False Light

A Novel

Eric Dezenhall

A thrilling tale of revenge set against the vibrant backdrop of sensationalist modern media

Seasoned reporter Sanford “Fuse” Petty is old-school in every way—anti-technology, anti-Millennial (don’t even mention Gen-Z), and anti-“gotcha” journalism. After Fuse is asked to leave his paper pending a disciplinary investigation, he has plenty of time on his hands. So when his oldest friend approaches him for advice after the man’s daughter says she was sexually assaulted by her boss, a prominent media star, Fuse agrees to help. He gives his buddy the only options he feels are available: report the incident to the police and risk a huge “he said/she said” smear campaign against the girl, or plan something even better—revenge.

As a journalist, Fuse has a colorful background investigating criminals, politicians, gangsters, drug lords, and all-around shysters—and knows plenty of shady sources—so he’s the perfect person to enact a complex (and ultimately, entertaining) plan to bring the popular media mogul down in the court of public opinion . . . and make him pay.

Eric Dezenhall is the author of seven novels and four non-fiction books, many dealing with media-driven scandals. His most recent book (with Gus Russo) is Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War. Eric is the CEO of Dezenhall Resources, Ltd., one of the nation’s first crisis management firms. He lives near Washington, D.C., with his family, some being alpacas. Eric has written for publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.