The Innocent Have Nothing to Fear

A dark comedy set at a contested Republican convention, written by a veteran political insider—the funniest and most prescient novel about politics in years. "[Stevens] brings a full arsenal of gifts to this enterprise: humor, tactile prose and an insider's knowledge of the hardball tactics employed on the campaign trail.... By far the most interesting parts of this novel are the behind-the-scenes accounts of the tactical and strategic maneuvering of political operatives ...Stevens is a terrific raconteur — funny, observant and highly entertaining." –Michiko Kakutani The New York Times New Orleans in July: it's hot and sticky and squalid. J. D. Callahan is in the middle of the political race of his life and displeased to be back in his hometown. His candidate, the sitting vice president, is neck and neck with an anti-immigrant, right-wing populist as the Republicans head into their first brokered convention in decades on the heels of a...