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The Washington Decree

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The Washington Decree

By: Jussi Adler-Olsen
Narrated by: Jason Culp
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About this listen

 The New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of the Department Q series is back, with a terrifyingly relevant stand-alone novel about an America in chaos.

THE NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR
24 MILLION BOOKS SOLD
WINNER OF THE GLASS KEY AWARD

"The president has gone way too far. . . . These are practically dictatorial methods we're talking about."

When Democratic Senator Bruce Jansen is elected president of the United States, it is a personal victory for Dorothy "Dottie" Rogers. She has secured a job in the White House, has proved to her Republican father that she was right to support Jansen, and is proud to see the rise of an intelligent, inspiring leader who shares her ideals.

But the triumph is short-lived: Jansen's pregnant wife is assassinated on election night, and the alleged mastermind behind the shooting is none other than Dottie's own father. When Jansen ascends to the White House, he is a changed man, determined to end gun violence by any means necessary.

Rights are taken away as quickly as weapons. Checkpoints and roadblocks destroy infrastructure. The media is censored. Militias declare civil war on the government. The country is in chaos, and Dottie's finds herself fighting for the life of her father, who just may be innocent.©2018 Jussi Adler-Olsen (P)2018 Quercus Editions Limited Political Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Espionage Fiction War

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All stars
Most relevant  
Turns aout to be almost like a horror story. First half was most exciting and thought provoking

Weaknesses of democracies

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One of my favourite authors, thoroughly enjoyed this book. You find yourself holding your breath waiting for more outrageous fortune to strike the good honest folk who are swept along within this epic tale. More, more, more Jussi.

Great book, moves along at a cracking pace.

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This disturbing, stand alone political thriller, very different from author Jussi Adler-Olsen's much loved Dept Q books, has the US going from a democracy to autocracy. It was surprisingly written in 2006, so way before the Trump presidential fiasco, America really started to rip it's self apart over a president, gun controls [and then the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade.] As a non American, The Washington Decree makes for fascinating fiction, but for Americans it's surely more a case of a what if & when tale, as well as being a wake up call re the power of FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]!!!
The stories 'heroes' are introduced sixteen years prior to the plot. Democratic Senator Jansen's PR stunt brought together five very different people: fourteen-year-old Dorothy "Doggie" Rogers, small-town sheriff T. Perkins, single coloured mother Rosalie Lee, well-known journalist John Bugatti, & the teenage, Wesley Barefoot. The five remain bonded by their shared experience in China that's cut short through the murder of senator's first wife.
Fast forward to 2008; with both Doggie & Wesley now Jansen's aides, and destined for jobs in the White House when he's overwhelmingly elected President of the US. On the very same evening at a celebratory gathering, his pregnant second wife is assassinated. Doggie's father, once an outspoken opponent of Jansen, is immediately arrested for inciting the murder & swiftly sentenced to dead. What follows then, is what happens when an unhinged leader abuses his power & an ambitious corrupt wannabe manipulates. The president stricken with grief, initiates a series of executive decisions that will alter the foundation of America’s political, economic & constitutional foundations. And a series of 'timely' incidents that bring any doubters in his party to heel soon suggest there's a conspiracy afoot. Subsequently all hell brakes loose across the country & a State of Emergency is declared. The media is gagged, the military roam the streets to maintain order, militias & fringe organisations threaten uprisings, and those on death row including Doggie's innocents father face imminent execution.
The Washington Decree rips along at a cracking pace, keeping ones attention and is eerily plausible in todays uncertain world. One criticism, the expose in Chapter 40 came too soon.

An all too believable American crisis!

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What a brilliant story from page one I was hooked and couldn’t wait for the next episode. Predictable ..... yes maybe but a gripping believable order of events which could happen. I loved every second

Could or might?

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Unlike the Department Q series and others, I have been drawn in by the sheer quality of Olsen's storytelling. I've no doubt this is a great story, based on the premise, but I just cannot concentrate on it, because of the narration, which I found nasal, dull and uninspiring. It may suit others, but not me. I'm just going to buy and read this one. I'm disappointed in myself I can't get beyond the narration, but it grates. Unfinished....

I just gave up

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This book is totally different from Department Q. What made this story interesting was the comments from Donald Trumps about being Dictator for a day and how this chimes with the plot.

Alive in interesting times

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Really great read; definitely found my new favourite author (and narrator).
Looking forward to reading the rest.

Brilliant

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I have enjoyed the department Q books as they have good characters that the reader likes,so I decided to try this one. Initially I thought I would give up on it as I found the narrator very dull and boring and he remained so unfortunately. However the story was interesting and in the end gripping. And I listened to the end where there is a very good twist in the tale. Unlike the Q books I found the characters fairly unsympathetic and I didn’t really root for any of them, which was a pity. Maybe there were just to many of them.
However the underlying issue of the book is interesting and where is it happening in the world today?

Sadly let down by dull narration

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I enjoyed the story I was a little put off by the heroines name - Doggie. In the blurb it read ‘Dottie’ but try as I might I only heard Doggie and couldn’t help getting mentally tangled up in that.
The plot was revealed a bit early and for a large part of the book I was wondering “how is the author going to turn this around for the obvious triumphant ending?”
But a good listen I’d recommend it or the dark state might get me.

Beware The Democrats - Conspiracy

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Excellent read! I don’t know how realistic it is but it was a good yarn with interesting characters. It was well read by Jason Culp. It didn’t seem as long as it actually was, kept me
engaged right up to the last page.

Another excellent read from Jussi Adler Olsen

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