"Sealing Fate" is David P. Warren's first published novel. It is an easy, fasting moving read.

Brian Madsen is a newly elected California Congressman, with a beautiful wife of 10 years. During his inaugural celebration, he becomes intimately involved with a young staff worker. The affair with the staff worker continues until she is brutally murdered one night, just after he has left her apartment. This leads to blackmail when an anonymous caller makes demands to keep the affair quiet. Brian seeks help from a private investigator who used to work for him when he was practicing law. The blackmail continues with threats to Brian's family. Brian has to decide whether to submit to the demands, or face murder charges.

The story does not provide many emotional details, nor take time developing relationships. It is an energetic, straight-forward story. It moves quickly through the drama of Brian's angst of the affair, toward the resolution of his marriage. The finale provides a surprising twist.

"Sealing Fate" is a good start for a first novel. There is no graphic violence or abuse. The crimes are realistic as are the characters. I was disappointed in the lack of repercussions for Brian's infidelity and criminal involvement, while his wife faced harsh consequences for her actions.

If you like a good, simple crime story, you'll like "Sealing Fate".