What it’s about 📚

A promising young intern goes missing. A congressman maybe had an affair with her. His chief of staff starts asking questions.

First impressions 🌀

Definitely more political drama than true crime thriller — slower start, a lot of setup, but it felt like reading a scandal break in real time. I wasn’t sure where it was going, but I wanted to find out.

What worked for me ✨

The structure! It jumps between timelines, articles, letters, and different POVs — which made it feel immersive in a way I wasn’t expecting.

Final thoughts 🎯

Not quite what I expected, but ended up being a layered portrait of how easily people can disappear — literally and morally — when ambition gets involved. Definitely a slower burn, but it left me thinking.

As a keen follower of American politics, this book was a no-brainer for me to request. I have to admit I was a little put off by the fact that I was not familiar with the author or the publisher and the fact that there appeared to be very little peer reviews of the book from other well-known authors (although they are probably all just reciprocal and count for very little anyway).

However, dubieties aside, I requested and I am very glad I did. This novel is apparently based on a similar disappearance of a congressional staffer however I was not familiar with that real life story. This novel tells the story of the disappearance of Saundra Gray who was working, at the time, for up and coming congressman, and presidential hopeful, J.D Clay with whom she may, or may not, have been having an affair.

Although the story is titled The Saundra Gray Affair, the titular character doesn't actually appear in the novel until later on. Instead, the beginning of the novel focuses on the story of J.D Clay and his political, and personal, journey.

I was expecting more of a thriller here with a focus on Saundra's disappearance however this is more of an insight into the world of American politics and is written by someone with a clear command of his subject matter and an excellent writing style which both educates and entertains.

Definitely a well-written novel and will encourage me to expand my reading a bit more and take more chances on lesser known authors.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amplify Publishing | RealClear for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Taking its inspiration from the real life disappearance and murder of Washington Intern Chandra Levy, this political thriller follows the rise and fall of Iowa Congressman JD Clay who's aspirations are derailed by how he responds to the medias interest in the disappearance of his intern Saundra Gray.

The story is told from the perspective of several key people in Clay's life, including his Administrative Assistant ( Chief of Staff ) Wally North, and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Isiah Stone. Although we never really meet Saundra Gray while she is working for Clay ( except for an Interview with Wally ) secrets emerge after her disappearance that could damage Clay's political career and destroy his family. There is also a dalliance with a gorgeous Law School Student turned high class call girl who has a soft spot for Clay.

How Clay responds echoes the denials of real life Gary Condit, Bill Clinton and even Gary Hart when confronted with allegations of extra marital affairs, and Yager describes, in detail, how these denials become fatal for re-election.

Long after the killer is identified, and Clay rides off into the Iowan sunset, Stone continues to investigate the crime, and ultimately discovers the underbelly of Washington DC and what really happened to Saundra Gray.

It is obvious that Yager has spent time in Washington, and knows some of the inner workings of Congress which brings this story to life. A very compelling story, but lacking in some character development of the Title Character.

A missing intern. A Congressman who wants to keep his affair with her quiet. This thriller starts with the beginning of J.D Clays congressional career and through to the events that culminate with the intern Saundra Gray being found murdered. The main perspectives are from Clay, his Chief of Staff Wally, an escort named Naomi and reporter Isaiah Stone. The story is a little slow in the beginning, but picks up pace as things come together. An interesting take on a fictional political scandal based on the real life Chandra Levy case. Well written look into the political world and what it costs someone in morals and personal integrity. Thank you to NetGalley and RealClear publishing for the advanced copy

THE SAUNDRA GRAY AFFAIR by Daniel Yager
⭐️ rating: 8.5/10

read if you like:
👩‍⚖️ politics
🤷🏻‍♀️ missing women
📍 Washington DC

summary:
I love D.C. and political drama, so I had a feeling I’d enjoy this book — and I absolutely did. It follows Congressman J.D. Clay, a rising Democratic star from Iowa, and his longtime aide-turned-chief-of-staff, Wally North. Wally is devoted to his work, despite the usual ups and downs, until everything changes: an intern, Saundra Gray, suddenly goes missing. As her parents come to D.C. desperate for answers, Wally begins to question what Congressman Clay knows — and what he might be hiding. Even after Saundra is found and a killer identified, the dark side of politics lingers, and Wally realizes that fame and power in Washington aren’t as glamorous as they seem.

What makes this book stand out is its structure. Told through a mix of letters, newspaper articles, and first-person narratives spanning decades, the story weaves through J.D.’s childhood, college years, and political rise, alongside Wally’s evolution in the Capitol and the reporting of Isiah Stone, a Pulitzer-winning journalist from Des Moines. The multiple formats and perspectives give the story real momentum and depth, especially as you begin to understand the complex relationship between J.D. and Wally. You expect to hate J.D. — he fits the mold of a stereotypical politician — but as Saundra’s disappearance unfolds, you’re left questioning everything, including him.

The ending is heartbreaking (I’m a sucker for a happy ending), but it’s a powerful reminder of how fragile life — and power — really is. Some questions are left unanswered, but honestly, that just makes it feel more real.

Big thanks to Amplify Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. If you're into political drama or a good missing person mystery, add this to your list when it releases on August 5!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, a good insight into America's democracy and its workings., Plenty of twists and turns with clear political undertones. Recommended.

True Crime fans will no doubt be intrigued “The Saundra Gray Affair” because of its clear influence (acknowledged by the author) to the Chandra Levy murder and it’s apparent political connections. The premise is simple- a DC intern goes missing and the obvious suspect is the congressman who had an affair with bed but refuses to admit it.
I had a lot of trouble engaging with this story, feeling like the first 30% of the book wasn’t as interesting as the premise. That section mostly dealt with the upbringing of the story’s fictional congressman. The action clearly ramped up after that and it became a decent political story. Twists and turns about and nothing is quite what it seems- including the motives for what happens to Saundra Gray. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I just wrapped up The Saundra Gray Affair, and wow—what a ride. This isn’t your typical murder mystery. Daniel Yeager takes you deep into the world of political power plays, legal loopholes, and the complicated psychology of people who operate at the highest levels of influence.

When a Capitol Hill intern mysteriously disappears, a congressman finds himself in a media firestorm in the midst of a heated primary race.

Congressman J.D. Clay had the makings of a presidential contender—an Iowa Democrat, war hero, and one-hit-wonder songwriter who made Washington work by listening to all sides and finding common ground.

But then Saundra Gray, an attractive young intern in his office, disappeared.

As accusations of an affair and even involvement in her disappearance explode around him, Clay's world—along with that of his loyal chief adviser, Wally North—is turned upside down.

In a saga spanning more than two decades and continuing long after Saundra’s killer is found, journalist Isaiah Stone untangles a winding web of sex, secrets, and lies at the highest levels of government.

In the spirit of classic novels like Primary Colors and All the King’s Men and inspired by the true story of the still-unsolved Chandra Levy case, The Saundra Gray Affair is more than a murder mystery. It’s a powerful commentary on power, politics, and the brilliance and flaws of both our laws and our leaders.

I really enjoyed this story. Yes it did give shades of the Chandra Levy case, but I felt like it was tastefully done. Will recommend to others. I thought it was well written.

In one of those "torn from the headlines" stories, this novel - which takes its inspiration from the far from fictional Chandra Levy case- offers an excellent insight into how America's democracy functions and where its weaknesses lie.

The scandals involving politicians and their young female assistants and interns permeates the US political system from the bottom all the way to the top, as Bill Clinton's case proved, and there have been innumerable such instances over the years. Though hopefully, very few of them end in murder or missing persons!

Although the book takes a while to hit its stride, it does reward the reader who perseveres. Well worth checking out if the theme appeals, this gets 3.5 stars.

I was given an advanced copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novel took some time to fully capture my attention—nearly halfway through—but once it did, I was thoroughly engrossed. From that point on, I found it difficult to put down. While I initially wanted to dislike JD, the complexity of his internal struggle made him a compelling and relatable character. Readers who enjoy political intrigue and psychological thrillers will likely find this book a worthwhile read.

I initially picked this piece due to my attraction to the cover; however, what kept me seated was Daniel Yager's writing. I did not know what I was getting myself into, but he told me off the bat in the prologue which I appreciate. I am not usually one for politics, yet I still enjoyed this because it wasn't overly complicated. The story was shocking and well drawn out. Overall, I do recommend this book if you are looking for an amazing crime/thriller novel.