David W. Draper

Reader’s Critique of UNWANTED by David W. Draper

UNWANTED grabs you from page one with the eerie plausibility of sperm being stolen. It bites quickly with the premise of a covert IVF conspiracy targeting political spouses. What follows is a taut, unflinching political thriller that explores power, control, and betrayal through a cast of vividly drawn characters. At its core, the novel asks what happens when the people we elect—and the ones behind them—see women not as partners or professionals, but as pawns.

Texas First Lady Kate Werner is an instantly compelling protagonist: poised but vulnerable, calculating but human. Her moral crisis becomes the reader’s, and the stakes escalate at a relentless pace. Emma Sanchez, her best friend and unlikely fugitive partner, offers emotional gravity, while Rome Walker, a disgraced FBI deputy with ghosts of his own, brings the procedural grit. Their arcs intertwine with precise tension, and the rotating POVs are handled with clarity and discipline.

What distinguishes UNWANTED is not just its premise, but its execution. The writing is confident and spare—never overindulgent, never flashy for its own sake. It trusts the reader. There’s a noirish quality to the prose, especially in the dialogue, which crackles with hard truths and suppressed emotion.

Draper’s experience shows in how deftly he balances emotional weight with narrative propulsion. The plot doesn’t just twist—it tightens. Every turn is earned, and the final revelations are both shocking and inevitable. This is the rare thriller where the political is deeply personal—and the personal is a ticking time bomb.

UNWANTED is timely, tense, and terrifying in the best way. It deserves a spot on the shelf next to The Night Agent, State of Terror, and Perfect Shot. A debut that reads like the work of a seasoned pro.