The First Lady

by James Patterson, Deborah McBride (Narrator)

7 hrs 17 min
"Sir, the First Lady ... has gone rogue."

President Tucker is caught up in a media firestorm. The scandal of his affair has sent shockwaves through his re-election campaign, and threatens to derail everything he has worked for. To win the vote, he needs the First Lady to stand by his side.

But Grace Tucker has a mind of her own.

After years of compromise, unfulfilled promises, deception and betrayal, Grace refuses to give in to her husband's deamnds. Escaping the city and her Secret Service agents, she is officially off the radar.

But did the First Lady run away? Or is she in far greater danger than anyone could have imagined?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Crime

Audiobook

First published December 13, 2018

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally out for reading...

James Patterson and Brendan DuBois renew their collaborative efforts with a new book full of thrills and political intrigue. As US President Harrison Tucker makes his final push for re-election, he finds himself in an awkward position. Caught leaving an Atlanta hotel with his mistress, Tucker scrambles to save his reputation, but is unable to keep media reports from reaching First Lady Grace Tucker. Understandably upset, the First Lady excuses herself and leaves the White House. While the news is troubling, it’s just another hurdle that Secret Service Agent Sally Grissom has to face. Heading up the Presidential Protective Detail, Grissom will have to keep POTUS safe as he tries to patch his reputation. She’s tossed a curveball soon thereafter, when a senior member of the First Lady’s detail calls to say that she’s gone off the grid, having slipped past those charged with protecting her. Grissom rushes to the scene of where she was last seen, hoping that this is just the First Lady trying to exert some freedom. However, things take a turn for the worse when a note appears in the First Lady’s handwriting. Has her disappearance been orchestrated and is she being held against her will? Meanwhile the president’s Chief of Staff is making calculated moves of his own to ensure the disappearance news does not derail an already fragile situation. He cannot have anything go against his plans or it could spell electoral disaster. With a mercenary slinking around in the background, Grissom’s actions begin to have dire consequences and new evidence push the Secret Service to the brink as they seek to do what’s needed before media outlets use the disappearance as new fodder for the next news cycle. Patterson and DuBois do a great job with this standalone novel, which keeps the reader’s attention until the story’s climactic ending. Recommended for those who can appreciate Patterson’s stronger collaborative efforts.

James Patterson collaborations can be hit and miss, which is additionally troublesome as the market is supersaturated with the author’s name on bookstands at any given moment. However, Brendan DuBois can usually be counted upon to help shape novels in a productive manner and keep Patterson on task. This novel mixes the fast pace of political thrills with the mystery of a missing central actor. Sally Grissom proves to be a decent protagonist, mixing her grit on the job with having to balance being a single mother at home. Still in the midst of marital disintegration, Grissom must try to keep her daughter’s respect while not letting her personal life distract her from the job at hand. As this is a standalone, the authors must ‘sell’ Grissom in short order so that the reader does not lose interest in her, which appears to be done effectively throughout. Many of the secondary characters prove useful storylines to keep the novel moving forward. From the search for the First Lady to those who want Grissom and her team away from the action, the authors can easily use a number of characters to add flavour to a rich narrative. The story is strong and well-paced, with Patterson’s trademark quick chapters that keep the plot from losing momentum. Patterson and DuBois have a great way of mixing first- and third-person narratives to show an entire story from all perspectives. While I do bemoan the excessive number of books Patterson churns out, this is one with a silver lining that I feel would be perfect for those who need a few hours to escape their busy lives.

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and DuBois, for a successful novel. I am happy I took the time to enjoy this piece and look forward to another collaborative effort.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Blaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first five Alex Cross novels by James Patterson. They were good, but eventually they started to feel too similar, and I lost interest in the series. Then, Mr. Patterson largely began “writing” novels by simply allowing someone else to publish a book under his brand name. I had no interest in reading such books until two partnerships of his caught my eye. The first was The President is Missing, which was co-written by former President Bill Clinton. That book was bonkers, over-the-top, and completely entertaining. And it lowered my defenses, so when I saw that Mr. Patterson had co-authored this book with Brendan DuBois—who many years ago wrote Resurrection Day, a book I remember enjoying—I was willing to give Mr. Patterson’s brand another try.

President Harrison Tucker is caught leaving a hotel with his mistress. Outraged, First Lady Grace Fuller Tucker leaves the White House and then disappears. Has she killed herself? Fled? Or has she been kidnapped? Sally Grissom, the agent in charge of the Secret Service Protective Detail, is tasked with secretly trying to figure out what happened to the First Lady.

I wanted to like this book, but it’s ... not good. It’s full of cliches: the mole, the femme fatale assassin, the President who is really being bossed around by his Chief of Staff, the evil Halliburton-like corporation. The plot is powered by implausible events. What happened to the First Lady on the horse farm was not believable. The plan of the people who mean the First Lady harm is completely illogical. And, at the very end of the novel, one of the only two characters in the book who seems to be morally decent is revealed to be anything but, and the other one goes along in a total reversal of character.

I can see why other people liked it. It follows the Patterson style, with short chapters and lots of little cliffhangers. It’s a fast read. It’s unpredictable. But it did not work for me at all. Not recommended.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The president is having a passionate affair with a member of his PR staff, but alas, the media catches on and all hell breaks loose. This was a delightful part soap opera, part thriller, part mystery as we see who will come out ahead in our little chess game. The first lady, one of I think only a handful of characters we were supposed to like in this one, is not going to take what happened lying down. But when she goes missing, bad turns to worse… and then MUCH worse. An entertaining beach read.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the rare Patterson factory stories that is actually good. Kudos Brendan DuBois. An excellent listen or a quick read. 8 of 10 stars

[lainy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book incredibly frustrating as there were so many stupid things happening. Here’s a few examples;
- There’s no way the First Lady would have been in that cabin and not found. She was only 3 miles upstream.
- The horse farm had a shed full of illegal immigrants and despite the huge search party going on no one checked the shed? Come on!
- The secret service agents sitting in the car and never even glanced around when the assassin drove past?
- The assassin camping out by the stream watching what was going on and no one found her.
- The logic for having the First Lady killed made no sense to me. Surely if anything it would make the public hate the President more for driving his wife to suicide with his affair?
- Agent Grissom putting her child in danger multiple times, leaving her home alone and then bringing the First Lady to the same house she was staying in despite there being a hit out on her.
- Standing at her sisters front door with the First Lady and waving to a woman going past in a Lexus? She was meant to be hiding the First Lady?
- The way AG spoke to her team with such a lack of respect annoyed me. I think it was to make us see her as a strong woman but she was just rude.
- The way she let Scotty off the hook at the end. She was nicer to him in that exchange than she was when he was helping her during the rest of the book.
- Lots of the reviewers mention the twist they didn’t see coming. I’m feeling I must be missing something as I though it was obvious from halfway in that she had disappeared by herself.
- What happened to the premise that the US don’t negotiate with terrorists? Could the President really hand over that much money so fast with no permission. And what was the explanation for her rescue? How did he explain away the money?
- how did the assassin escape from the hospital? Especially with her injuries.
- AG didn’t die because she was shielded by her coat and scarf. I actually laughed out loud at that bit.
- I’m still trying to figure out how the assassin opened the heavily secured apartment door with a bit of sticky tape.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet day today and managed to listen to this in one day. A good stand alone atory with an unexpected twist

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of my book club picks. I don't usually read Patterson as I'm more into the physiological thrillers like Tana French. However, this was a quick read, the characters were surprisingly well drawn and emotional - I also find most thrillers focus on the plot instead of the character development- the twists and deceptions and that's why readers like thrillers. I did guess all the twists - the combination of being a writer and a writing teacher, I pick up on the slight clues, but it didn't diminish the enjoyment. One thing about Patterson, if you like his stories, you've plenty of books to read!

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Between 2 star and 3 stars. I went with 2 star for some things just seen unreal or underdeveloped.

[LISA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, Quick Read

A typical James Patterson's read, fast paced with good character development and an exciting story. As well as a few surprises at the end, which made me happy.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light political thriller and a good collaboration, kudos to Brendan Dubois. I read The Cornwalls Are Gone and I much prefer The First Lady between the two. There are a few unanswered parts but overall this was a fun and quick read.

[Christine Fulton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barbara McBride butchered this book. Her mispronunciation of Maryland and Potomac made me cringe every time. Didn't anyone listen to this before publishing? Did anyone hear her pronounce these incorrectly?

Anyway, the story was good but predictable. I think this is the lowest rating I have ever given a Patterson book.

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't give out 5 star rating to many books or movies or anything. This one merits the 5 star rating. I had a hard time putting the book down and loved the sequences and the way he transitioned from one to another. A great read. Don't pass it up.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful light reading. Many twists and turns. A real surprise ending. Unputdownable

[Foxy Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read.
Great character utilization.
I was left scratching my head at the ending.
So many villains, you get to pick the worst one!

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Read: This book was written by James Patterson co-authored with Brendan Dubois, and read by Karissa Vacker. TWENTY-ONE MINUTES before the ambush, Harrison Tucker—former state senator, former Ohio governor, President of the United States, leader of the free world, and a month away from being reelected in a landslide to a second term—is lying on his stomach on a king-size bed in an Atlanta hotel room, feet toward the headboard, chin resting on a pillow, watching a retrospective documentary on the TV series House of Cards with the love of his life.

A breakfast cart with the remains of two meals has been pushed to one side of the small but adequate room, and he sighs with pleasure as his companion, Tammy Doyle, straddling his back, gives him a thorough and deep back rub.

“Look,” he says, watching the fictional president slither his way across the screen, “writers have to fictionalize politics and deal-making, like on The West Wing or Madam Secretary, but there’s no way Frank Underwood could be elected president in real life. You know why?”

Tammy lowers her head, purrs in his ear. Prior to this they were both clothed, while he was giving a fund-raising speech and she was watching from a distant table that had cost her lobbying firm ten thousand dollars, but now they were both nude, the room filled with the scent of perspiration, coffee, and sex.

In James Patterson's new stand-alone thriller, one secret can bring down a government when the President's affair to remember becomes a nightmare he wishes he could forget.

Sally Grissom is a top secret service agent in charge of the Presidential Protection team. She knows that something is amiss when she is summoned to a private meeting with the President and his Chief of Staff without any witnesses. But she couldn't have predicted that she'd be forced to take on an investigation surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the First Lady--with strict orders
to keep it a secret.

Second Read: The First Lady's absence comes in the wake of the scandalous, public revelation of the president's affair, so at first it seems as though she is simply cutting off all contact as she recuperates at a horse farm in Virginia. What begins as an innocent respite quickly reveals itself as a twisted case when the White House receives a ransom note along with the First Lady's finger. The First Couple had been separated for quite awhile. When the President went off the protected area, the first lady came and shot him in the neck until he died. Unusual book. Kind of strange reading, but I mostly enjoyed it. Recommend.

Negative rumors had been flying round about a Presidential affair, so it was easy to accept the story to accept the pretest6 story of her recuperating at a Virginia horse farm. Everyone, including Sally believed the story of the First Lady cutting off contact while she mulled her predicament and her next move. That is... until the arrival of a ransom note and the First lady's finger (yuck)!!!
This is one book with twists and turns at every bend. I was impressed with the story and found many angles that kept me guessing. WOW, what a read. RECOMMEND. Story worth your while.

Here's a quote from Patterson: " Your may want to read THE FIRST LADY twice--first for the enjoyment, and then for the joy of figuring out how they did what they did."

Grace Fuller Tucker, who is the President’s wife and the First Lady of the piece, leaves the White House and within a few hours manages to elude her Secret Service detail, disappearing from a horse camp for children that she had championed during the course of her White House tenure. Parker Hoyt, the man who has ruthlessly guided Tucker’s political career from its inception, begins doing damage control. Tucker and Hoyt task Sally Grissom, the Secret Service agent who is the head of the Presidential Protection Division, to find Grace. Grissom is not inclined to do so, but Hoyt, with a ruthlessness that is chilling, persuades her to do just that. For reasons of his own, Hoyt would like Grace to be found but doesn’t want her back. So he makes other arrangements that are cold and calculating in their redundancy and are neither shared with nor approved by Tucker.

Meanwhile, Grissom, with the assistance of Grace’s protection team, can’t locate her, but what they do find is a ransom note with proof that whoever wrote it has the First Lady in their custody. There is also a race going on, that being for Grissom and her team to find Grace before Hoyt’s plans for her come to fruition. In the meantime, readers are delightfully tossed here and there by the devious twists and turns that Patterson and DuBois have created in this fast-moving, edge-of-your-seat story.

Once you start, there is no good place to stop, other than the very end. It is full of surprises, so much so that you’ll keep reading just to find the next one. Patterson and DuBois also pull off the neat trick of almost totally removing Grace from the story physically, even as she remains the focal point of it. You may want to read THE FIRST LADY twice --- first for the enjoyment, and then for the joy of figuring out how the authors did what they did.

Good Book!! Highly Recommend. Happy Reading!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been better than it was. I got the sense they just didn't take the time to really edit, and ended up with a bit of a hot mess. I enjoyed the set-up, and the pacing (as usual with Patterson) made it easy to keep going. There's a theme of female empowerment that I enjoyed, even if it was a bit heavy handed.

But there were major flaws... significant subplots disappeared for the majority of the book; characters were killed for no logical (or enjoyably insane) reason and had zero impact on the story; you know who's pulling the strings essentially from the beginning and - worst of all - there isn't any satisfying justice or comeuppance for anyone. I expect a certain level of suspension of disbelief, but this just felt lazy.

[David Given Schwarm · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is horrible. I mean an absolutely dreadful book. ALL of the characters are cliches. The plot is actually worse then a mid-70's Hollywood film about Washington corruption. The plot is painfully predictable. The "heart string tugs" actually induced nausea.

this was selected by my book club one week when I was not there...I am still very unclear on how this happened.

finishing this book was painful & I hope that the author actually feels bad for having written this doggerel--seriously there is no reason for this book to exist...

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Winner

“The First Lady” is a true James Patterson thriller.

Like most Patterson books it moves along very quickly. The characters work very well with the plot line.

A good read that I recommend.

[Naaytaashreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Not a word to me or I'll toss you out and drive myself."

This book gave me a very stressful headache.
It's really drama and on the edge of my seat kind of story and I love it.
I love the short chapters in the book and the different POV.

I was so stress out on who I can trust.
I definitely trust Agent Grissom and definitely wanted to punch Parker.
Every time it was Parker's POV i wanted to strangle him so bad.
I love that even from the beginning we know who was behind all the dirty work but the main issue was trying to prove it and get him caught was so stressful.
The lies, the betrayal it was too much for me. I definitely couldn't survive if I was to put myself in that position.
The book literally felt like I was watching a movie.

What I adore with this book, even though there was a scandal of affair.
There was no storyline of hate between the two women.
We get to know indirectly of their feelings and everything.
I love towards the end it shows women supporting women between the two characters.
Because honestly, in real life, if cheating happens women are always to be blame and never the guy.
I love the ending! I literally evil laugh!!!
I love the ending each character was given.
It was right, everyone get what they deserve.

Now all I want to read is government or president related books of mystery and thriller!

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit. First I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this book as I found The President is Missing hard to get into and it ended up being a DNF for me. The First Lady, on the other hand, I did enjoy as I loved the character of Grace Tucker - the first lady. She was strong, stood by her moral code and ethics. She was her person and had a strong sense of what was right and wrong. The President, on the other hand, I found him such a weak man in this book and quite pathetic. Just because he is the President doesn't mean he can't have a brain of his own as he sacrificed for himself not only his wife but also his mistress. The First Lady starts with Grace learning that her husband has been cheating on her and to escape she goes to a spot she can be herself. During this time, she manages to duck away from her security and go off the grid. All clues are pointing to her apparent suicide, but Agent Sally Grissom has other ideas up her sleeve. As she races to save Grace, she must also keep herself and family safe as Parker - the President's right-hand man is willing to kill and do anything to ensure that the President stay in power and his numbers remain. The First Lady was Brendan's first book with James Patterson, and I look forward to reading more as he seems to have the ability to write strong female characters which were nice to read for a change.

[Kim’s Kindle Reads. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, edge of your seat political thriller. Literally an episode of Scandal. I loved it. The ending was perfect!! Murder and affairs in the White House? Sign me up!

[Annette Chidzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast paced novel co-written by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois was indicative of other Patterson novels I have read in that the key characters were quickly introduced to the reader and their specific roles and circumstances established promptly so that the narrative could rapidly unfold. Having previously read ‘The President is Missing’, I was immediately drawn to this account set as it was in Washington DC, a location I had recently visited. Grace Tuçker, the wife of the American President, was central to the storyline and somewhat of an enigma until the later developments emerged in terms of her ‘plan’ to escape an unhappy relationship and an unfulfilling role as the First Lady, however or whatever that entailed.
At times, it was hard to keep track of certain characters’ motives but overall this did not affect the enjoyment or understanding of the diverse events that underpin this novel.
The Patterson format is becoming very familiar to me and it is apparent to me why his writing is popular with many readers who want novels that are compelling in terms of fast-moving storyline, constant action and sustained suspense.
It is also a good example of why Goodreads needs to have a more precise rating system that enables options such as 3.5 rather than 3 or 4.

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so compelling that I finished reading it in one day. Politics can be a deadly experience & if you don't know what's going on, you'll end up dead.

Secret Service Agent Sally Grissom is on the case. Her hands are severely tied in regards to solving this case. Every way she turns, the white house chief of staff, Parker Hoyt, thwarts her.

A book you'll truly enjoy.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The election is weeks away and it is looking promising for the President. Then his affair is revealed in a media blitz and his poll numbers are dropping. To top it off, the first lady has disappeared. It's assumed that she is licking her wounds at a horse ranch she loves, but then no one can locate her. Sally Grissom, top secret service agent in the Presidential Protection team is called in to investigate. Sally is relentless in her pursuit of the first lady, determined to find her and keep her safe.
A fast paced thriller, filled with political intrigue, backstabbing and strong women heroes and villans.
3.5 stars.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please believe me when I tell you that THE FIRST LADY should be on your must-read list. It begins with a compelling premise, spirals off into a couple of different intriguing directions, and then all comes back together for an ending you probably won’t see coming while answering a question that it never really asks. The book gives readers all of that, along with a number of true-to-life and memorable characters and impeccable pacing. You can’t really ask for more than that, can you?

If anyone is capable of providing all of the above, it is James Patterson and co-writer Brendan DuBois, who gives us as readable a page-turner as we are likely to encounter this year. The setup is terrific. The President of the United States is a former Ohio governor named Harrison Tucker, who is two months away from an election in which he is all but assured of winning a second term. That all changes when he is caught leaving a hotel with the love of his life, Tammy Doyle, who most certainly is not his wife. There is a phalanx of reporters and cameramen present to record the event, which quickly becomes known as the “Ambush in Atlanta.”

Grace Fuller Tucker, who is the President’s wife and the First Lady of the piece, leaves the White House and within a few hours manages to elude her Secret Service detail, disappearing from a horse camp for children that she had championed during the course of her White House tenure. Parker Hoyt, the man who has ruthlessly guided Tucker’s political career from its inception, begins doing damage control. Tucker and Hoyt task Sally Grissom, the Secret Service agent who is the head of the Presidential Protection Division, to find Grace. Grissom is not inclined to do so, but Hoyt, with a ruthlessness that is chilling, persuades her to do just that. For reasons of his own, Hoyt would like Grace to be found but doesn’t want her back. So he makes other arrangements that are cold and calculating in their redundancy and are neither shared with nor approved by Tucker.

Meanwhile, Grissom, with the assistance of Grace’s protection team, can’t locate her, but what they do find is a ransom note with proof that whoever wrote it has the First Lady in their custody. There is also a race going on, that being for Grissom and her team to find Grace before Hoyt’s plans for her come to fruition. In the meantime, readers are delightfully tossed here and there by the devious twists and turns that Patterson and DuBois have created in this fast-moving, edge-of-your-seat story.

Once you start, there is no good place to stop, other than the very end. It is full of surprises, so much so that you’ll keep reading just to find the next one. Patterson and DuBois also pull off the neat trick of almost totally removing Grace from the story physically, even as she remains the focal point of it. You may want to read THE FIRST LADY twice --- first for the enjoyment, and then for the joy of figuring out how the authors did what they did.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

One thing you can count on in recent Patterson books (besides unbelievable plots and cardboard characters) is at least one ludicrous sentence. My favorite in this book was the observation that a character's "eyes are moist but sharp, like knives coming out of a dishwasher." Good for a chortle.

Although I thought I was pretty sure I knew what was going on from the beginning, I had just enough doubt about it to keep turning the pages until I reached the pancake-flat ending.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot better than JP's last one. President gets caught in an affair. Happens all the time, but what doesn't happen is the First Wife going missing. Secret Service is called in. Is she really missing? Does the President really want her found? What lengths will his Chief of Staff go to, to win the next election in a couple of week? Happy Reading 😊

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this was slower-paced than many of James Patterson’s books and a political thriller rather than a murder/crime story. The plot was good with many twists although I felt it lost momentum in the middle.

3-4 stars

[Wonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

5...Brendan Bubois, it has been a while since I have enjoyed a book with Patterson's name on it, so U want to thank you! Even if you can figure out some of what is going on, the ending is still magical! And my magical I mean, amazing! Ultimately exactly what I imagine when I think of politicians!

[Lizzie Rhoades · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how the women in this book left all the men in the dust. It made up for the constant disgusting actions that most definitely made me want to throw things. However, it needed a sensitivity review, it had moments that felt like it wasn't reviewed by anybody but a white male.