It is 1924. After a hasty departure from his previous employer, journalist, David Driscoll, arrives in the Midwest city of St Luke to start a new job at the town’s foremost newspaper,
He wastes no time in looking up his old boyhood friend, and one-time playground protector, Mike Doyle, who has made it big since those school days. Doyle is now a popular politician and leader of the city council. He has power, glamour, and seems to be the kind of man that always gets exactly what he wants.
Ever the journalist, Driscoll wants to know exactly how Doyle does it and what is going on behind the scenes, and Doyle could use a newspaper-man on his side at election time. They rekindle their acquaintance as they are both strategically useful for each other. But then things take a turn for the personal as Driscoll gets closer and closer to exposing Doyle as a fraudster.
What follows is a cat and mouse game set across the political and criminal backdrop of Prohibition America in the Midwest, New York and Washington D.C. as each man tries to best the other.
"When Trump cried 'FRAUD', saying that his opponent 'STOLE' the election recently, I was surprised that so many Americans believed him. Having read John Matlin's TRUTH TO POWER I can see why.
Matlin explores the tradition of fraud and election fixing in America in one district, a fictional St Luke city in the Midwest during the era of prohibition (1920s) and the Great Depression (1930's) right up to the Roosevelt era of the 1940s. But he clearly regards St Luke as a microcosm of many other places.
David Driscoll, the newspaperman is out to expose and clean up these practices, but his old school pal, Mike Doyle ('Irish') has 'sewn up' St Luke, including the Police Department, by the time Driscoll can do anything about it. There follows a cat and mouse game across Richmond, New York and Washington against the political background of America over two decades.
Well written, Matlin sustains the drama with a punchy style, so its not easy to put it down."
Jim Moher (Nov 30, 2020)
"I believe this is the Authors first book. Its fiction, set in the US during 1918-1937. It follows 2 childhood friends. As adults Doyle goes into politics and David becomes a reporter. The amount of research the author did shows in the book. It's a relatively accurate representation of the time period.
What I love about the book is how you can relate modern US politics and TV news to the political climate and its reporting during the period following WW1, the stock market crash and the prohibition era. Overall it's a good read. I would give it 5 stars except there are issues related to editing. The author is British and it shows, especially in the beginning, with the dialog. While I did like the ending there are times when the author showed his hand too soon.
Overall opinion great historical fiction, would recommend you give it a read."
Sweet Virago (March 20, 2020)
"A wonderful read. Matlin uses his research of American politics to write an intelligent novel that tackles the great political transformations that took place during the Progressive Era, as well as how media and journalism changed during that era.
Truth to Power has a fast moving and very fun plot filled with corrupt city bosses, mafia thugs, speakeasies, romance, and Calvin Coolidge. Truth to Power is a breath of fresh air compared to other recent works in the historical fiction genre that just seem be an excuse to write that weird sci fi/fantasy book that the author always wanted ("It's like Nightwatch, but with John Adams!"). Definitely a must-read for those that love works that occur in the American 1920's-30's."
Nicholas Aune (Jan 07, 2015)
"Anybody who has had good whispering in one ear and bad whispering in the other ear should give this book a chance. The read is thoroughly enjoyable as characters untie personal history between each other to unveil truth in a political maze of power. Driscoll represents all that is good, but every hero needs a villain. Doyle is his nemesis and oldest friend. The story gets more and more interesting with every page.
You're going to want to open your schedule and pour yourself a cup of coffee because you're not going to want to put the book down. "
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