FAKE

Fake: John DeDakis
Most people start their days with turning on the morning news reports to find out what is happening in the political arenas, the stock market and today about the pandemic we are all facing. Some like myself listen to many different media outlets and discerning which ones sound credible and which are spouting platitudes or information that seems incredulous. At times we all wonder what fact is, fiction or in this case FAKE NEWS.
Lark Chadwick is the reporter for Associated Press. She is sharp, hardnosed and determined to make a difference in the news world where competition is high, getting that scoop and airing the story before the other outlets, media and stations do is what fuels this novel and starts it off on a high explosive notch.
Entering the White House for her one on one interview with the first lady, who has a terminal illness, Lark is talking with Rose Gannon about the memoir she is helping her write about her life.
A simple invitation to be interviewed on INN news turns Lark’s words into a media confrontation and frenzy. While interviewing the first lady, she collapses and eventually dies but while the President comes into view and is administering CPR and trying to save her life, she goes into full reporter mode, takes pictures, creates a video and files the story and the pictures with Associated Press. During the interview, her words are twisted, her actions questioned and the biggest why she did not reveal the truth behind the First Lady’s illness. Why did she agree to embargo it and not reveal what she was told in confidence? Things got heated up and the word Vulture is used to describe how she feels about herself and it is this word that fuels the hits on the internet and how she skyrockets to media bash controversy. Writhing with anger and boiling from the interview Lark is approached by the head of INN to join her for brunch the following day. Agreeing to do this would change her world and what this trigger will cost her more than her integrity. Lark just lost her boyfriend Doug, her parents died when she was young and she was brought up by an aunt that no one would want to live with and finding her dead on the floor when she came home added to her turmoil and made handling grief even harder especially after Doug. Lionel and Muriel Stone are too powerful figures, and both play a part in helping her get through. But the job offers from Francine Noyce the new President of INN was not all that it appeared to be. Added in she receives a text on her phone that the Russian President said he was going to provide nuclear weapons to Iran and would unilaterally scrap all nuclear arms reduction and proliferation treaties with the United States. This would set the President and the United States on a new collision course. Added in he had to deal with the death of his wife, several personal appearances and Lark had to come to terms with the sexual assault by Noyce and her taking physical aim at her. Would there be repercussions. By emailing her boss she covered for herself and now she is waiting.
Paul Stone is seeing a young man named Alex and when he joins his parents with Lark for dinner after the conversation which turns to learning more about Alex, his views on the Russian situation the truth behind his relationship with Paul shock Lionel.
Muriel and Lark are close and she is the voice of reason and a mother she never really had and telling her to move on, not dwell on Noyce’s attack and deal with her job might be the answer but her seeing her grief counselor Kris might put things in better focus.
The President called and agreed to what he promised which was an interview with her dealing with his grief and loss about his wife, Rose. Here is where things get interesting.
The author takes us into the mind and thoughts of Lark as we get to know her better, her thought processes and the many ways she reaches out to others when unsure. She is tough, smart and likes to think things through without making rash decisions but as the plot becomes more intricate the author introduces a major obstacle and that is where things take on a more dangerous turn.
Lark is head strong and impetuous and when the President is on the way to meet with his longtime friend and President of China things take on a different perspective as on the last leg of the trip before descending, she texts him and a private meeting ensues between them. Talking about the death of his wife, the cause and was she poisoned he backpedals and will not reveal anything until she provided a way to get the information yet not leak it and talking to her using deep background. Things got tense and twitter hits were huge as someone leaked some more fake news about the President being the father of her child. Rather than tell the truth and explain that it was her deceased boyfriend’s child, she allowed it to stay there, not entirely speaking out and then received a subpoena to be questioned by the House judiciary committee. Two charges were discussed and Lark presented the truth at this time and then the President came in as the truth behind who was responsible for his wife’s death led back to a story that Rose told about someone and all the pieces fit in place.
Media Bush did not care about the truth of verifying the sources and getting confirmation it was about hype and someone supposedly high up in this area fed them the stories but when you learn the truth about this person and someone close to Paul Stone the shocking revelation will not only astound readers but will hopefully make people more carefully before they spill confidential information to someone they barely know.
Facts are often irrelevant, truth can be hidden and lies embellished as the author brings to light facts about the current administration, the tweets and the #ME TOO world. Things get hot when Lark gets a text that could ruin the reputation and newfound retirement of Lionel Stone and they team up to take down those that dare to destroy them. With Lionel on her side, a lawyer that has it all together and handles the facts and the truth, and the President of the United States that does not falter, quiver or back down the final ending and the harsh realities about what someone would do to be in power, to bring attention to themselves and how easily it is to infiltrate our world leads us to realize that we always need to be on our guard, never let our security become lax as author John DeDakis takes us inside the world of journalism, politics and the political arenas of many countries in order to teach the world and everyone the dangers of when the news is FAKE! The ending leaves us wondering what is next for Lark, Gannon as the author shares Rose’s heart wrenching words.
Fran Lewis: Just reviews