Bad Publicity

In the twilight of the Reagan era as prospects appear brighter than ever for a Democratic restoration the lawyers lobbyists advisers and socialites of Washington are looking ahead -- but over their shoulders too. With good reason.Charlie Dingleman a former congressman has gotten a tantalizing job offer that could rescue him from the drudgery of lawyering. But he's being shadowed by an increasingly unsavory rumor started by Judith Grust a young associate at Charlie's firm. Judith has a few dark secrets of her own like one she shares with Hank Morriday a lazy shiftless welfare policy expert. That helps to drive Hank into the orbit of Candy Romulade a P.R. executive paralyzed by a dwindling client list. Then Candy signs up a veteran local anchorman who has a very peculiar view of the world.As these men and women collide in a lusty mad scramble their savage ambitions and reversals of fortune test the idea that there's no such thing as bad publicity. The result Bad Publicity is a pitch-perfect often poignant novel in the classic Swiftian mold.