Kent Heckenlively publishes political satire set in 1972 Washington

Kent Heckenlively has released a new 406-page novel, This Never Happened: A Call Girl in D.C., that mixes political satire, romance and suspense in a story set around the 1972 presidential race. The book is now available through major retailers, with paperback priced at $19.99 and ebook at $2.99.

Why it matters: - The novel uses a 1970s Washington setting to satirize power, corruption and election-year intrigue. - The story frames political wrongdoing as something that can be exposed through smaller crimes and blackmail. - The book adds another fiction title to Heckenlively’s catalog, which already includes more than 750,000 copies sold across his work.

What happened: - Kent Heckenlively released This Never Happened: A Call Girl in D.C., a 406-page political satire. - The novel is set in 1972 and follows Heidi Scherzinger, a Chicago call girl who is forced to move her business after a demand from a powerful Mob boss. - Heidi ends up working in Washington, D.C., under an Agency operative who uses blackmail. - The plot centers on gathering compromising material on politicians before a volatile presidential election. - Heckenlively described the book’s theme as: “Small-time crooks can beat the big-time crooks of our political system.” - The book is described as Heckenlively’s third novel.

The details: - The novel blends satire, romance, suspense and historical political intrigue. - The story follows Heidi as she turns her business into a more polished operation while navigating the capital’s underworld. - The publisher says the book offers a darkly humorous, fast-paced adventure through 1970s Washington. - The paperback price is $19.99, and the ebook price is $2.99. - The ISBN is 9781970844337. - The book is available through retailers worldwide, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. - Review copies and author interviews are available on request. - Readers can find more information about Manhattan Book Group.

Between the lines: - The premise leans into scandal and political cynicism, positioning the novel as both entertainment and social commentary. - Heckenlively’s existing brand as an author focused on corruption and coverups likely helps frame the book for readers who know his nonfiction work. - The “Forrest Gump-style” framing suggests the story uses a fictional outsider to move through major historical and political moments.

What's next: - The book is now available for purchase, so the next step is reader and reviewer response. - Manhattan Book Group says review copies and interviews can be arranged upon request. - The publisher is likely to continue promoting the book through retail channels and publicity outreach.

The bottom line: - Heckenlively’s new novel packages political scandal in a satirical, fast-moving story built for readers who want intrigue with a wink.