More “Swamps.” A politician in his element

Gov. Christie’s press conference on the bridge scandal reminded me of this scene from “The Swamps of Jersey.”

Mayor Gabriel Richman, whose administration is dogged by hints by scandal is in the middle of a re-election campaign while Det. Frank Nagler is working to secure the  evidence that will connect the wrong-doing to Richman:

“Doesn’t he have a clue, does he?  Nagler asked himself.  Or he’s hiding it really well. The county prosecutor’s office was working with he and Yang to nail down all the details they had, and until that task was completed, the indictments and arrests would wait.  No one wanted this case to collapse.

Meanwhile campaign had been rolling into its last week and both Richman and Yearning had appeared at several debates and forums in recent days.  Maybe he’s just too busy, or just too arrogant, Nagler thought. But if you act like nothing is wrong, then no one suspects. So  Richman smiles and waves at campaign events, and shakes hands and purses his lips and furrows his brow when he speaks with a business owner whose shop was flooded out, and snarls and yells when Yearning suggests that he is a corrupt politician. Richman speaks about leadership and dreams, about rebuilding the city, about rising from the floods and the swamps and standing glorious in a new sun.  And the crowds cheer, and wave their silly hats and signs; they chant his name.  He smiles back, a man in his element. Love me.  Adore me.  I am yours.”

About michaelstephendaigle

I have been writing most of my life. I am the author of the award-winning Frank Nagler Mystery series. "The Swamps of Jersey (2014); "A Game Called Dead" (2016) -- a Runner-Up in the 2016 Shelf Unbound Indie Author Contest; and "The Weight of Living" (2017) -- First Place winner for Mysteries in the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards Contest.
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7 Responses to More “Swamps.” A politician in his element

  1. Chelsey says:

    Could you show me where you came up with this?

  2. Alyssa says:

    Hi, I want to subscribe for this website to take latest updates, so where can i do it please assist.

  3. Would you tell us how you came up with this?

    • Hi. This is a excerpt from my novel “The Swamps of New Jersey.” It is with a proofreader as we speak. It is the story about the corruption in one town that had left the city in financial ruins. A tropical storm flood the city and it leads to the discovery of a dead in an old swamp called the Old Iron Bog…This sample is the reflection of Det. Frank Nagler, the lead character, as he is about to find the last piece of evidence that connects the mayor Gabriel Richman to the crimes Nagler is investigating. If you have been following the news from NJ of late, some of these statements from politicians will sound familiar even though I wrote them months ago.. The are several samples from the novel in the archives on my site, if you are interested in reading more..

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