Do you like your books current and cutting edge? Tired of reading about long ago days that don’t seem that relevant to you, but still want a romantic suspense tale with contemporary nuances and a romantic twist? Then you will want to check out John Simpson’s new novel, Talons of Condor, the sequel to his Condor One novel where the first openly gay candidate, David Winslow, runs for office. In Talons of Condor, Winslow is President, but has a fleet of problems, from assassination attempts to felonious senators, to keeping his love life private.

David Winslow fought the hard fight to be President, despite his rival using David’s homosexuality as a rallying point to bring out every crackpot to the voting booth. The American People chose him to be their leader and he is going to get done what he promised even if it kills him and there is a possibility it will. David escapes one assassination attempt with the help of his devoted Secret Service guard, Shane. He is aware that there will be others. Not everyone is ready for change even if it is for the better of the whole.

Shane is an excellent member of the Secret Service staff. After all it has always been his dream. All he ever wanted to do was to serve and protect his country with honor. It is all he ever really wanted until the up and coming candidate for President David Winslow comes out of the closet. Seeing his chance, Shane confesses to the then Candidate Winslow that he too is gay and a friendship emerges that deepens into love over the past eighteen months. He should consider himself the luckiest man in the world to be the lover of the President, but he hates all the sneaking around, and how he has to act all cool and professional in public. He wants a real relationship even though it might damage his career and compromise the President’s credibility, especially with the more conservative countries. In the end, he needs to be on his toes because someone is trying to kill the President, again. It isn’t going to happen on his watch.

David and Shane work well together as professionals and romantic partners. The pairing of two strong, intelligent men is a good combination. Adding to the ensemble, several believable characters in the forms of Mary, a sassy senior secretary, and Andy, the competent chief of staff, makes the novel work. In fact, details about the workings of Congress plus the infighting that goes therewith makes it a good story for the reader who knows their political scene.

Talons of Condor is a fast paced, tightly written novel. That digs into the concept that sometimes Americans can be the worst enemies to Americans when their interests are self-serving. It also deals with the world of international espionage. So you have intrigue on both sides of the ocean, but it also includes that most dangerous battleground, the heart. I would highly recommend this novel, as well as reading the prequel, Condor One.

Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© November 2009