Instead, Drury introduced us to a mysterious world whose folkways and snares were largely unfamiliar to everyone but its inhabitants: the United States Senate.

The story of Advise and Consent had little in common with the cheap and easy setups of 'beach read' thrillers - say, kidnappings by sexual predators, or serial killers who plant various body parts as clues. But, for one 14-year-old, Advise and Consent defined the elements of true suspense - compelling events that act on the character of complex men and women to create a drama that is engrossing, surprising and, ultimately, stirring. For a host of political types in my generation, this book was the siren song that drew them to the capital as journalists, lobbyists, officeholders or consultants. Below, read Patterson's recommendation of Allen Drury's Advise and Consent.įor many novelists, the seeds of a writer's life are planted by encountering a story so compelling that it stays with us for years after we turn the last page.įor me, the year was 1961 the novel Advise and Consent, Allen Drury's Pulitzer Prize-winning saga of power politics in Washington, D.C. You can hear their conversation by clicking the 'Listen' link at the top of the page. Patterson talks with NPR's Michele Norris about why a writer's career is less about talent and more about persistence, about how his writing has changed over the years, and explains why it's great to surprise your readers, but a sin to surprise yourself. It's a process that's not so different from what he does today in his fiction writing. Clients told him the most remarkable stories, and his job was to take those complicated facts and present them in a clear, readable manner. His latest book, In The Name of Honor, came out in June.Įven as a lawyer, Patterson wanted to engage his audience when he wrote briefs, he tried to make them as coherent and vivid as possible.

A former trial lawyer, Patterson is now the author of 17 best-selling novels. Richard North Patterson believes that being a lawyer is the perfect training for a novelist - and he should know.

In our series Thrilled to Death, suspense writers talk with us about their work, and then recommend the books they love. Thrilled To Death 'Killer Thrillers': Vote For The 100 Best Ever

Advise and consent by allen drury