Book Review: State Of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton & Louise Penny

ByMary Emmer Updated on

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State Of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny was a highly anticipated read for me.

I love fast-paced mystery books and thrillers, and this book seemed like it would shape up to be one of those.

OMG, these two women have outdone themselves with this book.

Are You In A State Of Terror?

To the best of my knowledge, State Of Terror is the first collaboration between Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny.  I sure hope it’s not the last!

Here’s the book (published October 12, 2021) in case you haven’t seen it yet.

Not surprisingly, one of the main characters in the book is a female U.S. Secretary of State. From the very first sentence of the book which started with someone speaking to “Madame Secretary”, I was hooked.

At almost 500 pages, this seemed like a long book that would take a while to read.

But in reality, it was so fast-paced I was surprised by how quickly I finished it.

I liked the characters. Immensely.

Sure, there were some dastardly ones (essential to the story) that I wasn’t too fond of. But that’s as it should be.

In fact, by the time I finished this book, I was so immersed in the characters who comprised the current U.S. White House administration, that I was somewhat surprised I didn’t see them being interviewed when I turned on CNN.

The fast-paced narrative takes us from continent to continent, country to country, and head of state to head of state in a race to right the wrongs (NO, I’m not going to give you any spoilers) that need to be righted. To find out any more than that, you need to read this marvelous page-turner.

For me, this action-filled book was somewhat reminiscent of the pace of the Gabriel Allon series written by Daniel Silva, one of my all-time favorite book series!

All I can say is, that “Madame Secretary” (along with Louise Penny) has done a fabulous job writing about “Madame Secretary”.

I hope they are planning another thriller collaboration soon.

And, I must admit that I haven’t previously read any Louise Penny mysteries, but her most respected Inspector Gamache series is now on my To Be Read list. I’m excited to see what the Inspector has in store for me!

State Of Terror – What I Liked

I think this is a blockbuster political thriller.

It has everything. It’s super fast-paced, has a lot of dialogue, and edge-of-seat suspense, and you have absolutely no clue what’s really going to happen until the very, very end.

And despite the seriousness of the plot and the subject matter, the authors managed to include some humor.

The characters were believable and I instantly liked them.

State Of Terror – What I Didn’t Like

Nothing.

Zip.

Zilch.

There is nothing that I didn’t like about this book. I loved it.

State Of Terror – Read, Reread, or Reject?

And now for my 3 R’s of book reviews. Read, Reread, or Reject?

What is my opinion of State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny?

A definite READ.

FAQs About State Of Terror

What is the plot of the State Of Terror?

In the book State Of Terror, a recently appointed secretary of state races against time as she tries to prevent an imminent terrorist attack. The book incorporates many experiences and details from Clinton’s own political career, while also referencing contemporary political events.

Is State Of Terror part of the Gamache series?

No. State Of Terror is a standalone novel that doesn’t really have any connection to the Gamache series.

Just in case you prefer to “listen” to your books rather than read them, here’s a nice opportunity to try Audible free for 30 Days.

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Mary Emmer, is the founder of Looks Like Books. She is an avid book enthusiast and self-employed entrepreneur, with an inspiring passion for reading and learning.  With a background in the travel industry spanning four decades, Mary has cultivated a diverse range of experiences that have shaped her unique perspective on life and storytelling.  More about Mary.

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