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De first gentleman: Amerika heeft een machtige nieuwe president. En haar man staat terecht voor moord
'Een geslaagde politieke thriller. Laat zien hoe het er achter de schermen van het Witte Huis aan toegaat.' **** nrc next
De president van de Verenigde Staten staat voor herverkiezing. Haar man staat terecht voor moord. Is de First Gentleman een moordenaar?
Twee briljante onderzoeksjournalisten proberen dat brandende vraagstuk op te lossen. Wat kunnen ze vinden over de voormalig American Football-ster die de man van de president werd?
De First Gentleman zit boordevol onverwachte wendingen en authenticiteit, precies wat je mag verwachten van de #1 bestsellerauteurs van President vermist en De dochter van de president.
'Vol cliffhangers op het juiste moment, bomvol actie en een verrassende finale.' Algemeen Dagblad
'Homeland meets House of Cards.' Flair
De president van de Verenigde Staten staat voor herverkiezing. Haar man staat terecht voor moord. Is de First Gentleman een moordenaar?
Twee briljante onderzoeksjournalisten proberen dat brandende vraagstuk op te lossen. Wat kunnen ze vinden over de voormalig American Football-ster die de man van de president werd?
De First Gentleman zit boordevol onverwachte wendingen en authenticiteit, precies wat je mag verwachten van de #1 bestsellerauteurs van President vermist en De dochter van de president.
'Vol cliffhangers op het juiste moment, bomvol actie en een verrassende finale.' Algemeen Dagblad
'Homeland meets House of Cards.' Flair
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2025
5127 people are currently reading
9173 people want to read
About the author
Bill Clinton
228 books1,273 followersEconomic expansion and the first balanced federal budget in three decades marked presidency of William Jefferson Clinton, known as Bill, who served forty-second in the United States from 1993 to 2001; the House of Representatives in 1999 impeached him on perjury and obstruction of justice charges, but the Senate acquitted him on both counts.
Born William Jefferson Blythe III, he ranked as the third-youngest president, older only than Theodore Roosevelt and John Fitzgerald Kennedy. People know him the first baby-boomer president at the end of the Cold War. He is the husband of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the junior senator from New York and a Democratic candidate in the election of 2008 in the United States.
People described Clinton as a New Democrat and knew him largely for the Third Way philosophy of governance that came to epitomize his two terms as president. They described his "centrist" policies on issues, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history, which included a balanced budget and a reported federal surplus. Clinton reported a surplus of $559 billion at the end of his presidency, based on Congressional accounting rules. His presidency was also quickly challenged. On the heels of a failed attempt at health care reform with a Democratic Congress, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. In his second term he was impeached by the U.S. House for perjury and obstruction of justice, but was subsequently acquitted by the United States Senate and completed his term. Polls of the American electorate taken at this time showed that up to 70% were against pursuing the allegations. (New York Times December 21, 1998).
Clinton left office with a 65% approval rating, the highest end-of-presidency rating of any President who came into office after World War II. Since leaving office, Clinton has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work. He created the William J. Clinton Foundation to promote and address international causes, such as treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and global warming. In 2004, he released a personal autobiography, My Life.
Born William Jefferson Blythe III, he ranked as the third-youngest president, older only than Theodore Roosevelt and John Fitzgerald Kennedy. People know him the first baby-boomer president at the end of the Cold War. He is the husband of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the junior senator from New York and a Democratic candidate in the election of 2008 in the United States.
People described Clinton as a New Democrat and knew him largely for the Third Way philosophy of governance that came to epitomize his two terms as president. They described his "centrist" policies on issues, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history, which included a balanced budget and a reported federal surplus. Clinton reported a surplus of $559 billion at the end of his presidency, based on Congressional accounting rules. His presidency was also quickly challenged. On the heels of a failed attempt at health care reform with a Democratic Congress, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. In his second term he was impeached by the U.S. House for perjury and obstruction of justice, but was subsequently acquitted by the United States Senate and completed his term. Polls of the American electorate taken at this time showed that up to 70% were against pursuing the allegations. (New York Times December 21, 1998).
Clinton left office with a 65% approval rating, the highest end-of-presidency rating of any President who came into office after World War II. Since leaving office, Clinton has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work. He created the William J. Clinton Foundation to promote and address international causes, such as treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and global warming. In 2004, he released a personal autobiography, My Life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,832 reviews
May 3, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, James Patterson, Bill Clinton, and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always excited to get my hands on a James Patterson collaboration, I am especially eager when former US President Bill Clinton serves as co-author. These two have worked well together in the past, penning strong thrillers that I have found highly enjoyable. Once again, a solid piece pushes things along and provides a great read,. The First Gentleman is charged with murder while his wife, President of the United States, is trying to run for re-election. A mix of politics, police procedural, and crime thriller, Patterson and Clinton keep the reader enthralled with this story.
As sitting US President Madeline Wright prepares for re-election, she has a problem. She's got a major situation in California that could ruin her chances, forcing POTUS to juggle and call in some favours, at least until she wins once again in November. She has the dedication, and as long as nothing else stands in her way, she is a shoo-in to keep the Oval Office. That is, until her husband is the prime suspect in a murder from seventeen years ago.
Two stunning investigative journalists dig up a story while they are writing about the First Gentleman, connected to a missing cheerleader when Cole Wright was a professional football player. He denies having anything to do with it, but people are talking and the puzzle pieces are coming together with alarming speed. A buried body, with evidence next to the supposed grave, camera footage from a store in the area, and a rule about dating that could have ended Cole's career. All the evidence piles up and soon he's being arrested and dragged into court to face charges.
While the case unfolds in open court, POTUS tries to stay calm and support her husband. Her election might be in some doubt now, but family has to come first, right? Struggling to make sense of the charges levied against him, Cole Wright will have to fight like never before if he wants to see the light of day and ensure he does not tank his wife's future as well. A gripping story that flows well from a strong collaborative team!
I love a good crime thriller, especially when we can add politics to the mix. Patterson and Clinton work through a number of great elements with this piece, keeping the narrative moving well as the story progresses. Set throughout various time periods and through the eyes of a few narrators, the authors push the story through revelations, evidence gathering, and courtroom antics, all in an effort to keep the reader hooked. Using Patterson's signature short chapters, the story moves along at lightning speed and never lets up. Great character development provides much entertainment for the reader who can never quite catch their breath. Plot points emerge and develop with ease as the surprises keep coming, which accentuates the police procedural and courtroom antics even more. I cannot wait to see what these two will work on next or how long I will have to wait for another strong collaborative piece.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Clinton, for a thriller I could not stop reading.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Always excited to get my hands on a James Patterson collaboration, I am especially eager when former US President Bill Clinton serves as co-author. These two have worked well together in the past, penning strong thrillers that I have found highly enjoyable. Once again, a solid piece pushes things along and provides a great read,. The First Gentleman is charged with murder while his wife, President of the United States, is trying to run for re-election. A mix of politics, police procedural, and crime thriller, Patterson and Clinton keep the reader enthralled with this story.
As sitting US President Madeline Wright prepares for re-election, she has a problem. She's got a major situation in California that could ruin her chances, forcing POTUS to juggle and call in some favours, at least until she wins once again in November. She has the dedication, and as long as nothing else stands in her way, she is a shoo-in to keep the Oval Office. That is, until her husband is the prime suspect in a murder from seventeen years ago.
Two stunning investigative journalists dig up a story while they are writing about the First Gentleman, connected to a missing cheerleader when Cole Wright was a professional football player. He denies having anything to do with it, but people are talking and the puzzle pieces are coming together with alarming speed. A buried body, with evidence next to the supposed grave, camera footage from a store in the area, and a rule about dating that could have ended Cole's career. All the evidence piles up and soon he's being arrested and dragged into court to face charges.
While the case unfolds in open court, POTUS tries to stay calm and support her husband. Her election might be in some doubt now, but family has to come first, right? Struggling to make sense of the charges levied against him, Cole Wright will have to fight like never before if he wants to see the light of day and ensure he does not tank his wife's future as well. A gripping story that flows well from a strong collaborative team!
I love a good crime thriller, especially when we can add politics to the mix. Patterson and Clinton work through a number of great elements with this piece, keeping the narrative moving well as the story progresses. Set throughout various time periods and through the eyes of a few narrators, the authors push the story through revelations, evidence gathering, and courtroom antics, all in an effort to keep the reader hooked. Using Patterson's signature short chapters, the story moves along at lightning speed and never lets up. Great character development provides much entertainment for the reader who can never quite catch their breath. Plot points emerge and develop with ease as the surprises keep coming, which accentuates the police procedural and courtroom antics even more. I cannot wait to see what these two will work on next or how long I will have to wait for another strong collaborative piece.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Clinton, for a thriller I could not stop reading.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 20, 2025
America has a new powerful (FEMALE!) president... And her husband's on trial for murder.
While Madeline Parsons (the President) is up for reelection, her husband, Cole, is on trial for murder.
Could the First Gentleman REALLY be a KILLER? 😈
If anyone is going to find the answer it is a pair of brilliant investigative journalists determined to find the TRUTH…
I am a big fan of a signature style Patterson book and this one definitely held its own 🙌🏽
The style of narrative was unique in this book; two sides of the story were featured - Cole (the First Gentleman) and Brea Cooke (first person POV). It was slightly strange swapping from a first person to a third person narrative, but it actually worked really well. Having said that I would have liked to have seen what was going on inside Cole’s head.
2 investigative journalists set out to write a new book featuring the First Gentleman, connected to a missing cheerleader when he was a professional football player at university. 17 years on, he is denying having anything to do with it, but Brea and Garrett are determined to finally get some answers. People are talking, and the story is coming together…but not all goes to plan 😰
Meanwhile, things are heating up in the Oval Office as President Madeline Wright prepares for re-election. She has problems of her own to deal with that must stay under wraps until after the court case.
JP has had his fair share of collaborations in his time however, I must say, I prefer it when he works alone. Not all his collaborations have been a great success BUT this one, with Bill Clinton, worked out well 👏🏽 I think having Bill’s inside scoop on the White House really added to the quality of the story.
Overall, this was a classic JP story. The first half of the book was pure action as the investigators big for information regarding Cole’s past. I have always had a great love for his short snappy chapters that move the story along at lightening speed. While I never get bored during his thrilling storylines, I did find the middle of this one slightly too drawn out for my liking. Other than that, it was a fantastic!
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
While Madeline Parsons (the President) is up for reelection, her husband, Cole, is on trial for murder.
Could the First Gentleman REALLY be a KILLER? 😈
If anyone is going to find the answer it is a pair of brilliant investigative journalists determined to find the TRUTH…
I am a big fan of a signature style Patterson book and this one definitely held its own 🙌🏽
The style of narrative was unique in this book; two sides of the story were featured - Cole (the First Gentleman) and Brea Cooke (first person POV). It was slightly strange swapping from a first person to a third person narrative, but it actually worked really well. Having said that I would have liked to have seen what was going on inside Cole’s head.
2 investigative journalists set out to write a new book featuring the First Gentleman, connected to a missing cheerleader when he was a professional football player at university. 17 years on, he is denying having anything to do with it, but Brea and Garrett are determined to finally get some answers. People are talking, and the story is coming together…but not all goes to plan 😰
Meanwhile, things are heating up in the Oval Office as President Madeline Wright prepares for re-election. She has problems of her own to deal with that must stay under wraps until after the court case.
JP has had his fair share of collaborations in his time however, I must say, I prefer it when he works alone. Not all his collaborations have been a great success BUT this one, with Bill Clinton, worked out well 👏🏽 I think having Bill’s inside scoop on the White House really added to the quality of the story.
Overall, this was a classic JP story. The first half of the book was pure action as the investigators big for information regarding Cole’s past. I have always had a great love for his short snappy chapters that move the story along at lightening speed. While I never get bored during his thrilling storylines, I did find the middle of this one slightly too drawn out for my liking. Other than that, it was a fantastic!
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
June 29, 2025
I love the short sentence and paragraph style of James Patterson’s books, especially when the story telling is complicated. And I love Bill Clinton’s collaboration as he almost was a First Gentleman. I do wish though that someone would consult with a trial lawyer when they do a long courtroom scene. There were so many errors in the judge’s rulings on attorney objections that there is no way I could consider a 5 star rating. But all things considered, I really enjoyed the book.
December 19, 2025
At this point, I’ve got more dead ends than good leads.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sending me an ARC of The First Gentleman in exchange for an honest review.
President Madeline Wright is daring greatness: trying to secretly negotiate a grand bargain with both parties in Congress that will save our entitlement programs and improve the economy. But at the very same time, her husband, Cole Wright—the First Gentleman—is on trial for the long ago murder of a cheerleader named Suzanne whom he dated when he played for the New England Patriots. He claims he’s innocent, and the President is standing by him. But Brea Cooke is covering the trial and working on a book she’s sure will prove Cole also killed her partner, a journalist named Garrett Wilson.
The first two novels by the odd couple of James Patterson and former President Bill Clinton, The President is Missing and The President’s Daughter, were completely unserious and yet completely entertaining. So I went into The First Gentleman ready for more guilty pleasures, but this one didn’t quite live up to the first two. Make no mistake: it’s completely unserious, with mobsters and hitmen and whatnot. But the pacing is strange, with some of it written from Brea’s first person perspective and the rest in a third person perspective usually focused on Cole. In part because of that choice, when we finally get to the courtroom scenes, most of them just rehash what we already learned earlier in the book. Another pacing problem is that too many facts come perfectly, unrealistically late though, strangely, as Brea learns new information that contradicts what she’d believed about Cole, she doesn’t really do anything with that information. And the book ends with a speech by President Wright about her grand bargain, which seemed so out of place that I’d kinda believe it if you told me that the entire novel was a way for Bill Clinton to lay out how he’d save entitlement programs and improve the economy.
But the biggest problem in The First Gentleman is that, while I guess it’s supposed to be a mystery who killed Suzanne, there was never a time in the entire novel that I did not know what the big revelation was going to be. And it’s hard to be a satisfying mystery when there’s no actual mystery. A bit disappointing.
October 25, 2025
Another successful novel by the Patterson/Clinton team. Patterson’s writing reflects the inside research provided by Clinton plus his own. This blend has produced an edge of your seat thriller.
The First Gentleman, the husband of the president of the US, has been accused of murder after the opening of a cold case. The vultures are looking for any scrap they can glean. The supporters are running rampant attempting to plug the leaks in the dam. The president continues to run the government and hopefully avoid Armageddon while pushing her project, The Grand Bargain, through Congress for the benefit of America’s financial salvation. This all goes on parallel to the trial that will determine the course of her husband’s future. The people have split allegiances. Murders continues to happen. Are these deaths related to a book being written that would include the past of the First Gentleman or is someone covering their trail? Evidence appears from years past. Some will gain, some will lose, some hearts will break.
The characters are believable, the plot is thick with suspense and the ending is a twister. This is a well put together read that will continue to entertain long after the last page is read.
The First Gentleman, the husband of the president of the US, has been accused of murder after the opening of a cold case. The vultures are looking for any scrap they can glean. The supporters are running rampant attempting to plug the leaks in the dam. The president continues to run the government and hopefully avoid Armageddon while pushing her project, The Grand Bargain, through Congress for the benefit of America’s financial salvation. This all goes on parallel to the trial that will determine the course of her husband’s future. The people have split allegiances. Murders continues to happen. Are these deaths related to a book being written that would include the past of the First Gentleman or is someone covering their trail? Evidence appears from years past. Some will gain, some will lose, some hearts will break.
The characters are believable, the plot is thick with suspense and the ending is a twister. This is a well put together read that will continue to entertain long after the last page is read.
June 10, 2025
Another thrilling page turner from one of my all time favourite authors, James Patterson. This time collaborating with former US President Bill Clinton for a fast paced, action packed legal/political thriller. What’s not to love about that!!
I loved the idea of the president being a woman for a start, and also that her husband is a former NFL player who is charged with the murder of a cheerleader. Come on, tell me you aren’t intrigued. With the short, punchy chapters than jump between characters, we learn about the trial of the century as well as the past. If that wasn’t enough for you, there is a an investigative journalist hot on the story
This book is so fun to read and I wish I had been able to read it faster., darn work getting in the way. I changed my mind so many times about his guilt, with each piece of evidence coming out in court. I can see the Bill Clinton contributions, with the political storylines having that extra detail and depth.
Highly recommend, a standalone book that is well worth picking up.
Thank you so much to Little, Brown and Company for my advanced copy on NetGalley. Out on June 2nd.
I loved the idea of the president being a woman for a start, and also that her husband is a former NFL player who is charged with the murder of a cheerleader. Come on, tell me you aren’t intrigued. With the short, punchy chapters than jump between characters, we learn about the trial of the century as well as the past. If that wasn’t enough for you, there is a an investigative journalist hot on the story
This book is so fun to read and I wish I had been able to read it faster., darn work getting in the way. I changed my mind so many times about his guilt, with each piece of evidence coming out in court. I can see the Bill Clinton contributions, with the political storylines having that extra detail and depth.
Highly recommend, a standalone book that is well worth picking up.
Thank you so much to Little, Brown and Company for my advanced copy on NetGalley. Out on June 2nd.
October 23, 2025
2.5
I enjoyed the previous two books in this series being good political thrillers but this was distinctly lacking. I suspect that there was less JP and more BC because (sorry BC) the quality of the writing was sadly lacking. A paper thin plot, not especially fast paced and so many points reinforced in italics just so us readers got the point, I wanted to scream.
Quite the manifesto at the end, eh Bill? I’d vote for it!!!! Yeah, yeah I’m British…
If the pair do drum up a fourth, I won’t read it, I’m done.
I enjoyed the previous two books in this series being good political thrillers but this was distinctly lacking. I suspect that there was less JP and more BC because (sorry BC) the quality of the writing was sadly lacking. A paper thin plot, not especially fast paced and so many points reinforced in italics just so us readers got the point, I wanted to scream.
Quite the manifesto at the end, eh Bill? I’d vote for it!!!! Yeah, yeah I’m British…
If the pair do drum up a fourth, I won’t read it, I’m done.
June 19, 2025
I read it so you won’t have to! It started out with weak characters and inconsistent writing followed. It felt as though two different writers alternated writing the chapters between them. The story was ridiculous and the poorly written narrative couldn’t save it.
June 17, 2025
The plot was all over the place. The characters were pretty unidimensional. Why in the world did the announcement of this hugely important piece of legislation need to be tied to the trial? It doesn’t make any sense. Feels more like a first draft than a finished novel from a best selling author.
December 23, 2025
The First Gentleman by Bill Clinton and James Patterson is spot on like a quick K-turn.
July 19, 2025
I've seen Hallmark movies with better writing.
July 15, 2025
James Patterson has teamed up with former president, Bill Clinton, to write two previous thrillers together – “The President is Missing” in 2018 and “The President’s Daughter” in 2021. They are now back in the Summer of 2025 with a third collaborative thriller - “The First Gentleman.” Patterson certainly puts Clinton’s unique knowledge and experience to provide us with an inside look at how the government works, the pressures of being president, and how the executive and legislative branches execute their responsibilities against the political battlefields that threaten to overwhelm them.
“The First Gentleman” delivers an easily enjoyable multifaceted political thrill ride that Patterson is best known for. The pages turn at breakneck speed like one of the better episodes of one of my favorite television shows, “Scandal” which starred Kerry Washington, Scott Foley and an outstanding ensemble cast. Except for a couple of an issues that I have with the last 50 pages (which were rather annoying), the overall book was a fun read.
This is the story of Cole Wright, former NFL football player and currently, the country’s First Gentleman. His wife, Madeline Parson Wright, is the president of the United States. The leader of the free world, trying to achieve the unthinkable by secretly bringing together the legislative branch to pass legislation to save social security and Medicaid while bringing down the national debt at the same time. She needs everything to align with the members of the House and Senate, and nothing to disrupt what could be the best cross-party political achievement since the days of transformation under president Roosevelt.
However, Madeline’s and Cole’s problem is that he is the first spouse of a president to be arrested and charged for murder…
This is also the story of Garrett Wilson and Brea Cooke. Garrett is an investigative reporter who has had two successful non-fiction books under his belt, but has an even better and absolutely explosive lead for what would be a sure bestseller that would rock the personal lives at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Bea is a lawyer, and law professor at Dartmouth on sabbatical while she helps Garrett perform research for his new book. She is also Garrett’s girlfriend and partner every step of the way.
However, Garrett faces serious problems of his own. His investigative research is turning dangerous when unknown adversaries warn him to stop or he will be killed. When Garrett refuses to listen, the price is death…
I think it’s probably a good idea to stop there and not reveal any more of the plot in order to let the reader enjoy and savor every twist and turn that takes place in this fast-paced thriller. Trust me, it’s better to let you enjoy the reading experience for yourself.
For me, this was one of the more enjoyable Patterson novels I have read recently. To be honest, I have enjoyed all three of his collaborations with Clinton for the most part. Each focused on different presidential conflicts, and for the most part, they all were pleasurable summer reads. This one was explored a murder mystery set against a background of internal political intrigue and issues currently facing our country.
Patterson and Clinton used their creative elements - characters, politics, and connecting plotlines - to deliver another fictional collaboration that works well. I don’t know how much was actually written or contributed by Clinton, but it certainly feels like his influence is present enough to sell lots of copies. To be honest, after reading all three of their novels, I am rather impressed with the outcome of their collaborative results. The fast-paced storytelling style flowed well and delivered plenty of surprises along the way.
For me, this was a pretty enjoyable read with the exception of two moments in the last 50 pages that annoyed me a bit.
The first was a major twist following all of the courtroom drama that made no sense other than to make things really bad for one of the protagonists. I need to be very careful here about not giving away any spoilers, so I will just say that the outcome did not come close in any way to aligning with the reality of the evidence presented and the legal requirement of beyond a reasonable doubt. To me, the plot twist was so far over the top that the result was downright silly.
The second was when President Wright unveiled her “Grand Bargain” plan, which included almost 5 pages of an overwhelming political manifesto that starts off as informative but quickly falls into a history lesson that degenerates into a preachy diatribe that goes on too long. At least it did for me. Forgive me for this deviating comment… here’s a hint. If you want to save social security, how about taking a simple and direct approach – just increase the national employee taxable wage base limit from its current $176,100 level to $350,000 or higher. It’s really that easy to implement. Okay, that’s enough. let’s back to the review.
Putting political solutions aside, Patterson and Clinton are being promoted as the fictional writing “Deal Team” and I am beginning to buy into that label. Three political thriller novels that for the most part have been worthy reads.
Overall, like the previous two books, “The First Gentleman” comes down to this. Was it realistic? No way. But we certainly don’t read Patterson for that reason. We read him for high level action thrillers that help us escape our daily grind and enjoy an exciting page-turner that makes us forget about all else. This time Patterson, along with help from Clinton, delivers another winner that will keep your attention from the beginning to the last page. Enjoy the political intrigue, who-dun-it mystery, and more importantly, the worthwhile escape!
“The First Gentleman” delivers an easily enjoyable multifaceted political thrill ride that Patterson is best known for. The pages turn at breakneck speed like one of the better episodes of one of my favorite television shows, “Scandal” which starred Kerry Washington, Scott Foley and an outstanding ensemble cast. Except for a couple of an issues that I have with the last 50 pages (which were rather annoying), the overall book was a fun read.
This is the story of Cole Wright, former NFL football player and currently, the country’s First Gentleman. His wife, Madeline Parson Wright, is the president of the United States. The leader of the free world, trying to achieve the unthinkable by secretly bringing together the legislative branch to pass legislation to save social security and Medicaid while bringing down the national debt at the same time. She needs everything to align with the members of the House and Senate, and nothing to disrupt what could be the best cross-party political achievement since the days of transformation under president Roosevelt.
However, Madeline’s and Cole’s problem is that he is the first spouse of a president to be arrested and charged for murder…
This is also the story of Garrett Wilson and Brea Cooke. Garrett is an investigative reporter who has had two successful non-fiction books under his belt, but has an even better and absolutely explosive lead for what would be a sure bestseller that would rock the personal lives at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Bea is a lawyer, and law professor at Dartmouth on sabbatical while she helps Garrett perform research for his new book. She is also Garrett’s girlfriend and partner every step of the way.
However, Garrett faces serious problems of his own. His investigative research is turning dangerous when unknown adversaries warn him to stop or he will be killed. When Garrett refuses to listen, the price is death…
I think it’s probably a good idea to stop there and not reveal any more of the plot in order to let the reader enjoy and savor every twist and turn that takes place in this fast-paced thriller. Trust me, it’s better to let you enjoy the reading experience for yourself.
For me, this was one of the more enjoyable Patterson novels I have read recently. To be honest, I have enjoyed all three of his collaborations with Clinton for the most part. Each focused on different presidential conflicts, and for the most part, they all were pleasurable summer reads. This one was explored a murder mystery set against a background of internal political intrigue and issues currently facing our country.
Patterson and Clinton used their creative elements - characters, politics, and connecting plotlines - to deliver another fictional collaboration that works well. I don’t know how much was actually written or contributed by Clinton, but it certainly feels like his influence is present enough to sell lots of copies. To be honest, after reading all three of their novels, I am rather impressed with the outcome of their collaborative results. The fast-paced storytelling style flowed well and delivered plenty of surprises along the way.
For me, this was a pretty enjoyable read with the exception of two moments in the last 50 pages that annoyed me a bit.
The first was a major twist following all of the courtroom drama that made no sense other than to make things really bad for one of the protagonists. I need to be very careful here about not giving away any spoilers, so I will just say that the outcome did not come close in any way to aligning with the reality of the evidence presented and the legal requirement of beyond a reasonable doubt. To me, the plot twist was so far over the top that the result was downright silly.
The second was when President Wright unveiled her “Grand Bargain” plan, which included almost 5 pages of an overwhelming political manifesto that starts off as informative but quickly falls into a history lesson that degenerates into a preachy diatribe that goes on too long. At least it did for me. Forgive me for this deviating comment… here’s a hint. If you want to save social security, how about taking a simple and direct approach – just increase the national employee taxable wage base limit from its current $176,100 level to $350,000 or higher. It’s really that easy to implement. Okay, that’s enough. let’s back to the review.
Putting political solutions aside, Patterson and Clinton are being promoted as the fictional writing “Deal Team” and I am beginning to buy into that label. Three political thriller novels that for the most part have been worthy reads.
Overall, like the previous two books, “The First Gentleman” comes down to this. Was it realistic? No way. But we certainly don’t read Patterson for that reason. We read him for high level action thrillers that help us escape our daily grind and enjoy an exciting page-turner that makes us forget about all else. This time Patterson, along with help from Clinton, delivers another winner that will keep your attention from the beginning to the last page. Enjoy the political intrigue, who-dun-it mystery, and more importantly, the worthwhile escape!
June 20, 2025
This great writing duo give us another winner with The First Gentleman.
America has a powerful new president and her husband is on trial for murder. A murder committed 17 years ago.
Full of twists and turns you won't want this fast-paced, riveting story to end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
America has a powerful new president and her husband is on trial for murder. A murder committed 17 years ago.
Full of twists and turns you won't want this fast-paced, riveting story to end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2025
This is a DNF. What a slow and disjointed book.;;not for me. I have other books TBR that I’m waiting and wanting to read to get me excited…
March 18, 2025
James Patterson has quite a few co-authors, many of whom he mentors to greater fame and their own books. Bill Clinton is Patterson’s co-author for a third time, but I suspect this is more of a great friendship with the former President offering expertise to Patterson. After “The President is Missing” and “The President’s Daughter,” we get a story about a position that hasn’t happened yet (too bad, although I totally imagined a young Doug in the Cole role, instead of Bill), “The First Gentleman.” This is a bit of a mash-up of the old Chappaquiddick incident (granted, Patterson and Clinton were young men at the time, so they probably have a good recollection of that scandal) with a conspiracy theory twist.
Two sides of the story are featured: Cole, the First Gentleman’s; and Brea Cooke (first person POV), the Black criminal law professor/co-author girlfriend of the deceased writer Garrett Wilson — who was about to expose the First Gentleman’s post-college connection to a missing cheerleader. Madeline Parsons (the President), Cole, Brea, and Garrett all went to Dartmouth, as did the President’s chief of staff, Burton Pearce, who was a third roommate with the First Couple.
Most of the first half action returns to the recent past as the two investigators are researching Cole’s college days, very brief NFL career, and dating rumors. They are obviously stirring things up. Also at that time when Brea and Garrett are digging around, Maddie Parsons is secretly negotiating something called “The Great Bargain,” while her and her hospitalized VP’s chiefs of staff (Burton and Rachel Bernstein) are acting like strutting peacocks trying to one up each other.
At the halfway point, we are introduced to New Hampshire Sergeant Detective Marie Gagnon and NH Deputy Attorney General Hugh Bastinelli who also find themselves involved in the cold case of the missing cheerleader, plus a couple of related targeted homicides (another cheerleader and the writer).
Some of the transitions between telling Cole’s story, Brea’s observations, and Sgt Gagnon investigations are abrupt — it takes a few sentences to realize who we’re following in the next chapter. Patterson’s books are known for their many short chapters (142 for this book!). President Clinton’s assistance isn’t as noticeable as it was in the previous two collaborations, but it’s obvious these two old guys probably had a lot of fun writing this thriller (if anything, there was more about the inner workings of Walmart security than of the White House’s). This is an agreeable read worthy of a Netflix streaming series with a twisty plot that had me guessing until the end. I hope we can have more Patterson/Clinton books in the future. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES The Vice-President’s chief of staff has flashing green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO It’s winter as Brea investigates.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
Two sides of the story are featured: Cole, the First Gentleman’s; and Brea Cooke (first person POV), the Black criminal law professor/co-author girlfriend of the deceased writer Garrett Wilson — who was about to expose the First Gentleman’s post-college connection to a missing cheerleader. Madeline Parsons (the President), Cole, Brea, and Garrett all went to Dartmouth, as did the President’s chief of staff, Burton Pearce, who was a third roommate with the First Couple.
Most of the first half action returns to the recent past as the two investigators are researching Cole’s college days, very brief NFL career, and dating rumors. They are obviously stirring things up. Also at that time when Brea and Garrett are digging around, Maddie Parsons is secretly negotiating something called “The Great Bargain,” while her and her hospitalized VP’s chiefs of staff (Burton and Rachel Bernstein) are acting like strutting peacocks trying to one up each other.
At the halfway point, we are introduced to New Hampshire Sergeant Detective Marie Gagnon and NH Deputy Attorney General Hugh Bastinelli who also find themselves involved in the cold case of the missing cheerleader, plus a couple of related targeted homicides (another cheerleader and the writer).
Some of the transitions between telling Cole’s story, Brea’s observations, and Sgt Gagnon investigations are abrupt — it takes a few sentences to realize who we’re following in the next chapter. Patterson’s books are known for their many short chapters (142 for this book!). President Clinton’s assistance isn’t as noticeable as it was in the previous two collaborations, but it’s obvious these two old guys probably had a lot of fun writing this thriller (if anything, there was more about the inner workings of Walmart security than of the White House’s). This is an agreeable read worthy of a Netflix streaming series with a twisty plot that had me guessing until the end. I hope we can have more Patterson/Clinton books in the future. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES The Vice-President’s chief of staff has flashing green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO It’s winter as Brea investigates.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
June 4, 2025
I’m not embarrassed that I read this book 7-7.5 hours. The story is compelling and the First Gentleman, a former NFL player sounds like a hunk.
This is my first Summer read and I loved it.
#readthisbook
This is my first Summer read and I loved it.
#readthisbook
June 18, 2025
De president van de Verenigde Staten staat voor herverkiezing. Haar man staat terecht voor moord. Is de First Gentleman een moordenaar?
Twee briljante onderzoeksjournalisten proberen dat brandende vraagstuk op te lossen. Wat kunnen ze vinden over de voormalig American Football-ster die de man van de president werd?
De uitgever vroeg of het mij interessant leek om dit verhaal te recenseren. Normaal ben ik niet zo van politiek beladen verhalen, maar dit sprak mij wel aan, want: moord! Ik wilde mij dus laten verrassen en dat heeft de uitgever gedaan, zowel met het boek als het leuke pakket (zie foto 2), waarvoor heel veel dank!
Dit verhaal is opgebouwd in meerdere delen en het eerste deel is meteen het stuk dat de president met de "First Gentlemen" (Cole Wright) op weg is naar de rechtbank vanwege de moord op een vrouw. Onduidelijk is dan nog wat er zich eerder heeft afgespeeld.
In het tweede gedeelte, dat "Januari, daarvóór" heet, maak je kennis met Brea en Garrett. Samen werken ze aan een boek. Het gaat over een vermissingszaak van zeventien jaar geleden. Een jonge cheerleader verdween toen plotseling en de laatste met wie ze gezien is was de toen, zeventien jaar jongere Cole. Alles wijst dus naar hem.
Deze verhaallijn vond ik erg interessant, want het gaat dan voornamelijk om het uitzoeken in hoeverre Cole betrokken is geweest bij deze vermissingszaak. Of er sprake is van moord, is niet duidelijk. Er is immers geen lichaam gevonden. Maar ook hierover lees je steeds verdere ontwikkelingen. Brea en Garrett raken zo betrokken bij deze zaak, dat ook zij een bepaalde dreiging gaan voelen.
Uiteindelijk kom je dan weer bij het moment van de rechtbank en lees je over de zitting van Cole. Hier krijg je dus een beetje een John Grisham/Steve Cavanagh sfeertje. Uiteindelijk lees je over de conclusie en of Cole schuldig wordt bevonden.
Dit verhaal heeft mij aangenaam verrast. Ik vond het politieke gedeelte echt enorm meevallen en het was voor mij dan ook een fijne, aangename thriller! De focus ligt echt op het onderzoeken en het bewijzen van...
Ik denk zelfs dat ik meer van deze auteurs zou willen lezen, dus @parkuitgevers... heel erg bedankt!!!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐
Twee briljante onderzoeksjournalisten proberen dat brandende vraagstuk op te lossen. Wat kunnen ze vinden over de voormalig American Football-ster die de man van de president werd?
De uitgever vroeg of het mij interessant leek om dit verhaal te recenseren. Normaal ben ik niet zo van politiek beladen verhalen, maar dit sprak mij wel aan, want: moord! Ik wilde mij dus laten verrassen en dat heeft de uitgever gedaan, zowel met het boek als het leuke pakket (zie foto 2), waarvoor heel veel dank!
Dit verhaal is opgebouwd in meerdere delen en het eerste deel is meteen het stuk dat de president met de "First Gentlemen" (Cole Wright) op weg is naar de rechtbank vanwege de moord op een vrouw. Onduidelijk is dan nog wat er zich eerder heeft afgespeeld.
In het tweede gedeelte, dat "Januari, daarvóór" heet, maak je kennis met Brea en Garrett. Samen werken ze aan een boek. Het gaat over een vermissingszaak van zeventien jaar geleden. Een jonge cheerleader verdween toen plotseling en de laatste met wie ze gezien is was de toen, zeventien jaar jongere Cole. Alles wijst dus naar hem.
Deze verhaallijn vond ik erg interessant, want het gaat dan voornamelijk om het uitzoeken in hoeverre Cole betrokken is geweest bij deze vermissingszaak. Of er sprake is van moord, is niet duidelijk. Er is immers geen lichaam gevonden. Maar ook hierover lees je steeds verdere ontwikkelingen. Brea en Garrett raken zo betrokken bij deze zaak, dat ook zij een bepaalde dreiging gaan voelen.
Uiteindelijk kom je dan weer bij het moment van de rechtbank en lees je over de zitting van Cole. Hier krijg je dus een beetje een John Grisham/Steve Cavanagh sfeertje. Uiteindelijk lees je over de conclusie en of Cole schuldig wordt bevonden.
Dit verhaal heeft mij aangenaam verrast. Ik vond het politieke gedeelte echt enorm meevallen en het was voor mij dan ook een fijne, aangename thriller! De focus ligt echt op het onderzoeken en het bewijzen van...
Ik denk zelfs dat ik meer van deze auteurs zou willen lezen, dus @parkuitgevers... heel erg bedankt!!!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐
July 9, 2025
Some of my dislike for this book may have been the audiobook performances. I prefer one narrator. This format made the cheesy dialogue almost unbearable.
October 16, 2025
Tried to read for book club.
James Patterson has sold over 425 million books as of 2022, according to Investor's Business Daily, so obviously, lots of people enjoy his writing. I'm not going to be one of them.
Pros:
This was often unintentionally funny.
Cons:
Just about everything else. The characters didn't have depth, and I never got interested in what happened to them. They act on cue for plot reasons. It's a police procedural, a courtroom drama, and a political thriller rolled into one, but does none of them well. Instead of suspense and mystery, the story felt both overwrought and simplistic. Patterson used to be an advertising executive, and the writing feels like an advertising campaign.
There were parts that had me rolling my eyes. Brea Cook wraps up Garrett Wilson's affairs and estate within days of his death. (Not a spoiler; we learn Garrett was murdered on page 13.) He named her executor of his will. He needed a will and appointed executor (because, remember, a will is a legal contract) for an estate simple enough to wrap up in days? Days?! Written by someone (or two someones) who have never had to deal with this first hand, obviously.
I understand compressing some events that aren't adding to the story, like all the details of wrapping up a deceased person's affairs. So why mention the time it took Brea at all? Why state that she was executor? If it was supposed to create tension with Garrett's family, that's quickly dismissed, too, before the end of the sentence that brought it up. Why not just delete those sentences, skip to the one saying Garrett left her his car, guitar, and house, and then get on with her investigating his murder, finishing their book, finding the killer, etc.? Why do we even need that expositional flashback in the middle of a scene / two-page chapter where Brea is feeling grief and guilt a week later at her mother's house? Plenty of ridiculous things happen all the time in thrillers. Here, the writing never reached a level where I gladly suspended my disbelief and went with the flow.
I skipped around and read the ending solely due to book club. Otherwise, I lost interest in whodunit and how it all turned out by page 30. Thank goodness for libraries, and better books.
James Patterson has sold over 425 million books as of 2022, according to Investor's Business Daily, so obviously, lots of people enjoy his writing. I'm not going to be one of them.
Pros:
This was often unintentionally funny.
Cons:
Just about everything else. The characters didn't have depth, and I never got interested in what happened to them. They act on cue for plot reasons. It's a police procedural, a courtroom drama, and a political thriller rolled into one, but does none of them well. Instead of suspense and mystery, the story felt both overwrought and simplistic. Patterson used to be an advertising executive, and the writing feels like an advertising campaign.
There were parts that had me rolling my eyes. Brea Cook wraps up Garrett Wilson's affairs and estate within days of his death. (Not a spoiler; we learn Garrett was murdered on page 13.) He named her executor of his will. He needed a will and appointed executor (because, remember, a will is a legal contract) for an estate simple enough to wrap up in days? Days?! Written by someone (or two someones) who have never had to deal with this first hand, obviously.
I understand compressing some events that aren't adding to the story, like all the details of wrapping up a deceased person's affairs. So why mention the time it took Brea at all? Why state that she was executor? If it was supposed to create tension with Garrett's family, that's quickly dismissed, too, before the end of the sentence that brought it up. Why not just delete those sentences, skip to the one saying Garrett left her his car, guitar, and house, and then get on with her investigating his murder, finishing their book, finding the killer, etc.? Why do we even need that expositional flashback in the middle of a scene / two-page chapter where Brea is feeling grief and guilt a week later at her mother's house? Plenty of ridiculous things happen all the time in thrillers. Here, the writing never reached a level where I gladly suspended my disbelief and went with the flow.
I skipped around and read the ending solely due to book club. Otherwise, I lost interest in whodunit and how it all turned out by page 30. Thank goodness for libraries, and better books.
June 3, 2025
This book was a twisty thrill ride showing the machinations of politicians as well as the resolution of a well-crafted murder mystery. Presented from the point of view of Cole, the First Gentleman who is married to President Maddy Parsons, and Brea Cooke, an investigative reporter, I found the action in the book to be riveting and fast paced. I really enjoyed the signature short chapters that kept me absorbed and reading this cleverly written page turner. There were a lot of unexpected twists and some red herrings thrown in as well. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Brea and her partner Garrett, both of whom were professional and dedicated to finding the truth, no matter where it led them. I did not think the President nor her entourage or the First Gentleman were particularly relatable, but they did seem realistic, just too high a social status for me to relate to them. I did empathize with Cole who seemed blindsided by the murder charges against him. I also enjoyed the part of the book that included police procedures with Detective Gagnon as well as the trial itself. There were so many revelations that came like lightning bolts and made the book edgy and head-spinning at times. This is the first book I have read by these two collarborating authors, but I enjoyed it so much that I plan to look for others. Balancing the mystery with the sub-plot of political maneuvering was nothing less than brilliant and profoundly insightful. With a complex plot made simple to understand and easy to read under the masterful hand of the author, this is a novel that would earn more than five stars from me if that were possible.
Disclaimer
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher with no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher with no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read
June 22, 2025At the beginning of the book we learn that a new woman president is in the White House, and that her husband, the First Gentleman, played pro football previously. At the same time, we meet a couple who are investigating his past in order to write a book. It seems he had been involved with one of the team cheerleaders,who disappeared. As they investigate, we find that others are working against them and trying to ensure they don’t find proof against him.
We learn a lot about the missing girl, a murder investigation and possibly other crimes. I enjoyed seeing where it would go, but then we go through his trial. In many ways, the trial is just re-hearing all the information we’ve already heard. I love reading a good trial, but we didn’t hear anything new… There’s a lot of mysterious people circling around, and we learn a few new things, but the twist at the end seemed expected.
I enjoyed Clinton’s previous book, The President is Missing. I remember it being a bit over the top, but it was fun. And both of these audiobooks have been well narrated. Maybe this fell flat to me because I think the events happening around this president are supposed to be (and should be) shocking. But my level for shock and anticipating justice, especially in politics, has taken a nosedive in recent times. So I think in another time, maybe I’d appreciate this book more. A solid 3-1/2, but I’m not sure how to rate…
We learn a lot about the missing girl, a murder investigation and possibly other crimes. I enjoyed seeing where it would go, but then we go through his trial. In many ways, the trial is just re-hearing all the information we’ve already heard. I love reading a good trial, but we didn’t hear anything new… There’s a lot of mysterious people circling around, and we learn a few new things, but the twist at the end seemed expected.
I enjoyed Clinton’s previous book, The President is Missing. I remember it being a bit over the top, but it was fun. And both of these audiobooks have been well narrated. Maybe this fell flat to me because I think the events happening around this president are supposed to be (and should be) shocking. But my level for shock and anticipating justice, especially in politics, has taken a nosedive in recent times. So I think in another time, maybe I’d appreciate this book more. A solid 3-1/2, but I’m not sure how to rate…
July 9, 2025
Every bit as good as the first two books Bill Clinton and James Patterson co-wrote. Even though I was pretty sure who the bad guy was, it still kept me guessing!
September 13, 2025
Another successful collaboration between James Patterson and former President Bill Clinton, delivers two gripping parallel stories. One focuses on the husband of the first female president; a former Ivy League athlete and NFL player accused of a cold-case murder involving a Patriots cheerleader. The other follows two true crime authors investigating that decades-old crime while writing about the president's husband, the last person to see the cheerleader alive. The narratives collide in an exciting and explosive finale. A great read!
July 14, 2025
Ik denk dat dit de eerste keer is dat ik een politieke thriller las. Ik vond het interessant om te lezen en het las ook vlot weg. De korte hoofdstukken met soms kleine cliffhangers helpen hier enorm bij evenals de vlotte schrijfstijl.
Het boek begint goed, de proloog neemt je mee naar de eerste dag in de rechtbank. Je interesse word meteen gewekt en het levert je ook meerdere vragen op. Na de proloog maak je een sprong terug in de tijd. Het boek is in drie delen opgedeeld, deze duiden de tijdsprongen in het boek aan en zijn in chronologische volgorde, zodat alles goed bloot gelegd kan worden. Er heerst een bepaalde dreiging in het boek die het verhaal, naast de politieke lading, spannend maakt.
Je leest het boek deels vanuit de president of haar man en deels vanuit de twee onderzoeksjournalisten die een boek schrijven over the first gentleman. Het is soms even schakelen wie aan het woord is omdat de hoofdstukken aangeduid worden met locaties en niet met de personages.
De puzzelstukjes worden langzaam vrij gegeven. Sommige plottwisten zijn wel onverwachts, andere niet echt. Het boek probeert je wel op het verkeerde been te zetten, wat bij mij niet helemaal gelukt is. Ik heb me wel prima vermaakt met het boek.
In het derde deel vind de rechtzaak plaats die het grootste onderdeel van het 3e deel was. Naar mijn mening had de rechtzaak iets korter gemogen. In deel 3 zakte voor mij de spanning in, maar ik was wel benieuwd of ik het goed had en hoe het nou precies in elkaar stak.
Ik vond de onderzoeksjournalist er wel erg lang over doen om alle puzzelstukjes te ontwaren. Pas toen alle puzzelstukjes er lagen had ze door hoe de vork in de steel zat.
Een thriller voor iedereen die een kijkje wil nemen in de politiek en het rechtssysteem van de VS.
Het boek begint goed, de proloog neemt je mee naar de eerste dag in de rechtbank. Je interesse word meteen gewekt en het levert je ook meerdere vragen op. Na de proloog maak je een sprong terug in de tijd. Het boek is in drie delen opgedeeld, deze duiden de tijdsprongen in het boek aan en zijn in chronologische volgorde, zodat alles goed bloot gelegd kan worden. Er heerst een bepaalde dreiging in het boek die het verhaal, naast de politieke lading, spannend maakt.
Je leest het boek deels vanuit de president of haar man en deels vanuit de twee onderzoeksjournalisten die een boek schrijven over the first gentleman. Het is soms even schakelen wie aan het woord is omdat de hoofdstukken aangeduid worden met locaties en niet met de personages.
De puzzelstukjes worden langzaam vrij gegeven. Sommige plottwisten zijn wel onverwachts, andere niet echt. Het boek probeert je wel op het verkeerde been te zetten, wat bij mij niet helemaal gelukt is. Ik heb me wel prima vermaakt met het boek.
In het derde deel vind de rechtzaak plaats die het grootste onderdeel van het 3e deel was. Naar mijn mening had de rechtzaak iets korter gemogen. In deel 3 zakte voor mij de spanning in, maar ik was wel benieuwd of ik het goed had en hoe het nou precies in elkaar stak.
Ik vond de onderzoeksjournalist er wel erg lang over doen om alle puzzelstukjes te ontwaren. Pas toen alle puzzelstukjes er lagen had ze door hoe de vork in de steel zat.
Een thriller voor iedereen die een kijkje wil nemen in de politiek en het rechtssysteem van de VS.
August 7, 2025
This novel was every bit as compelling as I had hoped!! Great character development, wonderful plot layers, and a believable resolution!!
A great read!
A great read!
May 18, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. This is out June 2, 2025.
In their latest collaboration, Bill Clinton and James Patterson introduce readers to a compelling premise: the First Gentleman is accused of murdering his former girlfriend two decades earlier, forcing the sitting President—his wife—to navigate both the legal chaos and the political fallout while pushing forward her ambitious legislative agenda.
While the concept was intriguing, the execution fell short for me. The characters felt underdeveloped, making it difficult to feel invested in their outcomes. The resolution was predictable, and I was left unsatisfied by the rushed courtroom scenes, which lacked the realism and suspense I typically expect from Patterson’s work. Additionally, several plot threads were left dangling—something that’s uncommon in his books.
Overall, despite its high-profile authors and timely themes, this one didn’t quite deliver for me. 2.0 stars.
In their latest collaboration, Bill Clinton and James Patterson introduce readers to a compelling premise: the First Gentleman is accused of murdering his former girlfriend two decades earlier, forcing the sitting President—his wife—to navigate both the legal chaos and the political fallout while pushing forward her ambitious legislative agenda.
While the concept was intriguing, the execution fell short for me. The characters felt underdeveloped, making it difficult to feel invested in their outcomes. The resolution was predictable, and I was left unsatisfied by the rushed courtroom scenes, which lacked the realism and suspense I typically expect from Patterson’s work. Additionally, several plot threads were left dangling—something that’s uncommon in his books.
Overall, despite its high-profile authors and timely themes, this one didn’t quite deliver for me. 2.0 stars.
March 26, 2025
“The First Gentleman” by James Patterson and Bill Clinton is the third collaboration between the famous author and 42nd President of the US.
The story revolves around the husband of the first female president. He is a former NFL Patriots player now accused of the 13 year old murder of one of the team’s cheerleaders. Two authors are investigating the past crime as well as writing a book about the last person to see the cheerleader alive and that person is the Presidents husband!
This book seems so relevant in today’s political climate and at the same time so much fun to read. The short chapters and rapid plot turns make this thriller a highly addictive read!
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The story revolves around the husband of the first female president. He is a former NFL Patriots player now accused of the 13 year old murder of one of the team’s cheerleaders. Two authors are investigating the past crime as well as writing a book about the last person to see the cheerleader alive and that person is the Presidents husband!
This book seems so relevant in today’s political climate and at the same time so much fun to read. The short chapters and rapid plot turns make this thriller a highly addictive read!
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 17, 2025
All the same. I’m tired of Patterson’s mass production. Clinton’s influence is obvious but it is way too long and all the same.
I won’t read another Patterson no matter who his co-author might be.
I won’t read another Patterson no matter who his co-author might be.
August 12, 2025
DNF - Got to page 130 out of 474 and that was enough. Flat everything and didn’t care about any of it.🙁
October 14, 2025
This was a interesting book but felt very long. I listened to the audiobook which was done very well with several different voices.
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