Amazon Sales of Scooter Libby Novel Soar After Indictment

Posted on October 29, 2005

OK, you now know that Irve Lewis "Scooter" Libby has just been indicted on five felony counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and some other things. You know he's resigned as the Chief of Staff for Dick Cheney. But did you know that he is also a novelist?

A CBS News story reveals Libby's novel called The Apprentice. It is a thriller set in 1903 Japan. The article notes that Libby once served as "director of special projects in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs" and suggests the position may have helped Libby with the idea and/or background research for the novel.

CBS News also says The Apprentice received good reviews.

The novel earned Libby favorable reviews. The Boston Globe called "The Apprentice" an "alluring novel of intrigue" while the New York Times Book Review said Libby's "storytelling skill neatly mixes conspiratorial murmurs with a boy's emotional turmoil."

Libby might even be considering a second novel. He told Larry King in 2002, "I'm a great fan of the vice president. I think he's one of the smartest, most honorable people I've ever met. So, I'd like to consider myself fully on his team, but there's always a novel kicking around in the back somewhere."

Since the indictment, Libby's book, The Apprentice (St. Martin's Press), has jumped from #16,249 in sales on Amazon.com to #379, as of Friday evening.