowledge into a gripping novel. Read, reflect...and enjoy!” – William Kristol, Director, Defending Democracy Together     

“Craig Snyder knows the inside world of politics. He’s been there. His novel skillfully captures the relationship between the candidates and their consultants. Snyder outlines how ethically compromised these relationships can be. How tough... how impossible... when they find themselves flying too close to the flame. There is sizzle and scandal. They get so far, they can’t turn back and typically they’re convinced that they must win at any cost... that the ends justify the means. It’s ripped from the headlines, you will recognize the players. Sometimes it becomes a battle between the bad and the worse. Snyder provides a surprising and rather uplifting ending. If you like political intrigue, this is the book for you.” – Marjorie Margolies, former Democratic Congresswoman    

“Guile is impossible to put down. As you read lightbulbs explode in your brain as you realize Snyder is flinging the door to the real political insiders and their machinations wide open. If you’ve ever watched the news and wondered ‘How the hell does that happen...,’ this book is your answer in fictional form. Snyder’s political experience and uncanny ability to show his readers both the big picture and also the tiniest details (which is what makes this book really come to life) brings his readers the best approximation of our current situation, complete with people you feel you know and situations that, while larger than life, ring true. “ – Robin Davis Miller, former President, The Authors Guild     

“Guile is one of the most interesting and important novels I have read in years. It takes an unsparing look into the inner-workings of contemporary Washington DC in ways that only the author, Craig Snyder, can do. Over the past four decades, Snyder has moved through a number of top positions on the Hill, at political consulting firms and at various think tanks, and he knows the ropes; the cynicism, the intrigue, and the maneuvering which are features of business done in DC; the ambitions and aspirations that draw people to DC in the first place and which drive national politics. With amazing skill, Snyder builds characters and tells a story that depicts the realities of DC, realities which have almost—but not quite—suffocated the yearning by many in Washington and beyond for a spirit of greater optimism and idealism in government. Can an American political renaissance ever happen? What are the limitations and possibilities in public life today? For all those interested in these questions, my recommendation is to sit down and read Guile.” – David Eisenhower