cover image THE LATEST BOMBSHELL

THE LATEST BOMBSHELL

Michele Mitchell, . . Holt, $23 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-8050-7321-8

CNN political correspondent Mitchell's first novel is an intriguing Washington conspiracy yarn about a hapless journalist accused of selling military secrets to China. Lyle Gold is a muckraking reporter who covers the military. The accusation of spying strikes his acquaintances as improbable (he's about as honest, upright and uptight as anyone can be), but Lyle is so un-telegenic that after a few minutes in front of the cameras he has the American public clamoring for his arrest. Kate Boothe, a charismatic political consultant and Gold's ex-girlfriend, takes on the case. Shifting the media tide is not simple; the public equates Gold with anti-Americanism, and in the post September 11 political landscape the charge is especially lethal. Kate herself becomes a target of media criticism as the media scrutinize her past romantic relationships, including a recent one with the son of the Chinese ambassador to the United States. As Kate discovers the truth about who's leaking the secrets, her mission becomes daunting—the more so when a murder complicates the scandal. There are a few kinks in the plotting: evidence falls into Boothe's lap too simply, with sources coming to her out of the goodness of their hearts, and in general there is very little investigative action. But the real allure here is Mitchell's savvy, gleeful take on the ins and outs of Washington politicking, which will have the Primary Colors crowd rapt. (June 10)

Forecast:Count on full-bore media coverage for this media insider's debut (an NPR interview seems a sure thing). Readers fed up with cautious reportage and memoirs will appreciate Mitchell's irreverent fictional approach.