The Widow

Set in a world in which Donald Trump hasn’t rewritten the rules of American politics, this overwrought thriller from Rouda (The Next Wife) features over-the-top characters and situations. Fifteen-term Ohio Democratic congressman Martin Asher is planning to run again, but his personal and professional life are both imperiled. His decades-long marriage to Jody Prescott is threatened because he’s been caught in compromising positions with an attractive intern, Sarah, who’s about the same age as his daughter, Charlotte. Charlotte’s upcoming wedding to JJ Dobbs, a low-level State Department staffer who’s the son of a former high school antagonist of Martin’s, has put her father on the verge of bankruptcy, forcing Martin to compromise his ethics even more to pay for the lavish affair. Meanwhile, Jody, who’s aware of Martin’s straying, has been getting her revenge by doctoring his drinks in an effort to undermine his health. The pressure on Martin ratchets up even more when JJ’s father uses the rehearsal dinner to endorse a Republican candidate running against Martin. This wild mix of intrigue, secrets, and corruption will keep some readers turning the pages, but it’s unlikely to win Rouda new fans. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Dec.)