National Post – “… behind-the-scenes exposé of how the Right united and the Conservatives climbed back to power. It is chock full of insider information that will be devoured by political junkies of all stripes …. revealing is the examination of Peter MacKay's victory in the 2003 PC leadership race and the events leading to the creation of the new party … titillating details about the backroom decision-making process… helpful contribution to the history of one of the most fascinating periods in Canadian politics in a long time.” By Adam Daifallah: co-author of Rescuing Canada's Right (John Wiley & Sons).

Sounds Like Canada (CBC Radio One) Full Circle was one of three recommended political books with Shelagh Rogers and regular book contributor, Peter Kavanagh: “... Bob Plamondon is a really great public affairs analyst … (his book) is an examination of the last 15 years in the life of conservative politics through all of its manifestations… he dissects the story in a detailed and fascinating fashion primarily because he is a really great writer … (he tells us) how we got to the stage where Stephen Harper is Prime Minister.”

 

Sun Media columnist Greg Weston puts Full Circle on his Christmas list of “… favourite authors” and “terrific new books.” “Full Circle was this season's big surprise, far exceeding expectations with a revealing dissection of the machinations and backroom wars that forged the Conservative party. Author Bob Plamondon has spent most of his adult life in politics, giving him a perspective well worth the read.” (Greg Weston is the author of Reign of Terror).

Policy Options : “groundbreaking.... (Plamondon) describes in detail for the first time the backroom negotiations that led to the deal between Peter MacKay and David Orchard to deliver MacKay the leadership at the 2003 PC Convention. He also takes the reader deep inside the Alliance-PC negotiations later that year which led to the creation of the new Conservative Party: the choice of the emissaries from both sides, the ups and downs of the merger talks, and the caucus management challenges the leaders faced along the way. And all of it is backed by colourful quotes from many of the key participants ... The Conservatives’ 13 years in the wilderness are perhaps best understood through the relationships among the key protagonists, and here Plamondon really shines ...Plamondon closes the book with the lesson that every conservative should take from the past 13 years.”

Montreal Gazette "“rewarding (and) informative ... a lot of important information comes to light for the first time… . the Plamondon book is a revelation, quite the most pleasant surprise of the season.” 

Calgary Sun:  “masterful ... enthralling ...Plamondon offers so many insights into recent Canadian politics, this book reads like a thriller … This should be read by every Canadian. Or, at least, every Canadian who votes.”

Toronto Star: "(Full Circle) is a solid, detailed chronicle of the players and the events surrounding some stormy years for the Tories. Describing it as 'meticulous,' however, doesn't do it justice — it's thorough and highly readable to boot ... Plamondon's account of Belinda Stronach's defection to the Liberals, and its effect on her then partner, now Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay … is the most complete tale we've seen to date. … in-depth about what was going on in the backrooms through the merger of Canada's right and the emergence of this Conservative government.

Globe and Mail:  "A meticulous, blow-by-blow account of the road to the merger that captures both the tension and tedium of back-room politics ...Plamondon is at his best when he is debunking popular myths and spin ...He draws an engrossing portrait of the main protagionists, as well as the bit players, which emerges from his factual account of their behaviour …”

Mike Duffy (Live):  "There is a lot of great stuff in this book. If (revelations of Stronach's defection) doesn't get you to go out and buy the book, I don't know what will."

CPAC's Talk Politics:  "jam-packed with details... fascinating reading for anybody who is a political junkie ... I really enjoyed it."

Ottawa Magazine: "Editor's Top Pick ... Best of Fall ... one of the books everybody will be talking about this season."

 

The Commentary.ca:  "Full Circle is endlessly fascinating"

 

Rt. Hon Don Mazankowski -- "Full Circle is a must read for everyone who has a fascination for the intracacies of party politics in Canada."

Senator David Angus -- "This talented author has brilliantly portrayed the fascinating transition of Canada's political landscape from the past to the present."

Senator Gerry St. Germain -- "A literary work of excellence."

Senator John Lynch-Staunton (retired) --"Having witnessed first hand many of the events described in Full Circle, as well as having been an active participant in a number of them, I found the book to be most informative and generally well-documented."

Other Books by Bob Plamondon