‘Elimination’ should be added to reading list

Jessica Bradshaw, a U.S. Congressman, is engaged in a tight election battle when someone fires shots at her after a televised debate. The shots miss, the shooter escapes and the gun is found in a Bradshaw staffer's car, leading to speculation that the assassination attempt was an attempt at sympathy for the candidate.

Thus begins 'Elimination,” (Severn House, $20.48, 182 pages), Cedar Rapids author Ed Gorman's fifth novel in the Dev Conrad mystery series - a series that has grown in stature with each installment.

Conrad, Bradshaw's political consultant and campaign manager immediately gets embroiled in the aftermath of the shooting. What ensues is exactly what you'd expect from Gorman in this series: biting political commentary accompanied by a heavy dose of cynicism; intriguingly developed characters, honestly portrayed no matter how engaging or flawed; and an interesting MacGuffin that helps move along a cleverly-plotted narrative.

The candidate's family life is far from harmonious. The opposing candidate is a caricature of that political persuasion. A certain segment of the media gets the same acerbic treatment. The investigating sheriff is a touch on the heavy-handed side. A hint of romance is in the air. And all of this is wrapped up in Gorman's clear-eyed view of the human condition.

Don't eliminate 'Elimination” from your reading list this summer.