The 500

By: Matthew Quirk
Publisher: A Reagan Arthur Book/ Little, Brown and Company
Publishing Date: June 2012
ISBN: 978-0-316-19862-2
Reviewed by: Mary Lignor
Review Date: July 2012

The pre-publication promotions for this book were so good that readers were unable to get copies unless they knew somebody. The novel was advertised as being the most exciting “Debut Novel” to come down the pike for a long time. Does it deliver? There's no doubt that readers will be hooked after the very first page.

This novel opens up in Washington, DC at a very respected consulting firm, “The Davies Group,” where Mike Ford, a recent graduate of Harvard Law School, has secured a dream job. The 500 in the title refers to the 500 most prominent people (men and women) in the nation’s capitol who run things. The author is good at telling readers about the ins and outs of Washington society with a lot of great imagination and maybe a bit of truth thrown in for good measure. Mike Ford is a hard worker and works just as hard at fitting in with his richer than Midas classmates as he does at learning his profession.

The Davies Group is paid for by corporations and special interest groups to influence the 500 who are the people who run Washington behind the scenes. Mike is anxious to please Mr. Davies and goes into his job with a vengeance and, sadly the job that Mike is hired to do turns into a corrupt power play with powerful people behind it.

This novel is a very well-written story that brings together intrigue and action. It’s a first class debut that does remind this reader of John Grisham’s The Firm. However, it’s not exactly the same. As a matter of fact, in some places it’s a better read than The Firm. Maybe it’s because it takes place in the seat of power and it’s an election year.

Quill Says: The story is action-packed, fast-paced and a page turner. It’s clever and with many tales of Washington insiders. Chances are you won't be able to put it down until the very last page is read.