Scare Tactics

Set during the McCarthy era, when the red scare permeated every facet of American life, causing friends and neighbors to turn on each other, Scare Tactics is a stunning evocation of a historical period in which readers may recognize political divisions similar to those that exist today. The novel focuses on the Army-McCarthy hearings, which were broadcast nationally on CBS for two months in 1954 and captivated audiences across the United States. Based on original research, the novel is narrated in alternate chapters by Roy Cohn, McCarthy’s chief counsel, and an insurance agent in Wisconsin who loses his job, his house, and his marriage when he has the audacity to publicly defend the Bill of Rights. Entertaining and fast-moving with memorable and famous characters, the novel can also be read as a cautionary tale for those who take our freedom for granted and are less than vigilant about those who might take it away.