It is 1922 in Indiana where D.C. Stephenson, a man who has changed his biography at least a half a dozen times, begins his rise to become head of The Ku Klux Klan in the Midwest, and then on to President of The United States. Through bribes, lies and other heinous acts, he almost reaches his goal. Fortunately, a young woman named Madge Oberholtzer is out to stop him.

Egan’s latest work of nonfiction is part true crime, part history lesson and part warning of what could happen in this country again. I can’t remember the last time I read a nonfiction book that was such a frightening page turner. A Fever in the Heartland is a fascinating, scary, timely read.