Sweat by Mark Gilleo

"It's a note."

Across his chest. in dark indelible ink, were the words "I am innocent. Let me explain"

~~~~Page 214

Title: Sweat
Author: Mark Gilleo
ISBN: 9781611880519
Publisher: The Story Plant/2012
Pages: 362


When Jake Patrick took a summer internship at his estranged father’s corporation, he anticipated some much-needed extra cash and a couple of free meals from his guilty dad. He would never have guessed that he'd find himself in the center of an international scandal involving a U.S. senator, conspiracy, backroom politics, and murder. Or that his own life would hang in the balance. Or that he’d find help – and much more than that – from a collection of memorable characters operating on all sides of the law. Jake’s summer has turned into the most eventful one of his life. Now he just needs to survive it.

From the sweatshops of Saipan to the most powerful offices in Washington, SWEAT rockets through a story of crime and consequences with lightning pacing, a twisting plot, an unforgettable cast of characters, and wry humor. It is another nonstop thriller from one of the most exciting new voices in suspense fiction.

My Views: 

I would like to review this a little differently. One can see from the above blurb that it is a political thriller. I loved the complex characters. They are very believable and the setting is very good. The language is a pleasure to read and the descriptions are too good. One thing I have to say that, the novel has taken the present into account and that kind of relates us to the story. I enjoyed the novel very much.

Jake is a very likeable character and he knows what he is doing. The bonding between family is a strong point and the crooked politicians make the book so plausible. The setting from Saipan to Washington D.C. is totally seamless and one does not want to leave it midway at all.....

I really liked the following passage:

Genetics was a strange thing, he thought. And while he looked like his father, he felt nothing. Jake didn't hold a grudge because his father was an alcoholic, workaholic, or womanizer. He may have been all of the above, but Jake didn't know. And it is hard to be upset about something you don't know or can't remember. He wasn't angry, hurt or disappointed-he wasn't close enough to the man in front of him to have any of those emotions. Everything happens for a reason and Jake tried to leave the past in the past, a skill he learned from his mother.

~~~Page 26