President's Astrologer

Thanks to the Reagan administration, astrology as a behind-the-scenes force in the White House isn't a new idea. In 2006, a president is once again petitioning the stars for help. Addie Pryce, ""one of the top astrologers in Washington,"" is selected for the top-secret task of advising the president and undermining his detractors. Though she's less than thrilled by the idea, Addie agrees and is pulled into the dangerous swirl of the Washington political scene, where she's introduced to an intimidating cast of power-hungry characters and forced to work with skeptics like White House staffer Jonah Stern. When she discovers the bloody body of her only true friend and confidante, retired astrologer Livonia Matthews, Addie painfully recognizes the ruthlessness of the world she has entered. While the press rakes up rumors of the president's paranormal dealings, Addie is kidnapped by evil Senator Granit, who's managed to get an android elected vice-president and has another 'droid waiting in the wings to murder the president. Thanks to even more implausible narrative twists, the good guys reach the inevitable happy ending. While this romantic thriller moves quickly, the awkward plot, its unconvincing characters and the author's weak grasp of technological and political logistics make this futuristic vision largely ineffectual. (Dec.)