The Voter File

By: David Pepper

Narrated by: George Newbern, Ron Butler, Erin Spencer

Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

"Pepper comes through again with this clever tale of how cyber sabotage of elections, coupled with highly concentrated ownership of traditional media operations, can undermine American democracy." (President Bill Clinton)

A twisty, one-step-ahead-of-the-headlines political thriller featuring a rogue reporter who investigates election meddling of epic proportions written by the ultimate insider.

Investigative reporter Jack Sharpe is down to his last chance. Fired from his high-profile gig with a national news channel, his only lead is a phone full of messages from a grad student named Tori Justice, who swears she's observed an impossible result in a local election. Sharpe is sure she's mistaken...but what if she isn't?

Sharpe learns that the most important tool in any election is the voter file: the database that keeps track of all voters in a district, and shapes a campaign's game plan for victory. If one person were to gain control of an entire party's voter file, they could manipulate the outcome of virtually every election in America. Sharpe discovers this has happened - and that the person behind the hack is determined to turn American politics upside down.

The more he digs, the more Sharpe is forced to question the values - and viability - of the country he loves and a president he admired. And soon it becomes clear that not just his career is in jeopardy...so is his life.

©2020 David Pepper (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Timely.... [A] well-researched, gripping look at one of the many perilous wrinkles in the electoral system.” (Publishers Weekly)

"[A] highly plausible political thriller.... Enjoyable, timely, and realistic." (Kirkus Reviews)

“Pepper has done it again. Read this book before November 2020 and you will understand what could happen to our democracy. Let's hope the fiction in The Voter File doesn't become reality.” (Senator Bill Bradley)

Though-provoking work

This fiction clearly taps into existing storylines.
- voting fraud, limits put on the media, power of the media, willingness to look away from truth
At the same time, the book indicates there is no right answer, except for the area around transparency. Transparency is a must.

Great suspense

I live in Ohio and all the exact details are just amazing. The many fine details are delightful.

A bit long and slow

Not as good as the first two in the series. Two plus hours could have easily been cut off. Similar premise and story line: Russians interfering with U. S. Elections.

Decent story and good performance

This was a good story with some interesting parts but was a bit long and had a few predictable parts. Overall well done.

A Book for Our Times

A cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities of big databases filled with thousands of pieces of information on virtually every American voter.

couldn't stop listening

I listened straight through because I had to see how it ended. I loved that so much of it was based in my college hometown, Youngstown. So many threads at the beginning that I couldn't wait to see how they all weaved together. Great listen.

Very interesting and timely story.

Very interesting and timely story. Who knows if the real voter files are being changed? Who is watching? Who is comparing?

silly plot

This could have been very timely considering we have an election coming up, but this plot is so silly and full of holes that I lost patience. I did finish it. but I doubt if I would be inclined to buy another book by this author. The author is still pushing the story of Russian interference in the election, when one of the real dangers to our elections is the fact of rampant ballot harvesting which has been made legal.