Absolute Power is a thriller first released in 1995. In this quick paced, page turner, readers follow the story of Luther Whitney, a burglar. Yep, you read that right. This isn’t the story of an honest, law abiding citizen. Luther is an unrepentant burglar with plenty of baggage. At the start of the book, Luther is breaking into the Virginia mansion of an older yet extremely powerful billionaire, Walter Sullivan. He’s been casing the mansion and believes the owners will be out of town, he enters the house with the intent to steal. However, when the homeowner’s young wife, Christy, unexpectedly returns with a guest, Luther hides in the massive master bedroom closet. That’s when the real surprises happen. The closet is fitted with a two-way mirror, allowing him to watch the bedroom activities. Weird! From behind the mirror, Luther witnesses Christy Sullivan engage in a sexual encounter with the most powerful man in the country. Who? You get three guesses and two don’t count. If you guessed the President of the United States, then BINGO! You win. Okay, that’s bad enough, but President Alan Richmond has some . . .sexual proclivities. Keep in mind, this isn’t a cozy. Both are drunk and things get rough—too rough. Believing the president is in danger, the Secret Service step in to protect the president, killing his paramour. What a mess. If word of the affair becomes public knowledge, it could destroy the president’s career (along with those who are riding his coattails to power). So, the Secret Service covers up the murder and arranges the evidence to look like a burglary gone wrong. And, what better fall guy than Luther Whitney, the burglar who witnessed the entire thing.
Absolute Power was turned into a movie starring Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman. If you’ve seen the movie, take my advice and read the book. Both are well done. Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman are great actors, so the movie is well done, but is different from the book. I will admit to being a late adopter to David Balducci’s work. However, it is an engaging thriller with lots of twists and turns.
When burglar Luther Whitney breaks into a Virginia mansion, he witnesses a brutal crime involving the president — a man who believes he can get away with anything — and now, Luther may be the only one who can stop him in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller.
In a heavily guarded mansion in the Virginia countryside, professional burglar and break-in artist Luther Whitney is trapped behind a two-way mirror. What he witnesses destroys his faith not only in justice, but in all he holds dear.
What follows is an unthinkable abuse of power and criminal conspiracy, as a breathtaking cover-up is set in motion by those appointed to work for one of the most important people in the world — the President of the United States.