Rock, Paper, Scissors: A Novel of Political Intrigue

by Steve Samuel

Book Overview

When she was young, Sarah saw her father, a CIA agent, gunned down. Now in the Secret Service, she accepts the post of head of security for the Secretary of State. As she is drawn further into a web of deceit, she begins a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684823438
• ISBN13: 9780684823430
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding

I could not put this book down. The storyline was great and followed through excellently. I agree with the statement lightning-paced and pulse-pounding. I look forward to reading future works from Steve Samuel. I hope this becomes a movie.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave..."Sir Walter Scott

Nowhere is this quote by Sir Walter Scott more true than in Steve Samuel's first political thriller, "Rock Paper Scissors". Beginning with the chilling opening scene in which a three year old girl witnesses the cold-blooded and brutal murder of her father, and racing along till the very last page, "Rock Paper Scissors" is an adrenaline rush of a book!Utilizing the precarious political theater of the Middle East, and more specifically, the uncertain future of Saddam Hussien, Samuel has woven an incredible first novel. Painting his characters in broad strokes, he allows the reader to enjoy the spectacle of politicians with much more than the public eye in mind.Years after she's seen her father gunned down, Sarah Peterson, now a top secret service agent, is horrified to accidently uncover a plot that could feasibly destroy life on Earth. This knowledge puts her in the crosshairs of some of the most powerful people in the world...and it's a nail-biting trip to find out if she will win out over the deceit of those she's put in charge of protecting. "Rock Paper Scissors" is well-written and perfectly executed. Although it reaches for and misses in some of its imagery, overall, it's a fantastic escape!

RPS -- a kid's game no more...

Rock, Paper, Scissors is one of those rare books by a first time author that takes the reader on a thrill ride. The book is not filled with similes and metaphors, one of my personal pet peeves; instead the writing is clean, distinct, and clear. Authors to whom I compare the writing are David Balducci (Absolute Power), Tom Clancy (The Hunt for Red October), and John Grisham (A Time to Kill). It is a cold winter's afternoon...and I was hooked in the prologue.A three-year-old child sees her father murdered while he is pushing her in a swing. Having been strapped into the swing for safety, she is left to dangle long past midnight. Why did the ruthless assassin not kill the only witness to his crime? She was not part of the contract. However, children become adults and traumatic scenes such as this are part of their character. Steve Samuel's character development is perfect; Sarah Peterson is smart, talented, observant, and uses her skills as if they were a sixth sense. She is able to see the danger in various situations, which catapults her to the top in the FBI, and ultimately face to face with her father's killer. Along the trek, Samuel shows a detailed knowledge of the political inner workings of the FBI, white house staff, and CIA. His knowledge of world politics is as prescient as Tom Clancy's in the mid-1980's book "Red Storm Rising" (the Soviet Union was dissolved). Sarah Peterson discovers that corruption and murder are hidden behind both corporate and political doors. When she learns the secrets behind the kidnapping of a billionaire's daughter the answers bring about the assassinations of some of her FBI associates. Reluctantly she joins forces with Sam Baldwin (the billionaire) to unravel the plot and find the missing daughter before chaos destabilizes the middle east. This is the reason behind the crime, and it is frightening and plausible as the logic is revealed in impeccable writing.Enjoy this one -- it is a five star keeper.

I wish there were TEN stars!

If you've been waiting for a new voice to fill the void left by Ludlum's laziness, Follett's failures, and DeMille's dame-chasing detective, look no further than Steve Samuel. In this debut, Samuel has crafted a story with every essential element necessary for a heart-pounding thriller!He's got a cracker-jack Secret Service agent with a tragic past -- he's added really powerful bad guys with their own evil agenda tied to international bad guy Saddam Hussein -- there's the kidnapping of a very rich and powerful man's only child -- and he's even given his readers an insider's look at the true seat of power within Washington's beltway. The terms "page turner" and "heart stopper" are overused in the publishing world, but they're the words that come to mind after finishing this story!I read the book in one sitting -- didn't plan it that way, but once started, I could not put the darn thing down. I'm very curious to know how quickly Hollywood will snap up the film rights! It'll make a blockbuster, for certain! Buy this book. Then, tell all your friends and relatives to buy the book. The reading world needs more writers like Steven Samuel! Enjoy!

A Terrific First Novel

... Mr Samuel has really put all the pieces together and given us a very knowledgeable and plausible story of political intrigue. With such a dynamite premise and short cliff-hanging chapters, this is a book you'll have to read in one sitting. A novel that has it all...great, interesting characters, terrific, compelling writing and riveting scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get yourself a copy, turn off the phone and lock the door. Rock Paper Scissors is a winner.