Deep State has much to interest me, but unfortunately I found many of the writing choices made by the author detracted from that interest. Whereas I thought I was going to be reading a political thriller, it started out with a lengthy story about female boxers in the military Not my thing. But, I stuck with it to learn that one of the female boxers considered her training as preparation to work in government. She moves to the White House as an intern and the story is underway. We learn of a plot to kill the president right after his chief of staff is murdered. Our boxer, Hayley Chill, becomes more influential at the White House.
Once the murder plot is complete, I noticed that there were many pages left in the novel. In those pages, the author truly went off the deep end and made the story entirely ludicrous. It's almost like he wanted to sabotage what he had just finished. I hated it, and can't see myself reading this author again.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I give this book four stars, which is an average of five for suspense, which is amazing, and three for writing, which is sometimes stilted.

Hayley Chill, having just mustered out of the Army, becomes a White House intern. With eerie and pointed parallels to the current administration, she soon finds herself awash in White House trivia, trivia which very rapidly becomes not at all trivial when she witnesses the Chief of Staff murdered in his home early one morning. To say more enters spoiler territory. Let’s just say that the reader doesn’t find out all of the chilling details until the last few pages.

This is an unfortunately highly believable fictional story of suspense and misalliances, one in which you don’t know who’s an ally and who’s not. I say “unfortunately “ because in today’s highly charged political scene, where lies are common currency, it’s only too easy to believe that what happens in this story could happen at any time.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was terrific! The 21 year old female protagonist just left the Infantry and had been a boxing champion there. From there she took a year off and then went to Washington DC to become a White House Intern for one year. The internal politics of the White House were discordant, but not so much so as the political climate within the country. During her brief tenure, she learns of a plot to eliminate the President, a former military hero, and install the individual this cabal wants into the White House. The characters are very believable as is the plot. It is complex and has continual twists and turns in it. The ending (which one hopes is really a beginning) is amazing and makes the reader hope for more of the same. The author’s background in screen writing only adds to the plot. Thanks to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC for an honest review.

Haley Chill is a woman on a mission, vowing to serve and protect our country. Moving from military service to an intern position in President Richard Monroe's White House, Hayley's instincts and physical strength are vital to protecting herself, the president, and the foundations on which our country is built. This is a fast-paced thriller that is perfect for the current political climate and will keep you turning pages far into the night. Author Chris Hauty-I love your style, and can't wait to recommend this book to library patrons and friends. The release of this book during a presidential election year is genius.