Title: City of Sharks
Author: Ian Alexander
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1-5434-0082-3
Pages: 284
Genre: Fiction/Politics
Reviewed by: Daniel Alvarez

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Politics has remained a heated topic. Many media have portrayed political happenings. In the book Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell brilliantly showcases a world under a totalitarian government. Of course, government is a necessary thing, but to be used wisely. Power can be abused, and when government takes action that appears detrimental to the common person, it comes under scrutiny. What transpires behind government doors is often a mystery. Ian Alexander’s book, City of Sharks, offers an intriguing, often humorous look behind those doors. City of Sharks reads as both serious fiction and a satire on government life. It’s certainly an entertaining, interesting read.

There are quite a few things happening in City of Sharks. To simplify without giving much away, the story is set in the year 2030. The primary setting is in Perth, Western Australia. There are a number of characters, but the ones the story puts the largest focus on is Diana, Chris, and later Paula. The core story is that part of the government is trying to lobby for high-rise buildings, much to the public’s dismay. There are other things going on as well – an attempted shooting, a brothel scandal, and corrupt politicians.

A lot goes on, but Ian Alexander is great at juggling different plot points. Stories set in government can be potentially dry, but the writing has a certain humor to it. The characters are diverse, and it’s fun to see when the corrupt ones are put under pressure. Alexander is great at building suspense, and giving the characters emotion. Diana is fun, but questionable. On one hand, she believes public stripping is wrong yet she is fine with sleeping with another woman’s husband. Maybe that’s satire in itself, but it’s still questionable. Chris is a likable focus, and his speeches have both humor and power. But, the story does take his womanizing too far. It is humorous just how many one-night stands he’s involved in, but the writing could have done better at focusing on the core story. In my opinion, one particular scene was needlessly explicit.

City of Sharks is an interesting read. Ian Alexander notes at the end that the inspiration of this story came from his own time working in the government. The story is written with a light tone that tackles subjects such as politician and police corruption, shady deals, and the rise of a new government. It’s entertaining, for those who have interest in the government, and even for those who do not. This book is an original take on some very overly played topics, but Alexander keeps the book engaging and fresh.