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State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louise Penny

In State of Terror (Simon & Schuster/St. Martin’s Press) by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny, the United States’ diplomacy has been left in ruin after four long years rocked by scandal, self-interest and stupidity. Sound familiar?

As a result, the newly-minted Secretary of State Ellen Adams has her job cut out for her. Her boss, the new U.S. President, despises her and he’s dispatched her on a fool’s mission to South Korea. A genuine patriot, Ellen has divested her interest in her media conglomerate to assume the coveted Cabinet position because she loves her country and truly wants to make a difference. Unbeknownst to her, personal, political and intellectual terrors lie in wait for her as Secretary of State.

After one of her young Foreign Service Officers receives a baffling text at the Pakistan desk of the State Department, all hell breaks loose. Across Europe, three explosions occur within hours of each other, and no terrorist organization takes credit. Blame falls upon Bashir Shah, a ruthless Pakistani arms dealer freed by the former President, who has conspired with the Taliban, Al Qaeda, the Russian Mafia and allegedly, the United States administration. Shah also bears a personal vendetta against Ellen and her former media empire for exposing his crimes in a documentary. Are the attacks one of Shah’s tactics to hasten the end of the world, the United States government or Ellen?

BOMBS AWAY

The bombs detonate an international game of cat-and-mouse, which sends Ellen rushing from the Oval Office to the Palaces of the Middle East to the Kremlin. Tenuous diplomatic relationships are tested, rivalries are heightened, and old wounds are reopened as Ellen attempts to halt what she suspects is an imminent nuclear arms race in the Middle East instigated by Shah that threatens her family, her country and the safety of the world. 

The plot of State of Terror digs much deeper than a riveting international thriller. It is not all guns and explosions and how the Secretary of State plays 007 to help save the world. This is a story about women and their relationships with one another and in society. Inexperienced, politically naïve Ellen is underestimated and underrated by her boss, his staff, her staff, the military leaders and foreign diplomats. The Byzantine leaders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan consider Ellen to be as malleable as the former egotistical ignoramus of a President. The Kremlin does, too. However, Ellen is as smart as a fox, playing them against each other and knowing when and with whom to share secrets. But she doesn’t accomplish her ambitions in a vacuum. She relies on a fierce, loyal network of other women — her best friend and counselor Betsy, her daughter Katherine and FSO Anahita Dahir. Together, they work to outwit the enemies of the State.

In this ambitious tale of political and personal misdirection, the reader, along with the characters, is seduced into looking in one direction when they should be looking in the opposite one. Aside from the riddles, symbols and secrets that keep the reader guessing until the last juicy page, Penny and Clinton have crafted interesting and caring humans who have been thrust into an inhumane international crisis.

WHEN FRIENDS BECOME CO-AUTHORS

In a recent interview, the longtime friends revealed that State of Terror was born in 2016 out of traumatic loss. Clinton had just lost her presidential bid and Penny had recently lost her husband. When the duo decided to collaborate on a novel, Penny asked Clinton to name her top three fears for the future. Nuclear war was at the top of the list. In the past, Penny has never shied away from tough “ripped from the headlines” topics like opioid addiction, incest, the pandemic or genocide, so taking on nuclear war seemed a natural choice for their joint project. The authors have put their hearts and souls into this thriller, and it has paid off big time with a big bang.

State of Terror is a book that could only have been written by two people: Penny, who’s known for her complex, emotional characters, and Washington-insider Clinton. While Clinton doesn’t reveal any state secrets, she sprinkles the pages with political jabs, behind-the-scenes references and information only a former First Lady and Secretary of State would know. Not to be ignored, Penny fans will revel at the nod to old friends we know through her books as well. 

Together, Penny and Clinton have created a suspenseful cautionary tale of what could happen if we fail to protect our delicate democracy. It must be nurtured and guarded, otherwise, the “devils will be here.” They warn we must not only be watchful of foreign terrorists but of domestic threats as well. It’s enough to leave you in a “state of terror,” isn’t it?


 

State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louise Penny
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Politics, Suspense, Thrillers
Author: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louise Penny
Jodé Millman

Jodé Millman is the author of the “Queen City Crimes” Series, novels inspired by true crimes in the Hudson Valley. She has been the recipient of the Independent Press, American Fiction, and Independent Publisher Bronze IPPY Awards, and was a Finalist for the Romance Writers of America Daphne DuMaurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Clue, and the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award. She’s an attorney, the host/producer of The Backstage with the Bardavon podcast, and the creator of The Writer’s Law School.

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