Mackerel by Moonlight

This unusual combination of suspense and political humor tells the story of Terry Mullally, a man forced out of his position as US attorney in New York under a cloud of official misconduct and ends up running for Senate, only to have his past catch up with him.

For Terry Mullally, ambition has never been in short supply. Orphaned young and driven to succeed, Mullally isn’t one to let the rules stand in his way. But when his bosses at the Justice Department don’t agree with his boundaryless tactics and force him from his job, Mullally finds himself at a blue-blood Boston law firm with a wood-paneled smugness that can’t compete with his growing political aspirations.

Possessing a rakish charm, acerbic wit, and an utter disregard for morality, Mullally is perfectly fit to run for political office. At home in a world where image really is everything, he promptly and shamelessly wheedles a stint as District Attorney into a headlong run for Senate.

But even as his campaign, and his advances on a married cohort, gather a seemingly unstoppable momentum, Mullally finds the prizes he seeks are haunted by the ghost of his scandalous past, leaving him with the only option any amoral candidate would seize: the unexpected.

William F. Weld is an attorney, author, and politician who served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997. He is the author of numerous books, including Mackerel By Moonlight and Stillwater.