State of terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny

​"State of terror" by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny - Unusual protagonist! 

This book is published by Macmillan in 2021 and has 512 pages. 

Surprisingly, Newly elected President Douglas Williams offers the position of Secretary of State to Ellen Adams, his most vocal and vicious adversary. Even more surprisingly, she accepts. Sounds familiar? A coded message reveals three Bomb blasts, yet to happen. The atomic devices have reached America and the only person who can make a headway is Ellen. Name of a notorious Pakistani scientist and black marketer pops up.

Who is behind the threat? Where will Ellen have to go to get to the bottom of it? Can Ellen save America and possibly the world?

The characters are interesting. President Douglas Williams offers the position to Ellen to make her fail in international politics and to make sure that she doesn’t head the news organization that has been very critical of him. Ellen surprisingly accepts the position. She is determined to demonstrate her capabilities. Her character is obviously based on Hillary. Elizabeth Jameson, or Betsy, is Ellen‘s childhood friend and now a counselor. She is a true friend, and always thinks for the good of her friend Ellen. This character is based on author’s real life best friend Betsy. Barbara Stenhauser is President’s Chief of Staff, and Charles Boynton is Ellens chief of staff. Anahita Dahir is an analysts at Pakistan desk who receives the message. She has an affair with a journalist Gil Bahar, who happens to be connected. 

The story has only one hero, that’s Ellen. She travels from one place to another, one country to another, without sleep, without rest until she unravels the plot and saves the situation. in the process she manages to get information and cooperation from unlikely sources. She demonstrates courage, intelligence, wit and she isn’t afraid to fail. 

The story is interesting. It’s an unusual protagonist. Usually Secretary of State doesn’t do field work. There are operatives for that. Here she does all of it. So she is the strategist, enforcer and operator at the same time. There are many parallels with Hillary. 

It’s a good read for a change. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about thriller by Hillary. 

What I didn't like? The revelation at the end.

What did I like? Unusualness of the story. 

Recommend reading.