The Boomerang

A Thriller

By: Robert Bailey

Narrated by: Eric Conger

John Grisham meets Yellowstone in a gripping political thriller by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Robert Bailey, as one man fights for family against a government with a shattering secret.

The president of the United States has terminal cancer. Chief of Staff Eli James, his faithful consigliere and best friend, is one of the few who know. But just as the president’s condition mysteriously improves, Eli’s hit with another blow: his daughter has cancer too.

Hell-bent on helping her, Eli turns to Big Pharma’s top lobbyist for advice, but their encounter yields more questions than answers. As he races along a twisted trail to the truth, he stumbles upon a devastating cover-up worth billions of dollars—and millions of lives.

Armed with this deadly secret, Eli goes rogue, fleeing with his family out west. To keep them safe, he forms an uneasy alliance with land baron Nester “the Beast” Sanchez, known for his ruthless power tactics. An epic showdown brews, and it’s the state versus one desperate citizen, willing to risk everything to save his daughter. Can Eli broker a truce with his once allies? Or will there be war in the desert?

©2025 by Robert Bailey. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Breathtaking! A brilliant concept, brilliantly told. The Boomerang sets the standard for big, palm-sweating thrillers, with the added extra that it positively brims with that element often missing in such books: heart. Word of warning: before you start, clear your calendar—I guarantee you won’t want to stop until the very last page. Bravo!”—Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author and creator of Colter Shaw, from CBS’s Tracker

“A political thriller with a dazzlingly original premise and a white-knuckle execution (capped off with a clever nesting-doll conclusion), Robert Bailey hits it out of the park with The Boomerang.”—Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor

“The stakes couldn’t be higher in this compelling and character-rich political thriller. As much about the shocking secret truths buried deep in the annals of power as it is about fatherhood, friendship, and the things we’ll do for the people we love most, The Boomerang is thought provoking, riveting, and action packed. Don’t miss it.”—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10

Another great book

I love Robert Bailey's books but having Eric Conger narrate was just icing on the cake. Eric Conger could read recipes and I would listen to them. Awesome story and I couldn't put it down.

Riveting storytelling

I loved everything about this! The writing, the plot and the narrator. My first time reading this author and it won’t be the last!

This should be a movie

We loved this book! It kept our attention every step of the way with its many twists and turns and surprises.

Truer than fiction

I liked that it showed politicians as humans, not like the trash we have now. The bad guys were even good guys! The story was engaging right from the beginning. The characters were believable and identifiable.
Unfortunately, the premise is most likely very real and has already happened in our lifetime!

Fantastic read! Requesting a Part 2!

Twisty political drama with a side of action, love triangle and deeply flawed but likable characters thrown in. I need to know though what happens to them all after the plot twist(s). Would love to see these characters in a Part 2!