I have to admit that I didn't know what the hell to expect when I picked this one up—and by "pick up," I mean downloaded and started listening to the audiobook. While I have always been a Patterson fan (I like popcorn novels, sue me!), I wasn't sure what it would be like when he and Bill Clinton combined forces.
And I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. This book isn't going to change lives, but the protagonist, President Duncan, is interesting enough. If I have one criticism of this character, it's that he's perhaps a bit too likable. With movie star good looks, a stint as a Black Hawk pilot and a past as a professional baseball player, he's kind of like Superman. Oh, and he had a perfect relationship with his wife, too. However, this wasn't enough to turn me off of the book—and I think that they were perhaps tossing in some superfluous details that would make the character seem as far from Clinton himself as they could. Because there are some parts in which President Duncan waxes rhapsodic about the risks of nationalism and tribalism; these did remind me of the president himself. I've seen him speak in person, and I could definitely hear his touch in the words. Also, there were certain details that only a president could know about life on the inside of the White House, and I really appreciated those moments. Clinton and Patterson make you feel as if you're on the ride with them, living life inside the fish bowl of the presidency, and I thought that was cool.
With all of the signature Patterson twists and turns, the book really revs up during the second act. I loved the action sequences and the female assassin Bach, although her obsession with classical music also wore on me at times (lol!) If you're a techie type of person, there are a few computer scenes that will make you want to scream, but I was able to suspend disbelief and keep going. The plot is great, and I understood every single character's motivation. Lots of strong female characters in this one, which was also a plus.
For those who download the audiobook like I did, Dennis Quaid's performance is FANTASTIC. He had a lot of accents to deal with, and he handled it like a pro. All of the other actors were amazing as well. I give it four out of five stars!