The Fifth Vote

It’s a perfect Wednesday evening on the banks of the Ohio River, and Dylan Webb is riding high both politically and personally. Recently elected, both powerful and popular, he’s gearing up for a rare dinner date amid his busy schedule.

In a matter of minutes, it all turns upside down. Two muggers corner Webb outside his home and force him into his own car at gunpoint. For the next hour, he drives the streets of Cincinnati trying to convince his abductors not to kill him.

He’s ultimately freed, but the moment of relief quickly explodes into a new firestorm, as the police and media doubt his story. As Dylan and a local reporter dig into evidence that something deeper is lurking, bodies start to pile up. And the closer they get to the truth, the more they fear they may be next.

About the Author

Pepper is the author of four novels—The People’s House, The Wingman, The Voter File and A Simple Choice—and two non-fiction works, Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy. Pepper and his work have been featured on CNN, PBS, MSNBC, and CSPAN; and have been highlighted in the Washington Post, Time, Politico Magazine, The New York Times, Salon, and The New Yorker, among others

Pepper was once a member of Cincinnati City Council. And yes, he was abducted at gunpoint.