In this sequel to Grass Roots (1989), Woods gives us another strong and suspenseful political thriller. The novel's premise is certainly unusual, perhaps even slightly contrived: first, the vice-president of the U.S. reveals that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; shortly thereafter, the president suffers a stroke that puts him in a coma, and the vice-president is forced to assume the presidency. Now Senator Will Lee is faced with a tough choice: announce his own candidacy for the presidency in 2000, or hold off in anticipation of taking over the vice-presidency. In lesser hands, this novel might have collapsed under the weight of its own setup, but Woods is a careful, talented writer, and he makes his unlikely premise seem entirely plausible. What follows is a clever, well-constructed story of political ambition and behind-the-scenes skulduggery that should please not only Woods' fans but anyone who loves good political fiction.