State of Shame — Robert Cain

A fictional novel based on a true story: Governor George Stubbs and Senate President Ed Bradovich move into their respective offices as the Atlantic City forces seek casino gambling legislation from their state. Their two assistants, Steve McCabe and Bob Miller become conduits for official corruption. Bradovich takes a payoff through Miller from a casino interest. The governor is involved in vote buying and extortion of a coal mine owner. Dee Adams becomes Miller's love interest even though she is a mole for the U.S. Attorney's office. She is mysteriously found dead after some Senators express a fear of her contacts. The Governor takes another extortion step in promising to pardon the coal mine owner, who has been charged with attempted murder. The owner nearly beats to death his girlfriend's other love interest. In the end the coal owner gets rid of the evidence, the boy and girl-friend are found dead. The final chapters deal with the Bradovich federal trial. Miller is a strong witness and forces Bradovich to plea bargain. The story is told through the eyes of many people, without a narrator. It takes you inside the state capitol dome, where corruption has become the standard. The story reveals the machinations in enacting laws: the abuse of power, promiscuity, extortion, and dishonesty within the state governmental chambers.