After having read and enjoyed Bill Clinton’s two collaborations with James Patterson, The President Is Missing and The President’s Daughter, I felt compelled to take on Hillary Clinton’s collaboration with my favorite mystery writer Louise Penny, State of Terror. Bill Clinton’s books were more about entertaining suspense and less about shining a light on lessons of statecraft, whereas Hillary Clinton clearly has axes to grind and lessons to impart in this parable. Penny is here to assure we have a tight, well-crafted suspense novel with real characters and a storyline. Clinton brings both the inside track on how diplomacy is conducted, what goes on in the Oval Office and Situation Room during crises, as well as vendettas delivered for former political foes. Clinton skewers her former opponent Trump, in the thinly disguised character of former president Eric Dunn (did she mean dumb?), while secretary of state Ellen Adams feels like an idealized version of Clinton: intelligent, in command and artful with our most difficult adversaries, respected and admired by all, complete with pantsuits and colorful scarves.

Clinton can’t help herself: Republicans are all right-wing extremists, bent on restoring racism and religious intolerance, and generally treating other nations disrespectfully, stupidly, and bumbling into war. It is only liberal Democrats who respect the rights of all, have the intelligence to stand by our allies and the strength to stand up to our enemies. In one interview for this book, Clinton could not resist the claim that Republicans want to take voting rights away from the many, and steal elections that don’t go the way they want. She claims Republicans desire to enshrine this in the political machinery (funny, I see loads of evidence of Democrats attempting that— end the filibuster? stack the Supreme Court?) It seems that lacking a bully pulpit, her book tour will give her the mouthpiece she clearly craves to sound off on these issues. Poor Louise Penny! I suspect she would just like to discuss her latest book!

As a suspense novel, it basically hangs together. I suspect largely due to Penny’s guiding hand it manages to dodge polemic excesses. Supporting characters are interesting, especially Betsy, Ellen Adams’ lifelong friend and confident. I wonder who Clinton’s Betsy was, or if she just wishes she had a Betsy to lean on when times were tough. It almost seems as though women of a certain age (I hate that expression, but you know what I mean) find husbands a nuisance, and really need a good wife. Both of their husbands are conveniently deceased, giving them the freedom to pursue meaningfully work, in Ellen’s case, and be the ultimate supportive friend, in Betsy’s.

I enjoyed Penny’s insertion of Three Pines, the home of her protagonist Armand Gamache, and the appearance of Gamache, who supplies a key clue to help save America from nuclear disaster. Contrived, but fun for Gamache fans. Sorry to say, Clinton ends with a super obvious hint of another book to come. Get ready for more Trump and Republican bashing, if you can stand it. I love Louise Penny, but I think I’m done with this duo. Sorry, I cannot recommend—take a pass on this one.