Christopher Siefert is an elegant writer and a tenacious reporter, but recent health problems have left him dispirited. The Munro story is just what he needs to get back in the game. The page-turner uses these conceits to weave a lurid tale of professional jealousy, exploitation, embezzlement, sex and betrayal. He portrays agents in all their greedy, parasitic, disingenuous glory and reveals the seamy underbelly of the network management that manipulates newspaper TV critics to create and destroy on-air personalities at will. In their place is an emphasis on youth and the perception that young people have no interest in international news, political issues, the economy or social problems.
Experience means nothing in the face of a pretty face.
A tawdry sex crime is always more important than a troubled economy or a crisis abroad. Breaking News'' is rich in commentary about the state of the news biz, but it's also great fun to read. MacNeil had some fun with this one. Reviews will appear on The Denver Post Online.