Description
What if the president was a political outsider with no experience in government? What if he was mentally unstable? What if he started eliminating his political opponents, one by one? What if the President of the United States was insane?
It was as terrifying as it was implausible. Layton Stolz, a humble laborer, concealed a burning core of monomania and suppressed violence. Against all odds, Stolz is swept into the presidency of the United States. Coverup leads to murder as he consolidates authoritarian power.
Ballard Whitmore, a young teacher falsely imprisoned for sexual misconduct, narrowly escapes assassination. Will high-spirited female reporter Sandy Duckworthy's desperate exposé, laying bare the corruption of a president who lost his grasp of reality, save him in time?
About the Author
Gerald Elias leads a double life as a world-class musician and critically acclaimed author. Devil's Trill, the debut novel of his award-winning Daniel Jacobus mystery series that takes place in the dark corners of the classical music world, was a Barnes & Noble Discover: Great New Writers selection. In 2020 he penned The Beethoven Sequence, a chilling psycho-political thriller. Elias's prize-winning essay, "War & Peace. And Music," excerpted from his insightful memoir, Symphonies & Scorpions, was the subject of his 2019 TEDx presentation. His short stories and essays have appeared in prestigious journals ranging from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine to The Strad. A former violinist with the Boston Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, Elias has performed on five continents and has been the conductor of Salt Lake City's popular Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series since 2004. He maintains a vibrant concert career while continuing to expand his literary horizons.
Reviews
"The twists and turns of his plotting will leave the reader guessing." - Booklist for Danse Macabre
"There's just one word for this book: bravo!" - Publishers Weekly for Death and Transfiguration
"(Elias) has the reader on the edge of the seat till the end." - Stringendo Magazine for Playing with Fire
"This is a very deftly written murder mystery...and guaranteed to please this magazine's readership." - The Strad Magazine for Spring Break
"...fast-paced and punchily written..." - Library Journal for Death and the Maiden
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