Pete Morin's debut novel is a darkly funny, often sardonic take on the Justice Department's early 1990's effort in Massachusetts to prosecute misdemeanor state campaign finance and ethics violations as federal felonies.When ex-rep Paul Forte is served with a subpoena to testify about golfing with a lobbyist pal, he is pulled, ill prepared, into a labyrinth of the criminal justice system. Following the code of honor and telling the truth just isn't going to be enough to deal with the machinations of U.S. Attorney Bernard (don't call him "Bernie") Kilroy.
In his grand jury appearance, Paul neglects his lawyer's warning about the thin-skinned prosecutor. When Paul addresses "Bernie" with a sardonic assessment of his allegedly felonious eating and drinking, he infuriates the lawman. But grand juror Shannon McGonigle approves of Paul's taste for osso buco, and lights a fuse in Paul that will burn more slowly than he can endure.
Paul's problem is not that he has played golf with everyone but the Pope (not a golfer), but that he testifies he has never done anything to help any lobbyist. The truth, Paul thought. But Bernie Kilroy has a different version of the facts at hand and moves to indict Paul for perjury. In the course of his duties, the prosecutor's methods take liberty with Paul's due process.
Aside from the usual mendacity and hunger for political power, there is no explanation for Bernie Kilroy's pursuit of such a small fish. But there is something deeper to his motivation that takes Paul some time to unravel. When he does, the war is on. Before it's over, Paul isn't so sure he's the innocent victim.
