Bill Lewers

Primary Peril Bill Lewers

First came The Gatekeepers of Democracy, the novel that introduced the genre of "election officer fiction." Then came November Third, which delved even deeper into the world of election administration. Now author Bill Lewers moves the story in exciting new directions with Primary Peril.

A mere eleven votes had separated Republican Jennifer Haley and Democrat Emily Weston in their contest to fill a vacancy in Virginia's State Senate. Now, twelve months later, they prepare for a rematch which will award the victor a full four-year term. Before that can occur, however, both must survive challenges in the parties' June primaries. But just as the primary campaigns are heating up, a prominent political figure dies, unexpectedly. The media report a tragic accident. The police think it's something else.

Accusations are made, human frailties exposed, and the election process is thrown into disarray as the police (and others) investigate the events leading up to the accident. Meanwhile, racked by doubt and suspicion, the candidates and their staffs grind on. Leaked reports indicate the police know the identity of the killer but as primary day dawns, no arrests have been made.

Who will be victorious at the polls? When will the police make their arrest? And will it be the right person?

Primary Peril combines the excitement of an election story with the intrigue of a who-done-it murder mystery. It joins The Gatekeepers of Democracy and November Third as the third installment of The Gatekeepers of Democracy series, which celebrates the women and men who serve as election officers.