The Candidate: A Newsmakers Novel    by Lis Wiehl & Sebastian Stuart Order:  USA  Can Thomas Nelson, 2016 (2016) Hardcover, CD, e-Book      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth I try to avoid political conversations. Ditto reading material. But – the big BUT. The Candidate by Lis Wiehl (with Sebastian Stuart) caught my eye and I couldn't resist it. Good book. I recommend it heartily. Lis Wiehl is the New York Times best-selling author of over a dozen novels. She has held numerous legal jobs and is currently a popular analyst and commentator for the Fox News Channel. Mike Ortiz is a war hero running for the White House. He supposedly spent nine months in an Al-Qaeda prison before he managed to escape. But did he really escape? And was that escape of his own making? His glamorous wife stands with him all the way. Somehow, Erica Sparks, America's top-rated cable news host, doesn't feel comfortable with the image this couple presents. Erica's search for the truth puts her daughter Jenny's life at risk. At one point, even her own past might be brought to light. Be warned. The Candidate will keep you up at night. It has a tightly written plot that you feel could not happen in our country today. But read on. An implausible theory surfaces, one that Erica cannot believe. Nor could I. But as I just said, read on. The denouement is a doozy. No fair peeping. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews