I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A Man recounts his friend’s sudden rise to power in a new political party and the conspiracy they discover in author Stu Strummasser’s “A Real Collusion.”

The Synopsis

A Real Collusion is about the secret conspiracy between the Republican and Democratic parties to control the US government through an illegal duopoly.

From the author of the bestselling novel, The Organ Broker, (hailed by Lee Child, New York Times # 1 bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series as, “Exciting and thought-provoking–the perfect package”) comes, A Real Collusion, a stunning political thriller and expose.

A Real Collusion is about a man who accidentally becomes the leader of an independent political movement that nearly takes down the two-party system in America, while exposing a conspiracy that affects the results of the 2016 election. It explores universal and deeply human themes of loss, and the tension between justice and power. In the opening sentence the narrator points out that, “Ordinary people often do extraordinary things.” The characters in the book do, and the action is driven by the fantastic events of a unique political satire. It is also the heartfelt story of regular people struggling with lost love, alienation and nearly universal disaffection who find strength in enduring loyalty and friendship

This is the story of John Campbell (a regular guy from the lower east side of Manhattan) as recounted by his friend Skip Winters. Skip becomes John’s campaign manager and later, a congressman in his own right. He narrates the stunning-but-plausible story of how John Campbell and The American Coalition race to popularity, raising over a hundred million dollars from grassroots contributors—and become a threat to the political duopoly of the Democratic and Republican parties. The book sprinkles in references to real events from recent history, and real political leaders including Trump, John McCain, and more. This imbues the novel with a sense of realism, albeit one of an alternate reality. Skip discovers a deep-seated conspiracy within our political system whose leaders orchestrate a murder, destroy his friend and tip the scales of the election. The novel turns out to be Skip’s exposé of the secret collaboration between the two major political parties in our country—a cooperation to protect the duopoly that is, in part, real.

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The Review

This was a truly compelling alternative history meets conspiracy thriller. The pacing makes the reader feel the adrenaline fueled nature of the narrative, both from the propulsive nature of the campaign to the shocking twists that these two characters face as the conspiracy unravels. The author does a remarkable job of conveying the urgency and danger of the scenario playing out in the book through powerful imagery and mounting tension that takes over the story.

Yet it was the rich character dynamics and themes that took over this narrative in the best way. The characters do represent the themes well, taking on a representative of the little guy facing down big brother politicians in an effort to take on corruption. The haunting similarities of the events playing out in this book with our own reality in recent years, and the inclusion of real political figures, will draw the reader in as the conspiracy grows more and more and the action fuels the atmospheric nature of the story.

The Verdict

Thrilling, memorable, and entertaining, author Stu Strummasser’s “A Real Collusion” is a must-read political thriller meets alternative historical fiction narrative. The powerful commentary on modern politics and the corruption of the two party political system, the fast-paced action and thrills of the narrative, and the relatability and heart of the characters made this a powerful thriller that is impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy on April 1st, 2026 or preorder your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Stu Strumwasser studied in the creative writing program at Cornell University and then pursued dual careers as a writer and investment professional. His first novel, The Organ Broker, was published by Skyhorse (distributed by Simon & Schuster) in May of 2015 and short-listed as one of five finalists for the Hammett Prize for literary excellence in crime writing. Lee Child (NY Times #1 bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series) hailed it as, “Exciting and thought-provoking–the perfect package.”

His band Channeling Owen, for which Strumwasser was the primary songwriter and drummer, was featured on hundreds of college radio stations in the late 1990s and an episode of Dawson’s Creek when it was the number one television show in the world. The band was also featured alongside Blink-182 in a lengthy article in Forbes magazine in 1999 about how the internet was leveling the playing field in the music industry.

Strumwasser is also the Founder & Managing Director of Green Circle Capital, a specialized merchant bank focused on advising food brands and investing in food-related technology. Prior to launching Green Circle, from 1990-2005, Strumwasser worked at major Wall Street firms (including Paine Webber and Oppenheimer & Co.). In 2006 he left finance temporarily and founded Snow Beverages to make a natural soda. He served as the company’s CEO for six years.

Leading up to the 2000 Presidential election, Strumwasser, who has been concerned with broken government for thirty years, consulted on fundraising for the Committee for a Unified Independent Party. He is an articulate and passionate speaker and has been interviewed on the WPIX NY morning news, “The Closing Bell” on Fox News, for the cover page of the money section of the NY Daily News, a six-page article in Forbes ASAP, Crain’s NY, Timeout NY Kids (with his twins) and more. Strumwasser has also been mentioned or quoted in the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NY Post, Dow Jones, and been a speaker at NY Entrepreneur Week, Baruch, Columbia, Pace, NYU, and many more.

https://stustrumwasser.com/