The 500
A Novel
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4.1 • 476 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
A gripping thriller debut, set deep in the heart of the world's most powerful political arena.
A year ago, fresh out of Harvard Law School, Mike Ford landed his dream job at the Davies Group, Washington's most powerful consulting firm. Now, he's staring down the barrel of a gun, pursued by two of the world's most dangerous men. To get out, he'll have to do all the things he thought he'd never do again: lie, cheat, steal -- and this time, maybe even kill.
Mike grew up in a world of small-stakes con men, learning lessons at his father's knee. His hard-won success in college and law school was his ticket out. As the Davies Group's rising star, he rubs shoulders with "The 500," the elite men and women who really run Washington -- and the world. But peddling influence, he soon learns, is familiar work: even with a pedigree, a con is still a con.
Combining the best elements of political intrigue and heart-stopping action, The 500 is an explosive debut, one that calls to mind classic thrillers like The Firm and Presumed Innocent. In Mike Ford, readers will discover a new hero who learns that the higher the climb, the harder -- and deadlier -- the fall.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Former Atlantic reporter Quirk's engaging first novel transplants the milieu of Grisham's The Firm to the world of political lobbyists. After being recruited by Washington's leading consulting firm, the Davies Group, Harvard law student Mike Ford thinks he's left behind his blue-collar upbringing. While lobbying policymakers for his new mentor, firm founder Henry Davies, Mike gains a taste of what it's like to belong to America's political elite and begins dating his beautiful and patrician colleague, Annie Clark. Mike's work proves, however, to call less upon his political ideals than on criminal skills first acquired from his jailed con man father. As Mike ascends the Davies Group's hierarchy, he gradually realizes that the firm conceals a sinister political conspiracy. Quirk supplies just enough characterization and journalistic detail of Washington, D.C., life to ground his story as he launches into a streamlined, gripping man-on-the-run thriller. 10-city author tour.
Customer Reviews
Very good book
Sometimes it dragged on but overall great story!!
Worth Another One
3 Stars. Nice debut. Quirk shows real promise. While a little slow in places, the characters finally started to grow on me in the book’s final third. Enough so that I look forward to reading the second and what seems to be the final Mike Ford book. There are definitely places for him to go.
I picked this up after watching The Night Agent. Now TV is introducing authors to me. Usually, it’s the other way around.
A unexpected page turner!
An exposé of what goes in DC! Even if only 10% true, it's disconcerting to the point of nausea. I like the first person Damon Runyon like account of a real "quirky" character in every sense of the word. Can't wait for Mr. Quirk' next book!
My first book on iPad. Loved it!