Palace Council (Abridged) Audiobook

" Intricate plotting is the hallmark of Carter's work. Again, intrigue abounds as the characters move from just post Harlem renaissance to Vietnam activism and White House hi-jinks. Eddie is a keepin it real writer ala Baldwin who becomes a presidential speech writer, but his main goal is to find out what happened to his sister June who disappeared after her involvement with radical terrorists. "

" In reflecting on this one, I can't pinpoint exactly why this let me down as much as it did. It's a thriller, but at times it feels like the author (a Yale law professor) knows this and is trying to deconstruct the thriller or play to the genre's ends. The story itself is fast paced and interesting and kept me guessing, but the end left me flat and I didn't completely care. "

" This Stephen L. Carter's third novel, and the third one for me.... I love his writing, his plot intracacies, the world he to which he introduces us of old-money African Americans that is not well known to many people. He is a brilliant man, which comes through in his fictional writing. He just occasional resorts to cliches, but nobody's perfect! I like the way his characters recur in different novels "

" Interesting novel dealing with rich and powerful members of the African American community. I enjoyed some of the historical details, but honestly, the book was a bit bogged down by too many details... "

" While it takes a chapter or two to get used to the rhythm of Carter's writing, this story sucks you in and won't let you go until the end. Gives a highly interesting picture of the upper classes of Harlem and their relationship to events in American history through the tumultuous years of the mid-twentieth century. "

" A very complicated story about a black, Harlem based author's life during the Viet Nam/Watergate era. This is not an easy read but worth the effort. Stephen L. Carter is a black law professor at Yale. "

" A splendid pre-history conclusion to Carter's unofficial trilogy about dastardly goings-on amidst the elite of African American society. I love the crossover characters from THE EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK and NEW ENGLAND WHITE, and this may be my favorite of the three novels for its historiographical metafictional turn. (Richard Nixon, Langston Hughes, Adam Clayton Powell and other famous people appear as characters in the novel.) It's a wonderful picture of the turbulent 1960s, covering some of the same ground as, say, James Ellroy's THE COLD SIX THOUSAND, but with much less of the nastiness and cynical worldview. "

" I really like Stephen Carter's books. They are all connected, but you don't realize it at first. He is one interesting mystery writer. I loved this one, I think because of its place in history and the things that were happening around it. It is not essential to read them in any order, but I read them in the order they were published (well, listened to Emperor, read New England White and this one.) "

" A dense, complicated thriller that is nonetheless a really fun read. I did a lot of flipping back and forth, and with a book more than 500 pp. long. Read it carefully: even the smallest details may turn out to be important. "

" I really enjoyed this book's historical references, the 50's and 60's from a black perspective made for a very interesting mystery story. "

" interesting plot twists with historical references "

" This is my third book by Stephen Carter. I really like him.I learned a lot about the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights movement,and history from 50's-70's. His other 2 novels are even better. Emperor of Ocean Park and New England White "

" Decent political thriller well-rooted in history. Some rough patches in the writing at first, but then it got much better. And Nixon, in all of his awkward weirdness, is a character! "

" At first glance, a rather far-fetched plot, but after the past 8 years of the Bush Administration, not so far-fetched after all. Perhaps a little long, but after a certain point, I didn't want to put it down. Carter is a good writer. "

" Decent political thriller. Lots of twists and turns and unlikely events mixed in with real events spanning 1952-1976. Never really cared about any of the characters. I had the feeling that the book was written to be made into a movie rather than to be a good novel. Weak ending. "

" Very enjoyable, a description of the '60's (1954 to 1974 as the author judges the era) from the viewpoint of African American author protagonist with a healthy conspiracy throy thrown in as well. "

" Stephen Carter's use of the language and creation of plot continue to enthrall his reader. To begin reading is to be "hooked". "

" Set among the wealthy black families in Harlem in the 40's-covers many decades of US history up to Nixon as 2 main charcaters try to solve murder mystery "

" A fun polical/historical page turner. I may have turned too fast. I'm still wondering who will be killed last. Read it and let me know! "

" i am impressed with stephen carter as an author and other career but this was my least fav of his books "

" Not as good at Carter's other two books I have read. Loved The Emperor of Ocean Park and New England White. "

" Picked this up in an airport. I like Carter's fictional characters, their inner voices, and the convolutions of his plots. I'm not entirely convinced by his portrayal of historical characters, e.g. in this case Nixon. It could just be that I'm a lot less sympathetic to Nixon than the author is. "

" Great read covering the 1950's and sixties. a lot of events I can remember but had forgotten to a great extent. The plot is intricate like a John La Carre novel and I had to back track on occasion to understand what was happening. I will read other by this author. "

" I love his thrillers. I need to read his nonfiction. They should be right up my alley. "

" Another well-written book. Conspiracy theories, historical fiction from a great story-teller! "

" Historical novel about 1960's politics and how fictional characters from New York's Harlem district play a role in affecting what went on in Washington. Interesting plot but sometimes too farfetched to believe any of it could really happen. Good light reading. "

" Historical novel about 1960's politics and how fictional characters from New York's Harlem district play a role in affecting what went on in Washington. Interesting plot but sometimes too farfetched to believe any of it could really happen. Good light reading. "

" Interesting book, keeps you interested, as you follow one man's quest. "

" I appreciated the author's note at the end explaining which historical facts he changed for the sake of the story's flow. "

" interesting plot twists with historical references "

" Decent political thriller well-rooted in history. Some rough patches in the writing at first, but then it got much better. And Nixon, in all of his awkward weirdness, is a character! "

" Very slow reading, would not recommend. "

" A lot of characters to keep up with. Excellent read. Good plot. 500+ pages. Don't let the length keep u away. Give yourself time to get through it. "

" This was a wonderful book that was hard to figure out right down to the end. One man's struggle through coming of age, civil rights and unrequitted love. Wonderful book! "