The Devil May Dance
A Novel
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3.8 • 212 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Charlie and Margaret discover the dark side of Hollywood in Jake Tapper's follow-up to New York Times bestseller The Hellfire Club—an "excellent" cocktail of corruption and ambition (Publishers Weekly).
Charlie and Margaret Marder, political stars in 1960s Washington DC, know all too well how the tangled web of power in the nation's capital can operate. But while they long to settle into the comforts of home, Attorney General Robert Kennedy has other plans. He needs them to look into a potential threat not only to the presidency, but to the security of the United States itself.
Charlie and Margaret quickly find themselves on a flight to sunny Los Angeles, where they’ll face off against a dazzling world of stars and studios. At the center of their investigation is Frank Sinatra, a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and a rumored mob crony, whom Charlie and Margaret must befriend to get the inside scoop. But in a town built on illusions, where friends and foes all look alike, nothing is easy, and drinks by the pool at the Sands and late-night adventures with the Rat Pack soon lead to a body in the trunk of their car. Before they know it, Charlie and Margaret are being pursued by sinister forces from Hollywood’s stages to the newly founded Church of Scientology, facing off against the darkest and most secret side of Hollywood’s power.
As the Academy Awards loom, and someone near and dear to Margaret goes missing, Charlie and Margaret find the clock is not only ticking but running out. Someone out there knows what they’ve uncovered and can’t let them leave alive. Corruption and ambition form a deadly mix in this fast-paced sequel to The Hellfire Club.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
CNN journalist Jake Tapper’s second political thriller reads like a Mad Men–era version of The Da Vinci Code, with a sly sense of humor about its conspiracy theory bent. It’s 1962, and Attorney General Robert Kennedy has an assignment for mystery-solving congressman Charlie Marder and his wisecracking zoologist wife, Margaret. RFK’s brother Jack (y’know, the president) has been hanging out with Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack—and the singer’s reputed mob ties could put his administration at risk. Tapper plunges us into the dazzling heyday of Hollywood and Las Vegas, as the fearless couple rub elbows with a bunch of fun, real-world celebrities. When Margaret’s beloved niece goes missing—and some new group calling itself the Church of Scientology shows up—The Devil May Dance really settles into its lean, hardboiled groove. Tapper has done his historical research, creating a story that drives home the still-timely message about the danger of politics mixing with celebrity. You won’t find a faster-paced, more entertaining thriller.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in 1962, Tapper's excellent sequel to 2018's The Hellfire Club opens with a highly effective tease. New York congressman Charlie Marder is in a California cemetery along with his wife, Margaret, and members of the Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, who chose the grim locale to mark the passing of mobster Lucky Luciano. After the gathering ends, the Marders return to their rental car, only to find the body of an unnamed woman both of them knew in the trunk, her eyes shot out. On that cliffhanger, Tapper flashes back a month to New York City, where Marder gets a disturbing call from his political fixer father, Winston, who has been arrested for consorting with gangsters. During their brief jailhouse talk, Winston asks Marder to find out what Attorney General Robert Kennedy wants "and give it to him." That turns out to be information on the relationships between Mafia leaders and Hollywood stars, such as Sinatra. The plot eventually circles back to the female corpse. Tapper makes good use of the rich source material. Fans of Max Allan Collins's Nathan Heller books will be pleased.
Customer Reviews
The Devil May Dance
Really enjoyed this book. Loved the cameos from historical Hollywood and political people of my youth. All dead now.
Solid main characters and though a lot of characters it was easy to sort them from each other. Sometimes the action was a little fast or scattered and I'd have to go back to see what I missed. But not that often. It was a fun book that kept my attention and a nice second act to Jakes first book about Charlie and Margaret. Hope to see a third. I did worry about their kids often. Like I do when watching Mrs. Maisel.
A Cure for Insomnia
This book is so boring that reading just a few pages will put you to sleep. You would think that a story that involves Sinatra and the Rat Pack, the mob, and the Kennedy Administration would be mildly interesting. Well, you’d be wrong. Do yourself a favor and read something more exciting like the owners manual for your refrigerator.
I’m waiting for the next.
Another great book by Jake Taper. I can’t wait for the sequel.