First daughter by Eric Van Lustbader

"First daughter" by Eric Van Lustbader. This book is published by Faber in 2013 and has 432 pages.

Alli, daughter of President elect Edward Carson, is kidnapped. Carson requests ATF agent Jack McClure to be assigned to the case. Jack's deceased daughter Emma and Alli were best friends. Incumbent President and Secretary of homeland security Denise Paul have their own agendas.

Who abducted Alli? Who are Missionary secularists? Can Jack find Alli? What does she feel? Who is the mysterious man?

Flow of the story is uneven. At times it drags, at times it ambles and some time it picks up. Jack determines a few things based on inadequate basis for normal men. But for him it is obvious because of Dyslexia.

Dyslexic Jack finds simple letters difficult to comprehend but can see complex things easily and in 3D. He is always an outsider. He has a special attachment to the case because of Emma. As the case progresses things from his past rear their head. Past and present mingle. There is a hint of paranormal. A good portion of Jack's story is in flashback.

An assassin is behind a number of incidents. He uses names of various past criminals as aliases. He also has connection to Jack's past that Jack is not aware of. In an investigation, there will be false leads, but everything Jack does turns out to be the right thing. All his deductions, some times even without enough support, turn out to be correct. This is the flaw of this story. 

Incumbent President is supporter of conservative Christian philosophy. President elect is a liberal Christian. President wants to make villains out of a group called Missionary secularists and declare them home grown terrorists. President elect has backing of black liberal Christians. Missionary secularists believe in God but don't believe in church. There is an assassin who does not believe in God. Alli is caught between them and Jack is trying to disentangle the puzzle. 

It's an unusual plot in modern times. On one side there are conservative Christians. On the other side there are liberals and on yet other side there are atheists. I did not know that America had such an influence of religion in politics and daily life. 

Story starts with Alli, daughter of President elect Eric Carson arriving for the inauguration of her father. Then the story goes in flash back. Author might have done this to create an impact in the beginning, however, in doing so he leaves an obvious clue for the readers. It is a spoiler.

It's a different kind of plot. A different (Dyslexic) protagonist. But I did not enjoy the book. 

Why did I read this book? EVB's original book. 

What I didn't like? Is there so much influence of religion on politics in USA?

What did I like? Something different.

Give it a miss.