The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Political Fiction
Suggested Age: Adult
What is the book about? President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan has learned of a cyber threat that will wreak havoc on the United States. His unconventional efforts to uncover more information about the threat has led him into hot water with Congress. Now, with an oversight hearing looming, he has gone undercover, desperately searching for a way to neutralize the threat. After an assassin kills one of his sources right in front of him, President Duncan goes off the grid to keep his other source safe. In order to keep a White House mole in the dark, very few people know what he is up to or exactly how much danger he and the country face. Can the President evade the assassin, neutralize the cyber threat, and keep his rare blood disorder from killing him at the same time?
My Review: This isn’t a genre I typically read, but the marketing worked on me in this case. All the big names involved made me curious. I listened to the audiobook version and even this had a recognizable name. In the audiobook, the chapters written from President Duncan’s point of view are read by Dennis Quaid. I found this was a decent choice. The gravelly intensity of his interpretation of the President’s voice as well as the urgency conveyed by his delivery complimented the story well. As far as the story itself goes, I felt it was engaging and entertaining with its share of political maneuverings and international intrigue. The plot was fast-paced and had a decent twist at the end. Throughout the story, I was reminded about worldly events that occurred during the nineties when Bill Clinton was president, because they were used as part of characters’ backstories. I also felt that knowing he has firsthand experience as president lent authenticity to the behind-the-scenes snippets about the world of the President of the United States included by Clinton. However, there were a few places where some drawn-out explanations could have been pared down and delivered more succinctly. I also found some elements to be overly complex, like the President’s rare blood disorder which complicates his efforts. I think the book would have been fine without this element.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Intrepid, Treacherous, Conniving
Give This a Try if You Like…Clear and Present Danger, the TV Series 24
Rating: 4/5
