Jennie’s Review

Let’s start with the good stuff. The Manipulator delivers plenty of drama, some delicious behind-the-scenes maneuvering (yes, the title absolutely earns its keep), and a steady dose of action. Dan Buzzetta clearly knows his craft—this is a professionally written book that moves smoothly and keeps the pages turning.

Now for the not-so-great. The story is very slow-paced in the first half, but even when it picks up, it is very predictable. No real surprises were waiting around the corner, and the plot unfolds in a way that gently but firmly guides the reader straight to the ending. If you enjoy knowing exactly where a story is headed and watching the pieces fall into place, this won’t bother you at all. But if you’re hoping for a jaw-drop moment or a last-minute twist, this one plays it safe.

Overall, a solid, well-executed read with plenty of intrigue—just don’t go in expecting the rug to be pulled out from under you.

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Book Summary

Thomas Berte, a Harvard-educated attorney at the peak of his career with a corporate law firm, is catapulted into the legal battle of a lifetime when the U.S. Attorney General offers him the position of Deputy Attorney General. Though a testament to his meteoric rise in the legal field, this career jump seems too good to be true.

Accepting the role, Tom is charged with a daunting bring down Cosimo “Nino” Benedetto, the enigmatic leader of an international crime syndicate. But as he digs deeper into his new responsibilities at the Department of Justice, Tom uncovers a disturbing connection between his former law firm—a bastion of his past achievements—and the very underworld empire he’s determined to dismantle.

Blackmailed into betraying his principles, Tom is forced to question the foundations of his career and the legal system he has sworn to uphold. The chase for Benedetto becomes a personal crusade, challenging Tom’s intellect, ethics, and resolve. This mission, fraught with life-threatening risks and shadowy adversaries, becomes not just a professional endeavor but a pivotal moment of reckoning.

The Manipulator intricately weaves the high-stakes drama of a man ensnared in the most defining trial of his life, where a stunning conclusion pits the pursuit of justice against the ultimate sacrifice of moral certainty.