The Governor's Wife

I loved Mark Gimenez's early books, rounded and likeable characters and clever plots. I so looked forward to The Governor's Wife, but what a disappointment. Most of the characters are deliberately unlikeable, the rest are one dimensional. The plot is thin and is basically simply a device on which to hang a rant on the state of American politics in general, politics in Texas in particular and especially as they relate to the problem of illegal Mexican immigration. I enjoy learning new things via the medium of a novel, but facts have to be cleverly entwined with a strong plot and be relevant to rounded characters in order to work. This book is simply a rambling lecture interspaced with odd pieces of action. I found myself skipping pages, then whole chunks as boredom set in and finally decided that I was wasting my time. Even if the plot picked up I didn't care about the characters nor what happened to them.I will think very hard and read a lot of reviews before I risk another offering from Mr Gimenez. What a shame from what promised to be a great talent.

I have read each of Gimenez's previous books and enjoyed them - not quite Grisham but decent legal thrillers.This is a radical departure, and not a rewarding one. I'm now 25% into the book on the Kindle and understand much more about Texan and U.S. politics, and about the dreadful situation in Mexico and Laredo. Unfortunately, that's not what I was looking for - I was looking for a thriller.Most of the information is presented as lectures from one tedious character to another and, despite it taking 1/4 of the book to get these points across, you could have skimmed a couple of Wikipedia entries and got the same information for free, and in five minutes.I'm not sure what Gimenez's motivation is for taking on the role of lecturer on the failings of U.S. politics and drug policy. Maybe he wants to be seeing as a serious commentator? Maybe he's just p****d off with U.S. politics?Whatever, it makes for turgid reading and, having got to 25% on the Kindle I've little interest in continuing.I pre-ordered this Gimenez novel - next time I'll wait for the reviews and hope that he's returned to his legal-thriller best.

I have just finally finished this book and felt compelled to write straight away.There arent many books that have had me changing my mind about it as much as I have with this.I have read all the previous reviews before and during my reading it and the majority make fair points.However, in all, this truely isnt as bad as some reviewers will have it.Yes its a bit over political to the point where cynics would suggest its been sponsored.Yes, there are bits of the book that are dull making reading difficult and yes there are bits that appear to be badly written.That said, the basis for the story is good and the political slants are interesting but overplayed.I actually thought the character building was good especially for Jim Bob and Jesse.Considering the gist of the story, I would have preferred more of a connection between the governor and his wife. Its clear from the start that their relationship has "lost its way" but since they hardly have a conversation throughout, the reasons are a bit lacking in explanation.The book definately gets better as it goes on and I enjoyed the last quarter very much. Unfortunately, it was a little spoiled for me by the epilogue. The last page is just wrong for me. It give the impression that there may be a sequel. The premise is unecessary and the idea unrealistic.In the end, I didnt mind battling through this for a few days but the idea of doing it twice fills me with dread. I just think it would have been much better to leavev it as it was and move on.This is not the best Mark Giminez book but its okay and I will certainly read more. I wouldnt read anything that I suspected had anything to do with this though.

Maybe it's because I'm a Brit and not well versed on US politics, and while I loath the current US president and couldn't understand why intelligent people could vote for Him, it did give some insight to the problems on the US/Mexican border in terms of the drug trafficking into the US. I was also not aware that there was already a wall along the border, albeit on the US side of the river. So if for no other reason than the fact that I learned a lot from this book, I have to say I loved it.

Includes spoilersHaving read all of Gimenez's previous books i was looking forward to his new book, once I read the blurb i knew this was a departure from his usual subject material. As such i left it a couple months before i bought the book, i only wish i hadn't bothered. This is without doubt one of the worst books i have read, characters with baffling motivations who seem oblivious to reason or realistic personalities, each character is almost a caricature of a stereotype. Plot threads are hastily wrapped up with no real thought as if the author forgot about them and then thought oh......lets just have the lion eat him (actually happened) The last half of the book i read just to finish, i had no desire to continue but am glad i did just to see how comparatively good the first half was, the second assassination attempt made me think Bode Bonner might just have been 'bulletproofed by god' as i find it hard to believe that a high calibre sniper bullet wouldn't have just gone through Mandys head and straight into Bode's. All in all that was nothing compared to the ramboesque ending which had everything including characters somehow know that Bode was there without any indication, two characters appearing out of nowhere to save the lead (Ranger Roy being the worst at least Eddie was in the country)and an ending which included a gut stabbing which still allowed Bode to kill the bad guy, carry another man to a car! drive said car in a preposterous getaway swim run and then get shot and still survive. Yet the DR dies, it seems just because it was easier than write a good ending with actual closure. The book ends with a lead in (threat) of a sequel......please don't.

First of all, I am a big fan of Mark Gimenez. I've only read three of his books so far but each one was satisfying. This book is number four for me and was a bit of a surprise. His previous novels were all about the law and trials and solving a crime whilst defending a client. But this one is the well named Governor's Wife as she takes front and center in a book more about social justice and politics than the law.Lindsay Bonner is the wife of Texas Governor Bode Bonner. In her life before she became first lady of Texas, she had worked as a Trauma Nurse. Since moving into the Governor's Mansion in Austin she had tried to nudge her husband to pay more attention and dollars to the children of Texas in education and social benefits. But Bode Bonner was paying too much attention to his aide Mandy Morgan and much less to his duties as Governor. He was adrift and taking on water. When his wife learns of his affair, she leaves him and takes up residence in a place between the present "wall" and the Rio Grande, called the colonias. It's a no-man's land where both US. citizens of Mexican descent and Mexicans who forge across the river live in shacks unable to get across the wall. Believe it or not you have to have the code to open the gate or deal with the immigration officers These people are living in abject poverty with no hospital or electricity or other services. There Lindsay discovers a doctor working on his own to treat whatever patients come to his little clinic. She volunteers to be his nurse.In a decent review you have to stop yourself from revealing too much. But believe when I tell you there is so much more. There are drug cartels, exotic animal hunts, billionaires involved in superpacs for political favour and even a potential run for the presidency which prophetically sounds like one of the current Republican nominees of 2016. Yes . . . that one!Mark Gimenez brings it all together for an action packed ending which will get your heart racing and leave you virtually breathless. This will make a great movie. Get busy on the screenplay, Mark.

I enjoy reading Mark Gimenez, whom I discovered only last year. This was a bit of a departure from his books dealing with the law, and his Scott Fenney character I've come to love however 'The Governor's Wife' was hard to put down. Not only was it a great suspenseful story, but the dialogue and situations really make the reader think about moral and political implications in the real world today.This story gave a good perspective of Life in the eyes of a very Rich Texan in politics where "the sky is the limit". And, conversely the lives of very poor Mexicans living just down the road.The governor in 'The Governor's Wife', Bode Bonner, is trying to figure out how to get noticed on the national stage, his wife is bored and neglected, aware of Bonner's affair with his aide, and seeking meaning outside of photo ops.She finds that meaning in assisting a doctor in the colonias along the border. Her training as a nurse and her compassionate spirit fit right in with the good doctor, who was born in the colonia, went to Harvard Medical School, and returned to the border to provide health care. She happens to assist in saving the life of the son of Mexican drug lord, then her husband happens to shoot the same son, leading the governor to the national stage he has longed for. At the same time, the Democratic party leadership think they've found the perfect candidate to oppose Bonner in the race for governor... a certain border doctor who happens to be falling in love with the governor's wife. Gimenez weaves these connections into a believable, readable story, with tension and drama.This is another great refreshingly original plot which takes you from the Governor's mansion to the border with Mexico. He takes you inside politics and how it works and changes those involved. But don't get turned off by the political side as it is woven into a fast pace adventure/mystery with twists and turns that develop into an ending you will not guess.

I recently discovered this author and his book Con Law. I can't get enough of his books! I love that his books are set in Texas, and his characters are very real and interesting. He has enough detail so you can get a good image in your head about the setting and the people, but not enough detail to bog down the story. This story was especially interesting and the timing (based on our current political climate) of my read was good. I enjoy a book that is a good read but also educates and makes me think about life in general.

Unfortunately, I keep deleting the authors I don't like from my Kindle and then because I can't remember, I order their books again. Can't blame the authors for that. So once again, started to read this book then realized I been down this road before. Not going there again and I don't mean to be harsh, but I'm just not going to try anymore.

This book is well written. Why not five stars? Sometimes during the reading I got the impression that the author repeated some parts of the before chapters unnecessarily. Despite of that fact I liked so much the politics dialogues and it's insights masterly written by the author. Aside that, the plot, characters, dramas and dilemmas are well paced.

This book made me lose sleep, made me cry and taught me lots about Texas, Mexico and the life of a Politician. What a ripping adventure! This is my 4th book by Mark Gimenez and I am just about to start my 5th. Bravo! Five stars!

I am a huge fan of John Grisham books because once I pick it up I cannot put it down. I am now a huge fan of Mark Gimenez books. Once I started The Governor's Wife I could not put it down. Very easy to read, easy to follow and well-paced!

A wonderful story about real Mexican-American complex truth which every American needs to before hate over powers them. Specially, people currently (at least some of them) should know and ponder.

This book was very interesting and fast paced ~ it kept my attention and turning the pages. Well written.I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a good read about politics and the drug trade.

So many twists I enjoyed the ride. Every time it became predictable it proved the opposite. Life, love, violence & softness, usually unexpected.

How can he keep putting them out with the same attention to the story plot, level of suspense and just overall quality of a great read?

I enjoyed This book thé caractères were Well developed and thé plot wasenjoyable i intenté To read more from This author

Awesome! Worth staying up late at night, reading it.

What a disappointment a brilliantly written.and researched book spoilt by the end beware if you are after the finish like i was

One of the worst books I have ever read. It's got nothing to do with law. It's about Mexican drug lords and an US Senator