Latest news with #ThePresidentIsMissing
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Bill Clinton & James Patterson return with ‘The First Gentleman', a political thriller where the President's husband is on trial
Co-authors Bill Clinton and James Patterson's are back for the third time with their latest political thriller, The First Gentleman. The collaboration that banks on Patterson's writing prowess and Clinton's insider knowledge opens with a premise that remains a pipedream, especially for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris – United States has its first female president, Madeline Wright. Wright is fighting for re-election, but predicably her campaign hits the doldrums after her husband, former NFL star Cole Wright, is accused of a decades-old murder. The victim, is a young Patriots cheerleader, Suzanne Bonanno, who vanished 17 years ago after an alleged affair with Cole. The scandal predictably ignites a media firestorm, a brutal courtroom battle, and a political crisis that could derail President Wright's economic reforms. Journalism in focus Unlike Clinton and Patterson's previous thrillers, which centered on presidents in physical danger (The President Is Missing) or protecting their families (The President's Daughter), The First Gentleman shifts the spotlight to investigative journalists Brea Cooke and Garrett Wilson. Their relentless pursuit of the 'truth' drives the narrative, a nod to the power (and peril) of a free press. The novel's most compelling moments come from Clinton's intimate understanding of political survival. The West Wing scrambles to contain the fallout, allies turn on each other, and the president must weigh loyalty against the demands of office—all while prosecutors circle her husband. The parallels to real-life political scandals are impossible to ignore, though Clinton and Patterson stop short of direct commentary. Instead, they let readers wonder how it would play out in reality. Before The First Gentleman, Bill Clinton and James Patterson had already proven their knack for blending political insider knowledge with razor-sharp thriller mechanics. Their collaborations—both bestsellers—laid the groundwork for this latest high-stakes drama. President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan faces an unprecedented cyberattack that could cripple the United States. When intelligence suggests the threat comes from within his own administration, the president disappears from the White House to personally stop the conspiracy. As terrorist attacks erupt across the country, Duncan races against time to uncover the traitors in Washington while evading both foreign operatives and his own Secret Service detail. The story unfolds over three chaotic days, blending high-tech threats with old-fashioned political betrayal. Former President Matthew Keating, a decorated Navy SEAL before entering politics, faces his worst nightmare when his teenage daughter Melanie is kidnapped. Though out of office, Keating uses his military training and political connections to track her captors across Europe and the Middle East. The chase reveals a personal vendetta against the ex-president, forcing him to confront enemies from both his military past and presidential tenure. With the current administration unwilling to help, Keating operates outside the law to rescue his child.
Mint
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Bill Clinton & James Patterson's thriller ‘The First Gentleman': A murder, a cheerleader, and a Presidency on the line
Former US President Bill Clinton and thriller writer James Patterson have reunited for a gripping new novel, The First Gentleman, set to hit shelves on June 2, 2025. The book marks the duo's third high-stakes political thriller following their successes The President Is Missing (2018) and The President's Daughter (2021). At the heart of The First Gentleman is an explosive premise: the President of the United States is a woman—and her husband stands trial for murder. President Madeline Wright is facing re-election when the nation is rocked by allegations that her husband, Cole Wright, a former NFL star and now First Gentleman, murdered a cheerleader nearly two decades earlier. As the legal drama unfolds, the stakes go far beyond the courtroom. The accusation threatens to derail Wright's political career and destroy her efforts to pass a crucial economic reform package dubbed the 'Grand Bargain.' Unlike their previous thrillers, Clinton and Patterson shift the spotlight in The First Gentleman to two dogged investigative journalists—Brea Cooke, a lawyer-turned-reporter, and her partner Garrett Wilson. The duo becomes central to the plot as they dig into the long-cold case of Suzanne Bonanno, a Patriots cheerleader who disappeared while allegedly involved with Cole Wright 17 years earlier. What begins as a journalistic investigation spirals into a sprawling political and legal thriller, with the reporters uncovering hidden motives, and deadly secrets that threaten to shake the White House. Packed with courtroom confrontations, political sabotage, and high-stakes decision-making, The First Gentleman combines Patterson's trademark pacing with Clinton's insider knowledge. The novel promises readers an intense ride through the corridors of power, media scrutiny, and a murder mystery that could determine the future of a presidency. Clinton and Patterson's unique collaboration has already yielded millions in book sales and popular acclaim. With The First Gentleman, they explore uncharted territory—America's first female president and the unprecedented scenario of a First Gentleman accused of murder. The book continues the duo's tradition of blending real-world insight with page-turning suspense. The First Gentleman goes on sale June 2, 2025, and is published by Little, Brown and Company.
