I received a feee copy of The Saundra Gray Affair through Net Galley in return for an honest review. My thanks to the publisher, the author and Net Galley.
The subtitle of the book is “ Novel About Politics”. Well, yes, that it is, but wrapped up in love , desire , ambition, greed and fear. I other word, yes, it is about politics..
The story is told in the voice of and from the perspective of Wally North, the admistrative assistant to J. D. Clay , a congressman from the upstate farm country of Iowa. He is a moderate Democrat, who has managed to stay elected in the conservative, generally Republican. District. He keeps his job serving the needs of the people back home and by serving his conscience, both. As his chief aide, Wally admires his boss’ skills at political give and take and dealing with the pitfalls of political manipulation pen. To Wally, Clay is one of the good guys.
That changes after Mrs Clay is gravely injured in a car accident back home that paralyzes her from the waist down. With his wife permanently at home, Clay begins using a high end escort service for sexual comfort. Although his wife knows and tacitly approves of the sordid commerce, with the mutual understanding that it is not ot get personal, Of course, it does. Clay falls in love with the call girl Saundra Gray. That was not supposed to,happen. Neither was her sudden disappearance. It does not take long for gossip to spread of a relationship between Clay and Saundra. Missing and dead. Did Congressman Clay kill her because he was being blackmailed?
Clay’s career is a stake and his chief aide must handle the flak,The trouble is that Wally is as much in the dark as anyone. Worse hear the last message on Saundra’ s answering machine ( this is before cell,phones were everywhere available) , a message from Clay. Besieged with his own doubles as to Clay’s innocence, Clay struggles with the mounting cries for Clay to come clean.
“ The Saundra Gray Affair” is a largely well written thriller with enough hidden factors and sudden twists to keep the reader hooked. The past plays a big part in what brings down J.D. Clay, but not one that he , of the reader, could foresee. It is a modern political thriller and a tragedy.
The use of the modifier “ largely” above is because , at times the narrative flow between chapters can be startlingly abrupt. However this may be because of the galley digital,edition I read and is not what the final print or digital ) edition would have. In the digital edition I read, the author’s thanks and acknowledgments to those who were of help in writing the book flowed right the same page on from the denouement , which was strange.
Verdict: Recommended,as a good novel , satisfying novel. Cautions: none. No graphic villemce, , no lurid sex. The only dirt is in the Washington politic al scene and the snarly wold of Washington “,journalism”.

I don’t usually read novels about politics, and certainly not American politics. In fact, I would normally say that this type of book doesn’t really appeal to me, largely because of the prejudices I have about that world. The Saundra Gray Affair is not, however, a book solely about politics. Or rather, it’s not just that. What drew me in was the mystery, the criminal investigation at its core.

I’ll admit that the beginning didn’t immediately hook me. That wasn’t due to the author’s style, which I actually appreciate for its clarity and precision, but more to the fact that I was waiting to see where the story would lead. I was waiting for the actual Saundra Gray affair to begin, for the plot to really accelerate. Still, this opening offered an intriguing glimpse into the world of Congressman JD Clay and, especially, his assistant Wally North, giving me an unexpected insight into the inner workings of Washington.

Surprisingly, I found myself becoming attached to Clay (again, unusual for a politician). Even though some of his decisions are questionable, he comes across as far more moderate than many of his colleagues, and in some respects even “ahead of his time” on certain social issues (though not all).

When the Saundra Gray affair finally begins, I actually wondered if I’d accidentally skipped a few pages—so sudden was its appearance. But no: it arrives abruptly, just as it did in Wally North’s life. Nothing is missing, and by the end, everything falls into place.

Watching Clay’s gradual downfall, while never being entirely sure of his innocence or guilt, pulled me deeply into the narrative. From that point on, I was fully absorbed, sharing in Wally’s frustration as he struggled to make sense of his boss’s choices.

I wanted to believe in Clay’s innocence, but the further I read, the more doubts began to creep in. The writing is so skilfully balanced that, despite everything, you still find yourself wanting to defend him.

Without giving away the ending, because it’s truly worth discovering for yourself, I can say that the bittersweet conclusion does not disappoint.

All in all, this book was a very pleasant surprise, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it, even to those who, like me, might hesitate at the word politics.

We meet J.D. Gray when he is a bright High School student. The story begins in an era of racism in America. . when his history teacher directs him to defend slavery in a debate, he takes great offense and gets suspended from school for his noble effort.
He grows up to serve in Congress, where he tries to be fair and improve the lives of his constituents, but is a flawed person nonetheless. He is highly regarded by the voters in his District.
This is an exposé on Politics turned sideways with an interesting main character who grew up privileged.and entitled. It is also a story of the press going rogue for salacious stories. When JD's life presents difficulties and obstacles, he shifts along with it, to his own desires. I don't think he is a bad person, but he is a spoiled one. It all reaches a fever pitch when a young intern in his office disappears, and his own secrets threaten to be exposed. . He is conflicted by wanting to do the right thing for her and the inquisition into his own selfish needs and desires.
Where is she? Is she still alive? The people are quick to judge and don't seem interested in proof of culpability or hard evidence. Even in the late 20th century, Washington had many characteristics of becoming a pit and den of iniquity. JD does not readily jump through the hoops, desires, and investigations of others, so the rumor mill gets to work. What a mess in this election year..
Interspersed with the business of writing legislation that actually helps people and losing his privacy to " The Machine" of Washington's politics, it made me think of the lack of loyalty to the people, the Congressmen , and how a rogue Press runs away with rumors. What becomes of truth and success? What about personal liability?
I loved this book, couldn't put it down, and was nearly moved to tears, especially at the twists and revelations to follow.. It all culminates in shocking events , even after the reveal.
I will be on the lookout for more by this author who was part of the Washington Circle himself.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I wish I could give it many more stars .

This wasn't exactly what I was expecting and honestly that's my fault. The title clearly says "A novel of politics" but I was expecting more focus on Saundra Gray.

The book is said to be inspired by the disappearance of Chandra Levy. As someone who loves true crime and unsolved mysteries I thought this book would be a good match for me, and overall I did enjoy the story. The story felt real, and since it is inspired by a real case I appreciated that.

The story is beautifully written and the characters felt like real people. I was sucked into the story pretty quickly. It was hard to stop reading once I started which I found shocking because I was afraid with the political undertones that it would drag. It did a great job at blending multiple genres into one cohesive piece. We are given political thriller, suspense and even a bit of romance.

I was honestly pleasantly surprised by the title and would absolutely read more from Yager.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book captured my interest right away and made it one of those hard to put down books. While it is fiction, and I didn’t know that it is loosely similar to a real life story, the narrative, while not my normal favorite genre, thriller, was suspenseful with insight into the “real world” of politics, perhaps a little of the underbelly of same and just a lot of intrigue, speculation and suspense! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it is relevant and reflective of the lives of pols and everything that encompasses and surrounds that life!! Will be looking for more from this author!

I've never forgotten the Chandra Levy case so the parallels and premise of this book intrigued me. Sadly, I struggled to engage with the first few chapters and lost interest. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

What it’s about 📚

A promising young intern goes missing. A congressman maybe had an affair with her. His chief of staff starts asking questions.

First impressions 🌀

Definitely more political drama than true crime thriller — slower start, a lot of setup, but it felt like reading a scandal break in real time. I wasn’t sure where it was going, but I wanted to find out.

What worked for me ✨

The structure! It jumps between timelines, articles, letters, and different POVs — which made it feel immersive in a way I wasn’t expecting.

Final thoughts 🎯

Not quite what I expected, but ended up being a layered portrait of how easily people can disappear — literally and morally — when ambition gets involved. Definitely a slower burn, but it left me thinking.

As a keen follower of American politics, this book was a no-brainer for me to request. I have to admit I was a little put off by the fact that I was not familiar with the author or the publisher and the fact that there appeared to be very little peer reviews of the book from other well-known authors (although they are probably all just reciprocal and count for very little anyway).

However, dubieties aside, I requested and I am very glad I did. This novel is apparently based on a similar disappearance of a congressional staffer however I was not familiar with that real life story. This novel tells the story of the disappearance of Saundra Gray who was working, at the time, for up and coming congressman, and presidential hopeful, J.D Clay with whom she may, or may not, have been having an affair.

Although the story is titled The Saundra Gray Affair, the titular character doesn't actually appear in the novel until later on. Instead, the beginning of the novel focuses on the story of J.D Clay and his political, and personal, journey.

I was expecting more of a thriller here with a focus on Saundra's disappearance however this is more of an insight into the world of American politics and is written by someone with a clear command of his subject matter and an excellent writing style which both educates and entertains.

Definitely a well-written novel and will encourage me to expand my reading a bit more and take more chances on lesser known authors.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amplify Publishing | RealClear for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Taking its inspiration from the real life disappearance and murder of Washington Intern Chandra Levy, this political thriller follows the rise and fall of Iowa Congressman JD Clay who's aspirations are derailed by how he responds to the medias interest in the disappearance of his intern Saundra Gray.

The story is told from the perspective of several key people in Clay's life, including his Administrative Assistant ( Chief of Staff ) Wally North, and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Isiah Stone. Although we never really meet Saundra Gray while she is working for Clay ( except for an Interview with Wally ) secrets emerge after her disappearance that could damage Clay's political career and destroy his family. There is also a dalliance with a gorgeous Law School Student turned high class call girl who has a soft spot for Clay.

How Clay responds echoes the denials of real life Gary Condit, Bill Clinton and even Gary Hart when confronted with allegations of extra marital affairs, and Yager describes, in detail, how these denials become fatal for re-election.

Long after the killer is identified, and Clay rides off into the Iowan sunset, Stone continues to investigate the crime, and ultimately discovers the underbelly of Washington DC and what really happened to Saundra Gray.

It is obvious that Yager has spent time in Washington, and knows some of the inner workings of Congress which brings this story to life. A very compelling story, but lacking in some character development of the Title Character.

A missing intern. A Congressman who wants to keep his affair with her quiet. This thriller starts with the beginning of J.D Clays congressional career and through to the events that culminate with the intern Saundra Gray being found murdered. The main perspectives are from Clay, his Chief of Staff Wally, an escort named Naomi and reporter Isaiah Stone. The story is a little slow in the beginning, but picks up pace as things come together. An interesting take on a fictional political scandal based on the real life Chandra Levy case. Well written look into the political world and what it costs someone in morals and personal integrity. Thank you to NetGalley and RealClear publishing for the advanced copy

THE SAUNDRA GRAY AFFAIR by Daniel Yager
⭐️ rating: 8.5/10

read if you like:
👩‍⚖️ politics
🤷🏻‍♀️ missing women
📍 Washington DC

summary:
I love D.C. and political drama, so I had a feeling I’d enjoy this book — and I absolutely did. It follows Congressman J.D. Clay, a rising Democratic star from Iowa, and his longtime aide-turned-chief-of-staff, Wally North. Wally is devoted to his work, despite the usual ups and downs, until everything changes: an intern, Saundra Gray, suddenly goes missing. As her parents come to D.C. desperate for answers, Wally begins to question what Congressman Clay knows — and what he might be hiding. Even after Saundra is found and a killer identified, the dark side of politics lingers, and Wally realizes that fame and power in Washington aren’t as glamorous as they seem.

What makes this book stand out is its structure. Told through a mix of letters, newspaper articles, and first-person narratives spanning decades, the story weaves through J.D.’s childhood, college years, and political rise, alongside Wally’s evolution in the Capitol and the reporting of Isiah Stone, a Pulitzer-winning journalist from Des Moines. The multiple formats and perspectives give the story real momentum and depth, especially as you begin to understand the complex relationship between J.D. and Wally. You expect to hate J.D. — he fits the mold of a stereotypical politician — but as Saundra’s disappearance unfolds, you’re left questioning everything, including him.

The ending is heartbreaking (I’m a sucker for a happy ending), but it’s a powerful reminder of how fragile life — and power — really is. Some questions are left unanswered, but honestly, that just makes it feel more real.

Big thanks to Amplify Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. If you're into political drama or a good missing person mystery, add this to your list when it releases on August 5!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, a good insight into America's democracy and its workings., Plenty of twists and turns with clear political undertones. Recommended.

True Crime fans will no doubt be intrigued “The Saundra Gray Affair” because of its clear influence (acknowledged by the author) to the Chandra Levy murder and it’s apparent political connections. The premise is simple- a DC intern goes missing and the obvious suspect is the congressman who had an affair with bed but refuses to admit it.
I had a lot of trouble engaging with this story, feeling like the first 30% of the book wasn’t as interesting as the premise. That section mostly dealt with the upbringing of the story’s fictional congressman. The action clearly ramped up after that and it became a decent political story. Twists and turns about and nothing is quite what it seems- including the motives for what happens to Saundra Gray. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I just wrapped up The Saundra Gray Affair, and wow—what a ride. This isn’t your typical murder mystery. Daniel Yeager takes you deep into the world of political power plays, legal loopholes, and the complicated psychology of people who operate at the highest levels of influence.

When a Capitol Hill intern mysteriously disappears, a congressman finds himself in a media firestorm in the midst of a heated primary race.

Congressman J.D. Clay had the makings of a presidential contender—an Iowa Democrat, war hero, and one-hit-wonder songwriter who made Washington work by listening to all sides and finding common ground.

But then Saundra Gray, an attractive young intern in his office, disappeared.

As accusations of an affair and even involvement in her disappearance explode around him, Clay's world—along with that of his loyal chief adviser, Wally North—is turned upside down.

In a saga spanning more than two decades and continuing long after Saundra’s killer is found, journalist Isaiah Stone untangles a winding web of sex, secrets, and lies at the highest levels of government.

In the spirit of classic novels like Primary Colors and All the King’s Men and inspired by the true story of the still-unsolved Chandra Levy case, The Saundra Gray Affair is more than a murder mystery. It’s a powerful commentary on power, politics, and the brilliance and flaws of both our laws and our leaders.

I really enjoyed this story. Yes it did give shades of the Chandra Levy case, but I felt like it was tastefully done. Will recommend to others. I thought it was well written.

In one of those "torn from the headlines" stories, this novel - which takes its inspiration from the far from fictional Chandra Levy case- offers an excellent insight into how America's democracy functions and where its weaknesses lie.

The scandals involving politicians and their young female assistants and interns permeates the US political system from the bottom all the way to the top, as Bill Clinton's case proved, and there have been innumerable such instances over the years. Though hopefully, very few of them end in murder or missing persons!

Although the book takes a while to hit its stride, it does reward the reader who perseveres. Well worth checking out if the theme appeals, this gets 3.5 stars.

I was given an advanced copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novel took some time to fully capture my attention—nearly halfway through—but once it did, I was thoroughly engrossed. From that point on, I found it difficult to put down. While I initially wanted to dislike JD, the complexity of his internal struggle made him a compelling and relatable character. Readers who enjoy political intrigue and psychological thrillers will likely find this book a worthwhile read.

I initially picked this piece due to my attraction to the cover; however, what kept me seated was Daniel Yager's writing. I did not know what I was getting myself into, but he told me off the bat in the prologue which I appreciate. I am not usually one for politics, yet I still enjoyed this because it wasn't overly complicated. The story was shocking and well drawn out. Overall, I do recommend this book if you are looking for an amazing crime/thriller novel.