The Solomon Scandals - by David H Rothman (Hardcover)

About the Book

A rule-breaking reporter for a crooked newspaper investigates the darker side of a popular real estate tycoon. One of the tycoon's rickety buildings houses hundreds of workers for a shadowy bureaucracy. A 20-20 look at elite corruption.

Book Synopsis

A rule-breaking reporter for a crooked newspaper investigates the darker side of a popular real estate tycoon. One of the tycoon's rickety buildings houses hundreds of workers for a shadowy bureaucracy. The reporter's incendiary discoveries compel him to hide his related memoir for a century to shield those on the scandals' fringes.

Dr. Rebecca Kitiona-Fenton, a multiracial feminist, outspokenly annotates the newspaper memoir of her white great-granduncle, Jonathan Stone.

This complex tale teems with memorable characters caught up in a classic Washington dilemma: friendship vs. duty. Real estate magnate Sy Solomon, a folksy ex-bricklayer, buys up scores of politicians and bureaucrats.

Kirkus Reviews says The Solomon Scandals "captures the aura of dark nihilism in some quarters of the political world with great power. This is a riveting work, mordantly insightful and surprisingly entertaining."

Read Scandals for a thoughtful character-driven suspense novel rather than a "non-stop action" thriller.

Review Quotes

"We get to relish his chatty first-person narrator spinning characterizations of D.C. with the same dark zeal Hammett held for Frisco or Chandler had for Los Angeles." - Ted Scheinman, Washington City Paper.

"Captures the aura of dark nihilism in some quarters of the political world with great power. Here, Solomon casually acknowledges that his building will eventually fall: 'Solomon shrugged and frowned like a pacifist accused of the My Lai massacre. "Of course it's falling down. All buildings fall down someday. All people die someday."' This is a riveting work, mordantly insightful and surprisingly entertaining." - Kirkus Reviews.

"There is exquisite detail attached to the major characters in the book. Social class, regional dialect, gender and non-verbal communication patterns have clearly been given deep thought ... Some fascinating plot twists occur so the element of suspense stays strong throughout the read .... An odd, murky charm ... recalls The Maltese Falcon ..." - Lisa Torem, Pennyblackmusic (pennyblackmusic.co.uk).