Process of Elimination

Robert Stricklin
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432741013
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (11/09) 

“Process of Elimination” begins with a somber tone as Clayton Talbot, the current Vice President of the United States, is killed when Air Force Two crashes into a hilly area in southern Pennsylvania.  The authorities must quickly determine whether this was an accident or an act of sabotage.  While all of this is going on, President James Hartman must undertake the unenviable task of filling the suddenly vacant office.  As his staff compiles the short list of possible nominees, they must consider someone Congress will approve now as well as someone who will be beneficial during the President’s attempt for reelection in a few years.  One by one each potential candidate is eliminated from consideration by the President and his advisors until finally a choice is made.  Only time will tell if it was a good choice or a potentially dangerous decision.

I am impressed by the author’s style.  The plot evolves in several unexpected directions to keep the reader actively involved in the story.  I like how he portrayed President Hartman’s history and background to make him seem like an ordinary person rather than the highest ranking official of the country.  I found all of the major characters to be very likable and personable, despite their past mistakes and their hidden agendas.

“Process of Elimination” offers a good lesson in politics.  I honestly had no idea how the replacement process works when a Vice President dies while in office.  I found it interesting to observe how the short list of potential nominees is created, i.e., questioning whether the country is ready for a female or a minority to be second in charge and possibly the country’s leader if the incumbent President dies in office.  The author also emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with trustworthy people, but to always be cautious because people often change when they want to achieve their own goals.

This book will be enjoyed by all adults, even if they are not particularly interested in politics.  Intrigue, stealth, and vengeance thicken the plot of “Process of Elimination” by Robert Stricklin, but the political games in which people engage in order to promote their views or influence the nomination of a particular candidate really keep things interesting.

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