The Lobbyist by Thomas Hibbard

The Lobbyist, by Thomas Hibbard, is a hard-hitting and smart political thriller that will keep you guessing and asking for more. The story is a study of ambition, flawed characters, and hidden agendas, set in the compelling world of Los Angeles county government, a hornet’s nest of intrigue, political infighting, and murder. It is also a story fueled by the central theme that no matter how filled one’s life may be with trials and tribulations, in the end, happiness is found in the love of another.

Tom Burton, former Chief Deputy to L.A. Supervisor John Howard, finds himself being investigated by attractive L.A. Times reporter Kathy Boyd, who has been assigned to investigate allegations of possible county corruption involving Tom’s ex-boss. But, Tom is no friend of the press and Kathy finds her assignment less than productive, until Tom finds himself the main suspect in Howard’s murder. With all evidence pointing in Tom’s direction, including knowledge that he had a grudge against Howard before his death, Tom sees the writing on the wall. Ultimately, Tom and Kathy find their unlikely pairing mutually advantageous, and a rocky relationship ensues. When the Sheriff and District Attorney move to prosecute Tom, and Kathy becomes the target of drug dealers who she exposes in her reporting, the two find their lives changed forever in ways they could never have imagined.

Told with grit and showing more than a little hard-boiled attitude, The Lobbyist is filled with multifaceted characters and complex subplots. Beautifully paced and written in masterful prose, Hibbard has written a book that ranks with the best in the political thriller genre. The Lobbyist is sure to please any thriller buff, as well as any lover of good storytelling.