Brooke Masters
This well-written book provides an entertaining gallop through Spitzer's career as New York attorney general, followed by much closer scrutiny of his disastrous 13 months as governor and the prostitution scandal that sent him packing. Spitzer comes across as a hot-headed reformer who effectively used his prosecutorial powers to uncover and stop some bank and mutual fund abuses, but then proved unable to engage in the horse-trading and compromises critical to lasting political success…[Elkind] is a fantastic researcher who has used both his powers of persuasion and the freedom of information laws to full advantage.
—The Washington Post
Michiko Kakutani
Rough Justice…fleshes out this morality tale with plenty of detail, drawing on repeated conversations with Mr. Spitzer…as well as on interviews with former aides, political rivals and enemies from Albany and Wall Street. Building upon the work of other reporters…Mr. Elkind has provided a succinct and fair-minded overview of Mr. Spitzer's overall career while chronicling his troubled tenure as governor and supersonic fall from grace.
—The New York Times
From the Publisher
"Narrator Arthur Morey provides a smooth, unadorned rendering of a complex story. Eventually, Morey fades to the background as the sad drama that leads to disgrace takes center stage." ---AudioFile
Walter Hamilton
...an absorbing account of Spitzer's improbable journey from New York rich kid to celebrated Wall Street scourge - to infamous Client No. 9 of the Emperor's Club.
— Los Angeles Times
Samantha Henig
Even if there weren't a prostitution thread, this would be a page-turner. Elkind's style is journalism at its best: well-reported but pared down, and full of colorful scenes.
— Newsweek.com
OCTOBER 2010 - AudioFile
The story of Eliot Spitzer’s amazing, ultimately self-destructive, evolution from wealthy young man to New York State’s attorney general and then governor demonstrates the author’s impeccable research and powerful journalistic style. Narrator Arthur Morey provides a smooth, unadorned rendering of a complex story. Eventually, Morey fades to the background as the sad drama that leads to disgrace takes center stage. His workmanlike reading and measured pace present Spitzer as talented, ambitious, aggressive, and arrogantly flawed. Largely without salacious detail, the audiobook recounts the fascinating descent of a powerful public figure. As a coda, Ella Fitzgerald sings the Gershwins’ “Treat Me Rough,” a tongue-in-cheek treat. Listen for it! W.A.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
