Problem Of The Perfect Alibi Book

The Librarian is an American political conspiracy thriller which, when it was published in 2004, would've been considered satirical and far-fetched, but in the current climate seems scarily plausible. It's complete coincidence that in the same week I've read two books featuring lightly disguised and very unflattering versions of George W Bush, but reading this one in the run up to the 2020 election made this one particularly chilling. Republican voters probably wouldn't read this, and definitely wouldn't enjoy it if they did, but perhaps that's why they should - it might persuade them to stay home come November.

David Goldberg is a young-middle-aged University librarian who takes on an extra role as a favour to a former colleague, assisting an elderly billionaire to catalogue his life's collection of documents. Unaware that his new boss is plotting to ensure that the inept and arrogant current president secures a second term against a plucky and likeable Democratic challenger, David finds himself on the run from scary Homeland Security operatives who think he's discovered their evil conspiracy and will stop at nothing to silence him - and anyone he associates with...

This was a lot of fun and kept me up reading well past bedtime to find out what would happen. David's a great hero - lovably dorky - you don't get many librarians turning into action men! It's well written - just the right side of "literary" for my taste. I was worried it would have to have an unhappy ending to be believable, so the (minor spoiler alert) open ending was actually a relief, although some may find it unsatisfying. For a black comedy, this had some nasty implied and threatened sexual violence, but despite the mention of bestiality in the blurb, nothing bad happens to any animals.

As mentioned, the frightening thing about this was I wouldn't put anything that happens here past the current monster-in-chief and his cronies, in their pathetic and desperate bid to stay in power, given what we have already witnessed. For the sake of the planet, let's hope Americans have more sense this time round.