Review Detail

People say that money equals power and that the lines of power must be maintained. But, seventeen-year-old Jason Weatherby doesn't agree, and he risks everything to prove that power belongs in the hands of many - not few.

The Chamber of Five by Michael Harmon is a fast-paced psychological thriller. Harmon explores the dangers of power and privilege. The leader of the Chamber, Carter, embodies all that can go wrong when power is put into the wrong hands. He points out that "Only men who owned land could vote when our country came into being. A small percentage of the population controlled our 'republic' until the law was changed, and it's been a struggle ever since. Our forefathers knew that to give power to the man with nothing would be the beginning of the end for America." Carter is manipulative and self serving. His words force the reader to really think about the lines that exist between the rich and the poor, between the leaders and the followers.

The story weaves a very tangled web where deceit and greed can change everything. Fast paced, keep you on the edge of your seat, this book reads more like a movie than a novel. I recommend this book to any reader who loves psychological thrillers. It is a quick read that you can’t put down.

However, this is one of those books that leaves you with questions. What happens when people take their power too far? How far would you go to do the right thing? Would you stand up for what is right or would you sit back and just let things happen? Michael Harmon,in his acknowledgements, thanks everyone who has done what they know is right, even if it hurts to do it.