Purchasing Power

Washington, D.C. lawyer Dilley’s first novel, Nablus Girl, was a spy thriller set in the Middle East. His sophomore effort is a dark political satire about Capitol Hill, in the tradition of Leonard Wibberley’s The Mouse That Roared and Larry Beinhart’s Wag the Dog. Will Bradley, having learned the ropes of influence-peddling as a congressional aide, now works for prestigious lobbying firm Schuyler Randolph, channelling political favors and money to help sleazy foreign clients enact regime change with a little (military) assistance from the U.S. government. In the aftermath of 9/11, Will needs a new campaign to top a long-ago big success. Could aiding the tiny, semi-autonomous Georgian republic of Blaspana in achieving independence impress Will’s bosses and become a major milestone in the Global War on Terror? As Will strategizes with his new clients, Natalia Gurgenadze and the cape-wearing Prince Lasha, Catherine Winningham, a rival lobbyist and lover with violent bedroom tastes, has a score to settle with Will and sets out to destroy him. Meanwhile, Will’s depressed wife, Lil, is spiraling into a dangerous madness. While the bleak ending and unsympathetic characters may turn off some readers, political junkies will enjoy Dilly’s sharp-edged humor that vividly captures the absurdities of life within the Beltway.—Willy Williams